REVIEW: Andi Wilson(Leagues Apart) Best of 2009...

Like Adam’s, this isn’t in any order, because choosing a top ten was difficult enough without ranking them.

The Lawrence Arms- Buttsweat and Tears (Fat Wreck)
Can’t really say much about this that hasn’t already been said. Songwise, it’s kind of a cross between Apathy and Exhaustion’s introspection with some of Oh! Calcutta!’s grittiness which i really love. Although Brendan is my Larry Arms vocalist of preference, the ratio of Brendan to Chris is severely out of whack (4:1), so this release feels a little one sided, despite the increase in Brendan’s ‘clean’ vocals. So a lack of vocal contrast is one of my few gripes with this, aside from its obvious brevity. In all though, if you love the Lawrence Arms, this is fucking mint. Now stop dicking about being responisible adults and make an album.

Sense of Urgency/Stand Out Riot/A WarAgainstSound- Split (TNS)
Another top quality split from TNS showcasing how versatile ska-punk can be as a genre. First off there’s Sense of Urgency, sounding like Slapstick would have sounded if they were a million times better than they actually were, followed by the spastic ska/punk/gypsy/pirate/salsa-core of Stand Out Riot, capped off by the techy Wilhelm Scream tinged ska punk of A WarAgainstSound. Lovely.

The Hijacks- Consuming Our Compassion (GFN)
A great, albeit short offering from Aberdeen’s foremost proponents of gruff ska. 3 insanely catchy blasts of socially conscious ska punk with three contrasting vocalists, some horns and a shitload of gang vocals.

O Pioneers!!!- Neon Creeps (Asian Man)
For some reason, these often get described as being like Against Me!, only not as good, a comparison which I don’t really get. However, none of that matters because this album is mint. If you like the sound of the bitterest man ever, shouting about how people have been dicks to him, over fuzzy open chords then this is for you.

Cop Out- S/T 7”
I found out about this band far too late, only seeing them at their last Manchester show. Therefore I am shit and lose serious punx points. That’s ok though, because this 7” is totally awesome.

North Lincoln- Midwestern Blood (No Idea)
Really good No Idea punk. Two thumbs up.

Above Them- Blueprint For a Better Time
S’Alright.

The Skints- Live, Breathe, Build, Believe (Rebel Alliance)
If you can get over the drummer’s ridiculous faux-Jamaican accent, which, admittedly, is difficult, this album is absolutely fantastic, mixing largely laid back parts with some genuinely ball-bustingly heavy moments, and some truly memorable lyrical gems. Which I have now forgotten.

The Hostiles- Always Looking Forward
An excellent cheery ska album with cartoony vocals, sweet brass parts and one terrifyingly heavy beatdown. What more could you want?

Off With Their Heads- From The Bottom (No Idea)
I know this came out last year, but fuck you, this album is fucking amazing. Songs about depression and self loathing have never been put to such irresistably catchy melodies. It’s like the band that Alkaline Trio could have been if they’d stuck with writing great pop punk albums rather than sucking off Robert Smith. So yeah, it’s great. Buy it.

REVIEW: Yet Another Faggy End of 2009 list...

Adam Bilboas' Best of 2009...

This ain't in any particular order mainly because that would be impossible.

#1 Above Them - Blueprint for a Better Time

Best band in the UK at the moment, hands down, no arguments. I've not got anything to say that hasn't already been said. If you ain't got this LP, GET ON IT!!!

#2 Lawrence Arms - Buttsweat and Tears

Why did Larry Arms bother releasing this? I'm sure, going on what everyone I've spoken to about this 7" has said. WHERE IS THE ALBUM?? These 5 tracks are amazing, classic LA that has you wanting more...

#3 Propagandhi - Supporting Caste

Shit. The. Bed... Where did this come from!! When i heard that propagandhi were doing a new album i was stoked!! Not having had a new album from these since 2005, they have come on a long way!! Supporting Caste is on par with Todays Empires, Tomorrows Ashes which means its fucking amazing. Get it if you haven't already, it'll rip you a new one...

#4 Rentokill - The O.S.E

In 2006 my old band played a few shows with Rentokill. I fell in love. 3 years on and they bring out this concept LTD 12" picture disk. I believe its out of print now which is a massive shame. 4 tracks. The Object. The Subject. The End and there is a bonus track too!! The best song is The End. It's a proper epic acoustic song. You can listen to the main songs on thier myspace. Do it, You won't regret it.

#5 Sam Russo - Payphone Demos

Russo is a dick. Seriously for anyone that writes or tries to write lyrics, thinks like this. He is the best song writer in the UK. There are 7 tracks on this demo and i thought i got a really good price on it as i found
it on the floor at The Frontlines last show. BARGAIN!!! Best song is Tinned Peaches & Diamond Rings. Sam, when you read this, quit your job and tour for fuck sake!!

#6 Sammy's Fatal Mistake - Rights, Responsibility & The Promise of Instant Gratification

Why aren't this band more well known? Jordy gave me this EP when i played with 'em in Macclesfield, thought i'd lost it, then found it in a bag not so long ago. Whacked it on straight away. The first song is amazing and i vaugly remember asking someone if its on the EP the night i got it. Go to see this band live, i've got a feeling 2010 is gonna be a wicked year for them.

#7 The Shook Ones - The Unquotable AMH

Is there a song you would masturbate over? YES!! Probably the best start to an album ever... Can't wait for these to tour with Polar Bear Club next year!

#8 Strike Anywhere - Iron Front

And now the second best start to an album. When i heard this album i was so excited to see em play these songs live. People say that Strike Anywhere only have one song. Yeh maybe they are quite "samey" but Iron Front
is definatly my favorite part of THE song.

#9 High Five Drive - Full Blast

Canadas best kept secret. I'd never heard these before playing with them in May. I didn't have the cash to buy the record that day but did get a copy off a friend (sorry guys, think i bought quite a bit of booze to
the Jenga table though). If you like Belvedere or A Wilhelm Scream you'll love these. So tekky and ridiculously catchy this album has been playing none stop for quite some time now. Think you can get it from Fond of Life real cheap too...

#10 Dear Landlord - Dream Homes

Such an amazing album. Not got anything that James and KK haven't already said, guess i should have done my faggy list sooner?? Get this album, learn the words and get yourself to the Retro Bar in Manchester on 7th May 2010!!

REVIEW: Another cool end of 2009 list...

James Hulls' Favourite Records of 2009:

1. Above Them: Blueprint For A Better Time - I first saw these guys in Kings Lynn over the summer and they left me gawking and I don't gawk at much! This album is the best UK release of the year full of the kind feel good melodic punk rock, it's hard not to say this is the album of the year.

2. Dear Landlord: Dream Homes (No Idea) - Because I haven't reached deep into my pockets and brought the Nothington album yet I'm going to have to rile against every other end of year list and have Dream Homes as my favourite No Idea gruff pop punk release of the year. For me this has the best start to an album all year; in fact as soon as you press play growly yet harmonized voices declare 'I live in hell!' as fast paced guitars crash in before suddenly the first chorus has slapped you in both kidneys and as soon your slow mushy geriatric brain has even had time to think 'oh this is pretty good' the first song is over. It might tail off a little as it progresses but tracks like Lake Ontario and Three To The Beach meant I listened to this a lot throughout the year. (James' future prediction; next year some sort of new Off With Their Heads release will occupy my pop-punk album of the year slot)

3. Polar Bear Club: Chasing Hamburg (Bridge Nine) - Piss, this little bastard took me by surprise. I don't like Polar Bear Club, I hate them live, their output prior to this was average all be it with occasional flashes of brilliance and the way they conducted themselves well; I found it confusing the first time I saw them on the Frank Turner/Gaslight tour as to why they were even on the bill! They just didn't seem to fit and PBC don't really fit, maybe that's what so charming about them. By all rights I should see them as a New Found Glory style kiddie hardcore band, kind of like a slightly harder Set Your Goals but they're more than that. I downloaded this album illegally (because I'm a piece of shit) because I wasn't expecting to like it I just wanted to check it out so I could slate it. I was wrong though, so wrong, it completely blew my unsightly man boobs off! I'm not completely sure what Polar Bear Club's game is, they attract a seemingly diverse cross section of people and they really shouldn't! They just shouldn't be as good as they are! Arrggh!

Ah you know what, fuck it, with songs like 'Take Me To The Town' and 'Living Saints' PBC are just straight up an awesome melodic punk band who completely won cynical old me over with this album. Can't wait to see them in feb.


4. The Hold Steady: A Positive Rage - It's no small secret that the Hold Steady are pretty much my favourite band of the past couple of years, (since the Larry Arms didn't release anything between 2006 and this year! ) A Positive Rage is a live album from the Metro Bar in Chicago recorded on Halloween night 2007 and well, it's pretty great! Featuring a smattering of songs from the albums and a few b-sides it's not quite as chaotic as I'd like, the average Hold Steady live bootleg will feature Craig Finn falling over his own lyrics in an effort to get them out, forgetting entire verses and just general live switching and playing with songs. This however is still one of the albums i've had crackling through my headphones all year long, the last song 'Massive Nights' is particularly euphoric in a live setting and Lord I'm Discouraged sends a tingle down my spine every time.

5. The Lawrence Arms - Butt Sweat and Tears (Fat Wreck) - Oh hello, where have you been since 2006? Oh I see dicking around with your twatty little side projects, oh hey listen to my little acoustic guitar songs, aren't they pretty...oww look i've got the slap head from Alkaline Trio to come and fist me while I play ska songs about drug dealers....enough of that shit. 2009 the Lawrence Arms finally returned from being fathers (Brendan), big shot record producers (Neil) and stoned in their mums basement (Chris) to take on all us little Larry Arms obsessives. We emerged blinking in the light, disheveled, in torn rags, empty bottles of Tesco own brand whiskey and limited edition vinyl copies of 'Ghost Stories' cluttered at our feet, we had heard finally it was time for a new hit to see us through the cold winter. But what if it was a steaming stack of shit? What if in all this time they had lost it? Had they lost it? Had they fuck. This is the Larry Arms, the original and still the best pseudo intellectual power pop punk trio the world has ever known. From the muted guitar intro of 'Spit Shining Shit' through the beautifully reflective and bittersweet 'The Slowest Drink At the Saddest Bar On the Snowiest Day In the Greatest City' This is a sing-a-long fist pumping and ultimately positive EP. Just makes me want an album.


6. Jamie T - Kings and Queens (Virgin)- Yep, Jamie T, I like Jamie T, sorry teh punx what cha gonna do? Make a big vat of D.I.Y anthrax and throw it n my face. Fuck you guys.

7. Iron Chic - Demo (If You Make It) - It's the mandatory post Latterman band! Wahey! Regardless of their members past achievements Iron Chic stand on their own as great band. Full of throat first harmonies, lyrics which remain basic and honest without slipping into being derivative or worse yet overly sentimental the chorus of 'Cry Baby' is enough to sort out any shitty day at work or boring unemployed afternoon watching Murder She Wrote and wishing you were dead.


8. The Menzingers - Hold On, Dodge (Red Scare)- This is my EP of the year without a doubt, their album didn't blow me away but as far as mid-tempo punk with dashes of indie and an obvious and kind of hilarious use of auto-tuning goes there are few better at the minute than the Menzingers. 'Sunday Morning' is an instant classic and had me and many like me finding the only words in our head during our waking hours were 'Don't worry brother/this will blow over' which made it hard to focus on other things like ordering beers, talking to loved ones and explaining to the officer just why you were walking down the street singing quite so loudly. The four main tracks are over far too quickly but are perfectly formed in their aggression juxtaposed by gentle melodies. I really hope they build on this really soon, plus I think they are coming to the UK next year.


9. Apologies I Have None- Two Sticks and Sick Strings (probably self released I guess, I don't know fuck these guys) - The best folk punk band in the UK how could they not make everyones end of year list, this has been the year of Apologies. Touring their dicks off, releasing this blistering EP filled with just straight up great songs which have you singing despite having no obvious chorus or overly coherent structure. Dan and Josh outdid themselves with this one, it sounds familiar yet completely fresh they take the tried and tested folk punk blueprint to the next level leaving everyone else gasping to catch up. Seriously right up there with the best the UK has.

10. Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP (Jagjaguar)- We all have to sleep and there have been many times this year I've been curled up on a floor underneath my jacket coughing on the dust and dirt feeling like an imposing arse hole but mainly desperate for a nice warm bed and unable to drift off due to the cold and those are the moments when I've never been happier that I have this EP. I know it's a little trendy but it's the heart-felt ambiance that this guy creates which is awe inspiring. The title track from this EP alone is one of my favourite songs of the year. Tinged with perverse eerie quality it reminds me a little of an updated version of State Trooper by Springsteen in it's isolated melancholy over loss and desire. I'd put this on, pull my jacket around my shoulders and drift off till the hangover hits. A little sleeping pill in four amazing tracks.


James Hull x

VIDEO: Leagues Apart - All This Talk of Sinking Ships (Is Making Me Thirsty)

So, Leagues Apart are a new band from Salford/Manchester and feature James and Adam of the Moving North team! They're proper good and played their first show in Lincoln a couple Friday's back, I was very impressed how good it was for their first show. It's good melodic punk, gruffy edges with a No Idea records kind of tinge.

I recorded their first song called "All This Talk of Sinking Ships Is Making Me Thirsty". Definitely a band to keep your eye on next year I'd say...

These guys are playing with Dear Landlord that Moving North is putting on Friday May 7th!

AUDIO: Oh, one last thing, FREE music from Neil Sutherland...

Build Our Own EP

One Hundred Faces EP

Just checked Neil Sutherland and Friends myspace and they have a Christmas gift for y'all. Being the lovely guys they are, they're giving away their ENTIRE music catalogue for free this festive season. Just go to here and follow the instructions provided for your download link.

Also, Neil has just fractured his arm by rocking too hard to wish him a quick recovery!

Bye again x

GIGS: Gigs to look forward to in 2010

On Sunday March 21st we're putting on two of the best bands in the UK at the moment, both played FEST 8 in Gainesville, USA this year and we're stoked to be putting them on. Playing for you will be Bangers and The Arteries as part of their weekend tour of the UK. It'll also probably be at The Retro Bar unless we find a cheap place that doesn't smell of piss in the mean time. Looking for a local Manchester band to support for this show too, so if you are in one, get in touch.

Bangers are one of the most exciting bands around at the moment, playing amazing pop punk about girls and "banging" but with sophistication and amazing vocals. They've got a split 12" out with Brighton Latterman-worshippers Break The Habit which you can get from either band.

The Arteries come from the mystical land of Swansea, South Wales and play music you'd hear if AC/DC played metal punk music. It's fast and it's fucking great. One of the tightest bands around in UK punk rock and we're really looking forward to seeing what people make of them. They played the All-Dayer that Last Lung put on at The Oxford in Manchester in March this year, so if you missed them then, now's your chance to see them again. And if you did see them then, i'm 100% sure you'll be back for this.

Then Friday May 7th is Dear Landlord at The Retro Bar, which is going to be all kinds of amazing. Apologies, I Have None are also playing this show, if you haven't heard them yet, they play amazing punk rock in the vein of Against Me! (As The Eternal Cowboy days) and you can download their first EP for free here, or buy their newest and better EP for £4 from here.

Local Manchester bands Leagues Apart (Latterman/No Idea sounds from Salford) and Dead Mills (North Lincoln/Lawrence Arms) are supporting for the Dear Landlord show, both are pretty new to the scene and seem very promising.

This is probably gonna be the last update before the new year cause my computer at home is a massive piece of shit. Have a good one. x

REVIEW: End of 2009 list are cool, right?....

You’ve fucked up in 2009 if you haven’t heard these records:

#1 Captain, We’re Sinking – It’s A Trap

I got hold of this when I came back from FEST 8 after meeting the guy who runs the label it was put out on. Instantly became one of my favourite releases of the year.

Track 1 starts just like the new Lawrence Arms EP (see #2) with a single guitar, palm-muted with gravelly, fucking amazing vocals.

This EP is anthemic and such a fucking good singalong. I wish more of my friends would get into it so when we’re smashed we can sing that instead of Journey. I’m just kidding, nothing beats Journey. You can download it here, don't worry, it's there for free on their myspace too!

#2 The Lawrence Arms – Buttsweat and Tears

Long, long overdue, but totally justifiable when you listen to these 4 tracks. Following on from where they left off with Oh! Calcutta! This is typical amazing Lawrence Arms. Track 2 “The Slowest Drink at the Saddest Bar on the Snowiest day in the Greatest City” is my personal favourite. Just when it goes into the amazing guitar chord part at 2:30 “walk through the snow to a bar where there’s no-one I know, drink slow, drink slow with nowhere to go, and when I leave I’ll be singing this song.” Fucking amazing.

#3 RVIVR – Life Moves 7”

I’m pretty sure this was a 2009 release, correct me if I’m wrong. Often the debate comes up about which post-Latterman band is the greatest. Is it Iron Chic? Was it Shorebirds? Is it RVIVR? Right now, I’d say yes it is RVIVR. Latterman meets The Distillers but not shit. A very similar sound to Shorebirds but with something else, something better and with a bit more direction. Having the female vocals does wonders too and their 2^nd 7” is also out so I’d recommend snapping both of them up.

#4 Above Them – Blueprint For A Better Time

This is undoubtedly my favourite LP of 2009. There was a slight buzz about this band before I saw them and just watching them live blew me away. And this record far beyond exceeded my expectations. I haven’t appreciated an entire album as much as this since The ’59 Sound came out. Tracks like ‘For Those Who Paved The Way’ ‘Keep Smiling’ and ‘Where Did All The Hope Go?’ blow my mind constantly. Hit after hit after hit on this album and if you don’t own it, go buy it! Something for the UK folk to be very proud of.

#5 Dear Landlord – Dream Homes

I Live In Hell…from that line 2 seconds in on the first track I was gripped. This is No Idea Pop-Punk Gruff done perfectly. A definite for fans of Off With Their Heads/House Boat/Steinways. Songs about being broke, “Whisky and Records”, drinking your money away and the usual. I know for a lot of my friends this was their #1 record of 2009 and I can easily see why. You can stream it here.

#6 Cop Out – 7”

Some of the songs on this 7” are a few years old, but if you didn’t know, Cop Out are the laziest band ever and asides from a demo CD this is the only thing they’ve released, and sadly now they’ve split up, the only thing they ever will. This 7” is 7 tracks of incredible punk/hardcore in the Kid Dynamite vein. No bullshit here, relentlessly amazing, song after song. So many moments in this 7” where (if you can make out the words) you’ll be screaming along, playing air drums, air guitar, jumping up and down…argh! This is the best £2.50 I ever spent and I’ll miss this band dearly. I've no idea if they've got any 7" left, but I'm gonna up the mp3's anyway, I hope they're cool with it.

#7 Our Time Down Here – Live. Love. Let Go.

Another UK record on this list and another one that was long overdue. There had been a fair bit of internet hype around the release of this record and the bar was set pretty high for them. The first song being 26 seconds long, is a perfect example of what’s to come, the change in vocals between the EP and this album is noticeable but I feel it works well for Will and the band. “Curtain Call” is an absolute tune and there are tonnes of singalong and what you want from a solid punk-pop-hardcore record. With this release I think they’ve gone more towards the Set Your Goals side of hardcore as opposed to the more aggressive side they were before, I hope it works for them because they definitely deserve it. A personal highlight for me is in the track “Dusk” where 1:12 in, a 4 count and a drumroll comes in and Wills vocals come at you relentlessly before it breaks into a fucking sick Gallows-like gang vocals and riffage. Ah fuck yeah, this album rules, hard.

#8 Apologies, I have none – Two Sticks and Six Strings

I’d been waiting for this release for a long while, and between getting their first demo “Done.” And this being released I’d become good friends with Josh and Dan and when the CD was ready they gave it to me the first day, I went back to my car and listened to it on repeat, several times. It was perfect, I thought “Done.” was genius and would be hard to beat but they just blew it out of the water. “100 Club”(free download) is an absolute smash, heavy Against Me! influence, instant hit. These are some of the best songs in UK punk rock and now they’ve added a bassist and a new drummer, the sound live is so much deeper and complete. Go buy the record, I think it’s about 4 quid, and then go see them. Boom!

#9 Solutions – Before The Roars

This is a late contender. Released late November and I was so stoked on it. I’d been waiting ages for Solutions to release something and this was worth waiting for. It’s 9 tracks that have such a massive sound and for me, separates Solutions from ‘other bands’. There must be something in the water in the South West of England. The Cut Ups, Brothers, Solutions, all amazing bands. I need some of their water. But H2O aside, you can download this record for free off their blog and I’d recommend doing it, now, NOW!.

#10 Calvinball – Moving Homes and Breaking Bones

These guys wrap up my Top 10 of 2009. I first heard Calvinball’s first CD in Summer 2008 I think, then saw them acoustic at a house show in York and they were pretty fun. Drunk and messy, but that’s how I like my music sometimes. In almost every song there is one line, or one short verse that sticks in your head all fucking day and you can’t help but sing it out loud all the time. And when I got the new EP I was hoping it’d follow suit. It did, both EP’s are similar however I think Calvinball really define themselves on the new EP. First two tracks are beyond amazing, and then the next two shows they’ve been hanging out with Apologies, I have none too much with all the ‘whoahs!’. 5 tracks, 5 killer songs. I think Joe’s lead guitar parts play a large part in Calvinball’s sound along with the duel gruffy vocals and Connors stupidly amazing drumming, Calvinball are fucking rad, get this.

Honourable mentions go to:

Shook Ones – The Unquotable A.M.H

Polar Bear Club - Chasing Hamburg

Tim Vantol – Road Sweet Road

Bangers/Break The Habit - Split 12”

Green Day – 21^st Century Breakdown (yeah fuck you, I love this band and this album was sweet)

House Boat – The Delaware Octopus

Crazy Arm – Born To Ruin

NOFX – Coaster

The Skints – Live. Breathe. Build. Believe.

Red City Radio – To The Sons and Daughters of Woody Guthrie

There we go, lists are rad!

AUDIO: Solutions - Before The Roars (Full Album)

When I saw Against Me! at Camden Underworld in 2007, a band called Gunrack? played and they were very good. Shortly after that, they broke up. From that break-up came Solutions. I'd heard a couple of demos earlier on in 2009 and I was very impressed and eager to hear more. So better late than never, they upped their first album onto their myspace, for free.

I was so excited to hear it, and when I did I was so fucking stoked. Every song on it is an absolute tune, there's sing-a-longs, slow songs, fast songs, argh! I can't get enough of it. I listen to it most days and i'm yet to tire of it.

You can download the album directly from Mediafire

And they've posted all the lyrics and artwork on their blog too.

So get involved with this, I hope 2010 is a good year for these guys.

GIGS: Moving North Presents... #1 (OUR FIRST GIG)

Hey! We've provisionally booked our first show as Moving North motherfuckers.
Incredibly stoked to say we have DEAR LANDLORD. These guys released my favourite album of 2009 with 'Dream Homes' which you can stream for free over on the punknews.org site.

We're so excited to be putting this band on as our first gig, hope you are too.

For those that don't know Dear Landlord, they're amazing gruffy pop punk on No Idea Records featuring members of The Ergs, Off With Their Heads, House Boat and The Copyrights. Punk rock supergroup right?

Get the record (UK) (USA), learn the songs, and get boozy to this one!

Flyers, line-ups, times and shit will be up as soon as we can get it all sorted. But for now get out your diaries:

Friday May 7th 2010

Dear Landlord + 3 TBC @ Venue TBC, Manchester.

any questions hit me up kieranazk@gmail.com x

WIN: Coffeehouse Sessions Tape (Brian Fallon, Gaslight Anthem)

This competition is being put on by a good dude on The Gaslight Anthem forum and I thought I'd post it up here. The tape in question is one that was recorded a long time ago and features Brian Fallon singing his songs when he was maybe 16 years old? Only 15 of these tapes exist, I've already got one, so here's you chance to grab one.

If you want this tape all you have to do is donate some clothes to your local Oxfam (or any similar), take a picture (just standing in front of the store with your bag of clothes is good enough) and post it in this thread. Each day that you donate counts as a different entry (since this contest will run through 24DEC2009 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time you can enter up to 17 times!). On Christmas morning I will pick a post at random (Mrs. e7c and Monk-o-tron will watch to ensure that it is completely random) and announce the winner on the thread.

The reason we are giving away the tape this way is because Chirs Eissing aka The Mean Little Man donate the tapes to us, so what better way to give them away than by making people donate. Also be sure to check him out at John & Peter's 96 South Main St, New Hope PA 18938 at 3pm on 12DEC2009.

For those of you that don't know about these tapes check out this YouTube post...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXrxcqDbanQ

For more information visit: http://tinyurl.com/gaslightforum

GIGS: Punk 'n' Bowl III

here's a gig you should go to #2...

Sunday 20th December - Punk 'n' Bowl @ Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes, London

Address: Basement of Tavistock Hotel, Bedford Way, London, WC1H 9EU

Every 6 months or so Greg and Cara put on the best thing in UK Punk Rock, it's called Punk 'n' Bowl. And it's exactly what it says on the tin, punk and bowl.

11 bands, 8 lanes. How can this go wrong?

I've been to Punk 'n' Bowl I and II and they were easily the highlights of my year (excluding that time I went to FEST 8, remember that?)

This year on the line up you have The Gateway District, Bangers, The Arteries, Men, Rooftops, Brothers, Cold Ones, Regimes, Neil Suthlerland and Friends, G-G-G-Giles, and Shitty Limits.

My friend Ian Chaddock took this video at the last Punk 'n' Bowl for his fucking awesome site Strike A Chord UK

Now I'm mainly stoked on Neil Sutherland and Friends, Giles, Rooftops and Bangers. But can't wait to see all the others and bands I've never seen before.

If you live within 100 miles+ of London get down to this.

Merry Christmas.

How much entry? You what?! Donations?! Fuck yes. How can this not be the best Christmas present ever, fuck the Playstation 3 or the new iPhone, come to this and get boozy.

VIDEO: Above Them - A Flight and a Crash (Hot Water Music)

So on Friday it was the Not Shy of the DIY Xmas Boozy Do! 5 bands played and it was an amazing night. Above Them covered Hot Water Music so I thought I'd take a video, the video quality isn't very good, but the sound is. If you want to look at a website that has much better videos at much better quality, check out Strike A Chord UK.

So here it is Above Them making everyone lose their shit in Sheffield. Good old James Hull makes a hero of himself as lead singer too!

Other bands that played were Vanilla Pod (video on it's way), Cop Out (last ever Sheffield show!), Pure Graft and Big City Plan.

Cheers to Not Shy for having us!

VIDEO: Cop Out - New Song @ Retro Bar, Manchester

I took this at Cop Out's last ever Manchester show on 28th November. I was drunk, so were most people pushing me around. This is obviously another fucking killer song from Cop Out who are going to be missed when they break up at the end of the year!

LIVE AUDIO: Apologies, I Have None - very very drunk.

I recorded this during the aftermath of the Dorking Pre-Fest that good olf Fun Alf put on. Fun Alf also plays in Serf Combat who are well worth your time checking out. There will be a review of Pre-Fest in the first issue of the 'zine if it's out by February! Otherwise it'll probably be on here soon.

It was definately one of the best shows I've been to all year. After the bands finished, it just became a party. The hotel room housing Calvinball/Apologies, I Have None decided to open it's doors and let about 30 people in for an impromptu acoustic show. A few songs were played by a few people (I played an Apologies, I Have None song in front of them, score.) and this is most of Dan playing 'Green Green Mabley Green' which is available sober, no gang vocals, better recorded, more woahs, and a bit less atmosphere here: http://www.apologiesihavenone.bigcartel.com/product/two-sticks-and-six-strings-ep

Apologies, I Have None (Dan) - Lead Vocals and Guitar

20 drunk dudes in a hotel room - Backing vocals.

Also, on Friday night will be the last show that Craig Not Shy of the DIY will be putting on in Sheffield for a while as he's moving to Leeds for a bit. So if you live around the area, try and make it down. It's a quid to get in, £1.69 pints and a line up that will make your Nan shit the bus.

Boozy fuckin' doo!