Albany’s sleaziest rock’n’roll band The EROTICS are back with 10 brand new songs for Christmas produced by Don Furry. “Knockin’ On Death’s Door” opens the album with a good dose of 80s hard rock before “Helltown Boogie” and “You Got Me Shakin'” both take us back to the 70s in an AEROSMITH/CHEAP TRICK way. “Diamonds” slows things down and “Dia De Los Muertos” offers us some good heavy rock with Spanish lyrics while “Too Hot To Stop” and “Scream Like A Demon” both sound more like the band’s previous albums. “When The Wolves Are Howlin'” is an interesting song, kind of a mix between RATT and horror rock and “Bless Your Heart” has a bit of a POISON “Nothin’ But A Good Time” vibe. “Hungover On Christmas” puts an end to this album making sure you’ll keep it sleazy even on Christmas. The EROTICS have tried new things on “Rot In The Shade” without betraying their style. Good job! /Laurent C.
Italian/German punk rock’n’roll band The Loyal Cheaters have just released a new video for their song “Me Myself & I”, a track from their debut album “Long Run… All Dead!” released earlier this year on Dead Beat Records.
German rock’n’rollers TORPEDOHEAD are still rocking hard and this time they will make vintage lovers happy since they have released their new EP on cassette tape! The opening song is their single “One Step Ahead”, a punk rock’n’roll song in the vein of AMERICAN HEARTBREAK, powerful and full of melody and sing alongs. “Heartbleed” bring us some sunny hard rock with a catchy pop punk chorus while “Don’t Care About You” also has an angry heavy rock vibe. Side B (well H in this case) opens with “Ain’t Your Life” and its AC/DC influenced intro before heading to a more glam metal direction with another catchy chorus (seems like the band has such a facility to write good choruses!) “Candyhatefuel” dsiplays the powerpop side of the band while “Shot On Mars” ends this EP with some 70s influenced rock’n’roll full of energy mixed to a modern powerpop chorus. The perfect format for this EP and the perfect summer tape! /Laurent C.
The single “Down That Road” was a great appetizer and it’s not surprising to find it opening “Badlands”. “White Widow” offers us some cool RUNAWAYS riffs while “Trespasser” is a pure in your face punk rock’n’roll song full of youthful energy. You’ll hear a bit of STOOGES and MOTÖRHEAD in “Sick House”, some early AC/DC in “Shake The Reaper” with a chorus in the vein of The HELLACOPTERS and TURBONEGRO although the lead vocals often sound powerpop (“Nasty Night”…) These rock’n’rollers from Baltimore seem to have found the right ingredients to make their recipe sweet and spicy enough, just listen to the catchy and anthemic “Blackout”! Headbangers and punks probably found a new song to party on together with “High On Stess” and you sometimes get a punk/hardcore vibe in these songs, especially in “Losing My Grip” that reminds me a bit of early AFI. The last song of the album “So Long” will just make you want to listen to more so it can’t be bad… This record is out on Spaghtetty Town Records and Wanda Records so let’s hope these guys come and ravage Europe sooner or later! / Laurent C.
TOO SOHISTICATED is a hard rock band from Finland. They started back in the 90s so they have released a few records but this is their first full-length album. While the music of the band definitely sounds hard rock’n’roll, you can hear a bit of heavy metal in the vocals too (“Soul Suckin’ Day”) but also a punk touch in “Like It Or Not” and in “E.I.A.” “Lipstick Kiss of The Death” has a bit of a D.A.D. vibe and”Different Blues Song” reminds me of the mighty SMACK. The band can also gets lighter with “Restless Soul” and its drunk summer afternoon mood or flirt with heavy 70s rock in “Lazy.” “Nightmares Every Night” is taking us in darker lands not that far from the LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH… After listening to this CD you get to think that this is far from being perfect, but like it or not, this is rock’n’roll ! /Laurent C.
Let’s start 2022 with one of the most interesting rock’n’roll bands from L.A. Chad Cherry (lead vocals) and Gary Martin (guitars & vocals) tell us about the release of their new album “Stars and Broken Stars” and new EP “Hazy Days Wasted Nights” and much more!
Can you tell us a bit about the history of the band?
C.C.: It all started with Gary and I. Gary was living out here in Los Angeles and Sarah and I were out here visiting around 2013/14. We were staying at this place on top of Laurel Canyon. It was right next to an abandoned house that some producer from Walt Disney owned back in the 60’s. Place was trashed and cool. We’re checking it out, sharing a bottle of scotch, moonlight creepin, and we came up with the idea of us getting together to make some kinda noise when I moved out to Los Angeles. In the beginning we were just two guys with an acoustic guitar.
G.M.: Soon, Terry Love (bass) came into the picture, and this formed the core of the band. We recorded the début EP in 2017, and the ‘No Connection’ LP was released in early 2020. With the addition of Tony Pacheco on drums in 2019, and Mike Gavigan on guitar in the lost year of 2020, we began the recording of the follow up LP, which was released in late 2021.
You have two new releases, “Stars and Broken Glass” (album) and “Hazy Days Wasted Nights” (EP). Is this because you wanted the album to be released on vinyl and avoid having too many songs on it?
C.C.: We would’ve had a quadruple record on our hands if we didn’t break it up. There’s no lack of creativity with The Claws.
G.M.: It’s true. At this point, we have more than enough tunes for another full length (& EP!) Sonically and thematically, it made sense to do it the way that we did.
Was it easy to choose which songs were going to be used for the album and for the EP?
It was not a case of the “best 10” make the LP. The sequence needed to flow. The sound of the songs can tell a story. We tried our best to make that happen.
Can you tell us about the recording. Where and when did it happen?
G.M.: We recorded the new music at the same place, with the same producer & engineer as the last LP, 2020’s ‘No Connection’. It’s a cool little studio in the Hollywood Hills called Fox Force Five studios. We began the process in late 2020 and finished in the summer of 2021. The LP & EP was mixed and mastered during the autumn of 2021.
C.C.: That Beechwood Canyon studio is magical.
C.C.: That’s like asking a falling star where it’s going to land. There’s not really a rhyme or reason for anything that we do musically. Gary comes up with nonstop songs and we’re all over the place. We never talk too much about it, we mostly just blend together, push and pull melodies into place. I really don’t think we have a specific anything besides some good synergy going on.. we just do whatever it is we do.
Did you know how you wanted the album and EP to sound before recording them?
G.M.: Our surroundings, our adventures, and our personal relationships between the 5 of add spice to the tunes. Everything has an effect. The studio itself has a great feel, along with some excellent vintage equipment, that really helps bring out the nuance in our tunes. Gabe Lowry (producer/engineer) did a fantastic job of capturing The Claws at our best.
While the 70s influences are obvious, there’s also some 80s ones in the songs. Do you like both decades the same?
G.M.: The keyboard during ‘When The Nighttime Comes’ and ‘Strange Rumblings’ is a vintage synthesizer from the mid-1980’s. Totally. Strictly from a songwriting point-of-view, there’s so much great stuff from the 1960’s through the 1990’s that it is impossible to pick a favorite decade, but I do tend to prefer the production values of the 1970’s.
C.C.: I kinda love all decades, man. But let’s face it.. the 70’s ruled!
Some songs like “High Noon”, “A Song For You”, “Seven Medicines” or “In The Dust” could definitely be featured in series or movies. Did you get any interest from Hollywood film makers?
C.C.: We’re too expensive for them.
G.M.: Yeah, we’re open to collaboration with film makers, but they need to cough up the bread. Besides, we’re telling our own stories, so who needs ‘em?
How is the rock’n’roll scene in L.A. These days? Any new interesting bands? What are the best clubs thesedays ?
C.C.: L.A. still has just about everything happening musically. Nothing will ever be the past but there’s so many great bands here. Any club that you don’t have to pay to play is a good club.
G.M.: I love the current rock n roll scene in L.A.! Much like the city, it’s spread out. You may find yourself in the suburbs at the Maui Sugar Mill one weekend, and downtown at the Redwood (our favorite) the next. Great joints like Alex’s in Long Beach and the Old Towne Pub in Pasadena always have killer shows. There are many talented players in L.A., so you never know who is going to impress on any given night. Someone just needs to open a genuine rock n roll joint in Hollywood!
It seems like a lot of people are moving out of L.A, especially musicians who seem to have found a new home in Nashville…
G.M.: Don’t believe the hype. L.A. has always been a city with people arriving or leaving. Here today, gone today.
C.C.: That’s news to me.
Chad, you also sing in The LAST VEGAS but you have a couple of other projects. Can you tell us about them?
C.C.: I have some new TLV demos somewhere. Let’s see, everyday is Halloween with the spooky synth/guitar pop sounds of Razor Candy. I’m also doing synthesized music with my director pal, D.M. Cunningham in our outfit called Dreaming In Neon. We’re busy scoring his new film, “3 Demons” at the moment. But I do The Claws on the daily. Gary keeps me busy.
Do any of you play in other bands/projects?
G.M.: I don’t play in any other projects or bands, as everything that I write I consider for TheClaws. If my tunes get too weird for The Claws, then maybe I’ll do some acid-jazz solo trip.
Will Europe be on the map when things finally start getting better in the world?
C.C.: Question is, will The Claws ever want to leave once we get there.
G.M.: Would love to do a European swing! I heard that many European rock n rollers have moved to Nashville..true?
Oh! That might explain why I haven’t seen any in almost two years! Haha
The EROTICS are getting ready to celebrate Christmas their own way with “Hungover On Christmas”, a new song in which you’ll find some good old hard rock influences with a punk rock production. Fans of early WASP will probably dig this one! They also offer us a cover of 1974 Jim Stafford classic “Spiders & Snakes” adding some groove to this 2021 chaotic Christmas. Get the bottles out!/Laurent C.
We’ve been keeping an eye on L.A. Based band The CLAWS since their first EP and here they are back with a 10 song new album and a 4 song EP! “Down In The City” opens the album in a STONES/QUIREBOYS way but the guitar solos definitely sound like good old American hard rock. “High Noon” has a bit of a disco rock vibe though, think of The ROLLING STONES “Miss You” or KISS’ “Unmasked” era. Singer Chad Cherry (The LAST VEGAS…)’s voice perfectly fits with the 70s rock’n’roll guitars and dusty road moods even when things slow down like in “A Song For You” and its Western ballad vibe. “High Sermon” must be a good one to drive to in California, “In The Dust” would be a hit on every radio station in a perfect world and “When The Nighttime Comes” brings a welcomed 80s goth rock touch to the album. There’s some groovy bass and cowbell in “Seven Medicines”, a bit of nostalgia in “Sway With The Hunted”, some well-dosed 80s hard rock influences in “Strange Rumblings” and something quite addictive in “Waiting At The Station” that makes you want to listen to more…
… And the good thing is that you can hear more with the “Hazy Days Wasted Nights” EP! Opening with a riff that could have been on The CULT‘s “Love”, “Ride” will stay in your head and take you to unknown lands at the same time. “Cheaper Stuff” will take you back to the late 80s when GUNS N’ROSES ruled the Sunset Strip and “Lost and Found” is quite catchy in a CHEAP TRICK way. Finally, “One Little Slice” gets us to crazier territories with its psych intro/outro. 14 songs later and I’d still listen to some more. Well done, guys! /Laurent C.
Veglam 