Current News
THEATRE OF HATE: An EXCLUSIVE Q&A with KIRK BRANDON
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST(WORLD):
As the leader of British outfit The Pack, singer, songwriter and guitarist Kirk Brandon’s unique musical vision was far too adventurous to be constrained by the limits of Punk Rock so he folded that band and moved forward with new ideas. By 1980, he had formed Theatre Of Hate, which included bassist Stan Stammers, saxophonist John Lennard, guitarist Steve Guthrie and drummer Luke Rendle. During their first two years of existence, the band released a few studio singles as well as a live album, HE WHO DARES WINS. By the time the band entered the studio to work on their debut full length, Guthrie had departed and Brandon took over all guitar duties. With The Clash’s Mick Jones in the producer’s chair, TOH began work on what would become a milestone in Post Punk history – WESTWORLD! With a mix of tribal rhythms, Spaghetti Western riffs, Post Punk guitar slashing and Brandon’s passionate wailing, Theatre Of Hate was a band unlike any other. While the band was known for their live performances, they took on a different form in the studio. Pre-dating his Big Audio Dynamite recordings, Mick Jones brought a lot of his experimental ideas to the sessions, which worked extremely well with Brandon’s vision. The end result is still being talked about today…
While TOH folded in 1983 – making way for Kirk’s next project, Spear Of Destiny – their musical legacy lives on. The band has reformed with various line-ups over the years and are now making waves again with both a new album (KINSHI) and a deluxe three CD edition of WESTWORLD. This excellent reissue on Cherry Red includes a remastered version of the album alongside non-album singles, Peel Sessions, alternate mixes and a live concert taped during the WESTWORLD tour. Still sounding fresh and invigorating, this expanded edition is the definitive version of an album that helped pioneer Post Punk in the UK.
Stephen SPAZ Schnee sent off a few questions to Kirk Brandon, who was gracious enough to take the time to respond…
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DAVID LINDLEY reissues on Wounded Bird Records!
For 50 years, David Lindley has been one of the most respected – and commercially overlooked – musicians in Rock music. Sure, he made a name for himself with the completely original Psych outfit Kaleidoscope back in the ‘60s and he has been one of the most in-demand session musicians since the ‘70s (Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Rod Stewart, Graham Nash, The Youngbloods, Bruce Springsteen, Rickie Lee Jones, etc.) yet he has never received his due as a solo artist. However, his output has been so eclectic over the years that some of us are still trying to catch up! Do yourself a favor and read up on his career on Wikipedia or elsewhere on the ‘net. For now, I’m going to focus on a few of his ‘80s solo releases…
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Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Announce 2017 Tour!
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Announce 2017 North American Tour
Theatre in Brooklyn, NY on May 26, 2017. The 19-date tour will make its way across the
continent and will conclude June 29 at Los Angeles’ historic Greek Theatre.
The band were last in North America in 2014 with critical response being best described as
‘blown away en masse’:
“Visions of murder, catastrophe, transfiguration and desperate love issued from the stage, set to
dirges, stomps and inexorable crescendos.” NEW YORK […]
Lovely Days in October!
Lovely Days self-titled EP to be released on October 7th.
“You know that incredible feeling that you get when you put a coat on and find money in one of the coat pockets that you didn’t know about? You almost feel as if you’ve just won the lottery or hit the jackpot! That’s the kind of feeling that I got when I listened to the The Lovely Days self-titled EP release. It’s a five song EP […]
JAH WOBBLE: An EXCLUSIVE Interview!
Invaders Of The Art:
From Post-Punk to Dub to Jazz and back to Dub again, there are very few musical genres that have not been touched by the genius that is Jah Wobble. Born John Wardle – and christened with his stage name by none other than Sid Vicious – Wobble has defied the odds and has remained one of the most innovative and forward-thinking musicians of the Rock era. He first came to prominence in John “Johnny Rotten” Lydon’s post-Sex Pistols outfit, Public Image Ltd. After a few years of knocking about and causing musical mayhem with Lydon & Co., Wobble struck out on his own. Working with artists such as The Edge (U2) and Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit (Can), he was able to expand his resume while exploring new sounds and styles. During this period, Wobble also put together his own band, Invaders Of The Heart. By the end of the ‘80s and into the ‘90s, he had become one of the most respected British musicians of his generation – entirely unpredictable yet always riveting. With Invaders Of The Heart, Wobble was able to combine World Music, Ambient, Folk and Electronica, creating a sound that was both unique and commercially successful – not an easy feat for any artist. Scoring a hit album, RISING ABOVE BEDLAM, at the beginning of the ‘90s, was a little surprising but very welcome and well-deserved. With a line-up that has evolved over time, Jah and his Invaders Of The Heart have become one of the most exciting and inspiring musical outfits in modern music. One of the most prolific artists of his generation, Jah’s work with Invaders Of The Heart is only the tip of the iceberg. As a leader or collaborator, Jah Wobble’s catalog is as deep as the music he plays. A visit to www.jahwobble.com will catch you up to date.
EVERYTHING IS NO THING, Wobble and the Invaders’ 2016 release, takes the band into an exciting dimension – Spiritual Jazz. Produced by Youth and led by Jah’s warm and emotional bass playing, the album takes the listener to new and exciting levels of ecstasy. Anyone looking for Ambient, Dub or Post-Punk will not find them here. However, the attitude and excitement of those genres can be found lurking deep within the grooves of the album. Wobble’s never-ending musical journey means that he never makes a bad record. Spiritual Jazz may not be the direction some fans of “Visions Of You” may be expecting, but open your mind and you’ll most certainly enjoy the ride. This is not music that you’ll just listen to – it is music that you will feel.
Stephen SPAZ Schnee was able to toss a few questions over to Mr. Wobble, who kindly took time out to discuss EVERYTHING IS NO THING and much more…
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LINDSEY STIRLING’s Brave Enough – Available NOW!
LINDSEY STIRLING
BRAVE ENOUGH
This highly anticipated release features a number of high profile collaborations including Christina Perri, Dan + Shay, ZZ Ward, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Rivers Cuomo, Grammy Award winning hip-hop artist Lecray, and critically acclaimed electronic musicians/producers Zedd and Robert DeLong.
Blending electronic music with a diverse number of musical genres that include pop, country, rap, alternative and rock, BRAVE ENOUGH displays Stirling’s impressive ability to push her own musical boundaries while continuing to […]
Jim Dickinson – The Dixie Fried
Jim Dickinson “The Dixie Fried” available September 2!
(From Light in the Attic)
The late Jim Dickinson is one of the most eclectic personages rock n’roll has ever thrown up: a musical
maverick. From Sun Records and Ardent Studios in the 1960s, to sessions with the Rolling Stones,
Ry Cooder and Bob Dylan, significant productions of Big Star and the Replacements, and the twisted
roots rock of his own Mud Boy & The Neutrons, the man was never, ever predictable.
A […]
Prank Phone Calls with Nephew Tommy
Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles has built a career that encompasses radio,
television, lm and more. Thomas’ role as co-host of the nationally syndicated
Steve Harvey Morning Show puts him in front of a live radio audience of
more than 8 million listeners daily. Nephew Tommy provides a key role in the
morning show, lighting it up with his own cast of colorful characters and zany
humor.
Thomas also has a loyal following as a stand-up comedian and has earned a
reputation for […]
THE TURTLES – Spaz reviews the fab new reissues on Manifesto Records!
The Turtles scored a handful of hits in the ‘60s – songs that are still played on oldies stations nearly fifty years later – yet they seldom receive the credit they deserve. As I prepared to write this review, I just could not figure out why they aren’t held in higher esteem by the public at large. Sure, us music guys love them to death but why do they get overlooked when people talk about […]
The Neverclaim Debut First Full-Length Album!
The Neverclaim first album “Encounter: A Live Worship Service” will debut on September 30!
(From Fuel Music) Acclaimed pop/rock/worship band The Neverclaim releases its
first full-length live worship album, Encounter: A Live Worship Experience, Sept. 30 from Radiate Music. Recorded live at the
Franklin, TN-based Vineyard Church just outside of Nashville, the album was produced by the band’s Jeremiah Carlson (lead
vocals), Mitchell Maldonado (guitar/keys), Chuck Hill (bass) and Beji George (drums), and expresses the band’s story of being
broken […]