The Paranoid Squirrel

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 469

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......     

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 468

The word “Electric” runs though this week’s show in the form of live recordings from The Electric Boys and then Imperial State Electric. The Electric Boys were touring to celebrating the 25^th Anniversary of the release of “Funk-O-Metal Carpet Ride” supporting The Dan Reed Network with former Hanoi Rocks drummer Jolle Atlagic joining his forming Hanoi band members of Conny Bloom and Andy Christell, who had joined the band as it wasn’t financially practical for regular sticksman Niklas Sigevall to fly in from his LA home. Imperial State Electric were celebrating the return of Nicke Andersson at the Electric Ballroom after he suffered hearing lose sidelining him from his own band for a few days and a few gigs. In a perverse kind of way I was looking forward to seeing Imperial State Electric as a Power Trio or hoping that Robert Pehrsson had been flown in to stand in for Nicke. Fortunately or not depending on your point of view he was gig ready. So along with Dolf, Tobias and Tomas many Jams were kicked out and best viewed and heard as a four piece.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 467

Welcome to Episode 467 of The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show, where, even though the news about The Hellacopters one off Sweden Rocks gig is over a week old, I go off on a complete tangent, not playing was I was planning to but Bands and Records that have shaped, if not changed the course of my life. Therefore for the first part of this week’s show I play; The Hellacopters, The Ramones, Motӧrhead, The Damned, The Beatles, Ginger Wildheart, The Hydromatics and Cinderella. Fortunately I do leave myself enough room for new music that you should hear on the Radio but don’t in the form of Brian James and a track from his latest album “The Guitar That Dripped Blood”, The Dirty Strangers and something from their just released “Crime And A Women” album. If you think that the Rolling Stones haven’t released an album of decent tunes this century The Dirty Strangers will restore your faith. Scott Sorry, he of Sorry and The Sinatra and sometimes Wildhearts Bassist, has the first fruits from his Pledge Music solo album aired and I finally manage to play a track from the Black Bombers 7” that their Bassist and Walter Lure’s, Darren Birch sent me a couple of months ago. Well worth the wait. As we plunge head long toward the end of this week’s hour the Zodiac Panthers, all two of them, give us some Primal Garage Punk with The Beladeans blending some modern/vintage Pacific Northwest Garage Rock to actually bring proceedings to a close.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 466

Welcome to another week of music that you should hear on the radio but don’t here on The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show. As its Halloween I might as well get my token All Hallows’ Eve track out of the way courtesy of The Misfits. Then as I’m seeing Bernie Tormé tonight up at The Borderline I play a track from his latest album “Blackheart” to get me, and hopefully you, all fired up. Up next and new to the show are Thirsty who feature two ex-Quireboys Guy Bailey and Chris Johnson. At the end of last week the members of the UK Subs jointly released a statement saying on the 24^thOctober a major announcement regarding the band would be forthcoming. For the bands 26^th and FINAL album “Ziezo” fans would be able to get fully involved in the whole process via Pledge Music which goes live tomorrow (1^st Nov). Naturally I play two UK Subs track, the first was originally released as a fan club only one-sided 7” with the second taken from the bands last album “Yellow Leader”. Keeping in the classic Punk Rock mood I play a track from Chelsea’s last album “Saturday Night, Sunday Morning” which goes straight into the Dahlmanns, who hail from Norway, latest 7” single. The Last Great Dreamers have just released a new single to coincide with their up and coming support slot to Cherie Currie, obviously it gets an airing as does a track from D-Generations 2015 Record Store day 10”. A sad note I play a track from late 80’s Glam Rockers Belladonna’s debut 12” as their original and former Bad English (SA) drummer Vince Höare passed away at his home in South Africa last weekend.  Following on is Husker Du and then Anthrax with the first new song from the band’s upcoming 2016 album. Onto the home straight and it’s the Eureka Machines and the Sick Livers. The Eureka Machines track is taken from their soon to be released “Rarities” CD with the Sick Livers song taken from “Mid Liver Crisis” which has just had a video released to accompany it.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 465

Welcome back to an all studio Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show. It only feels like yesterday that I was talking to you………

The Damned get things going with a track from their Black Album with Paul Gray’s latest venture in the form of the Monte Dons following on. Up next is Goy Division featuring former Adam West and current Delicious Fullness throaterlist Jake “The Suit” Starr along with Dan-O Deckelman and The Rats. New music comes courtesy of former Hardcore Superstar Guitarist Thomas Silver who is swiftly followed by an as yet unreleased track from his 2011 Rockfield Sessions that features Michael Monroe, Martin Chambers, Casino Steel, Darrell Bath and Glen Matlock. The Volcanics are up next with a track from their Rob Younger produced album “Transmission”. So if you’re into The Victims, The Scientists, The Stooges, the MC5 and AC/DC you might just love this. Born Loose have a brand new album out called “Blowout” which is available on vinyl only. Do not fret it, comes with a download code for those of you whose turntable has been packed away. Obviously a track from it is aired. Not only have Psychopunch and The Carburetors just released a split 7”, booked a German tour together for March, but both are due to release new albums on the 20^th November. The albums are “Sweet Baby Octane” – Psychopunch and “Laughing In The Face Of Death” – The Carburetors. A track from each album is played. A new band to me is The Unholy Preachers from the Czech Republic. Their one album and two eps has a certain Hip Priests feel about them. Great stuff which I hope you agree with. On the 19^th and 20^th February at the Pipeline in London there is going to be the biggest Turbojugend UK party ever in the form of Deathtime Assembly, ten bands over two days who include The Parkinsons, who seem to have reformed and have a documentary about them due for release next month, The Good, The Bad and The Zugly, Bloodlights, The Hip Priests, The Sick Livers, The Chuck Norris Experiment, Flash House, Fuck Frankie, Crude Caress and Zero Zero. Sweet innocent Jesus. Will I be there? Does a Turbojugend hang around the Docks? Hell yeah. To celebrate I play you the aforementioned The Good, The Bad and The Zugly and Bloodlights. A band I think is missing from the bill are Märvel and to prove the point I play a track from their current album “The Hills Have Eyes”. CJ Wildheart has launched a brand new PledgeMusic campaign for his new solo album “The Robot”. The title track has been released as a teaser or taster depending which I share with up. As I’m still in a bit of a Professionals mood I finish this week show off with the Sham Pistols track “Natural Born Killer” from the “Complete Professionals” 3CD and “Little Boys In Blue” by Dirtbag Republic.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 464

Well it’s Friday and I’m glad we made it to the end of the week. To celebrate for your listening enjoyment I have for you The Professionals live from The 100 Club. Now for those of you who are unaware, shame on you, The Professionals were the band that Paul Cook and Steve Jones put together after the demise of the Sex Pistols. The gruesome twosome were joined by Ray McVeigh and Paul Myers for the “I Didn’t See It Coming” album. The band only lasted three years splitting up in the States in the spring of 1982 after turning down an opening spot offer from The Clash. The thought of The Professionals reforming seemed as likely as David Cameron handing out Fifty Pound notes to the homeless or Jeremy Corbyn singing the National Anthem. That was until former Yo-Yo’s and Loyalties Bassist Tom Spencer stepped in to replace the LA lifestyle loving Steve Jones and two dates were booked; The Fleece in Bristol and The 100 Club three days later. And this dear friends is the result.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 463

Welcome to Episode 463 of The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show which pretty much is the finale of Monday’s show. So on today’s episode it is the turn of The Michael Monroe Band to *Rock Like Fuck out of The Electric Ballroom in Camden on the last night of their UK co-headlining tour with Hardcore Superstar. The Monroes latest album “Blackout States” was only released just under week before this London date but by the amount of people who already new word perfect the new songs and welcomed them into the band’s set like classic long lost songs. Michael, Sami, Steve, Karl and Rich must surely soon be looking for wall space for a Gold Record. The band’s set Anyway Thursday’s set was a broad representation of Michael’s career to date, although I thought “Horns and Halos” was under represented however he is here to promote “Blackout States” and it would’ve been interesting to hear a Hanoi song from the rebirth days as well or instead of “Oriental Beat”, “Tragedy” and “Malibu Beach” but I was glad to hear “Up Around The Bend” a song I don’t think I’ve heard him played solo. It’s funny but on Monday’s episode with regards to the Hardcore Superstar set I said that I thought it was a tad too long and that I’m more of a “Wham, bam, thank you Arm” merchant. Not when it comes to Michael Monroe. I could’ve quite happily watched The Monroes play their entire back catalogue from start to finish. It pretty much was the perfect ending to a Thursday evening of musical entertainment. A shoe in for Download this year surely?!

*Copyright Adam Bomb 

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 462

Welcome to Episode 462 which is the first of three Podcasts this week, four if you count next Saturday. The others will be on Wednesday and Friday. But let’s concentrate on what I have on offer for you today, which is Hardcore Superstar recorded on their last date of their co-headlining UK tour with Michael Monroe, who will be the subject of Wednesday’s Podcast. It always seems that Hardcore Superstar are up for co-headlining duties having seen them with The 69 Eyes and Buck Cherry over the years. Certainly it makes financial sense. The bands current album “HCSS” which was released at the beginning of this year is a really strong album. It’s hard for me to say it’s their best album to date as the band has constantly maintained a high standard when it comes to their recording output, however I was disappointed at the lack of their earlier material live, but the band are here, once again, to promote the new album, so I can’t really complain. I did feel the bands set went on a tad too long, I know it was a co-headlining show so both bands get, quite rightly, equal stage times but in this instance I would’ve preferred the “Wham, Bam, thank you Arm” approach. Minor quibble on what was otherwise a great set as you are about to hear.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 461

Another trip up to The Borderline last week saw me seeing Finnish based apocalyptic post-punks Grave Pleasures who up until the beginning of this year were known as Beastmilk. However a departing guitarist saw the band adopt a new name and a new record label in the form of Sony. I did wonder at the bands rational at the name change as although Beastmilk might not have been a household name the two gigs I saw them play under that moniker were close to sell outs with the band’s debut album “Climax” that was released at the tail end of 2013 shifting a respectable amount of units. Mind you the interest generated by the change of name and new line-up doesn’t seem to have done the band any harm. In fact I think it has helped their profile as the sardine conditions at the Borderline laid testament to. The band is vocalist Mat McNerney, Linnéa Olsson and Juho Vanhanen on the Guitars, Valtteri Arinoon Bass and drummer Uno Bruinusson. I get the feeling that if Grave Pleasures had been around at the beginning of the 1980’s every student’s bedroom wall would’ve had their poster cozying up to that of The Cures and The Banshees. Great stuff.  

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 460

All the way from Atlanta, Georgia the Biters descended on the UK at the end of last month as part of their “Warriors Worldwide” tour in support of their full length debut album “Electric Blood” which is out now on Earache Records. The tour started off at the Barfly in London on the 25^th September and ended yesterday in Sheffield. I caught them at the Borderline in London on the 6^th October and what a fine time I had watching their Ramones meets Thin Lizzy via Cheap Trick style of Rawk! Catchy songs? Tick. Huge riffs? Tick, Power Pop Heaven? Tick. The Biters certainly look to that most diverse of decades that had Prog, Rock, Glam, Disco and Punk all vying for our attention as the song “1975” encapsulates. Frontman Tuk doesn’t take himself seriously taking the mick out of himself and various audience members, all in an endearing way. With only the aforementioned “Electric Blood” and a spattering of eps to draw from the band slipped in a Thin Lizzy cover with The Squirrel claiming that the band played two Lizzy covers, the other being “The Boys Are Back In Town”. Obviously she was talking about “So Many Nights” which is an inadvertent cover……but whatever, as it was a great night for all concerned as you will hear.