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”.