Nite Songs

  40.     DIAMOND DOGS - "About The Hardest Nut To Crack" As always, the Diamond Dogs aren't pulling any surprises with us on their newest album but the truth is that Sulo and co are simply a band who are very good at what they do and on  About The Hardest Nut To Crack , they're on good form with the likes of  Got A Rock 'n' Roll Record ,  Down On The Debris Field  and  Gurus & Gangsters  being particular standouts. Another good effort by this most enjoyable band. *** 39.     THE SHED PROJECT - "Our Fear Is Their Power" A politically charged Stone Roses? The Charlatans after taking some songwriting lessons from Joe Strummer? I'm not entirely sure how you'd describe the Shed Project but what I would say is that they're a very unique and excellent band. Packing the hooks and melodies of the best bands of their ilk but adding a genuine socialist working class anger on the likes of  Ghost Town ,  The Crowdpleaser  and...

It’s weird to think that it was only just over six months ago that your correspondent was going to his first post-lockdown gig to see the Wildhearts play. Suffice to say that the last few months feels like much longer in terms of what's gone on with this band with numerous difficulties seeing the group going on hiatus and hence we're seeing the return of Ginger's solo gigs backed up by his long term associate Random Jon Poole at the Parish tonight. More of which later. First up tonight we've got a new acoustic alliance making its live debut in the form of Polly & Rags   featuring Idol Dead/Spangles/Phluid frontman Polly and Digressions/Role Models frontman Rags. The pair give a good account of themselves tonight with various numbers from all of their past bands being given a run through (a heartfelt run through the Role Models' This Eventually Leads Nowhere  being the highlight for yours truly) and a new number being given a run-out to good effect as well. Wheth...

  So here we go...the big moment...who's won our Album Of The Year award? Read on to find out! *** 10.     L.A. GUNS - "Checkered Past" A real return to form for L.A. Guns and arguably the best album that's come out under this band's name in nearly three decades. Checkered Past  sees them retaining the heaviness of their recent efforts but applying them to the big fist-in-the-air template that they made their name with in the late '80s, veering from strutting AC/DC riff-fests through ferocious thrash to more moody introspective moments. Phil, Tracii and the rest of the guys can congratulate themselves on a job well done here. *** 9.     THE CORAL - "Coral Island" One which escaped our attention at the time, Coral Island  might just be the Coral's best album to date. Almost a world within a record, side one is pure blissful summertime psychedelia set at the titular seaside destination before side two sees winter roll around and things take a more ...

  Rich Ragany seems to be a guy with an undisputed knack for a catchy tune. He first came to our attention with the Role Models who after a prolonged spell as everyone's favourite glam/punk perennial support band reprobates burst on to the scene properly in fine style with their debut full album, 2015's The Go-To Guy , and would follow that up with two further excellent efforts in 2016's Forest Lawn  and 2017's Dance Moves . The group would go on hiatus in 2018 (although a reunion is being touted for later this year) with Rags putting a new band together, the Digressions, aided and abetted by Role Models drummer Simon Maxwell, ex-Glitterati/Dedwardians guitarist Michael "Gaff" Gaffney, ex-UK Subs/The Men They Couldn't Hang bassist Ricky McGuire and ex-Shush guitarist and all round production whizz Andy Brook on keys. 2019 would see them putting out a supremely confident debut album Like We'll Never Make It . One pandemic later and their sophomore effor...

Welcome back to the Singles Bar as we look through this month's releases. A bit of a shorter than usual column this month with five singles and a mini-album to get through so let's get on with it, shall we?... Rich Ragany & The Digressions  are currently limbering up for their second album and on the evidence of  Heartbreakers Don't Try  (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑), a tribute to Johnny Thunders with its lyrical references to You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory unless my ears deceive me, it should be well worth the wait. A supremely tuneful slice of Tom Petty style power-pop (two Heartbreakers for the price of one, you might say) with some driving piano courtesy of ex-Shush man and all round production wiz Andy Brook, this is good stuff. Bandcamp link here .  It's always good to see some Jesse Malin  in the review pile although the jerky blues of  The Way We Used To Roll  (🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑) isn't quite up to the standard of his previous few releases like Ameri'ka or...

  Well it seems oddly apt that we're visiting the Singles Bar the day before Valentine's Day for February, doesn't it? Pull up a stool, order a drink and who knows, you might just get lucky tonight. Let's take a peek and see what joys lie within this month... Definitely the most anticipated release of this month is a new single from Rich Ragany & The Digressions   ahead of their second album due in the spring and I'm pleased to report that Marionette  (🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑) is another good offering from Rags and co with a driving verse merging into a big soaring chorus. In a just world, of course, it would be a chorus that would be being bellowed from stadium rafters by hordes of adoring fans rather than this group being a well-respected cult outfit but who knows, on this evidence, they may yet change that. Either way though, this is a fine effort and well worth your attention. Bandcamp link here . It's a generally acknowledged fact that Frank Turner  is one of rock ...