April 22nd, 2017
A new band to The Paranoid Squirrel are The Black Angels who are first up this week with a track from their “Death Song” LP. The Chuck Norris Experiment have covered an Adam West track on their up and coming “Chück Me!” album that has also just been released as a 7” which of course I play. Swiftly following on are Jake Starr and the Delicious Fullness as Jake used to be the throatalist with Adam West. Peter Perrett, singer with The Only Ones, is just about to release his first solo album “How the West was Won”, the title track of which I play. TV Eye, a band that Duran Duran owes a couple of their hits to, have just released an album of studio and rehearsal material recorded between 1977-78, amongst their ranks are Dave Kusworth (The Jacobite’s), Dave Twist (The Black Bombers) and Andrew Wickett (Duran Duran). Of course, I play something from it. Over Easter Flash House, Scumbag Millionaire, Bitch Queens and The Hip Priests set off for a four date Tourette dubbed “The Furious, faultless, four headed sexed up, revved up Rock ‘n’ Roll revue that’s guaranteed to lose money” because you could see all four bands, two which had been flown in from foreign climes, for a fiver. And to lose them even more money; the first ten people through the door, at each gig, got a 12-track tour ep for free. Naturally a track form each band is played. Straight after The Hip Priests I play some Body Count. I’ve never really been into them. I think naively I shied away because of Ice-T’s Rap connection. It’s not a bad album to be honest, the Slayer medley sounded like Slayer with Ice-T on vocals, it all right but I was expecting something else/more. In a great piece of linkage, I managed to play the new Black Bullets single whilst talking about early curfews. South African based band Four King Ace, think about it, have a track played from their debut album “Never Aim to Please” but it’s Crazy Lixx and a track from their 5th and new album “Rough Justice” that ends this week’s show.
January 14th, 2017
Right, let’s get straight into the first Fan Funded segmentation of 2017. I have three artists for you to choose from; Up first is The Sly Persuaders, a London based 4 piece, gnarly, garage, surf, Rockabilly band that on the track I play from their self-titled debut has the most direst bass sound since Lemmy discovered distortion. If we’re talking distortion then Ginger Wildheart and Exit International’s Scott Lee Andrews in their Mutation guise take things to a different level with “Mutation III”. The final piece of the pledge jigsaw this week is Chris Catalyst and a track from his just launched “Life is Often Brilliant” campaign. If truth be told I actually sneak in a track from Hellbound Hearts’ non pledge album “Film Noir” between “Mutation III” and Chris’ tracks. Johnny Moped get honoured by a band called Hamsters, not to be confused with The Hamsters those fine purveyors of Blues/Rock and Hendrix/ZZ Top covers and a track called “Basically, Johnny Moped” which celebrates the legendary outsider status of Johnny himself along with Slimy Toad, Dave Berk, original bassist Fred Berk with his replacement Jacko, the mysterious Rock ‘n’ Roll Robot and Xerxes. Top Riffmeister Tony Iommi has just released a Classical Choral piece that he wrote for the Birmingham City Cathedral Choir. A bit of a departure I think you’ll agree. However, after listening to it, it works really well. I can’t help but think that the icing on the cake would’ve been Ronnie James Dio adding some vocals had he been alive. A Band that you might not be familiar with is The New Piccadillys who were/are to Edinburgh what The Beatles are to Liverpool. Now you may think that they wouldn’t even warrant a foot-note in the History of anything and you’d be right but for two things; 1960’s versions of two songs that The Ramones and The Clash would record for both their debut albums. Of course, as you’re all familiar with the Punk tunes I play The New Piccadillys. As I remembered it is The Backyard Babies that are preventing me seeing The Yorkshire Rats on the 17th March (listen to last week’s show) I play a track from their “Four By Four” album. A band that got me all in a tis were The Empire Strikes from Finland who had me contacting their record label asking for mp3s even though said Record label had sent me an e-mail with all the links I needed. Naturally I play a track from their soon to be released “High Tide” LP. The Boys round this week’s show off with a track taken from their “Punk Rock Menopause” album whilst I discuss their 100 Club appearance on the 6th January along with the fall and rise of Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog Magazines.
December 31st, 2016
Of course this week’s show could not begin, sadly, without some Status Quo. Also Wednesday marked the first anniversary of Lemmy’s passing which has not gone unmarked with the Bitch Queens, Hip Priests, King Mastino and The Chuck Norris Experiment releasing a split 7” of their favourite Motörhead track and Zen Motel issuing a mighty fine charity tribute song called “L.E.M.M.Y.”. I couldn’t let the show go without some actual Motörhead, even if it is them doing a cover. After a brief story involving a Brewery, the Stalkers CD, the Helltrain LP, Tom from the Phobics and an eccentric on a train, I segue into Aztec Death and a track from their new album “Machines” CD which is reminiscent of early Joy Division and Warsaw. Well it is to me. Following swiftly on is Stiletto Farm who is a new band to my ears even if they did issue an album back in 2014. More new music comes from a new band called Alley Cat LV who features an ex Faster Pussycat and a Cats In Boots. Peter Black from the Hard Ons under took on the 1st January this year to release a new song everyday for the whole of 2016. Well he did it, with some songs over. We’re not talking rough studio outtake demos but full on studio recordings. Pledgemusic time and the Vibrators let us have a listen to another track from their soon to be released “Past, Present and into the Future” album. However, rounding of this, the last show of 2016, are The Nomads and Sator with a track each taken from their Ghost Highway Recordings split 7” which is due out any second now.
August 27th, 2016
I
start this week’s show off with two classic tracks; firstly, Motörhead and then
Whitesnake. New music comes in the shape and form of Indoria who feature Chuck
Mosley on vocals, who contrary to what I said on last week’s show is now playing
a London date this October. Swiftly following on straight after are Suicidal
Tendencies and a track from their soon to be released “World Gone Mad” album.
Off the back of the Richie Ramone track that I played last week Pete from The
Gobshites got in contact with a link to his band’s “The Whistle Before The
Snap” album that features Richie Ramone. “Guinness-inspired Celtic rock with a
punk-ass twist that gives your pants and pints a kick” is how The Gobshites
have been described and who am I to argue? A couple of Facebook nominations
lead me to air a track from “Parts Unknown” by The Hydromatics before I home
back in on new releases with The Radicals, who celebrated the 1st
Anniversary of their demise by issuing an ep of stuff they wished they’d put
out when they were still a going concern. Obviously I play a track from it. Up
next it’s the Dead Pirates with a track from their debut album “Highmare” then
St. Tropez provide us with the last new track of this week. Thanks to Henry
Rollins’ KCRW Radio Show from the 14th August I play an Alternative
TV track which I hadn’t heard for years. However, it’s that little known ex-Croydon
based Beat Combo The Damned that takes us to the hour mark and the end of
Episode 515.
April 23rd, 2016
Welcome
to another hours’ worth of music that you should hear on the radio but don’t. A
bit of an odd show this week, or it could just be me. Take that as you will. Up
first is a John Lennon track that features Elton John in a context that won’t
get me sued, with The Damned swiftly following on after. I then bang on about
Record Store Day, breaking my Washing Machine and a Goth in a Laundrette before
playing The Nasty Bits who were the “house” band from the just finished Vinyl TV
series. D Generation that’ll be Jesse Malin, Danny
Sage, Howie Pyro, Richard Bacchus and Michael Wildwood, are up next with their
first collective single in 17 years. The 69 Eyes’ new album “Universal Monsters”
was released yesterday so obviously another track from it is aired. Hawkwind
also had a new album released yesterday based on EM Forester’s book “The
Machine Stops”. The band actually played it in its entirety at the Islington
Assembly Halls yesterday as well. Ace Frehley has just unleashed an album of
songs that that got his creative juices going to whit I play something from it.
The MC5 get my juices going with a live TV recording which is quickly followed
by The Black Bullets. Closing this week’s show is three live tracks by The
Black Halos recorded at Rich Jones Birthday gig at The Black Heart on the 18th.
April 9th, 2016
On
this week show for your delectation I have The Wildhearts as I talk about
Ginger Wildheart’s gig at The Forum on the 1st April. I then take
you into Crowd Funding mode with a track from the Role Models, I bumped into
Role Model main man Rich Rags at Ginger’s gig and he has to be the most enthusiastic
person in Rock, then it’s two tracks from the UK Subs, one from the bands soon
to be released last album “Ziero” and one featuring Captain Sensible. No it’s
not “Party In Paris”. Former Radio Birdman guitarist Chris Masuak and The
Viveiro Wave Riders’ fund to get “Brujita” released on CD has come to fruition,
so obviously I air a track from it. The last band in this week’s Crowd Funding
section comes courtesy of Last Great Dreamers who are out and about at the
moment supporting Tigertailz. A band that contacted me with a view to playing a
track of theirs were A Capital Threat from Sweden. I’m glad they did as I
thoroughly enjoyed them and I hope you do too. Moving over the Channel to
France I play you a track by a band that I know next to nothing about. The band
in question is called Western Machine. Their debut album “From Lafayette to Sin
City” is chock full of New York Dolls & Stooges Rawk! Good stuff. The
Mutants, whose core members consist of Chris
Constantinou, Paul Frazer, and Mr Rat Scabies, have for their third album “Your
Desert, My Mind” gone all Desert Session and enlisted the
likes of Chris Goss. So far I only have the title track to play you and that’s
only an instrumental, but I love it and can’t wait for the full album in
September. Bath 70s inspired reprobates Ulysses have a brand new album out on 3rd
June called “Law and Order” via Black Glove Recordings. To celebrate this fact
I play a track from it. Following straight afterwards is a song from Plague
Vendor who have just started a UK Tour. Moving North of the Border to Edinburgh
the Heavy Drapes sight The Sex Pistols, The Damned’s first album, The Ramones,
the MC5, Iggy Pop and The New York Dolls as influences. Obviously this got me
interested and they did not disappoint me as hopefully you will hear. Up next
it’s a quick blast from The Mants with Cheap Trick and The London Orion
Orchestra featuring Alice Cooper and Rick Wakeman finishing things off for you
this week.
January 23rd, 2016
The
Rollins Band who are swiftly followed by Iggy Pop start things going this week
and as I recently saw Henry Rollins in is spoken word capacity I play a five
minute segment of Mr Rollins pearls of wisdom. The Jack Tars, who up until last
year were called Deadmen Walking, but still feature Captain Sensible, Slim Jim
Phantom, Mike Peters and Chris Chaney, have a track off their recent tour CD
aired. Going a bit mainstream I play some Metallica from “Master Of Puppets” as
this year it’ll be 30 years old. Meaning it’s been nearly three decades since
they released a decent album…… Jake Starr and The Delicious Fullness are live
in session. Unfortunately not with me but WFMU, New Jersey. We then have a bit
of a Norwegian Fest with firstly Razorbats who Dom Daley of Űber Rock
turned me onto, with a track from their debut full length release “Camp Rock”.
Talking of debuts; Märvel those three masked men from Smell City are playing
their first English/Wales dates which are; The Pipeline, London on the 10th
March, Hairy Dog, Derby 11th and the 12th sees them at Hard Rock
Hell in North Wales. Obviously a track from their latest offering “The Hills
Have Eyes” is played. Rounding up NorFest are Bloodlights with an exclusive
track taken from their SkullCandy Headphone Promo CD which I picked up in 2008.
For some reason, probably Blackmail, I have the urge to play some brand
spanking new Hip Priests, so I do. (The cheque’s in the Post.) Into the home
stretch its Little Richard morphing into Slade, with The Ruts actually closing
proceedings.
November 21st, 2015
Welcome
to another hours worth of music that you should hear on the radio but don’t
with Marty Robbins kicking things off. Up next it’s two split singles courtesy of
Ghost Highway Recordings. Firstly Robert Pehrsson’s Humbucker do battle with
Driving Rain then Jake Starr & the Delicious Fullness get it on with
Dollhouse. As a tribute to Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor I play a track from one
of his lesser known bands The Muggers. The band also featured his Motörhead cohort Fast
Eddie Clarke along with Speedy Keen on guitar and vocals who had had a huge
number 1 hit with the Thunderclap Newman Band in 1969 with “Something in the
Air” and on bass from The Heartbreakers and Iggy Pop was Billy Rath. Onto new
music which includes Girlschool and a track off their new album “Guilty As Sin”
and The Dictators NYC with their first new material in 15 years. Compare and
Contrast is back, thanks Andy, with the Blues Magoos prosecuting The Dead
Kennedys. Back to new music and The Local Band who comprise of Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom), Jussi69 (The 69 Eyes), Olli Herman
(Reckless Love) and Archie Kuosmanen (Santa Cruz) have a tracked played from
their upcoming ep of covers, then it’s off to Seattle for some Ramones inspired
music from The Piniellas. Dom Daley of Glunk Records and Uber Rock’s review of
Jukebox Zeros got me all excited and hopefully the track of theirs that I play
will also do it for you. The Idol Dead have just released their version of the
Dogs D’Amour “I Don’t Want You To Go” in aid of the Winston's
Wish charity and the memory of Drugdealer Cheerleader drummer Ringo. The Eagles
of Death Metal finish this week’s show off but not with the cover you might
have been expecting, but then again......
September 9th, 2015
Welcome
to this Paranoid Squirrel Mid-week special otherwise known as “The Armitage
& Moose Show” (hence the quickly cobbled together Rocky & Bullwinkle
artwork) or to call it by its actual real title “The Team Rock Breakfast Show
Friday 4th September 2015”. So last Friday I sat in with Moose on
the Free Spin Friday part of his and JRock’s Breakfast Show. J Rock unfortunately
was sided lined which was handy as there were only two chairs in the studio.
Over the course of the show I cast the odd pearl of wisdom in the direction of
Moose that he managed to successfully deflect and I give poor advice on how to
increase podcasting listenership. All this whilst music that you always hear on
the radio is played, well is Free Spin Friday. I also discover that the studio
has no CD player meaning my **ahem** gift of the new Sick Livers and Role
Models albums go un-played. If you want to hear all this for yourself the show
is currently available to stream here
for a limited time or if you wish to download it to listen on you mp3 player or
iPod you can on my regular platforms. (For iTunes change it from Music to a
Podcast file so you can flip flop between other music and pick it up where you
left off, not that you’d want to but the choice is there).
July 11th, 2015
The
Damned get things moving this week with The MC5, or to be exact The MC2, live
from Helsinki in 1972 following on after. Peter Mensch has been bemoaning about
the lack of great new bands, I beg to differ and to underline it I play a brand
spanking new track from the Sick Livers new album “Mid Liver Crisis” and a tune
from the last Chuck Norris Experiment album. Both, coincidently, just so
happened to play SlugFest 8 last weekend.
To reiterate my piece on last week’s show about iTunes and streaming I
let you know what the Sick Livers have on offer in the way of formats
concerning their new album. For no other reason than it seems like I should I
play a track from the last Hip Priests album I do. Much merriment was also had
this week as Imperial State Electric have been announced as Graveyards special
guests in November. I’m I going? Give me a “Hell Yeah!” So to celebrate I play
a new track and the first single from ISE’s “Honk Machine” album and something
off the last Graveyard CD. More new
music and as Kerrang gave Eva Plays Dead 2/5 for their debut EP I knew it was
going to be good and had to play a track. What do Kerrap know anyway? Steven
Tyler croons his way onto the show with the lead track off his debut (sic) and
Country album. Thanks to Camden Council and the closure of The Purple Turtle I
am now able to go and to the album launch gig of The Role Models’ “The Go To
Guy”. To whit I play a track from it that features Sami Yaffa on bass. Up next
it’s Dee Snider with his first original material in over 20 years. Hard to
believe I know. South London Rollin’ Punk Rock ‘n’ Blues Merchants The Kult 45s
lead us into the home stretch with me talking about how I’ve double booked
myself once again with One Direction. This time it’s The Wildhearts playing the
P.H.U.Q. album in full at The Shepherds Bush Empire that I’ll be missing.
Anybody what a Level 1 ticket? Last band this week is the “You kept that quiet
from me Jake” Go Mod Go! That amongst its 12 members is former Adam West and
current main name in The Delicious Fullness throaterlist Jake Starr. Modtastic.
