The Paranoid Squirrel

Deathtime ASSembly Part 2

Welcome to Deathtime ASSembly Part 2 where Bloodlights and only Bloodlights take up the show. Before we get going I’ve a couple of apologises to make; If I sound a bit disjointed and make less sense than normal it’s because I got the Flu, not 24 hour Man-Flu but full on laid up in bed, this is the first time I’ve dragged myself out of my pit since Tuesday, Flu. Over the last three days I’ve only eaten two oranges, two Pineapple fingers and a bowl of chocolate Ice-Cream and have spent that time in bed wrapped up in sweat pants, t-shirt, thermal socks, a bathrobe and a hot water bottle still shivering. But, quite literally, the show must go on. The second apology is that on Tuesday’s Deathtime ASSembly I promised live Bloodlights and The Hip Priests. Well I’m only going to deliver half my promise as The Hip Priests requested that instead of airing their set could I send the music file to them for a cheapo Spasm Saturday live CD release. However I can still give you a brief overview of their set to get you in the mood and chomping at the ball gag. Vocalist Nathan Von Cruz comes across as a Rabid Sgt Major barking orders with Austin Rocket and Lee Love backing him up with a machine gun stance a la Wayne Kramer and Lemmy. New boy Joe Blow holds his own pounding the drums as if he wishes to tunnel underground. The Hip Priests live are always fast and furious and last Saturday was no exception with the boundary between them, Spasm Gang Members, Turbojugends, blurred. The bands 45 minute set is topped off with a screaming out of control train-wreck version of Motörhead’s “The Hammer”. Even with the two day event sold-out bringing together some of the best Rock ‘n’ Roll Scandinavia and the UK has to offer at the moment the chances of reading about it in mainstream magazines will be none. So onto headlining band Bloodlights who were for me, the best band of the night. 2008 was the one and only other time that the band has played over here and that was at the LA2 supporting The Hellacopters. Howie B makes a welcome return to the band after a 2½ year break who took a shine to my Maggots T-shirt as he’d worn his out. The bands set gives everybody time to catch their breath with a much more subdued crowd. Bloodlights are less of a participation band, more of watch the craftsmen. Billy Braggs “New England” from their “Somebody Else’s Nightmare” is played with more of a Replacements feel than Kirsty MacColl. It was also good to hear “One Eye Open” the band’s debut track. The only disappointment was when I picked up the set list afterwards there was a three song encore which didn’t, for some unknown reason, get played that included a cover of the Damned’s “New Rose”. All in all, and I know I missed the whole of Fridays gig and Flash House and Zero, Zero from the Saturday Deathtime ASSembly was fantastic. Hats off to Thomas for getting it together. So all we need now is Deathtime ASSembly 2017..... 

Deathtime ASSembly Pt. 1

Welcome to Deathtime ASSembly Part 1, where The Chuck Norris Experiment and The Sick Livers are going to kick or kiss your Ass…….
The Sick Livers are South Wales' glam punk anti-heroes. Described by Pure Rawk as "coming on like one part Turbonegro, one part Zodiac Mindwarp and one part Backyard Babies." Frontman Ginge is undoubtedly one of the greatest R’n’R frontmen out there at the moment and can be relied upon to pulverise The Livers’ pendulous Piñata of splendidly catchy Rock n Roll into several smithereens. Whilst the fire breathing eight legged raging Rock ‘n’ Roll monster known to its many friends as CNE rose from the shitsonic swamps of Gothenburg, Sweden, over ten years ago and since then has stomped its way around the globe like a hi-energy glorious Punk ‘n’ Roll Godzilla destroying every venue and audience in its mongofucking path. In real speak – yeah, they’re pretty good....well, actually rather fuckin; banging...So enjoy Part 1 of The Deathtime ASSembly that was held over 19^th/20^th February at The Pipeline. Unfortunately I couldn’t make the 19^th……… 

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 487

Remember about six weeks ago I said that I was going to reserve Saturday’s exclusively for studio shows with week days being the place for the live gigs that I sometimes attend? Well after last week’s show I thought “Fuck it”, its half term, I’ve got holiday owing to me, and I haven’t had a holiday, holiday since, forever. So I packed Mrs A. Becca and myself into the car and drove until either a) we found a nice Hotel with Sauna, Steam Room and a Swimming Pool or b) we ran out of Petrol. Fortunately with Petrol still less than a quid a Litre which is about 6 bucks 50 a Gallon US chums, we found a hotel that ticked all the boxes, it even had free Wifi. So for the last week I've done nothing, apart from lounge around, eat, drink Beer and watch my inbox fill up with Music. The down side is that I missed yesterdays Deathtime Assembly gig at The Pipeline. Once I’ve prized my Daughter from the Gym and Mrs A. from breakfasting I’ll be powering down England’s finest Motorways to catch tonight’s.  So instead ploughing through said music clogging up my inbox, picking what does it for me and hopefully does it for you I've strayed into Arm's Archive, not too far only October last year, to play you Bernie Tormé who was recorded at The Borderline on his "Black Heart" tour. Until next time, take it easy

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 486

Welcome to Episode 486 of The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show. Blasting things off this week are The Outta Sites from Hollywood, California and a track taken from their newest recording "Outta Site, Outta Mind". Shame I missed their Numbucca gig on the 7^th January. Then at the behest and recommendation of Andy P. of The Fear & Loathing Fanzine I play a track from US Punk Stalwarts Poison Idea's "Confuse and Conquer" album. Then after talking about The Professionals and Rich Kids joint headlining gig at the Shepherds Bush Empire I play The Vicious White Kids who as the name implies features Sid Vicious, Rat Scabies and Glen Matlock and Steve New. Former Radio Birdman Chris “Klondike” Masuakalong with The Viveiro Wave are all set to release, thanks to Crowdfunding site pozible.com, the CD version of his soon to be released vinyl only album "Brujita". Obviously a track from it is aired. To celebrate The Black Halos recording again and playing in London for guitarist Rich Jones' birthday I run a competition to win a copy of "The Violent Years" numbered on Red vinyl album. As the Role Models are supporting The Black Halos and have just launched a Pledge Campaign for their second album "Forest Lawn" it seemed the right thing to do and play a track by them. So I do. The Michael Monroe Band have just landed Stateside for some touring and have just been added to the "Stone Free Festival" in June at the o2 Arena. The band have just released a new single "Going Down With The Ship" which I stupidly don't play. However I do still play something from "Blackout States. As you should know The Deathtime Assembly is taking place at the The Pipeline on the 19^th and 20^th two of the bands have got together to release a split 7" in time for the gig. Those bands being The Hip Priests and Bloodlights. Consequently I give you an audioable taster. As it was both Repo and Lloyd Stuart Casson from Smash Fashions birthday last week I thought I'd play "Long Blond Animal" which is the b-side of their current single “Junkie Luck”. Sticking with b-sides; Beat The Drag have the flip of their last single played as well. To celebrate 25 years from the release of "Where Have All The Good Girls Gone" core members of The Crybabys, that'll be Honest John Plain, from the Boys and Darrell Bath, who can currently be found in The Vibrators, have roped in Robbie Ruston and Lester Greenowski to record two new tracks for a split 7" called "The Italian Job". Lester Greenowski in solo mode is on the other side with two of his contributions. A track from each gets The Squirrel treatment. The Stranglers are up next with my own "Cut & Paste" version of "Bring On The Nubiles". Dai from The Sick Livers apparently needs a Nurse since being involved in a Car Accident, so I give him one......This week’s show is wounded up by The Rosehips whose vocalist Kevin Junior, who later formed The Chamber Strings, sadly passed away last month.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 485

As it was 40 years last Thursday that The Ramones entered Plaza Sound to record one of the most landmark albums ever to appear on vinyl I start and finish this week’s show off with The Brothers and two tracks taken from those sessions. Deptford’s finest The Phobics are up next with a track taken from their last album “Deptford Calling”. New to The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show are from Spain The Assclats and a track taken from their debut “Punk” ep. A musician who is certainly no stranger to this show is CJ Wildheart who has just released his second Pledge Music album “Robot”. Those who have pledged will already have heard it, for everybody else you’ll have to wait until the 12^th when it gets its official release. For those of you still hovering over the “Undecided Button” to help you click that mouse I play something from it. Sticking with the Wildhearts interconnectedness The Dowling Poole who just so happen to feature Random Jon Poole and Willy Dowling are gathering momentum for their Pledge album “One Hyde Park”. You might’ve seen the video to “Rebecca Receiving”. If you haven’t I give you the audible equivalent. Tigertailz had their sights set on Eurovision greatness but that was before Auntie Beep sent them a “Bugger off” generic e-mail consigning the UK to the bottom half of the Eurovision Song Contest table. Some people/Countries you just can’t help. Fortunately enough the band put it out anyway. Naturally I play it. We’ve had Deptford’s finest so now I turn my attention to Croydon’s finest and Courage Best Bitter Band of The Year 1978 Johnny Moped whose 3^rd album “It’s A Real Cool Baby” is all set for release on the 25^th March via Damaged Goods Records. A single from the album was released late last year with a brand new one “Real Cool Baby” hitting the real and virtual Record Shops on the 29^th of last month. The yellow vinyl version gets an airing. (It’s my favourite Colour) “What’s In Arm’s Attic” makes its long overdue return with me finding a box of Cassette Tapes one of which was a live recording by The Family Butcher from the Summer of 1990 down in Brighton. The Family Butcher were Captain Sensible, Paul Gray, Garrie Dreadful and Malcolm Dixon. Obviously I play a couple form it. In hindsight I should've run it though my AudioLab to beef up the sound as it does sound a bit weedy in places. Even so it's still great to hear. Sticking with live recordings The Nomads are up next with a track taken from their Ghost Highway Recordings album "El Sol - Live In Madrid". As we approach the final furlong Boston's The Black Cheer give us "Everything" from their "Sick Gun" album with The Claypool Lennon Delirium, who as the name implies features Les Claypool from Primus and Sean Lennon, almost take us over the finishing line with their first fruits recording together. However, as I've already mentioned it's The Ramones that closes off this week's show.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 484

So I had it all worked out, Tuesday live Brian James and today live Beach Slang. However as you have already worked out this is not the case. Instead Richie Ramone is going to fondle your eardrums for the next 70 plus minutes and even this was fraught with delays due to work temporarily altering my hours so no lay in for me today or breakfasting with friend of the show and Squirrel Associate Arkwright, but most importantly instead of today's show going out this morning it's now this evening, unless you live on the West Coast of the United States. Anyway Richie Ramone, one of only the three surviving Ramones rolled into the UK for the start of his European Tour. As I’ve said before Elvis Ramone does not count, if he did he wouldn’t be consigned to the DVD extras. Once again Richie is aided and abetted by Alex Kane and Clare Misstake from AntiProduct along with Ben Reagan. It’s only been a couple of months since CJ Ramone played the same venue with a lot of familiar faces from that gig in the audience. It also looks like Marky Ramone is all set for some European Action having just signed up Captain Poon from Bloodlights as guitarist.  Worryingly this year marks the 20th Anniversary of their split. Soon they’ll have been gone longer than they were together. The set is exactly what is wanted and expected; Ramones classics interspersed with tracks from Richie’s last album “Entitled” with even new material from his next album which hopefully will be out in May.   

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 483

I make no apologies for opening this week's show off with some Peel Session Motörhead as I should've seen them last night at Hammersmith Odeon. Instead I caught up with Brian James at the Hope and Anchor who has a track from his "Guitar That Dripped Blood" aired afterwards. Staying with the Damned interconnectedness; The Mutants, who feature Rat Scabies on drums, are finishing up album number three "Desert Sessions" so I play a track from their second album "Tokyo Nights" which up until this week I didn't realise had been released. Digging deeper into the realms of collaboration, Iggy Pop and Josh Homme have teamed up for an album called "Post Pop Depression" and subsequent tour, the London date is the same day as The Treatments London date, 13th May. Hurrah! Not. Obviously I play the track by them that has already hit the interwebs, along with The Treatments first single from their new album "Generation Me". However sandwiched in-between them are Headline Manic who sport 3/5th of Eddie & The Hotrods and a track from their soon-to-be-released album "Rock 'n' Roll Thuggery", Beach Slang who I'm seeing tonight down in Brighton and a track from their "The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us” album with The DeRellas the last filling as sadly vocalist Robbie Tart has stepped down from the Band. The UK Subs final and 26th album "Ziezo" is in the final throws of being Subsified. A track from it has just been unleashed on a suspecting fan base. Of course I play it! Megadeth have a brand new album out called "Dystopia". As with Metallica, the first three Megadeth albums are, for me untouchable, when it comes to aggression and Punk attitude. The playing on "Dystopia" as you expect to top notch but the Piss and Vinegar has somewhat been placated. However it still hits home as you will hear. Those "Pure Rock Awards" nominees and Welsh support band for The Professionals, The Sick Livers have a track from when some band members still had Restraining Orders played. New to The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show are German band The Gee Strings and a track from their Ghost Highways Recordings album "I'm So Gee". Black Sabbath close the door on not only on this week's episode but on their career with a 8 track tour ep. Four studio tracks that were recorded for the "13" album but didn't make the final track listing and four songs recorded live that did.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 482

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 10^th March, Hairy Dog, Derby 11th and the 12^th 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.   

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 481

Having been born in Beckenham and lived there, on and off, for the last 30 years David Bowie’s life and death had an impact on me. Whilst mainstream Radio Stations celebrated his life with great but obvious songs I go for a different approach by starting this week’s show with a Davie Jones With The King Bees song before going into a Motörhead track from “Bad Magic”. It’s not all doom and gloom with The Supersuckers and something from their “Holdin’ The Bag” album. Thee Martian Boyfriends are up next with an injection of some Farfisa organ. The Michael Monroe Band are bound for the United States next month, so to get our American chums in the mood and even more excited a track from “Blackout States” gets an airing. The Boys have just released a brand new video to whit I play the audio equivalent from “Punk Rock Menopause”. Non PC band Childbirth from Seattle have two tracks played one from each of their albums, which are “It’s A Girl” and “Women’s Rights”. Slade, who were the first band I got into back in March 1973, have that track, which set me on my musical journey played. A band who would be right at home in the early to mid 70’s are The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell who just so happen to have released a brand new 7” on Rise Above Records. Obviously the A-Side gets a good going over. Captain Blood, from Denver, Colorado, with their Horror Punk make their debut onto The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show. Turbonegro once again grace the airwaves with their latest single which came out last year. Sonny Vincent’s Son, Daughter-In-Law and Grandson were involved in a serious Apartment Fire suffering 50-80% burns, so Sonny has set up a GoFundMe Campaign to help with their Medical expenses, which you can donate to Here. Ghost Highway Recordings are also chipping in by giving all the proceeds from the “Lines On My Mirror” 7”, which I play, to the fund. The Royal Republic are the latest band to have a gig that clashes with an already booked ticket. (Ghost on March 2^nd) Even so I play another new track from their up and coming album. AC/DC finish things off this week because.....well just because.        

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 480

Welcome to Episode 480 of this The Paranoid Squirrel Mid-Week Special. On this show it’s the UK Subs recorded live at the 100 Club as part of the venue’s Resolution Festival on Saturday 9^th January. The gig was the same day as Lemmy’s Funeral Service with Charlie Harper resplendent in a “Don’t Fuck With Lemmy” t-shirt with a picture of Mr Kilminster giving the camera the finger. In a fitting tribute the band played the first single that got Motörhead onto Top of the Pops. The UK Subs were as they always are, fantastic; they came, they saw, they rocked and lay waste to all and sundry. New songs from the bands current album “Yellow Leader” mixed perfectly with their chart bothering back catalogue of classics, as, hopefully, you are just about to hear.