SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND?
OUT today via Rare Vitamin Records, the high octane, angry sound of ‘A Working Class Lad’ from Manchester’s THE BATTERY FARM.
It’s a sound that harks back to the angry days of the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s when music had a real voice, a real purpose and retained the power to agitate.
“We’re a gutter punk band,” said the band’s, Ben Corry.
“The song is about the duality and complexity of having grown up in a family that is both working-class and middle-class on either side. It’s about the relative guilt you feel about the middle-class part of your identity versus the endemic pride you feel in the working-class side, exploring whether those two things can bleed into each other and whether, in an individual, those two identities exist in the binary way which they are always judged.
“It also poses the question of who decides your identity and looks at the superficial credentials through which people are pigeonholed, particularly as working-class people. Whose place is it to decide if you’re a phoney based on their assessment of your background and circumstances? Whose place is it to establish your identity and class credentials – whatever that means – but your own?”
‘A Working Class Lad’ is available on all streaming platforms and a limited tape run. The track also comes with a physical, and Bandcamp-only B-side, the wonderfully titled, ‘A Full Pigeon Skeleton Lying at the Side of the Road.’
Music | The Battery Farm (bandcamp.com)
T W O
PHOENIX-based garagepunk outfit THE DARTS formed after the dissolution of ‘The Love Me Nots,’ where Nicole Laurenne (vocals/organ) and Christina Nunez (bass) were previously long-time bandmates.
“We decided to finally put together the all-girl band we had both talked about together for years,” explains Laurenne.
“We tapped some of our favourite female musicians and the albums and tours started almost instantly. There have been some changes in the lineup over the years but currently the core of the band is myself and Christina, and Meliza Jackson (guitar). Chicago-based drummer Mary Rose Gonzales has just recorded our upcoming album and is on tour with us throughout 2022.
“We don’t have a permanent drummer at the moment, choosing to bring on an amazing team of women on a project/session basis for now. Mary Rose also plays with ‘Mystery Actions’ and ‘Bev Rage and The Drinks,’ both out of Chicago.
Following two self-produced EP’s, the band signed with ‘Dirty Water Records (UK)’ before releasing their first full-length vinyl release, Me.Ow.
Having worked tirelessly on the live circuit throughout the US and Europe, in 2018 Jello Biafra signed the band to his label ‘Alternative Tentacles’ and released the third full-length record, ‘I Like You But Not Like That’, at a packed Punk Rock Bowling appearance in Las Vegas.
Their quickly followed an unforgettable coast-to-coast US tour with the band’s heroes ‘The Damned,’ performances with Rancid and L7, songs placed on cult TV show ‘Peaky Blinders’ and a stop at Mexico City’s superb Hipnosis Fest.
“We toured with the Damned in 2018,” adds Laurenne. “And yes, it was amazing touring with legends like that. We met them and hung out backstage, I got to waltz and drink port with Dave Vanian on stage several nights and he had us come up and sing back up sometimes. They are all truly lovely people!
“By summer of 2022, we toured all over the US again, performed on the legendary KEXP Sessions, and finished recording a new full-length record – funded entirely by fans – and co-produced by Jello Biafra. ‘Snake Oil’ will be released in early 2023, with gigs in Europe lined up well into next year.”
And you can catch THE DARTS at London’s legendary 100 Club on October 9th.
“We’ve played at Finsbury Pub in London and another club that escapes me now, and both were great shows. The vibe is a lot like in the US from what we have experienced up until now. But there is definitely an appreciation in Europe for American and other international acts that we don’t see here in the US as much. It’s an absolute joy to play across the pond.”
The Darts (US) – Listen on YouTube, Spotify – Linktree
‘100 Club’ tickets here: THE 100 CLUB
T H R E E
OUT now from DAS KAPITANS – founders of ‘Socks On Records’ – their latest single, ‘To The Sea.’
The energetic indie, punk rock outfit from the Norfolk/Cambridgeshire borders have also released a must-see video – directed and created by Dan Donovan – to accompany the song.
‘To The Sea’ is the third track to come from DAS KAPITANS upcoming album.
Daskapitans – Listen on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music – Linktree
F O U R
MINNEAPOLIS songwriter and guitarist ERIC LINDEN releases his latest single, ‘Crimson Lips,’ on Monday, August 8th.
“I’ve been busy finishing up my debut album and getting ready to drop ‘Crimson Lips,’” he said. “It’s a driving rock song that’s drawn early comparisons to the ‘Rolling Stones’ and ‘The Cars.’
“I’ve been working with a new producer out of San Francisco named Nick Tara, and he’s really bringing a fresh perspective and creative ideas to my music – it’s really inspired me to get this full album out into the world.”
Crimson Lips by Eric Linden – DistroKid
F I V E
‘CANTREF,’ the debut album from HEDDLU – the new musical project by Rhodri Daniel is out now.
The Ceredigion native was a founding member of renowned Welsh band Estrons.
‘Cantref’ is a concept album of sorts, based on a central character who finds himself washed down river and castaway at sea, only to descend to the depths of Cambrian Bay to ‘Cantref Gwaelod,’ a mythological sunken Celtic city, populated with malevolent long-forgotten spirits. Initially, the protagonist struggles to accept reality, before eventually coming to terms with their fate, and learning to float amongst the ghosts.
It’s a bilingual electronic rock album, full of volatile sonics, soaring melodies and unexpected turns, inspired by wild places, trauma and beauty.
S I X
TICKETS are now on sale for September’s UK tour by THE HEAVY NORTH following the release of their stunning debut album, ‘Electric Soul Machine.’
The garage/blues rock band, made up of Kenny Stuart, Jose Ibanez, Andrew Horrocks, Jack Birch, Ste Penn and Mark Rice, formed in late 2018 and released their debut 4-track EP ‘Dive Bar Blues’ in December 2020.
This year has seen the band play a sold-out ‘BBC Introducing’ show at Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club, followed by UK shows and support slots with Cut Glass Kings, Cast, The Boo Radleys, and more recently The Zutons and Red Rum Club at the sold out Liverpool International Music Festival Closing Party.
“We played a handful of UK shows back in February supporting our mates Cut Glass Kings, but we can’t wait to hit the road for our own headline tour,” said frontman Kenny Stuart.
“We’re especially looking forward to playing Scotland for the first time, as well as our big hometown show in Liverpool where we’ll be playing ‘Electric Soul Machine’ in full with some guests.”
Visit www.theheavynorth.com for further information and ticket links.
‘The Heavy North’ UK Tour 2022:
September 15: Sneaky Petes, Edinburgh
September 16: The 13th Note, Glasgow
September 17: The Head Of Steam, Newcastle
September 19: O’Rileys, Hull
September 20: The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
September 21: Le Pub, Newport
September 23: The Dublin Castle, London
September 24: Arts Club Theatre, Liverpool
_________________________________________
