The Paranoid Squirrel

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 437

“Camden Rocks, London Shakes!” This week sees The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show Up Town Top Ranking for this year’s Camden Rocks Festival. 200 hundred bands spread over 20 venues. However paranoia, overzealous door staff and lack of amenable toilets kept me at The Proud forgoing bands I should’ve really seen.  So we have The Amorettes, Glen Matlock, Richie Ramone and Michael Monroe for your listening pleasure but no Pink Cigar, The Men That Will Be Blamed For Nothing, Brawlers, Role Models or The Dictators NYC.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 435

Back once again into the studio with the “Demons” kicking things off this week with a Damned cover. Who knew? With The Michael Monroe Band reminding us that there’s no right or wrong, let alone black or white. New music? Shed loads this week with, thanks to Ginge, with a World exclusive (Radio Wales on the 9^th May doesn’t count in this instance as Wales had been annexed from the aforementioned World) I air a track from the up and coming “Mid Liver Crisis” album from The Sick Livers. Not strictly new new but as MFC Chicken are in the studio with new bassist Zig who just so happens to be my 2^nd favourite bassist of all time, I play one of their recent singles. As we move towards the middle of the year I already have pencilled in a couple of albums that are going to be in my top releases of 2015. One of which is “Easy Piracy” from Dead Men Walking who are an amalgamation of The Stay Cats, The Living End, The Alarm, The Damned and some bloke wo used to play bass with Guns ‘n’ Roses. Obviously I play a track from it, well two as I couldn’t make up my mind which one should get an airing. Bob Wayne has just release an album of covers called “Hits The Hits” as the name implies, is an album of, well, hit songs. Some from world of Rock with the Stones, Guns ‘n’ Roses, The Offspring and Zeppelin getting Countrified, and to prove it doesn’t matter what the genre once you turn it into a Country song it becomes good he has tackled Skyfall, Rihanna’s Disturbia, even the dreadful “All About That Bass” is now passable. Just, only just. However the song that gets an outing is none of the above. Sticking with covers I play a track from the Sulo & Friends CD “Keep Yourself Alive” which was part of The Crunch’s PledgeMusic campaign for “Brand New Brand”. The CD features the likes of Wilko Johnson, Spike, Paul Carrack, Tom Robinson and Dave Higgs reprising songs that they are associated with along aided and abetted by Sulo. The individual members of what would become The Crunch also crop up. Sulo’s “other” band is The Diamond Dogs who have a new album out at the end of August called “Quitters & Complainers”. A song from which I sneakily play. Australian band The Casanovas have also just released their, until recently only available via PledgeMusic, album “Terra Casanova” to the general public. Less Thunders and more Stones this time around. Staying Down under to celebrate Muscle Car deservedly winning the Melbourne Mötley Crüe-Alice Cooper opening support slot I play the bands last 7”, well the A-Side. For the third time this year The Hip Priests have released a 7” single. This time around it’s a split with The Bitch Queens hogging the limelight on the b-sided, but for you listening pleasure I just give you The Hip Priest. “Arm giveth and Arm takes away”. That can’t be said for The Chuck Norris Experiment and Märvel split 7”, both have a track aired. Sticking with Vinyl; Mary’s Kids have just released the 10” variety with a CD version only available on their upcoming German (one Swedish) tour. It’s called “Death In Suburbia” that feature six tracks, one of which I naturally play. Up next courtesy, of Dom Daley he of Uber Rock and Glunk Records notoriety, are the Sticky Valentines with something from their second self-titled EP. At this point listeners on The Wall Rock Radio will hear the said Stick Valentines track fade out as Robbie John takes hold of the helm, but for the rest of you the Brawlers make their debut appearance with a track from their “Errors Of Our Youth” CD which came out on the Alcopop label last month. John Dissed returns with a remixed, especially, for radio of his cover of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” which is swiftly followed by Wonk Unit. We are almost at the end but before the final track “Compare & Contrast” comes along with a three way tag match between The Wildhearts, Green Day and Sam Cooke. It is, however, Girlschool, who are currently in the USA with Crucified Barbara, which closes this week’s show. ***Phew*** Now if only Team Rock Radio would give a job……

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 435

Back once again into the studio with the “Demons” kicking things off this week with a Damned cover. Who knew? With The Michael Monroe Band reminding us that there’s no right or wrong, let alone black or white. New music? Shed loads this week with, thanks to Ginge, with a World exclusive (Radio Wales on the 9^th May doesn’t count in this instance as Wales had been annexed from the aforementioned World) I air a track from the up and coming “Mid Liver Crisis” album from The Sick Livers. Not strictly new new but as MFC Chicken are in the studio with new bassist Zig who just so happens to be my 2^nd favourite bassist of all time, I play one of their recent singles. As we move towards the middle of the year I already have pencilled in a couple of albums that are going to be in my top releases of 2015. One of which is “Easy Piracy” from Dead Men Walking who are an amalgamation of The Stay Cats, The Living End, The Alarm, The Damned and some bloke wo used to play bass with Guns ‘n’ Roses. Obviously I play a track from it, well two as I couldn’t make up my mind which one should get an airing. Bob Wayne has just release an album of covers called “Hits The Hits” as the name implies, is an album of, well, hit songs. Some from world of Rock with the Stones, Guns ‘n’ Roses, The Offspring and Zeppelin getting Countrified, and to prove it doesn’t matter what the genre once you turn it into a Country song it becomes good he has tackled Skyfall, Rihanna’s Disturbia, even the dreadful “All About That Bass” is now passable. Just, only just. However the song that gets an outing is none of the above. Sticking with covers I play a track from the Sulo & Friends CD “Keep Yourself Alive” which was part of The Crunch’s PledgeMusic campaign for “Brand New Brand”. The CD features the likes of Wilko Johnson, Spike, Paul Carrack, Tom Robinson and Dave Higgs reprising songs that they are associated with along aided and abetted by Sulo. The individual members of what would become The Crunch also crop up. Sulo’s “other” band is The Diamond Dogs who have a new album out at the end of August called “Quitters & Complainers”. A song from which I sneakily play. Australian band The Casanovas have also just released their, until recently only available via PledgeMusic, album “Terra Casanova” to the general public. Less Thunders and more Stones this time around. Staying Down under to celebrate Muscle Car deservedly winning the Melbourne Mötley Crüe-Alice Cooper opening support slot I play the bands last 7”, well the A-Side. For the third time this year The Hip Priests have released a 7” single. This time around it’s a split with The Bitch Queens hogging the limelight on the b-sided, but for you listening pleasure I just give you The Hip Priest. “Arm giveth and Arm takes away”. That can’t be said for The Chuck Norris Experiment and Märvel split 7”, both have a track aired. Sticking with Vinyl; Mary’s Kids have just released the 10” variety with a CD version only available on their upcoming German (one Swedish) tour. It’s called “Death In Suburbia” that feature six tracks, one of which I naturally play. Up next courtesy, of Dom Daley he of Uber Rock and Glunk Records notoriety, are the Sticky Valentines with something from their second self-titled EP. At this point listeners on The Wall Rock Radio will hear the said Stick Valentines track fade out as Robbie John takes hold of the helm, but for the rest of you the Brawlers make their debut appearance with a track from their “Errors Of Our Youth” CD which came out on the Alcopop label last month. John Dissed returns with a remixed, especially, for radio of his cover of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” which is swiftly followed by Wonk Unit. We are almost at the end but before the final track “Compare & Contrast” comes along with a three way tag match between The Wildhearts, Green Day and Sam Cooke. It is, however, Girlschool, who are currently in the USA with Crucified Barbara, which closes this week’s show. ***Phew*** Now if only Team Rock Radio would give a job……

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 433

Stiv Bator with a cover by The Damned starts things going this week before I talk about clashing gigs; Brian James vs The UK Subs vs Kory Clarke which leads me into Volbeat. Onto new music, as I seem to have a shed loads, firstly from The Hip Priests and a track from their current 7”, then I talk about The Sick Livers soon to be unleashed “Mid Liver Crisis” LP and late Summer tour with The Disconnects who I play. A tour that is currently underway over on the Mainland and I wish had strayed over here features Mother’s Children and The Mandates. Mother’s Children I’d heard about but not The Mandates. A quick trip over to their BandCamp site had by purchasing their debut album and “In The Back Of Your Heart” quicker than you could sing “Oh Canada”. Obviously I share a track with you. Next up is Swiss band The Lovers with a track off their new album “In The Air”. I slow things down (not) with some new Slayer then talk about going up to Ginger’s “Songs and Words” London gig, meeting Mikko Von Hertzen, Dante Bonutto and Rich Jones and finding out the preliminary release date for the new Michael Monroe album, which leads me nicely into The Compulsions who feature Sami Yaffa. The Crunch, (part Sham 69/Lords of The New Church, part Diamond Dogs, part Clash and part Cockney Rejects) have a new track aired from “Brand New Brand” and I talk about not seeing them at The Borderline before Nicke Andersson’s Imperial State Electric take centre stage. Los Pepes swiftly follow as I realise that my Facebook notifications for them had been turn off before former Vains of Jenna vocalist Lizzy DeVine introduces us to his new band The Cruel Intensions. The Sonic Jewels have just released a new ep called “By The Light Of Woland’s Candle”, a track of which I naturally play. Sick Boys Revue, who hail from Italy sent me an e-mail with a track attached from their “Sick Tails” album asking that if I liked it would I be so kind as to play it. Like it? Love it. Hopefully you will to. A band that I thought had long since spilt up were Finland’s Mean Idols. They haven’t and are supporting The Vibrators (in Finland) on the 28^th. To celebrate I dig out my “Suffer” 7” and play it. At this point Wall Rock Radio listeners will hear Drugdealer Cheerleader as their drummer Ringo sadly passed away on Wednesday before Robbie Johns come crashing in with his Rock Lobster Show. For everybody else it’s The Mean Idols, “Compare & Contrast” and in the dock are Guns ‘n’ Roses with Australian Crawl prosecuting. Duff McKagan has just published a new book and ep to coincide. The ep features Jerry Cantrell, Roy Mayorga and some guy called Izzy Stradlin’, the title of which I air. It’s at this point everybody else gets to hear Drugdealer Cheerleader before Korpiklaani and a sort of cover almost end the show, but that is left to The Damned as tickets to the UK Première of their Documentary have been secured.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 430

I was back out into gigland for this week’s show which features the Last Great Dreamers and Danny Fury’s Tango Pirates recorded live at The Fiddler’s Elbow on the 8^th. It’s been three years since I last saw the Tango Pirates and in the interim the band have had a major overhaul in the line-up department with only vocalist Danny Fury remaining. Apparently the Last Great Dreamers haven’t toured for twenty years; obviously this has been rectified with original drummer Steve Grainger reprising his role on some selected dates with former Sliverhearts drummer Ginge on duty for the remaining. Sorry the show notes aren’t as informative as usual; tough week.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 429

Shock, Horror! I’m back in the studio this week with The Ramones kicking things off then The Sonic’s whose latest album has just come out a massive 49 years after their last remind us the 60’s weren’t just about “The British Invasion”. Up next is a track from Punk Uberlord Brian James’ new solo album “The Guitar That Dripped Blood” that features Dead Boy Cheetah Chrome on additional guitar. Stinking with The Damned connection; The Deadmen Walking a band that features core members Captain Sensible, Slim Jim Phantom, Mike Peters and newest edition Chris Cheney from the Living End with guests  spots from Fred Armisen and some guy called Duff McKagan who obviously wants to boost his credibility, are all set to release their debut album “Easy Piracy” on May 7^th in the meantime I play the first single from it. The Ruts DC come crashing in next with a track from their Book Pledge and sticking with pledging for a few more songs I play a track from Jettblack’s third album “Disguises” and one from The Crunch’s second album “Brand New Band” and something from The Eureka Machines latest “Brain Waves”. Cover territory this week comes courtesy of John Dissed and The Discontents a band that features one time American Heartbreak and Jetboy drummer Jeff Moscone. Jesse Malin of D Generation fame has just released his first album in over five years which is called New York Before The War”. The track I play features Brother Wayne Kramer. In stock news I play some CrashDïet as Simon Cruz has left the aforementioned band, then some Hornet as they have called it a day with finally some Treatment as Matt Jones, like Simon Cruz has left his respective band. If you are listening to The Wall Rock Radio Beat The Drag are going to bring my hour to a close. A great band that I literally heard only this morning. Its riffy rock as much influenced by the Backyard Babies as it is by Fu Manchu and old Def Leppard. Some Eighties-inspired solos as well.” For everybody else it’s The Quireboys with a track off their 4CD Box set "St Cecilia and the Gypsy Souls" and then it’s Beat The Drag with Whitesnake Burn(ing) things up at the end of the show

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 425

I’m breaking out of the studio for the next few shows and what a finer way to kick things off with Hardcore Superstar recorded live at the Garage in Highbury at the beginning of their “When We Touch The Sky” tour. The band will be releasing their umpteenth album “HCSS” between April 21^st and 28^th depending where you live, unless you ask Mr Merch Guy very nicely and a promo version could be yours for a Tenner. Practically all 10 tracks were played live which shows the band have got real confidence in the yet to be released album. Let’s face it; normally a couple and at a stretch three new tracks are played when a band tours to support/promote a new product. Not Hardcore Superstar with the new songs welcomed like classics that they surely will become. A great 1¼ hours set had me wondering why on earth they hadn’t headlined over here since January 2010 playing second fiddle to the likes of The 69 Eyes and then Buck Cherry in the interim. Well worth the wait as you will hear!  

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 424

Back into the studio after a two week live break with some top quality Rock and even some Roll. Kicking things off are The Hives with a Hellacopters cover then it’s onto Nicke Hellacopter himself and the James Williamson (Stooges, Sony Vice President) “Re-Licked” track that he played on. I then turn or point you in the direction of three Classic Bands that just so happen to have released new albums. Up first it’s The Scorpions with a track of their 18^th album “Return To Forever” that had me doing a double take as I thought they’d covered The Wildhearts “Sick Of Drugs”. Then it’s onto two of Britain’s finest in the form of UFO and Thunder with a track from “The Conspiracy of Stars” and “Wonder Days” respectively. Saddling up next are Black Star Riders with album number two “Killer Instinct”, still plenty of Thin Lizzy flavours but less former and more current if you catch my drift. Linking a Captain Sensible story to a Beckenham Night Club and Train Station via Status Quo is no mean feet but I manage it and to celebrate the fact I play the Quo song that brought them all together. As rumours of the UK premiere of The Damned Documentary “Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead” fill my head with potential glee a John Peel session Brian James’ Tanz Der Youth track is aired. Back onto new music with Sweden’s Blasting Fondas who had me thinking of The Nomads and The Boys with even a hint, large hint, of The Damned on the particular track that I play. Still in Sweden the Shemales are up next; The Stooges meets The D4? You tell me. The Diamond Dogs have a two CD set out in May called “Quitters and Complainers” which is going to be dedicated to their Sax play “Magic” Gunnarsson who sadly passed away last year. The first track from it has already been let loose on the interwebs so I naturally play it. Diamond Dogs’ vocalist Sulo’s other band The Crunch are also all set to release a new album, “Brand New Brand” in April via PledgeMusic. The rest of The Crunch consist of Terry Chimes formally of The Clash, Black Sabbath and Hanoi Rocks, Dave Tregunna, Sham 69, Lords of The New Church, Mick Geggus, Cockney Rejects and last but no means least Idde Schultz of Docenterna. I sneak you a listen to demo that will in a finished form appear on the aforementioned new album. Friend of the show and Squirrel associate Arkwright tipped me off over the next band who are based in Ashford. The band in question are called The Rash and their 4 track ep “Ashford Royalty” is so catchy it’ll be all over you like a….Rash. Winding up things this week is a classic, in all senses of the word, track from Gillan as The Squirrel and I finally managed, after a 32½ year wait, to hear Mick Underwood in his Glory Road guise play drums live once again.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 422

This week it’s an all live Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show courtesy of The Hip Priests and the Bitch Queens with the first gig of their short three date English tourette recorded at The Black Heart in Camden. The Bitch Queens, who hail from Basel, Switzerland, come across as the perfect mix of The Dead Boys and Hellacopters with a large smattering of Turbonegro attitude. The band consists of Mel Quitt (Vox/Guitar), Harry Darling (Drums/Vox), Danny Schönenberger (Guitar) and Marcel Colomb (Bass /Vox) and have been out on the road since 2008 finding time to record and release the “Female Shotgun”, “Suck It Up” and “Kill Your Friends” albums along with a clutch of spit singles. The Hip Priest as I’m sure you’re aware have been doing their brand of white trash, oversexed, inbred Rock ‘n’ Roll with the (God) Father figures of Iggy Pop, Johnny Thunders, Lemmy and Handsome Dick looking on with dismay since 2006. In this time the band have brought us countless 7”s, three albums, one Japanese compilation/rarities CD all topped of with the just released live DVD “FO IN HH”. However; live is where the band are best viewed or in the case of this week’s show, heard.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 421

The only known recording of Black Sabbath Mkii starts things off this week with the over looked Dexter Jones’ Circus Orchestra following with The Robot Lords Of Tokyo in a six degrees of separation, thanks to the BBC, straight after. Danko Jones have just released a new album called “Fire Music” naturally I air a track from it. In this day of the internet and social media when forming a band it’s pretty easy to see if your band name of choice has been already taken. Seattle based instrumentalists Audrey Horne have failed in this and recorded and released an album called “Teledidonics”. I play a track before the cease and desist order is served. I also play a track from Los Bastardos Finlandese sixth album “BMF Ball” which has just been released; no one can ever excuse them of name copying!  A band I’d not heard of until Head Glunk Recorder Dom Daley pointed me in their direction was FUKDUST4 who feature members of Wolfsbane/Jellys, a former UK Sub and  Drongos For Europe. It seems they only have one single out at the moment but what a great start! We pop over to Scandinavia for some Street Punk in the form of City Saints, Sleaze; Hardcore Superstar and emmm Dizzy Mizz Lizzy. Brighton based band Gang return us the UK, with Closer Records Recording artists The Dark Rags, Dum Dum Boys and Three Headed Dog ending this weeks show off.