St Helens Headlines
| Ralph's Life Indie Music Blog | ||||||||
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| Updated | 1/1/70 0:00:00 | |||||||
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| Webmaster | Mike Lindley | |||||||
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| Brian's Top 10 Chart - As played on Radio KC - 22.4.18 | ||||||||
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| Description: | Tracks from the Top Ten Blogged Bands are played every Sunday after 5-7pm on Radio KC as part of LISTEN TO THIS WEEK'S TOP 10 HERE AS PLAYED ON RADIO KC - 22.4.18 BRIAN'S BRAND NEW TOP 10 CHART Published on 21.4.18 and as played after THE INDIE SHOW on RADIO KC - 22.4.18 - from 5-7pm No 1: Acrylic  Once in a while some new music comes along that transports you back to when you first heard a new release by a band that later becomes a true classic. Such was the occurrence on first listening to the upcoming EP release by burgeoning Scottish Alt-Popsters Acrylic. Listening to their All I AM EP transported me back to first listens to the likes of The Blue Nile and their near incomparable release Stay. No 2: Brownbear  What is Home? is the debut album from Brownbear. Combining strong melodies and indie riffs that have come to be expected from the band with an added lyrical maturity, the album covers love, loss and life whilst questioning what exactly home is. The album is preceded by an addictive and accomplished single release by the band in the shape of Truth Without Consequence which is accompanied by an equally accomplished and stylish video.Brownbear are a four-piece indie-rock outfit led by singer/songwriter Matt Hickman. No 3: Bugeye  Having made a splash in 2016 and 2017 with airplay from luminaries such as BBC 6 Music, Steve Lamacq and rave reviews from the likes of God Is In The TV, female fronted, disco-punk band, Bugeye, return with their new single, I?m Not the One and a UK tour with sold out shows. Taking obvious inspiration from early pop punk bands such as, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Altered Images with a visual nod to David Lynch and punch-drunk productions, I?m Not The One sees the band take on a slightly darker pop approach.  Rock category Finalist of the UK Songwriting Contest 2017 and Semi-Finalist of the USA led International Songwriting Competition, The Kut have announced a World Wide Record Deal with Cargo Records for their long-awaited debut album Valley of Thorns. Known for bringing some of the best independent albums to the fore, including those by The White Stripes, The Black Keys and Jonny Rotten?s Public Image Limited, Cargo Records have now put pen to paper and added The Kut to a long list of UK indie musicians to join their worldwide roster.  Sitting somewhere between sleazy grunge and power indie, MeMe Detroit oozes sultry guitar driven hooks with a head turning vocal and MeMe Detroit has been pulling in fans with a magnetism that is both eloquent yet effortlessly cool. Previous support slots include bands such as Dead Sea Skulls, Piano Wire, Fun Lovin'Criminals and Asylums. Stand out shows include The main stage at Moto GP, Silverstone, The O2 Academy, Dublin Castle, The Finsbury pub for Get In Her Ears and Jurassic Fields Festival No 6: Apollo Junction  Leed?s nativesApollo Junctionare set to release their new singleBeginon May 18thvia self release. The track is a masterful re-working of the original release ofBeginfive years ago, bringing us a fuller, rounder more radio friendly single that's a guaranteed floor-filler. The original is on theirBandcampbut you'll be able to hear a pre-release spin of the track on Brian'sRadio KC Indie Showof April 1st and that is no joke I promise you. No 7: wojtek the bear  Made Out Of Mapsis the first single from the eagerly awaited debut album byWojtek The Bear,A Talent For Being Unreasonablewhich is due for digital and vinyl release onScottish Fictionrecords on May 25th. Wojtek The Bear tucked themselves away to work with Chris McCrory to record A Talent For Being Unreasonable at Shady Lane Studios late 2017. No 8: Kid Kapichi  Having received support from the likes of Kerrang TV, MTV Rocks and London Evening Standard with their eponymous breakthrough debut EP, the rising indie rockers were being tipped off by industry experts as ones to watch. No 9: Spring Break
 Spring Break hope the musical diversity of the record will appeal to a wide range of tastes as it draws from the varied backgrounds of all the band members and collaborators. No 10: The Velvet Hands  The Velvet Hands have long time been favourites for plays on the Ralph's Life Indie Show on Radio KC over the last few years and with the imminent release of a debut album on limited edition blue vinyl for Record Store Day and general release May 5th it would be rude not to check it out here on the blog. We'll be featuring Sick Of Living on Brian's Indie Show on Radio KC Sunday 29th April as a pre-release spin of a track from the album Party's Over. |
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| Brian's Indie Show REPLAY - as played on Radio KC - 22.4.18 | ||||||||
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| Description: | Brian's Indie Show Replay  Internet Radio on rkc.noip.me Played in 174 countries Worldwide on 2 satellites Music Blog: fruitbatwalton.blogspot.co.uk Submissions: ralphslife@mail.com Quotes of the Dead - Twist Or Stick Edits - Poison The Skinner Brothers - Watchu Dirty Freud - Kadema Tall Poppies - Now Dear Life, - Woman Speak, Brother - Magnesium Burn KASHMERE - Tokyo The Bad Kind - Your Pick Harvey Causon - Frisson Zkeletonz - Always Watercolours - How Do You Feel? Spring Break - Degenerative Eloquence The Winachi Tribe - Transition SISTERAY - Algorith Prison Broads - Tiamat The Ramona Flowers - Out Of Focus OCTOBER DRIFT - All Broken Down Fallen Child UK - Denial The Mu-Tones - Slab City Records Haystack Monolith - I Don't Care Hilliat Fields- Collapsing New Monoliths Craig-Russell Horne - Us Nolan Garrett - Morning Little Sparrow - Tender Elfin Bow Music and Art - Edith's Song |
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| Hey Bulldog - Video Of The Week | ||||||||
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| Description: |  Brian's favourite video this week isAl LupobyHey Bulldog. Like many bands before, Hey Bulldog began as a germ of an idea of main man Rob Manton. The multi-talented Manchester-based musician recorded the debut EP, New York City Blues, by himself with the help of a drum machine. Before turning the project into a fully-fledged band, Manton created a buzz with the help of music websites and a variety of fanzines. Finding a pair of like-minded cohorts Matt Parry (bass) and Ben Howarth-Lees (drums) Manton turned Hey Bulldog into a live bluesy three-piece psychedelic rock band known for their musicianship and live improvisations. |
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| Billy Bibby&The Wry Smiles - Single Launch | ||||||||
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| Description: |  We've followed the ascendancy ofBilly Bibbysince he started to plough his own furrow on departingCatfish and The Bottlemenand the formation and transformation ofBilly Bibby& The Wry Smiles.So we're delighted to be featuring news of the new singleWar Of Onehere onRalph's Lifeand Brian will be playing the single on theRadio KC Indie Showon Sunday April 29th between 5 and 7pm. Billy had this to say of the new release: "War Of Oneis another upbeat rock song that I personally loved writing because I just know that live it's gonna be a blast to play for mine and the band's sake, and I'm sure from the audience perspective too,"  Billy mused further:"Any fans of rock music are going to want to be hit with a wave of sound that fills their hearts with joy and tears them down with its sheer power and driving force behind the amps, and that's what I am hoping this single will bring to the fans. I always want to keep an element of secrecy behind my lyrics so that you can all create your own thoughts as to what they mean to you." "For me, it is simply about the war between you and you alone and how you deal with certain normal issues in life. Hence why it's calledWar Of One. As depressing as that may sound I always try to make light of it and write positively so it's far from being a negative song!"  Billy Bibby& The Wry Smileswill be celebrating the single release tonight and most appropriately, atRecord Junkeein Sheffield. This marks the penultimate date of busy 16-date spring tour that began near home in Chester and zig-zagged across the UK, from Cardiff to Birmingham, from Liverpool to Glasgow and many more places in between. The tour ends on a high note in London with a Camden Rocks appearance at Nambucca April 28th. |
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| The Bordellos | ||||||||
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| Description: |  If you're looking for some honest music you need look no further than theDebt Soundsalbum by St Helens bandThe Bordelloswho have embraced the brutalist ideal with this latest release, gripping on to their non-conformist honesty with a vice-like grip.The Bordelloscould be described as the Howard Hughes of the music world with live performances like hens teeth, however I can announce with no small degree of delight that they will be performing for a second time in support ofMusicians Against Homelessness. At the humble behest ofRalph's Lifeon May 19th in the Ruskins Sports and Social Club, St Helens along with another 12 bands and artistes they take the stage with all monies raised going to homelessness charities.  Their idea behind theDebt Soundsalbum was to get back to basics, so Brian Shea informs us that he set down these ground rules: 1. All recorded on old tape 4 track, using microphones and recording equipment bought from pound shops and cash convertors for under£5. 2. All tracks recorded on 4 tracks only no overdubs. 3. All vocal tracks would be first take only even if disaster struck whilst recording ,so a lot of these songs have only ever been sang once. 4. All songs recorded would have been written that week . so the rest of the band would never have heard them before recording. 5. every song started would be completed that night so no going back.  Brian further elucidated:"It was recorded over 10 consecutive Friday nights during that 10 weeks. There were two romantic break ups (the two ex girlfriends actually sang on some of the tracks to add to the spice), and only just before the start a marriage had also broken up. There was lots of alcohol consumed lots of madness. It is the sound of four people going out of their minds." "Looking back, I wonder how Dan managed as he only turned 17 during the recording of this album, but his teenage angst mixed with our midlife crises made for a very dark work of art. This was supposed to be our thirdBrutarian Records release, but a label that boasted in its bumph as releasing noncommercial uncompromising music refused to release it as it was too uncompromising and noncommercial." "I have very fond memories of this LP; recording it was an experience that was only matched in madness when recording ourRonco Revival SoundLP."  |
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| The Velvet Hands | ||||||||
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| Description: | The Velvet Handshave long time been favourites for plays on theRalph's LifeIndie Show onRadio KCover the last few years and with the imminent release of a debut album on limited edition blue vinyl forRecord Store Dayand general release May 5th it would be rude not to check it out here on the blog. We'll be featuringSick Of Livingon Brian's Indie Show onRadio KCSunday 29th April as a pre-release spin of a track from the albumParty's Over. Party's OverbyThe Velvet Handsis a glorious guitar driven joy and a must have for any serious vinyl lovers collection. They're going to be THE go-to band for this years small festival season and these bouncy southern rockers have to be destined for bigger stages.  Also released on the same day is the fifth singleGimme Some TimebyThe Velvet Hands.?Gimme Some Time?follows previous releases,I Don?t Mind,Only Blame Myself,Gamesandlast year's Record Store day releaseSick Of Living.Gimme Some Timewill be available via#rsd2018 Record Store Day on blue vinyl April 21st. That's followed by anon-limited vinyl versionand standardCD version of the albumon both dropping May 4th.  On the achievement of their debut albumco-singer Toby commented:?We're really excited to finally be able to share what we have been working towards since we started the band. Our debut album is a collection of songs that we wrote over the last couple of years and we're very proud to share them with you all. It's been great to see our hard work pay off, and we can't wait for more of the same in the future!? Co-frontman Dan Able said of the up-coming single release:Gimme Some Time is about self destruction, coming to terms with one?s own morals and the questioning of what one believes in. Just needing some time to get away from it all to think but being under pressure to come up with the answers.?  The Velvet Handsare the latest band to emerge from Cornwall?s blistering garage-rock'Kernow Wave'scene. The ambitious, Stones and Strokes tinged quartet formed in 2015 at Truro College and already have released a string of standout DIY singles.The Velvet Handsare renowned forblistering live sets, with two frontmen Dan Able and Toby Mitchell wrestling for the mic, have seen them booked for a run of big name gigs including headline shows for BBC Introducing at Boardmaster Festival and stand out gigs at The 100 Club and The Water Rats.Gimme Some Timewas recorded at Troubadour Studios, Falmouth and produced by Ben Woods (ex -Lost Dawn/The Golden Dregs).The Velvet HandsareToby Mitchell, Dan Able, Ben Woods and Sam Hilder and feature as the chosen support act for opening leg ofThe BluetonesMay 2018 Tour.April 21st - Jimmy?s, Manchester #rsd2018 Album Launch May 2nd? Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms w/The Bluetones May 4th? Exeter, Lemon grove w/The Bluetones May 5th? Bristol, SWX w/The Bluetones May 7th? Oxford, O2 Academy w/The Bluetones May 12th? Mother?s Ruin, Bristol May 17th? Manchester, Northern Exposure May 19th? Brighton, The Alternative Great Escape May 25th? London, Notting Hill Arts Club May 26th? Plymouth, Underground |
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| Brian's NEW Top 10 Chart - As played on Radio KC 15.4.18 | ||||||||
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| Description: | Tracks from the Top Ten Blogged Bands are played every Sunday after 5-7pm on Radio KC as part of LISTEN TO THIS WEEK'S TOP 10 HERE AS PLAYED ON RADIO KC - 15.4.18 BRIAN'S BRAND NEW TOP 10 CHART Published on 14.4.18 and as played after THE INDIE SHOW on RADIO KC - 15.4.18 - from 5-7pm No 1: Bugeye Having made a splash in 2016 and 2017 with airplay from luminaries such as BBC 6 Music, Steve Lamacq and rave reviews from the likes of God Is In The TV, female fronted, disco-punk band, Bugeye, return with their new single, I?m Not the One and a UK tour with sold out shows. Taking obvious inspiration from early pop punk bands such as, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Altered Images with a visual nod to David Lynch and punch-drunk productions, I?m Not The One sees the band take on a slightly darker pop approach. No 2: Acrylic Once in a while some new music comes along that transports you back to when you first heard a new release by a band that later becomes a true classic. Such was the occurrence on first listening to the upcoming EP release by burgeoning Scottish Alt-Popsters Acrylic. Listening to their All I AM EP transported me back to first listens to the likes of The Blue Nile and their near incomparable release Stay. No 3: Brownbear What is Home? is the debut album from Brownbear. Combining strong melodies and indie riffs that have come to be expected from the band with an added lyrical maturity, the album covers love, loss and life whilst questioning what exactly home is. The album is preceded by an addictive and accomplished single release by the band in the shape of Truth Without Consequence which is accompanied by an equally accomplished and stylish video.Brownbear are a four-piece indie-rock outfit led by singer/songwriter Matt Hickman. No 4: Apollo Junction Leed?s nativesApollo Junctionare set to release their new singleBeginon May 18thvia self release. The track is a masterful re-working of the original release ofBeginfive years ago, bringing us a fuller, rounder more radio friendly single that's a guaranteed floor-filler. The original is on theirBandcampbut you'll be able to hear a pre-release spin of the track on Brian'sRadio KC Indie Showof April 1st and that is no joke I promise you. No 5: wojtek the bear Made Out Of Mapsis the first single from the eagerly awaited debut album byWojtek The Bear,A Talent For Being Unreasonablewhich is due for digital and vinyl release onScottish Fictionrecords on May 25th. Wojtek The Bear tucked themselves away to work with Chris McCrory to record A Talent For Being Unreasonable at Shady Lane Studios late 2017. No 6: The Moods
 Rock category Finalist of the UK Songwriting Contest 2017 and Semi-Finalist of the USA led International Songwriting Competition, The Kut have announced a World Wide Record Deal with Cargo Records for their long-awaited debut album Valley of Thorns. Known for bringing some of the best independent albums to the fore, including those by The White Stripes, The Black Keys and Jonny Rotten?s Public Image Limited, Cargo Records have now put pen to paper and added The Kut to a long list of UK indie musicians to join their worldwide roster. Sitting somewhere between sleazy grunge and power indie, MeMe Detroit oozes sultry guitar driven hooks with a head turning vocal and MeMe Detroit has been pulling in fans with a magnetism that is both eloquent yet effortlessly cool. Previous support slots include bands such as Dead Sea Skulls, Piano Wire, Fun Lovin'Criminals and Asylums. Stand out shows include The main stage at Moto GP, Silverstone, The O2 Academy, Dublin Castle, The Finsbury pub for Get In Her Ears and Jurassic Fields Festival. No 9: Kid Kapichi Having received support from the likes of Kerrang TV, MTV Rocks and London Evening Standard with their eponymous breakthrough debut EP, the rising indie rockers were being tipped off by industry experts as ones to watch. No 10: Katalina Kicks  Following the release of album Vices back in 2017, Katalina Kicks have spent a year of solid touring around it and following singles, accompanied by airplay across Kerrang!, BBC Introducing, Planet Rock and too many regional and online stations to mention. After spending a few months locked down in the studio, Katalina Kicks now release brand new single Waterfall, with a supporting mini UK tour. |
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| Brian's Indie Show Replay- as played on Radio KC - 15.4.18 | ||||||||
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| Description: | Brian's Indie Show Replay Internet Radio on rkc.noip.me Played in 174 countries Worldwide on 2 satellites Music Blog: fruitbatwalton.blogspot.co.uk Submissions: ralphslife@mail.com Twitter: @fruitbatwalton PLAYLIST : Click on their name to follow them on Facebook... Junky Love - Hooked Nuns of the Tundra - Robot Love Kid Kapichi - Puppet Strings Puppet Rebellion - Hey Now Deep City Diver - Dream Sequence Coralcrown - Whoever Degree of Arc - Terminus CHVRCHES - Never Say Die True Dat - Cooler Than Ice Tuesday Syndicate - Hourglass Acoustic Punk - Nobodies Listening Thunder and the Giants - Lemon Cider Ravellas - Reputation The Gravity Drive - Wake Of The Dawn Cocoa Futures - Sink In The Water The Ramona Flowers - Dramatist Red Telephone - You're Not Wrong Oranj Son - Radio Wires Dead Days - Daggers Mildred's Dairy - Monochrome Sky Sharon Lazibyrd - Blood On Bone Emily Capell - Bonanza Alice Merton - Lash Out Nick Ellis - Clock Watching Norquay - Shalalala Boom  |
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| Déjà Vega - Video Of The Week | ||||||||
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| Description: |  Brian's favourite video this week isEyes Of Steelby Déjà Vega which sees the band hitting new heights of alt rock glory. Filmed by Shari Denson and Stuart Hadfield. Déjà Vega consist of vocalist and guitarist Jack Fearon, drummer Tom Webster and bassist Michael Newton. After forming in Cheshire, they made the short journey to Manchester, a fitting backdrop to their gritty, guitar led psychedelia, with its red-brick and cobbled streets which has very much ingrained itself in their soundscape.  |
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| Spring Break | ||||||||
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| Description: |  Spring Breakare a three-piece hip hop collective who invite us to join them on their journey of ambitious diversity whilst they explore a broad palette of influences that they've marinaded in a melting pot of multiple genres. The result is one of the best albums I've had on repeat so far this year.They cleverly fuse those influences into the deliciousTropicaledoniaalbum in a Ralph's Life favouritesStanley Oddstylee who they've previously toured with and it will provide the soundtrack of my summer.
A hectic summer of festival appearances, with national press coverage, radio and tv appearances and an advert forBowers and Wilkinsspeakers. A busy year was jubilantly capped off with aSAMAaward for Best Hip Hop act.
Spring Breakhope the musical diversity of the record will appeal to a wide range of tastes as it draws from the varied backgrounds of all the band members and collaborators. Lyrically it's a highland reportage on the human condition; detailing daily stresses, mental health, drinking culture and addiction, small town mentality, lampooning back stabbers and the foibles of the industry and pointing a clown gloved finger at toxic masculinity.
1st June in Glasgow playing with theTwistettesin Machullis, 16th June at Wildwoodz festival, July 21st at Audiosoup festival, 3rd August at Belladrum festival and August 31st at Lindisfarne Festival and November 9th at The Ironworks in Inverness withUrban Voodoo Machine. More dates to be added as they come in.  |
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