REISSUE: Cream - Goodbye Tour - Live at the Forum - remastered, new vinyl edition out now

 

Out now on UMe/Polydor is a reissue of the full Cream concert at the Forum from 1968, featuring a heartwarming intro by Buddy Miles and full, well-mastered versions of 9 songs over 4 sides of vinyl that will convince you (or reinforce, if you already were convinced) that Cream live was probably as good as blues-derived rock (which is to say, rock) ever got. The “Crossroads” on here, starting from a standstill and with Eric Clapton singing lead on a cover of his favorite blues artist, is masterful and by itself probably worth the cost of this package. 

I remember having the original Goodbye and Wheels of Fire on, respectively, 8-track and scratchy vinyl hand-me-downs, and have to say that, if your experience is similar, you may want to revisit this music. You will be amazed. There are moments that reveal themselves more clearly here - Jack Bruce’s thundering bass runs on “Crossroads” and Ginger Baker’s crackling drum work on “White Room” among many - that compliment Bruce’s vocals and Eric Clapton’s legendary guitar work and will transport you. In addition to the blue vinyl rendition of the Forum concert, there is also a 4-CD box set containing four concerts from this same time period. I’m so glad this is out of the vault.

Cream Goodbye Tour Vinyl/CD Site

Blake - HMS Blake

English musician Julian Pugsley, aka Blake, is a Swiss Army Knife kind of pop artist. Looking for jangling singer-songwriter tunes -- you will find them here. Want some boogie blues rock -- he has you covered. But he doesn't stop there. His new collection of songs, HMS Blake, includes alt rock and folk songs as well. We term the album a collection because it is a two disc release including 1971, his album from earlier this year, six new songs, and a career retrospective of earlier releases. So in addition to remarkable variety, the album is consists of a very generous 40 songs. You have to play HMS Blake through from start to finish to truly appreciate what it can do for you. It is like finding a top quality indie station playing guitar pop and rock inspired by the best influences of the past five decades. That it is all written and performed by Pugsley is even more incredible, of course.

The album is available now in CD and digital formats via Subjangle Records.

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ManaRays - ManaRays

When we discovered that there was a label in Brisbane named Swashbuckling Hobo Records we knew that we needed to feature one of their releases. You see, for all of us at WYMA our second choice at school Career Day was to be a Swashbuckling Hobo. Unfortunately, we all were accepted to law school, resulting in the world losing much needed Swashbuckling Hobos and burdening mankind with more lawyers. What can we say -- we are so sorry.

But the great news is that we didn't have to lower our standards to bring you a record from this label. In fact, the self-titled album by Brisbane's ManaRays is just what will get all of is through this week to the next weekend. Packed with gritty blues rock with indie rock hooks and a punk attitude, this is deeply satisfying indie rock to rattle your windows and gladden your souls. You don't need to go to the pub to party under stay at home orders. Have some beverages delivered, cue up ManaRays, and the pub has come home.

The band are Adrian Carroll (vocals/guitar), Micky Scott (drums/percussion), Phil Dunlea (bass/backing vocals/percussion), Chris Fletcher (vocals), and Sly Faulkner (backing vocals). ManaRays is out now on Swashbuckling Hobo Records.








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"When I Was Younger" by Tyler Boone

For those readers who asked whether our several day absence was because we had hopped a freight train with a hot partner and a bottle of bourbon, well, we appreciate the vote of confidence.  In fact, we were busy working to pay the bills.  However, speaking of bourbon, if we had been engaged in the activity mentioned in the opening sentence (other than in a daydream, aspirational sense, which describes most of our romantic encounters), we would have been drinking Boone's Bourbon.  And we are thinking about Boone's Bourbon because Tyler Boone, the founder of Boone's Bourbon, is releasing a terrific slice of bluesy rock and roll today.  In searching for song to feature in welcoming ourselves back to blogging, "When I Was Younger" shouldered its way to the head of the pack.  Slashing guitar, bluesy vocals, heavy bass and, in fact, a heavy vibe overall.  This is rock and roll, and we are back.  We will now cut the cake, ignore the cake, and commence sampling some bourbon.

"When I Was Younger" is out now as a digital download, so visit your favorite platform and enjoy what we are enjoying (well, minus this bourbon -- it is ours).



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American Mustard - American Mustard

Just a short post to start our publishing day -- please meet the best classic American rock band in Cardiff, Wales.  Yes, American Mustard resides in Wales. And yes, their recently release LP is packed with the sounds one associates with classic American rock and roll.  It is bold, bluesy and great fun.  We also note that half the proceeds from purchase of the album are donated to a charity that works to prevent male suicide.  An album sampler is provided below, but you can stream and purchase the album at the Bandcamp link.  Good music, and a chance to help preserve us endangered males.



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REVIEW: Radio Moscow - Magical Dirt

Radio Moscow is an Iowa power trio - Parker Griggs on vocals and guitar, Anthony Meier on bass and Paul Marrone on drums - playing an alternatively pounding and soaring heavy, blues-inspired psychedelic guitar rock. They're young - the blues, Hendrix and Cream records they make me think of probably belonged to their grandparents - but have talent and a command of this material that would be impressive in someone who had been jamming the blues for 30 years. Griggs has a strong voice that dominates the sound once he joins in, but all the tracks have long, drum/bass/guitar heavy intros and plenty of guitar solos. This is not post-punk, it's not post-anything. It's rock for rock's sake, by a band who knows exactly what they want to do and has continued to improve their ability to do it.

We recently posted "These Days", a new track from Magical Dirt (WYMA post here), and now the album is available (out June 17 on Alive/Naturalsound). This is their fourth* album on Alive, and their heaviest, and best, yet. Here's "Death of a Queen" - which sounds to me like the most Hendrix-inspired track on here:



The album is out now and, if you are a fan of hard rock and heavy guitar sounds, don't miss it. In the words of Jack Black, just put it on and let it melt your face. You'll thank me.

*[EDIT: Magical Dirt is their FOURTH studio album for Alive/Naturalsound. There's the self-titled debut - produced by Dan Auerbach, etc, there's Brain Waves, there's The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz- WYMA review here - and then Magical Dirt. If you're missing one, you're in for a treat.]

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REVIEW: Jimbo Mathus and the Tri-State Coalition - Dark Night of the Soul

Jimbo Mathus is a veteran of a number of musical styles (The Squirrel Nut Zippers' swing and The North Mississippi All-Stars' blues, to name two), but judging by the contents of Dark Night of the Soul, all of that was prelude to this. And this is, by any measure, a great American Southern rock album. I hear echoes of The Band, Crazy Horse, The Allman Brothers and Leon Russell, but that is by no means an exhaustive list of influences and cohorts for this album, which is, frankly, a bit of a masterpiece.

In addition to his band The Tri-State Coalition, Mathus is joined here by Eric “Roscoe” Ambel of the Del-Lords (and any number of great country rock albums - The Bottle Rockets' Brooklyn Side and Cheri Knight's The Knitter, to name only two) and Drive By Trucker Matt Patton. The band is terrific, and as great as the guitars - lead guitars on the uptempo rock tracks and pedal steel on the country rock stuff - are, it's Mathus' singing that is front and center. And that's as it should be, because he is equally comfortable with soul shouting on tracks like "White Angel", country crooning on "Shine Like a Diamond" and full-on roaring as on "Burn the Ships" and "Fire In the Canebrake". Here's a video of the latter - more laid-back than the album version, but you can hear Mathus' terrific vocal:



Here's "White Angel" - a perfect example of the expansive nature of the music on Dark Night, and probably overall the best track on the album:



The album was made in Mississippi at Dial Back Sound, owned by Fat Possum’s Bruce Watson. Watson and Mathus apparently pared down 40 songs to the 12 that made this album, and are to be applauded, based on the 12 that appear on Dark Night. Sequencing, production, it's all done extremely well. Every song on the album is terrific - "Casey Caught the Cannonball" swings, "Hawkeye Jordan" rocks, and "Medicine" is an old-style blues along the lines of, say, Howlin' Wolf's "Goin' Down Slow". Really, this is just a great rock album. Call it Americana - in the sense that it encompasses a lot of American musical styles (blues, country, soul, rock), that description probably fits as well as anything. But, above all, be sure to call it rock when you tell people about it, because above all, that's what it does. The album is out now (released Feb. 18) on Fat Possum/Big Legal Mess Records.

Jimbo Mathus website
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The Naysayers - Dee Eye Why: Or How We Lost All Our Money And Decided to Record It Ourselves

Here is a six-song EP of garage/blues rock with spaghetti western touches, all for the very popular "name your price" at the Bandcamp link.  The generous submission comes from Melbourne's The Naysayers, who are Nathaniel Parbery (vocals/bass), Gordon Holland (vocals/guitar), Simon Gemmill (drums) and Harrie Kingston (guitar/vocals).  Dee Eye Why is balls to the wall garage rock goodness, and if you don't have a copy by nightfall you are at least a little bit stupid.





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REVIEW: Left Lane Cruiser - Rock Them Back To Hell

Left Lane Cruiser is a duo playing heavy, dirty blues-rock. If that makes you think Black Keys, White Stripes, so much the better. They're definitely in that vein - substitute Ft. Wayne, IN for Akron, OH or Detroit, MI. On Rock Them Back To Hell, their latest album, they worked with the great Jim Diamond (Ghetto Recorders, Detroit MI: White Stripes, Dirtbombs, The Pack A.D., Ponys, etc etc etc).

What's the sound here? Well, look at the album cover - dirty, hillbilly zombies! Now look at this picture:

They're drinking 40s from paper bags! There's a clear message being sent here, and you will be awarded points for picking it up. The souls of old hard-drinking Southern bluesmen reside in these two young Indiana musicians, and these souls want to get out. Bad. They are going to make a hell of a racket on their way out, too.

Here's "Juice to Get Loose":



There's good slow blues here, too - "Coley" is one where they dial it back a bit, and it's got some pretty acoustic work. But the guitar playing on tracks like "Jukebox" and "Paralyze Ya" is incendiary, and there's no way you won't test the max volume of your speakers while listening to this album. It's not a headphone album, it's a "loud in the car" or "disturb the neighbors" kind of album. Thanks, as with so much good blues-rock, to the fine people at Alive/Naturalsound. Read more, check out tour dates and previous releases, and best of all, buy this thing at the links below.

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Alive/Naturalsound Records

NEW SONGS: Pete Van Dyk and the Second Hand Band - "Shake Me" 3-song 7" (Free download)

Pete Van Dyk and the Second Hand Band is a blues-based garage rock outfit from Burlington, Ontario. We've featured them before (WYMA post here), and we still find the same things to like about their sound - only this time, more songs and a second lead vocalist show a bit more range. The band is Scott Carruthers on drums and vocals, Pete Van Dyk on vocals and guitar, J.D. Norwood on bass and vocals and Ed Van Dyk on lead guitar. On the first track, Pete's guttural howl delivers the vocals, and Ed plays a strong lead and a scorching solo over the last minute or so.



"Plan B" is a bit more urgent, and British Invasion/punk-oriented, and features Carruthers on vocals:




"To The Night" is Van Dyk on lead vocal again, and it's a Stonesy bit of blues rock with some country touches and some really good lead guitar work:



You can download it free, or buy a 7" at their website.

Pete Van Dyk website
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Buffalo Killers - release extended edition of Ohio Grass EP

Cincinnati's Buffalo Killers are still playing their heavy psychedelic guitar (emphasis on guitar) rock, and on Ohio Grass they're better than ever. They swing from the heavy, foreboding rock of lead track "Baptized", with its guitar attack that builds slowly to an overwhelming crescendo, to the sweet, reggae-influenced "Golden Eagle", and it's all festival-worthy hard rock. Here's "Golden Eagle", with some Crazy Horse-style guitar over the last 2:00 of the track:



"Hold You Me" continues in the vein I thought marked a lot of their previous release Dig. Sow. Love. Grow. - a style that is pleasantly reminiscent of the easy, loping boogie of The James Gang.

This is an extended version of a 6-track Record Store Day vinyl-only release with four new songs added, including live versions of "Hey Girl", "Jon Jacob" and "Move On". As you might imagine, their live sound is notable, too, and features extended guitar solos... even more guitar to love. Get it from Alive/Naturalsound, or read more at their website. It was released last week (Aug. 20).

Buffalo Killers website
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REVIEW: Don Cavalli - Temperamental

Don Cavalli is a French artist playing a combination of invigorating rock sounds on his second album, Temperamental. From psychedelic guitar rock to rockabilly to blues-rock to boogie, he travels far and wide in his quest to deliver an original sound. On the title track, I'm reminded of the spirit of joy that was present in Howlin' Wolf's best songs -- not to say he necessarily sounds like the Wolf, but there's something about his singing on this one that reminds me of the late great Chester Burnett.





This album is a most welcome combination of influences, tempos, styles and instrumental approaches - as unexpected as it is enjoyable. There's blues-influenced stuff like the title track, electro rock like “Santa Rita”, a bouncy R&B-influenced track like “Me and My Baby”, and some combinations that sound downright strange to my American ears: the rap and sitar combination featured in “Feel Not Welcome” and the banjo/Chinese rhythm of “The Greatest".



Most of the album is upbeat. Cavalli's clearly feeling pretty good, but he's not averse to delving into territory that sounds like it belongs in a Tarantino film on some of the stuff here: ‘Say Little Girl’ is a dialogue with Rosemary Standley, who warbles sweetly to offset Cavalli's guttural growl. The motorcycle tribute "Zundapp" must be heard to be believed - because why would you take my word for the fact that it is a combination of German motorik and American rockabilly?

I think this album is a fascinating trip into world music - both the influences rock and R&B have had throughout the world, and the influences that flow the other way. But on most of Temperamental, the sound rises above the level of mere influences or "soundalikes" to a level of bracing originality. I think Cavalli himself says it pretty well: “It sounds old, but not traditional. I do not follow; I just want to create my own thing.”

The album is out now (released Aug 13) on Everloving Records.

Don Cavalli at Everloving Records
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Performance: Humble Pie: Rockin’ The Fillmore – The Complete Recordings

It is Humble Pie weather. The soundtrack of the humid Midwest summer, sweltering days, expectant nights, conservation club corn and sausage roasts, backyard bbq's, dirt track concerts, V-8's and V-twins, bellbottom jeans and halter tops, outlaw biker wannabes (oftentimes the real thing) and more than an underlying possibility of sex or violence.  

An upcoming release by Omnivore Records gives me a good reason to remember those nights and post some of the finest rocking blue-eyed soul of the era.  When Steve Marriott left the Small Faces (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2012) to launch a new band in 1968, expectations were high. Marriott was creating a nascent Brit supergroup with 18-year old guitarist Peter Frampton, already a U.K star through his work with The Herd, along with bassist Greg Ridley from Spooky Tooth, and 17 year old drummer Jerry Shirley.  

Their U.S. breakthrough was 1971's double live album - Rockin' the Fillmore.  Omnivore is releasing a remastered 4 CD set including all songs from all 4 shows.  Included are the original seven songs plus 15 previously unreleased gems.  The songs were remixed and remastered under the supervision of the surviving members of Humble Pie - the kids Peter Frampton and Jerry Shirley.  "Performance: Rockin' the Fillmore - The Complete Recordings" will be released October 29.  

Start rockin' with some live performances. 

Omnivore Records Website

REISSUES: George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers - George Thorogood And The Destroyers and Move It On Over

When George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers burst onto the national scene in 1977, roots rock music was all but absent from contemporary radio. But it seems as though each generation calls for a return to roots - and Thorogood's band was it for the "punk and disco era" of the late 70's. Sometimes a bar band is so good, so focused and so exciting that they are able to take their act to a national stage, and within four years, Thorogood's band was opening for the Rolling Stones - all this by interspersing originals with early rock tracks by Chuck Berry, Elmore James, Bo Diddley, Hank Williams and Jimmy Reed.

Whether it was a gimmick or a demonstration of stamina (probably both), George and the band embarked on their “50 States in 50 Dates” tour, traveling in a Checker Cab (flying only to Alaska and Hawaii).

From Rounder's announcement:

The Destroyers went on to continued and greater success after leaving Rounder, when the label entered a joint venture with EMI for George’s fourth album, Bad to the Bone, but their first two albums are the essence of everything that makes the band great. Recorded live in the studio, George Thorogood & the Destroyers and Move It On Over capture perfectly the energy of their live shows. There’s not a wasted note, and if George never aimed for the pyrotechnics of later blues rockers such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, the directness of his approach cuts straight to the heart of each song.

On July 30, 2013, Rounder Records will re-release Thorogood’s first two albums, 1977’s George Thorogood:

1. You Got To Lose (3:15)
2. Madison Blues (4:24)
3. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (8:20)
4. Kind Hearted Woman (3:48)
5. Can’t Stop Lovin’ (3:04)
6. Ride On Josephine (4:17)
7. Homesick Boy (3:02)
8. John Hardy (3:18)
9. I’ll Change My Style (3:57)
10. Delaware Slide (7:45)



and 1978’s Move It On Over.

1. Move It On Over (4:16)
2. Who Do You Love (4:15)
3. The Sky Is Crying (5:09)
4. Cocaine Blues (2:46)
5. It Wasn’t Me (3:54)
6. That Same Thing (3:05)
7. So Much Trouble (3:15)
8. I’m Just Your Good Thing (3:29)
9. Baby Please Set A Date (4:42)
10. New Hawaiian Boogie (4:34)



Thirty-five years later, these performances still ring true. Mastered from new digital transfers of the original analog tapes, these albums have never sounded better. If you were around when these first came out, the joy of hearing them in good digital format will make you happy. If you weren't and you like roots rock, well, you're in for a treat...

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REVIEW: Dirty Streets - Blades of Grass

Formed by Thomas Storz (bass, percussion), Justin Toland (vocals, guitar, percussion) and Andrew Denham (drums, percussion) the heavy blues-rock power trio Dirty Streets now calls Memphis home (they're originally from Mississippi). Ardent Studio in Memphis is where they recorded their new album Blades Of Grass. They share a label with WYMA favorites Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, and have opened for them. That was certainly enough to earn a listen, and from there, the deep groove, guitars and pianos are plenty of incentive to stick around for the whole album.

Here's the album opener, "Stay Thirsty", from which you'll absolutely get a Jeff Beck Group vibe - check out the guitar/piano interplay about :45 into the track... it reminds me of an old favorite, "Goin' Down":



The free download of that one may still be available.

Here's the title track - in addition to the way the rhythm section boogies, check out those deep, heavy guitar tones and the interplay with the vocals, which call to mind both psychedelic rock and blues at the same time:



The band already has two independent releases under their belt, including an album with renowned Memphis producer Doug Easley (Grifters, GbV, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Reigning Sound - just to name a few). They also recently toured with labelmates Radio Moscow. If you like heavy blues rock, and some of the other Alive/Naturalsound bands we've featured in the past (Radio Moscow, Lee Bains, John the Conqueror), this will please you. You can learn more and buy at Alive/Naturalsound, or get the limited edition color vinyl at Bomp! Records.

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REVIEW: The Hunting Club - Holiday Beach EP

The Hunting Club has been making music since 2007, but the Holiday Beach EP is their first official release.  The Hunting Club was initially founded by Tim Damon (guitar/vocals) and Matt St. Clair (guitar/vocals) and in 2011 added Josh McCormick (keyboards), Ray McCoy (bass) and John Maiello (drums). In addition to their twin guitars and soulful, reverb-laced vocals, also notable are McCormick's terrific, somewhat understated keyboards (on "These Are The Days", specifically) and the backbeat and vocal harmonies. This is a tight band, clearly having a great time playing together.

Here's "Shouldn't Be So Easy":





The little blips and beeps with the keyboards are a nice contrast to the warm, sort of retro tone on the guitars and vocals on this song, and the changes in tempo add to a sort of melancholy feel in the middle of the song, until they cut loose with the guitars on the last half. "Still Sorta New" has a little more of a country feel - they play it slow until picking up about halfway through and putting the guitars in gear.



"Wolf Pack" shows they can play a blues tempo very well, until they get the guitars screaming into almost punk/metal territory in the last minute or so. The closing track, "This Is (How I Know)" actually veers into a sort of afro-pop guitar for a little while, but in the end the twin electric guitars take over again. Just in case you're wondering, what I like most about this record is their willingness to rock out on the guitars, at some point, on every track.

This is a terrific debut from a rock band that is showing very good songwriting and excellent chops. You can buy a limited edition vinyl from the label, Hood Cabin or buy directly from Bandcamp.

The Hunting Club Facebook
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Hood Cabin Records

REVIEW: Delbert & Glen - Blind, Crippled and Crazy

"I ain't old, I just been around a long time" goes the joyous refrain to the opening track on Blind, Crippled & Crazy. It's the first duet recording between Delbert McClinton and Glen Clark since 1973's Delbert & Glen. And that IS a long time - 40 years! - but you wouldn't know it from the way these two play and sing together. This isn't one of those reunion tours for the money, as you would be hard-pressed to find many folks who remember those albums. This is a reunion for the joy of making music together, and it is a rousing success.

Here is a video of the pair, performing the lead track on Imus back in the fall:



Follow this link to check out the rollicking "Oughta No" - Delbert and Glen sing in harmony, and the guitars rock like a freight train, with some driving piano underneath it. Actually, you can (and should) listen to the whole thing at McClinton's website (link below).

From the Little Feat-style shuffling groove of "I Ain't Old" through the haunting, almost snarling guitars on "World of Hurt", and on just about every song here, the guitars, rhythm section and pianos mesh together perfectly. This record has an abundance of assured, technically strong but very heartfelt playing and singing, and there really isn't a weak cut on it. If you like Texas music, or any R&B or blues-based rock (say, The Meters, for example), it's a good bet you will enjoy this.

McClinton has certainly had the higher profile (including Top 40 hits like "Giving It Up For Your Love"), but Clark, whose voice is a perfect counterpoint to Delbert's, has spent the last 40 years as one of those great Texas troubadours who just kind of blends in. After he and McClinton moved on to their own careers, Clark moved from Texas to LA and has had an impressive career as a songwriter and keyboard player (including playing in one iteration of the Blues Brothers Band). During that time the pair, who started out together playing in bar bands in Ft. Worth, have never lost touch and, fortunately for us, they celebrated the 40th anniversary of their second album by getting together with McClinton's songwriting partner Gary Nicholson in Nashville to record this thing. Again, it's feel-good music, just pure joy.

The record is out this week (June 18) on New West Records.

Delbert McClinton Website

REVIEW: Wolf People - Fain

Wolf People are channeling Sabbath, Can, Fairport Convention... man, all kinds of stuff, but they make it their own. In fact, after spending significant time with All Returns, and struggling with a way to convey how awesome it is, and to let you know what kind of creativity, artistry, alchemy and recombination is going on here, I'm going to default to my memory of the first time I heard Television.

First of all, give a listen to the single. Here's "All Returns" - it's truly epic in its scope and flawless in its execution:





Lead singer Jack Sharp sounds like a voice from the history of British folk rock - and the band admits that they are fans of, in addition to artists like Fairport Convention, more obscure European folk rock. The best part about the Wolf People, as heard on Fain, is their heavy, heavy emphasis on the "rock" part. Yet they don't skimp on the folk part, and somehow they incorporate some heavy blues/rock - like the percussion and guitar riffs on "All Returns" for example. And sometimes they just, unashamedly and enthusiastically, boogie.

It's a fantastic record - not exactly like anything else you have in your collection, but with echoes of so many good things you may (hopefully do) have in your record collection. Here I'm reminded of John Barleycorn Must Die, there it's some of Led Zeppelin's more folk-leaning stuff ("Battle of Evermore", perhaps)... but never completely, and never to the detraction from what's actually going on here.

Listening to frankly amazing songs like "When The Fire Is Dead In The Grate" as it morphs from a dirge to a hard-boogie showcase, to, finally a twin guitar exhibition that would make Verlaine and Lloyd proud... makes me understand just a little bit more what Ahmet Ertegun meant when he said to Jerry Wexler about Television: "This is not earth music." Except that this is very much earth music - it's just not going to be easy to pin down. Fortunately, much like the genre-defying classic Marquee Moon, it's easy - very easy - to listen to. It's out now (released Apr. 29) on Jagjaguwar.

Tour dates for support of Fain:

MAY
Fri 3 - Sound City, Liverpool, UK
Thu 9 - Hare & Hounds 2, Birmingham, UK
Fri 10 - Sound Control, Manchester, UK
Sat 11 - The Exchange, Bristol, UK
Sun 12 - Blind Tiger, Brighton, UK
Thu 16 - Holy Trinity Church, Leeds, UK
Fri 17 - Think Tank, Newcastle, UK
Sat 18 - Stag And Dagger Festival, Glasgow, UK
Sun 19 - Portland Arms, Cambridge, UK
Thu 23 - PIAS Nite at La Fleche D'Or, Paris, France
Fri 24 - Zurich Kinski Klub, Switzerland
Sat 25 - Brussels VK, Belgium
Mon 27 - Gebäude 9, Cologne, Germany
Tue 28 - White Trash, Berlin, Germany
Wed 29 - Molotow, Hamburg, Germany
Thu 30 - Doornroosje, Nijmegen, Netherlands
Fri 31 - Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands

JUNE
Sat 1 - Trix, Antwerp, Belgium
Mon 3 - Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, London, UK

Oh, still here? Well, congratulations. Here's a spectacular Wolf People cover of Pink Floyd, recorded for a German compilation back in 2011:



Wolf People Website

Wolf People on Facebook

Stewart Lee's "non press release"

New Heavy Rock Discovery: Heavy Glow - "Headhunter"

Heavy Glow is playing heavy, heavy blues-influenced guitar rock - along the lines of WYMA favorites Radio Moscow, or maybe QOTSA or Foo Fighters, a bit of a blast from the arena-rock past. It's got a seriously pounding rhythm section and at least two punishing guitar lines going at almost all times. Here's "Headhunter":



It was released as a single, with "Mine All Mine" on the b side, in March:



This is in advance of an album due out later this summer. Highly recommended if you're looking for a new source of good heavy rock.

Heavy Glow Website

New Guitar Rock Discovery: Pete Van Dyk & The Second Hand Band - "Rise The Falling Sun"

Pete Van Dyk & The Second Hand Band, of Hamilton, Ontario, are playing hard rock, somewhat blues-influenced, somewhat punk-influenced, with some wild lead guitar and really good vocals. Van Dyk has a really good rock voice - kind of a slightly more upbeat version of Mark Lanegan - the kind of voice commonly referred to as "whiskey-soaked", I believe. It's good stuff and sounds (and looks) like they'd be a lot of fun live:



The band, formed in 2010, has been through a couple of incarnations, the constant being Pete on lead vocals and guitar. Currently, it features Pete, Ed Van Dyk on lead guitar, J.D. Norwood on bass and Scott Carruthers on drums.

Pete wants you to have this song for free, presumably as a taster of a forthcoming album.