It would appear that the current incarnation of Dead Men Walking will walk no more under that name! With very little fuss and a little bit of fan speculation it appears that the band will continue under the name The Jack Tars with a full UK tour happening this autumn (dates tba).
The bands' new site can be found by clicking HERE!
Steve Grantley follows up the fantastic "Zed Hed" album from his RT-Zed project/band (delete as appropriate) with "Crunch, a limited edition cd of the bands debut live gig recorded at the Bullingdon Club Oxford in 2012.
So with only an albums worth of source material to draw from (not including the RTZ Global album) it's just a live run through of "Zed Hed" right? Wrong! Of course there are tracks from "Zed Hed" accounting for 6 of the 10 songs on "Crunch" but it's very noticeable just how different these versions are live.
The band is spot on and full of energy, the songs raw and bursting with attitude even in "Room No. 5", a track that deals with the loss of Steve's father, there seems more anger in the live version making it totally different from the "Zed Hed" original and just as essential.
"You Are Free" makes a great set opener and it is obvious how well that Steve paced the set slipping in a few covers just to give those present something familiar rather than exclusively presenting them with material they hadn't heard. "Rebel Rebel" works well with a vocal sneer that merges glam, punk & rock, "Crazy Horses" is more Osmonds than Alex Harvey and is beefed up to the Nth degree while "Saturday Nights (Alright For Fighting)" goes full pelt as the gig races towards its conclusion...Elton John this ain't!
"Get What You Want" is left to close the proceedings and by this point you can almost feel the floor bouncing while the sweat runs down the walls and the smell of beer hangs in the air! This is a club show, warts and all by a band doing what they do best and playing up a storm while they do it. From the heartfelt thanks that Steve gives to those that have travelled to make the show so special you know he is moved and you know he is happy!
With so little downtime at the moment afforded to him be the reinvigorated Stiff Little Fingers it is hard to tell how many chances you will get to catch RT-Zed live which makes this release even more essential....get it before time runs out!
TO ORDER CLICK HERE!
For those waiting patiently for the London dates to be announced for Kirk Brandons Akoustik tour it seems that wait was well worth it for us Alarm fans! The two London dates will take place at the Islington on Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th September with support from Gene Loves Jezebels Jay Aston on the first night and Dave Sharp on the second.
The Islington is a pretty intimate venue so don't hang around if you want a ticket for either of these shows! Tickets for both nights are priced at £12 a piece and can be ordered via the following link! Click HERE for tickets.
BBC Wales has started screening a new documentary series based around the Housing Department at Flintshire County Council called "Flint Des Res".
Why am I telling you this you ask? Well it is narrated by none other than Mr. Mike Peters!
For those of you in Wales it is broadcast on Sundays at 10.30pm and for the rest of us it is available the next day on BBC iPlayer for 30 days.
Watch the first episode HERE!
Many thanks to Nigel for letting me know about this!
Small Town Glory, the new project from Eddie MacDonald now has it's own Facebook page as the launch of the bands debut EP draws closer to its, as of yet, undisclosed release date!
The band consists of Eddie MacDonald and Paul Evans on guitars and vocals, Charlie Fowler on bass and backing vocals with a host of guests including Mark Taylor and Nigel Twist filling in for the recordings.
More info as I get it but for now those Facebookers out there click HERE to get to the Small Town Glory page!
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| Credit :Unknown |
Johnny Pisano has a CV that reads like a who's who in music.
He's played with Marky Ramone & The Intruders, Jesse Malin, Deborah Harry and of course Willie Nile, as well as sharing a stage or a studio with Bruce Springsteen, Counting Crows, former KISS drummer Peter Criss, Steve Earle and many, many others!
Ever thought you recognised a face in a film or on TV? Well, that could have been Johnny as he has appeared in numerous films and TV shows such as The Sopranos, Wolf On Wall Street and Boardwalk Empire.
But today it is his role in the recently released "Strength" (2015) that we are here to talk about.
How did you get involved in the recording of "Strength" (2015)?
I was on tour in the UK with Willie Nile November 2014 and I received a call from Mike and Jules asking if I had any days off on the tour and if I wanted to come and record. I did have a few days off so I hopped on the train to Wales and Mike picked me up at the train station.
Were you familiar with the original album?
I was very familiar, yes. As a teenager I was a big fan of The Alarm, and I still am. Me and my friend would see as many shows as we could when they were in the New York area.
What direction did Mike give you for what he was looking for?
He emailed me the newer vibe of the songs, most had drum tracks, acoustic guitar and vocals and he asked me to just be free with fresh ideas. From what I heard he was approaching the songs as if they were brand-new again and that's how I approached them as well.
You appear on 5 songs on the finished album, was this always the plan or was this due to time constraints?
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| Credit : Michael Aarons |
There was already upright bass on some of the tracks recorded previously. I showed up pretty much knowing the songs and what I wanted to do and we got it all done that day.
Can you describe how the sessions went?
Mike took me to this beautiful old church, where I met Mark Warden who was producing and engineering. Mike and Mark said they loved everything I was coming up with so we continued on till we felt it was great. We recorded song after song laughing and having fun in between tracks.
Which track(s) are you most proud of?
I think all the tracks are great, but "Absolute Reality" would have to be one of my favourites on here just because of how great it came out but also because it was one of my favourite songs.
Were there any plans for you to guest with Mike on any of his U.S. dates or did they clash with your Willie Nile commitments?
There was talk about him coming to the U.S. with a band and using me to play electric and upright bass but I believe he's doing it solo this year. As for anything in the future I would be psyched and honoured to back him up, especially if Smiley was playing drums. Those drum tracks are amazing, he is such a great drummer.
After the piano laden "If I Was A River" any idea what the next Willie Nile album has in store for us?
All the tracks are pretty much done for the new Willie Nile record. Last I heard it will be released the beginning of 2016, we still have some overdubs and singing to do, maybe a few guests to come play on some stuff. I am also working on my own little side project. I'm recording songs which I hope to release before 2016.
Any idea when we can expect any new U.K. dates?
I was hoping we would get there this fall as we do every year. Right now there are no plans but I'm sure we will get there soon. I'm looking forward to it...
Johnny Pisano....thank you very much!
I'll post info on Johnny's solo project as well as any new Willie Nile info when I have them!
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| Credit : Conni Freestone |
James Stevenson isn't a man who likes to sit still so as he prepares to embark on tour with the highly successful Bowie themed Holy Holy I caught up with him to find out what makes the whole project tick!
For those that still haven't had the chance to pick up James' fantastic debut album "Everything's Getting Closer To Being Over" it has recently had a physical release via Plastic Head ,which means it will be easier for you to get hold off via Amazon and the like (see links at the bottom of this interview).
With the live Holy Holy Album "The Man Who Sold The World - Live In London" due to be released tomorrow and their tour ready to kick off on the 12th it's time for James and I to talk all things Holy Holy!
Holy Holy started as a one off celebration of the classic early 70s Bowie period, how did it evolve into a much more ambitious touring project?
Well really because we all enjoyed doing it so much. The Latitude Festival in 2013 where I got Clem in was great but then Woody Woodmansey himself got in touch and said he'd be interested in getting involved - and then Tony Visconti - it just snowballed.
Why was "The Man Who Sold The World" chosen to play in full when the more obvious albums would surely have been "Ziggy" or "Aladdin Sane"?
Well because of Tony Visconti's involvement. He produced and played bass on TMWSTW. After that album he moved on to T.Rex etc...
The venues on last years tour ranged from pub to club to much bigger venues like the Shepherds Bush Empire; was it liberating to have that different connection with the audience?
Well as I've said many times my favourite thing to do is to walk on stage and play my guitar - whether it's to 100 people or 1000. Every dynamic is different. Liberating probably isn't the word. I usually enjoy any gig I do no matter how large or how small.
Surely that is something you experience when touring with Chelsea or The Alarm and then playing festivals like Coachella with The Cult?
Well yeah. But Chelsea just did this gig at a pub in Gateshead called The Three Tuns and it was electrifying, Coachella was so full of young rich kids it was a drag. It sells out every year before they announce the line-up of bands- that says it all IMO about how much the music matters!
Do you approach them differently?
No. It feels a bit different but you approach them the same. You walk on and do what you do. I remember feeling a bit intimidated at Milton Keynes when GLJ supported Bowie in front of 60,000. But you always give it your best shot whether you're playing to 100 or 100,000 people.
Did you have any input into what tracks made it into the second set?
With Holy Holy? Yes, of course. For me it's a dream come true to play with legends like Woody and Tony. I spent my entire adolescence listening to their records. So now to walk on stage and play with them is an absolute honour. I was really keen to get "Suffragette City" and "Rock And Roll Suicide" in there - which were debated at first by the band.
The band throughout the tour was fairly stable with the addition of the odd surprise guest like Marc Almond at Shepherds Bush but then changed for the Xmas shows presumably due to availability. Did this give the shows a different feel or is it one of the strengths of a project like Holy Holy?
Very different. The thing is we like to get out and do the show but quite often Tony, Glenn or Steve Norman isn't available. The we have to go out with a different line up - like a second version of the group - and play smaller venues because we haven't got all the big names in tow.
What differences are there to the band for the new tour?
Well Steve Norman has taken off again with Spandau. I'm so pleased for him - no-one deserves it more. I was just in Australia visiting my brother and took him to their show in Melbourne. They were absolutely fuckin brilliant! So we've got Terry Edwards doing Steve's gig. But he's very different to Steve. They're both incredible musicians but Terry brings his own stuff to the party. It's all good.
The tour kicks off with the Isle of Wight Festival, what have you got planned for the festival crowd?
Well Suzanne Vega is getting up for The Man Who Sold The World - so I'm definitely looking forward to that.
How will the rest of the tour differ from last year? Will it be a similar set giving those who missed it last year a chance to experience the show?
Kind of. Marc Almond is doing a lot of the gigs. He was electrifying at Shepherd's Bush last year - so that's fantastic. There will be The Man Who Sold The World in it's entirety of course - but the second set will have a few surprises.
This year you also get to break out from the UK and head over to Tokyo, will there be more international dates to come?
I hope so. I love playing in this band so as far as I'm concerned the more we do the better.
June 1st sees the release of the double live "Live at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire" CD, were multiple shows recorded or was this always intended to be the one that would be released?
It was always just going to be that gig. My friend Richard Den Berg shot it - six cameras. We didn't have that anywhere else.
You played your first solo set at The Gathering this year with the "From The Alarm" set showcasing the solo work of Craig, Smiley and yourself which was amazing. Did you enjoy it?
Well thanks for saying you enjoyed it. For me it was FANTASTIC. I'd love to do more but I have the seven piece band to do my record justice - and that's kinda cost prohibitive. My mate Martin Kelly who used to own Heavenly Records said if I made my album, even in the mid 90s, I'd have had every label chasing me with their cheque books out! LOL. Times have changed. I'd love to make a second album but I'm not sure if I can afford to do it. The whole industry is so fucked up.
That evening you expressed that you definitely wanted to play more solo live dates, is that any closer to being realised?
Hmmmm - well that depends... I wish there weren't economic considerations....but sadly there are.
The new Chelsea album "Saturday Night Sunday Morning" seems to be getting a buzz about it already, what are your thoughts on it?
Well I love the record. Nic Austin replaced me when I left in 1980 so it was great to work with him. He's a fantastic songwriter. He wrote "Fuck All" and Something Wrong In Yer Head" surely future punk classics. It's a great record - if I say so myself.
How much of the Chelsea tour will you make before you have to switch over to Holy Holy?
After the 100 Club 5th June I have to bail. Sad but true.
The Cult are working on a new album currently, will you be involved in the live dates again or is that a conversation that hasn't happened yet?
They're taking a keyboard player out for the new shows in June and to promote their new album in the autumn - their call of course - I love playing in the band but I have so much going on, one less to juggle is a relief in some ways. I'm actually in L.A. right now and went riding (motorbike not horse! LOL) with Billy today. I think something fresh might be good for The Cult - but who knows what the future holds?
Finally, we've been promised a new Alarm album for next year...is there anything you can tell us about it yet?
No idea! Sorry, ask Mike! But I think the actual band will tour the UK in Spring 2016!
James Stevenson, as always, thank you!
To Order "Saturday Night Sunday Morning" by Chelsea click HERE!
To Order "The Man Who Sold The World - Live In London" by Holy Holy click HERE!
To Order "Everything's Getting Closer To Being Over" by James Stevenson click HERE!
The Whitby Goth Weekend that takes place across the weekend of 30th October - 1st November have just confirmed Spear Of Destiny will be appearing on Saturday 31st!
Early bird tickets are available HERE!
Some early dates have been released after this weekends Westworld weekend so Spear and TOH fans may want to get these in their diaries now!
Spear Of Destiny Tour 8th - 31st October 2015
Theatre Of Hate Tour 1st - 6th December 2015
Westworld Weekend XIV 6th & 7th May 2016
"Easy Piracy" the second album by Dead Men Walking has been released in the US coinciding with the short run of live dates on Americas west coast. There is good news and bad news for UK fans as the album won't see an official release here till later in the year, presumably to coincide with the much rumoured UK dates, but is available now on Amazon. The digital release is currently priced at £8.19 but due to the CD being an import it is clocking in at over £16!
Check out up to date prices and availability HERE!
The album features the following track listing:
01.Rock And Roll Kills
02.Damned Damned Damned
03.Weather Song
04.Deadman Blues
05.Whatever Turns You On (Will Turn You On)
06.Song For Eddie
07.Easy Piracy
08.Doctor Henry
09.When The Boats Come In
10.The Devil's Music
11.Crossroads
12.Forgotten Saints
13.What If...
14.Out On The Edge
15.Love Of My Life
It would appear that the current incarnation of Dead Men Walking will walk no more under that name! With very little fuss and a little bit of fan speculation it appears that the band will continue under the name The Jack Tars with a full UK tour happening this autumn (dates tba).
For those waiting patiently for the London dates to be announced for Kirk Brandons Akoustik tour it seems that wait was well worth it for us Alarm fans! The two London dates will take place at the Islington on Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th September with support from Gene Loves Jezebels Jay Aston on the first night and Dave Sharp on the second.
Holy Holy started as a one off celebration of the classic early 70s Bowie period, how did it evolve into a much more ambitious touring project?
