The Paranoid Squirrel

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 519

The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell are the first band up on this week’s show with a track from their up and coming third album “Keep It Greasy” which is out on the 14^th October. Two Canadian bands follow on in the shape and form of Jonsey from Montreal with more than a nod to The Heartbreakers and The Dead Boys with a track from their debut 7” and then Nerve Button who mix equal parts junkshop stomp and ’77 punk. Beach Slang have just released their new album “A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings” which if you like the first five Goo Goo Dolls albums you’ll appreciate Beach Slang’s harmonies and Power Pop sensibilities. Of course I air a track. Revelation of the week were Finnish band Teksti-TV 666 and their “1,2,3” compilation album; “Teksti-TV 666 is a band built on contradictions. It is as if Neu! performed Ramones songs; it is a shoegazing Hellacopters; it is a heavy-but-soft wall of noise, a colourful slow-motion explosion.” Read their PR blurb.  Add a bit of Hawkwind and I was sold as you will hear. Poland’s Poison Heart have a brand new track for us to enjoy and then it’s Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers as Walter Lure, Wayne Kramer, Tommy Stinson and Glem Burke are in November in NYC are going to play the whole of “L.A.M.F.” Jealous? Not alf! This week’s Crowd Funded, Fan Financed section comes courtesy of Bash & Pop that features the aforementioned Tommy Stinson, The Kinks, Ryan Hamilton & the Traitors and The Damned. As we move into the home stretch I talk about and play two songs, one by each, from Status Quo and AC/DC as their continual existence has been called into question. With Graveyard, whose existence unfortunately has ended, ending this week’s show.    

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 518

Well, that’s our Summer over, with supermarkets already stocking up on Christmas cards and the like. So for the next hour I’m going to make it seem like Christmas playing some, in my opinion, stonkingly good songs. The first track to make you forget the gloomy weather here in the UK is by The Ramones which has been taken from their debut 40^th Anniversary box-set. The track in question is in mono. A band whose best work was mixed in mono were The Beatles. To celebrate the new touring film and for the first time “Live At The Hollywood Bowl” on CD, I play a previously unreleased live Beatles song. Last Saturday saw me and other likeminded individuals up at The Blackheart for the launch gig for albums by The Role Models and Brijitte West & the Desperate Hopefuls. Tracks from both records I obviously air. In the course of the gig, flyers for The Cyanide Pills gig at The Nambucca towards the end of the month were spotted, with me during, the course of Sunday, finding out more about them. To whit a track of theirs gets played. The DeRellas first fruits with new recruits Stevie and Bish is all set to be released at the beginning of next month in the shape and form of the “Freakshow” ep. The band are sounding really good as you will hear with the track “Rip It Up”. And they do. In a case of mistaken identity, it seems my body double was over at The Underworld whilst I was at The Blackheart. The band I/he was seeing was Power Quest. Curiosity killed the squirrel and I sort them out on the interwebs. Interesting, not something I would normally play but I could always blame my “twin”. After last week’s show I felt bad that I might have done Todd Youth a disservice. He might not be renowned for long-term comments. However, what he has produced has really impressed me, that’s why I’m still gutted that he and Ginger couldn’t have written more together as both The Chelsea Smiles and The Wildhearts. So to remedy this I play a track by Son of Sam, a band at this time also features future Michael Monroe drummer Karl Rosqvist. Following straight on after is Ghost with a track from their new ep “Popestar” which is getting varying reviews. I personally like it, maybe not in the same league as their last album but this is just an ep. Cat’s In Space have just released a cover of Slade’s “How Does It Feel” on 7” only. I only had the briefest of listens to their debut album but it now looks like I could be seeing them down in Redhill. As Flame Pilots have a hometown gig tonight and guitarist, friend of the show and Squirrel Associate Arcwright will be celebrating his Birthday next week I play a track from the bands last ep. Zen Motel are back in the fray with “Choking on Chrome (Part 2)” with the threat of Part 3 getting to us before the year is out. Of course I play something from Pt. 2. The final band of this week’s show comes courtesy of The Ruts DC featuring Henry Rollins.        

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 517

Welcome to another episode of The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show. Starting this week’s show off are the Bullet Proof Lovers and a 7” track taken from their up and coming new album “Shoot To The Heart”. Turbonegro swiftly follow as I ‘forgot’ to play them on last week’s last week’s entire Scandinavian affair. Another apology track comes courtesy of The Phobics who thanks to the rebuilding of London Bridge Station I missed their gig last Saturday at Fordham Park in New Cross. GBH hit us with a Demo track that would in a finished form be released on “City Baby’s Revenge”.  This week’s Fan Financed, Crowd Funded section features Last Great Dreamers and a track from their third and first new music for 22 years, album “Transmissions From Oblivion”. Also featured are Sharks and their new single which is due for release on the 30^th. Radio Birdman’s Deniz Tek releases his new solo album “Mean Old Twister” on Citadel Records at the end of the month, a track from which I obviously play. Whilst trying to free up space on my external Hard-Drive I found 5 tracks by Todd Youth’s Heartaches. After first checking with Danny Young formerly of Gluecifer, currently of Smoke Mohawk that it was indeed him on drums and Sami Yaffa bass on two of the tracks, I this week air one of them. I have been pointed in the direction of The Old Firm Casuals by Glunk Records el supremo and Uber Rock scribe Dom Daley. On the strength of his word I acquired the band’s last offering “A Butcher’s Banquet”. It’s a mixture of Motörhead, AC/DC and The Cult sporting Lonsdale t-shirts, Doc Martins and Red Braces with a hint of 70’s Glamstomp Rock that Giuda would happily embrace. Naturally I play a track from it for your consideration. Swiftly following on are Dan Vapid & the Cheats and a track from his/there third album “All Wound Up” which is aimed at the Children end of the Rock market. Up next are The Fleshtones with a track taken from their also just released album “The Band Drinks For Free”. Rounding this week’s episode off are Hey! Hello! as the final version of the “Hey! Hello! Too!” album was ready for download yesterday.    

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 516

An all Scandinavian show this week. “It’ll be easy” I thought. I thought wrong. Who do I play was easy, but as I was going along I kept remembering other bands that needed to be heard. I think I forgot all about Iceland! So it was a case of “What don’t I play”. Even so this week’s show stretchs to the 90 minute mark and I apoligise inadvance if I’ve left out a band you deemed should’ve been on. Yes I know Turbonegro. Oh the shame. Below is the list of bands that I play. I hope you enjoy them as much as me.
Hanoi Rocks,
The Flaming Sideburns,
The Backyard Babies,
The Hellacopters,
The Defectors,
The Peepshows,
The Turpentines,
The Robots,
The Royal Cream,
The Curse,
Gluecifer,
Bloodlights,
Smoke Mohawk,
Imperial State Electric,
Wrecks,
Midlife Crisis,
Union Carbide Productions,
Soundtrack of Our Lives,
Free Fall,
Mary’s Kids,
The Nomads,
Sator,
Hardcore Superstar.              

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 515

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 1^st 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 14^th 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.   

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 514

Starting the turntable going this week are the UK Subs and one of the tracks from their “November 1977 Demo 7”” I was hoping to play you on last week’s show but was thwarted by Royal Mail. Richie Ramone has just released his second album called “Cellophane” a track of which I play. I did heartily chuckle at the spoof news that the remaining Ramones were reuniting for one final t-shirt. After bumping to Mat Sargent last Saturday at The Fiascos gig in Croydon I was stoked to learn that Jimmy Pursey was visiting his Record label with a view to finally releasing the Day 21 album. To whit I play a track from them from the “We Are All Prisoners” CD. Onto more new music in the shape and form of The Backstabbers and The Hangovers before I hit the pledge section for Ryan Hamilton & The Traitors, The Vibrators and Adam Bomb who has gone down a new route for me in www.tradiio.com which is like a mainstream version of Ginger’s G.A.S.S. where you pay the musician a nominal monthly fee to gain access to demos, live gigs, unreleased tracks. You know the score. As I’ve unfortunately missed The Cavemen from New Zealand on two separate occasions I try and get forgiveness by playing a track by them before The Dictators come screaming in. Faith No More have just released a deluxe version of their debut “We Care A Lot” album with a host of demos, live tracks and some stunning re-mixes. One of which I obviously play. It’s a dirty job but someone’s got to do it. After eight years Metallica have finally released a brand new track which is taken from their forthcoming album which is due out in November. Is it a return to form or are they treading water with no lifeboat in sight? Rounding things off for another week are The Professionals and a Monitor Mix from their Box Set and The Sonic Rendezvous Band with a live recording of that iconic track.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 513

As I finished last week’s episode with some Slade I decided to hammer home that the fact that the band were more than just one Christmas Record and a handful of badly spelt song titles by starting this week’s with the live version of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Preacher” taken from the “Ruby Red” double 7”. Once again the UK Subs are the subject of “Waiting for The Postman to deliver my stuff” with regards to their November 1977 4 track 7” Demo. Instead I play a demo track from their Cleopatra “Endangered Species” Deluxe 2CD re-issue. New music firstly takes us to the streets of my former neighbourhood Croydon, (I moved a whole quarter of a mile to the next borough) to the first release by The Fiascos. “Who are they?” I hear you cry. Well I shall enlighten you; Richie Hudson, guitar vocals, Keef Gibbs, guitar vocals, Robin Guy drums and Ben Lawson on bass vocals. Who released yesterday the aforementioned new release in the form of a single “Built For Speed” / “Olivia”. As I’ve already played the a-side on Episode 503 it’s the b-side that gets aired. Stand by for some great Powerpop magic! And if you’re quick off the mark the band are playing the Odd Shoe in Croydon tonight. A band that I didn’t get to see on the last Ginger Wildheart tour was, apart from the Main Grains, Massive Wagon. To readdress this I went out and got the band’s latest offering “Welcome To The World” and thoroughly enjoyed what I heard. Elements of Volbeat but without James Hetfield on vocals. Moving over to Italy for The Leeches and the b-side of their current 7” gets an airing. A bad I knew nothing about were Thee Oh Sees, but as I got sent their new CD “A Weird Exits” I thought I’d give it a spin. I’m sure Henry Rollins is a big fan. A band I do know a lot about are The Cadillac Three who have just released their new album “Bury Me In My Boots”. If you like Deep Southern Rock you’ll love them. Staying with the deep South, but this time the South in question is South London, it seemed only right and proper to play some Peckham Cowboys. Redd Kross’ Jeff McDonald’s 1999 solo album has just been re-released on vinyl, as the original which came out as a CD-R is rarer than rare thing, on the Bang! Record label. Of course I play a track from it. Crowd Funding Fan funded releases are up next with The Lords of Altamont kicking things off who are swiftly followed by the voice of The Bay City Rollers Les McKeown, who in turn is topped off by Sweet Creature who sport Martin Sweet from Crashdiet  and Tin Star from Gemini Five. Rounding things off for this week is a rough and ready demo from Billy Rath’s Street Pirates as it would’ve been the former Heartbreakers Birthday last Monday.  

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 512

Greetings from this week’s Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show. Getting things movin’ and a groovin’ are The Backyard Babies who are swiftly followed by The Wildhearts. Careering full steam ahead into new music are City Saints, The Unknown and Valient Thorr before I review The Hip Priests 10^th Anniversary London gig with choice cuts from all involved. That’ll be Flash House, The Role Models and of course The Hip Priests themselves. Back to new music and The Pollutions and Craggy Collyde take us into this weeks Fan Funded corner that feature The Damned, The Vibrators and Sharks. The last new music comes courtesy of The Quireboys before I get all teary eyed over the fact that I never saw Slade in their 70s, 80’s heyday.  

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 511

In a fun filled packed show this week which, fortunately or unfortunately depending on your point of view, exceeds its hour mark by five odd minutes. Getting things off to a flying start are the Watts and a track from their third album which is swiftly followed by The Drama Clubs Rejects a band that features ex Wildheart and an ex Almighty members. Keeping the interconnection going The Main Grains are up next who also sport an ex Wildheart member with a track from their “Don’t Believe Everything You Think” mini album. For the next section we move into the live arena with the debut live performance of Hey! Hello! Mkiii up at the Brooklyn Bowl. As you know Hey! Hello! features Ginger, The Rev, Ai, Toshi and new vocalist Cat. Let’s hope Cat has the staying power of Jeremy Corbyn as she has the vocal ability of Victoria and the stage presence of Hollis. Following Hey! Hello! were Ryan Hamilton & the Traitors. Ryan looked familiar in a Ginger Birthday Bash guest kind of way but two of his Traitors were recognised straight away as Rob Lane aka Laney 74 and drummer Michael Richards played with Johnny Monaco back in 2012. Of course closing the show were The Ginger Wildheart Band that for this tour features Electric Boy and ex Hanoi Rocks guitarist Conny Bloom, Toshi with Denzil sitting on the drummers’ stool. The last time I saw Ginger in full electric band mode was at his re-arranged Birthday Bash in April where I came away disappointed. Nothing could’ve been further from the truth this time around as I came away veritably skipping down the road as it was probably the best I’ve seen Mr. Wildheart in a long-time. Back into the realms of studio land and the Hip Priests, who I saw last night and you’ll probably hear next week, were selling an 8” Record. That’s right, 8”. Obviously I play it. A band that I’ve known all about since 1987 when they played the Clarendon in Hammersmith are Dinosaur Jr. No I didn’t go as I was over the road at Hammersmith Odeon seeing King Diamond. However, I’ve never owned anything by them. That was until “Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not” arrived in my inbox. Bearing in mind I’ve never knowingly heard anything by them I think that Dave Grohl probably spends most of his free time exactly doing that. Great stuff. Perversely I own all (no pun intended) of the Descendents releases but have never listened to any of them, that was until I received “Hypercaffium Spazzinate”. I blame Andy from the very excellent “Fear & Loathing” for me not listening to any Descendents…… It’s a fun filled punk pop album which means I’m going to slowly listen to the rest. Following on from the Descendents are The Reaction who were active between 1980-1981 releasing two eps in the process. Fortunately, these two eps along with a host of demos and live records were made available in 2011 by Cheap Records as the “Saturday’s Gone Wild” LP. Up next more new music in the shape and form a track from the new Bouncing Souls album “Simplicity” and don’t forget to look out for them at Rebellion with UK dates either side. The Sides Eyes and Redd Kross have just issued a split 7” called “Songs That Chargo Taught Us”. The Side Eyes tackle “Don’t Talk To Me” whilst Redd Kross blast us with the Go-Go’s classic “Screaming”. I only play one side, to find out which one you’ll have to listen……Henry Heston, former Virus frontman and rhythm guitarist who now resides in LA has just put together The Henry Heston Hollywood All-stars who also, amongst others, features his former Virus sparring bassist John Hess. Only one song so far has sneaked out which obviously I play. Closing this week’s show, even if I do run over my self-imposed one-hour mark, are The Head Cat that of course features Lemmy on vocals and acoustic guitar, Danny B Harvey electric guitar, Slim Jim Phantom drums and Jonny Bowler on Bass and a track from their live album “Rock ‘n’ Roll Riot on Sunset Strip”.  

Ther Paranoid Squirrel ep 510

Some live acoustic Jesse Malin recorded at The Borderline in London last Friday gets this show underway and then, in a six degrees of separation Brijitte West & the Desperate Hopefuls and an exclusive new track, that features some bloke called Rich Jones, from their still pledgable “From N.Y. With Love” album, which is due out in September, gets an airing. Daniel Lioneye who sport various members of H.I.M. have a brand new album out shortly. Proceeding it the band have just released a single from it which obviously I play. Dave Kusworth is up next as one of his previous bands, TV Eye that also featured Black Bomber Dave Twist, are about to get the re-issue treatment. The track I play ended up being recycled by Duran Duran…..Canada is the next port of call with Billy Talent telling us they are “Afraid of Heights”. Power-Pop joy as I discover an American band called Slick! who take me back to the early 1970’s Top of the Pops and Junior Choice. (Ask your Grandad). Following straight on afterwards are Apache who along with Slick! and the BTs will be playing in London on the 4^th September. I played a demo by the Curse on last week’s show; this week it’s the turn of a full blown, fully mixed track from the band’s 2014 album “World Domination”. As I took ownership of the “We Are Twisted Fucking Sister” DVD last week I discuss it and play a song by them to accompany it. Fantasy Lane make their debut appearance on this week’s show and I apologise to Dead Furies for playing a lo-res version of “Listen To T-Rex” by playing a new track from their soon to be released “Devil’s Musik” ep. As a sequel to one of my all-time favourite films, that’ll “Izzat”, is due out on DVD in September I play some Gluecifer and as we hurtle towards the end of this week’s show it is Forbidden Dimensions and The Right Here that take us up to the hour mark.