The Paranoid Squirrel

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 393

Thanks sadly to the cancellation of last weekends Alt-Fest I was able to see The Damned on “Home Turf” playing The Forum, Kentish Town for the wallet saving price of a Tenner. (All right £14.15 once all the unnecessary charges had been added). I know it was only in April that the band graced the self same venue for Captain’s 60^th Birthday gig, but this (second) time around there was less of a party atmosphere with more of a down to business vibe. Although Captain still gives as good as he gets in the banter department. A nice long set, still nothing post “Eloise”. I still love to hear this line up tackle something from “Not Of This Earth/I’m Alright Jack”, but at the end of the day I’m just glad The Damned are still out there. New album pleeeease……..

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 392

Another live show this week recorded at a venue I’ve not been to before namely Under The Bridge which as the name suggests is under Stamford Bridge, home to Chelsea F.C. The band in question were/are Glen Matlock, Slim Jim Phantom and Earl Slick who collectively have been in The Sex Pistols, The Stray Cats and David Bowie. Obviously choice cuts from their more well know work are played albeit in a more Rock-a-Billy style, along with covers from Television, The Faces and, I kid you not, Pharrell Williams. Also joining the band for a cover of his and Earl’s former employer was Reeves Gabrels. A great band at a great venue, even if the Bar Prices reflected its location, The Wetherspoons in Fulham Broadway will be the stopping off point next time….

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 391

After a 37 year absence The Dictators NYC, that’s Handsome Dick Manitoba, Ross “The Boss”, JP Patterson with Ramones associate Daniel Rey and Dean Rispler finally return to London to play The Highbury Garage as a prelude to their Rebellion Festival appearance. The last official Dictators album came out 26 years ago in 1991 a gap of 13 years since 1978’s “Bloodbrothers” but even so none of the songs culled from them, “Go Girl Crazy” and “Manifest Destiny” sound dated. They sound just awesome as you are just about to hear along with a couple of covers thrown in for good measure in the shape and form of The Flaming Grooves “Slow Death” and with HDM reprising his Rob Tyner role with “Kick Out The Jams”.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 390

For me, this week’s live show features 4 of the best unsigned DIY bands I’ve come across. Literally. Making their first foray into Central London it is Whitstable based band Flame Pilots, featuring friend of the show and Squirrel Associate Arkwright. Then it’s a live welcome return to The Paranoid Squirrel in the form of Cars Like Sharks. Up next is The Drej who regular listeners need no introduction to. Headlining the whole shindig is Top Buzzer warming themselves up for their Rebellion slot. A great evening with four great bands. Enjoy.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 389

Off the back of last week’s show we have an acoustic Captain Sensible song starting things going which is swiftly followed by a new track from the up and coming Murder City Devils album “The White Ghost Has Blood On Its Hands Again”. Sad news reached the Squirrel dray on Monday regarding the health of former Heartbreaker bassist Billy Rath. As a tribute to him I play you a track from the Heartbreakers one and only studio album “L.A.M.F.” (cassette version). In the live department it’s Jettblack at The Macbeth, Hoxton in a one-off party gig to test out some of the songs from album number 3.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 388

As Motörhead have just announced three Arena show for November with The Damned as special guests I play tracks from both with the addition of The Sensible Gray Cells (Captain, Paul Gray & Ant Thickett) as they are also playing a London date in November. Up next is another new track from The Mutants “Rhythm and Punk Review” album. For the next few tracks I seem to be in “Classic Rock” territory with The Dagger, Judas Priest, Uriah Heep and Bullet. The reformed Last Great Dreamers have the first single taken from their soon to be released “Crash Landing In Teenage Heaven” album aired. Gig of the Summer has to be The Drej, Top Buzzer, Cars Like Sharks and Flame Pilots at The Rhythm Factory on the 6^th August. All my favourite unsigned bands in one place all for free! So rounding this week’s show off is a track from each.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 387

This week’s show starts of with a tribute to Tommy Ramone who sadly passed away on the 11^th July. Apart from the obvious Ramones tunes aired I also play a track from the Lords of Altamont cover album “Lords Take Altamont” followed by The Crazy Squeeze whilst discussing Downloads vs Real life Records. The best band name of the year so far goes to Spliff Witchard whose new album “Next Stop…Never” has a track aired. From now on in, or until the end of the show, I hit you with some of the finest Nordic Rock I have lying around in my hard-drive; Märvel, The Hellacopters, Bloodlights, Smoke Mohawk, Gluecifer, The Michael Monroe Band, The Flaming Sideburns, Waltari, The Nomads and Sator.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 386

Not many bands will get me staying out late one of the exceptions to the rule will always be The Yo-Yo’s as club gigs seem to be only once a year. As a Sonisphere warm-up the band played Chris McCormack’s Jubilee Club on the 4^th July. Only Tom Spencer and Danny McCormack remain from the band that produced the classic “Uppers & Downers” for Subpop but Simon Maxwell drummer from the Loyalties and Role Models along with guitarist Nick Hughes bassist with New Device fit in like a worn out boxing glove. The Yo-Yo’s were supported by The (Willie) Dowling (Random Jon) Poole who had stayed on after their PledgeMusic Pledgers only gig. A very satisfying evening even if I did get in at twenty to two.  

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 385

So the run of studio episodes lasted one whole week but I think you will agree with me that 50 odd minutes of Honest John Plain who was aided and abetted by Robbie Rushton on drums, Gary Pearce on guitar and Nick Medlin on bass, recorded at The Water Rats in London is a fair exchange. Frustratingly HJP isn’t able to promote his latest solo album that sees him working with Glen Matlock, Martin Chambers, Michael Monroe, Casino Steel, Darrell Bath and Verden Allen as the only track that has seen the light of day, so far, has been “Never Listen To Rumours”. But what we do get a great cross section of Honest John Plain’s recording career. Obviously The Boys are represented along with The Crybabys, Landslide Ladies and even a collaboration with Pete Stride gets an airing.

Enjoy.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 384

After a six week break I return you to an all studio show. Kicking things off are The Ramones who are followed by a track from the new Nazareth album “Rock ‘n’ Roll Telephone”. From there on in it’s pretty much all new material from; Carnival Sun, Jackson Firebird, The New Christs, The Royal Cream, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Peter Pan Speedrock, The Mutants featuring Wilko Johnson, Wayne Kramer, Rat Scabies, Jake Burns, TV Smith, Charlie Harper, Jucy Nylon, Neville Staple, Norman Watt-Roy, Chris Constantinou and Paul Frazer. The Boys, The Bermondsey Joyriders, St Evel, Cars Like Sharks, The Buzzcocks, The Hip Priests, The Quireboys and The Backstreet Girls. I also managed to slip in a “Compare and Contrast”; The Damned Vs The Wildhearts.