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The Parkinsons - A Long Way To Nowhere (DVD)

31/12/18

Hold on to your seats cause this mind blowing, fun packed, chaotic journey of naked mania and psychotic punk shenanigans will have you hanging off the ceiling and strapped to the chandeliers by your Grannies G-String! Directed by long time fan, and great friend Caroline Richards, whom has captured this excellent band of wild Portuguese rebels plus one Jock anarchist on their mission smashing venues to pieces throughout the UK, Europe, America, and well and truly conquering Japan! Starting out in Soho and Camden’s filthiest dives, they go from angsty hopefuls to main contenders over night! Everything you would want from a band documentary is packed into this including fights with stage crew and bouncers, blood and tears, love and death, offending the Queen and her mum, breakdowns, anxiety, and a fucking jolly good ride! Everyone surrounding the band during their rise is interviewed, an amazing insight into their home city of Coimbra guided by epic guitarist Victor Torpedo is featured along with 90 minutes of extras with a full concert of their legendary Fuji Rock performance. The thing that makes this undoubtedly one of the greatest punk rock films ever made is the passion and love Caroline has for the group; every key element and person is mentioned, and the way she’s added things like the ‘Cock Soup’ scene on a TV show in Portugal where menacing frontman Afonso whispers something into drummer Chris’s ear, and he completely misinterprets it makes for real great viewing and a truly hilarious moment! The one thing that will have you in total and utter stitches is ‘Naked Man’, a Portuguese nutcase that somehow knocks himself unconscious at Notting Hill Arts Club and has to be carried out starkers by the doormen, it’s beyond funny and will have you crying with laughter ha ha!! Buy this spectacular film, you will not be disappointed one bit. Even if you weren’t there, you will feel like you actually were, and that’s the magic of it; everyone’s a Parkinson, and without these pioneering lunatics you probably wouldn’t have ever caught light of groups such as The Libertines cause these lot were creating this similar type of menacing punk racket first. **********10/10

Purchase a copy here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parkinsons-Long-Way-Nowhere-DVD/dp/B079ZT1Y67

By Gavin Tate

for Gavin Tate’s Music Journal

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Chris Low (Ex-Parkinsons/Apostles/Oi Polloi/Political Asylum/PART1) *Appreciation Post*

31/12/18

Tonight is my last night of writing on my music blog for a while due to extensive touring and recording commitments in the new year! I’d like to kick off with some words about the legendary musician and punk fanatic that is Chris Low, whom has earned a great reputation over the years as being the sticks man for some of the greatest names in music. THE APOSTLES were one of the hottest groups on the London punk scene along with hugely renowned anarchist pioneers Crass. They packed out venues throughout the 80′s and managed to knock out 8 albums in their 11 year stint; not to mention tons of EP’s mostly in cassette format, though quite a few vinyl releases to boot. Prior to this he was part of anarcho-punk racketeers POLITICAL ASYLUM, formed in his home town of Sterling in central Scotland. They took inspiration from greats such as The Mob, Black Flag, and Hüsker Dü being active during the same era as Apostles, just as his other project OI POLLOI that spawned as many members as The Fall (well almost). These groups were an essential part of the movement’s they lead, and trying to get your hands on some of their rarest material is harder than sinking your teeth into an iron bar! (literally). Polloi released a DVD as well, which I think is always vital when it comes to bands; just like Chris’s most chaotic project Portugal’s naked sleaze maniac’s THE PARKINSONS, that in April unleashed one of the greatest rockumentaries of the year! It focused on the rise of the group from playing some of the dingiest basement clubs in London to touring the whole of the UK and Europe, a short tour of America, and also completing one of the biggest tours of Japan seen by any band ever. They inspired me to form my own group, and I agreed with every major music publication that ‘A Long Way To Nowhere’ mini album is still to this day one of the greatest punk records of all time! Chris recently sent me his very own infamous ‘Bad Girl’ shirt as mine had turned to rags after years of gigs and festivals, thus having to cut out the image and stitch it to the back of my denim jacket. Also he sent me his leather coat that he wore all through his time with the group as well as lots of rare footage that only myself and their excellent filmmaker Caroline Richards now own. Thank you brother, you’ve truly made a huge fan happy for life, much respect and massive love! Chris was also part of cult London outfit PART1 originally forming in 1980 also featuring Ex-Suede & Parkinsons manager David Barnett. As well as being regulars at the 100 Club, they toured with cult anarchists Subhumans, another pinnacle group of that era! Their album ‘Funeral Parade’ is a deathrock masterpiece that every home should own. Imagine if Zounds were graveyard and hooked on smack and amitriptyline after an unholy birth in The Batcave resulting in the apocalypse, only then would you be somewhere close to their unique and menacing dynamics! As well as his musical contributions, he also lends his talents to photography releasing 2 books covering the Tokyo punk scene, also his recent T-shirt brand can be seen worn by Sniffn’ Glue Fanzine legend Mark Perry. It’s fair to say this guy is a true innovator, and passionate instigator of punk at its best! CHRIS LOW I SALUTE

Chris’s books and shirts available for purchase here - https://www.instagram.com/chris__low/

By Gavin Tate

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The Parkinsons - The Shape of Nothing to Come (LP) Album

23/07/18

It's been 6 years since Portugal's chaotic punk messiah's released their comeback album 'Back To Life', which to be fair smashed down every obstacle in their way and placed them firmly back into the musical world which had been gagging for their return for almost a decade. 2018 see's Coimbra's greatest sons back with a bang! Along with the recent release of their DVD documentary film 'A Long Way To Nowhere' directed by long time fan and great friend Caroline Richards (co-editor of Dr Feelgood's documentary with Julien Temple), they also have a brand new record out titled 'The Shape of Nothing to Come'. Opening with 'See No Evil', it's joyous and rapid from the word go in the same vein as moments on 'Reason To Resist', though you can tell they've progressed massively in production since their early days. Slight cameo's and drum experimentation shows they have altered their sound whilst still retaining their rock'n'roll urge! Overall a totally positive introduction. 'Tricks' is like UK Subs if they'd just broke out of the Wild West. Torpedo's melodic melancholy peers early on proving only great things ahead. Afonso's vocal power is just as enthralling as it's always been. One thing that is certain is they haven't lost their catchiness, as the last chorus to this will have you in sheer suspense right up until the very end. 'Numb' is like The Only Ones as it rides along a road of smiles and hook laden jangly guitars scaling your mind right the way through, driven with a message of optimism and solidarity, a feel captured very early on with this record. 'Overweight' has a rock-a-billy feel to it, also a darker element and is a bit more claustrophobic. Jarvis Cocker would enjoy this one I reckon, as I'm reminded of his sarcasm lyrically, though the music is much more frantic than Sheffield's King of britpop! The Parkinsons have always had the element of surprise and that is one thing that is displayed gracefully here. You can tell they had a lot of fun making this so far astounding montage and that is felt as the listener; thus being a great quality to a group. The drumming is immense on this one and could well end up being a favourite. 'Do You Know' is like Johnny Thunders And The Heartbreakers as it races down a back alley just around the corner from CBGB. That's the thing with these boys, they have always stayed true to their roots and have complemented the 70's New York punk revolution throughout their musical careers be that of different projects (be sure to check Afonso’s other group Johnny Throttle), or the very band that made them rising stars! You will hear an influence much akin to early Ramones in the vocal outro that would probably have Joey air fisting in his grave. 'Metal Cranes' is tremolo happy and sounds like something XTC missed off their 'White Music' LP. It's got that alley cat drumming on bin lids feel and is definitely a tune you will never want to end. Victor's guitar echo's that same fury heard on their very early demo's, whilst Pedro chases the erratic drum patterns with his menacing bass lines as it becomes like a jazz jam reincarnated into punk! You'll love this on the first listen. 'Heavy Metal' begins a Sabbath style freak out straight into a circling beat with Al singing about losing control and selling his soul, carried by occasional rhythm bursts stabbing at every bar! 'Alone In My Car' is a dangerous journey sounding almost like a pileup in outta space with math like guitar triggers backed up by off beat drum attack giving a much different feel to the rest of the menu! 'Bad Wolf' is like a New York Doll's style carnival burying its way into your skull from the first syllable. Tribal mayhem follows and you can hear especially on this bit of magic that latest drum wizard Ricardo Brito has well and truly gelled with Chau securing his place as the definitive sticks man for this group! 'Burning Down' is reminiscent of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' era Damned and was featured on Afonso's recent radio interview with Highgate masters The Glass Onion Show (be sure to hunt this down) being one of the standout tracks played alongside Devo and The Gun Club. You will enjoy the menacing climbs on the bridges along with João Sylva's organ as it hammers through blistering riffage. It's the fire that has been started to burn this album out. 'Sexy Jesus' is like Iggy's 'Five Foot One' meets The Dead Boys and batters down the doors of every club in Camden Town, a feel these sleaze merchants once blew everyone's heads off with many moons ago, and they still have it. This is my favourite of their latest works I reckon, just on account of the absolute thunder! 'Game For Good' is the triumph and expectation much pounded with adrenaline from the very beginning of this fucking epic long player, being evident that they have in no way lost their love for The Clash. Find this excellent record out on Rastilho Records, buy it on every format, and support this fantastic bunch of lunatics until your teeth fall out of your head. **********10/10

Purchase a copy here - https://rastilho.bandcamp.com/album/the-shape-of-nothing-to-come

By Gavin Tate

for Gavin Tate's Music Journal

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The Fall - Psycho Mafia (Peel Session 1978) *Commemoration*

20/07/18

In late January this year we lost post-punk's greatest pioneer Mr Mark E. Smith, Manchester's mightiest lyrical genius and working class musical marvel. He played out until the very end, just like David Bowie himself. The last year of his life was spent completing the final Fall album 'New Facts Emerge' along with mass tours involving Mancunia’s symbolic savior parading about in a wheelchair on stage; not even his poor health was going to get in the way of his ruthless and charismatic performance's. Smith was always known for his onstage experimentation constantly turning volume nobs of his groups amps and even pissing himself mid show sporting two mics in one hand and a pint of larger in the other! The Fall's debut album 'Live At The Witch Trials' is still spoken about to this present day as being one of the most influential records of all time, but don't stop there. They recorded 31 studio albums during their 40 year career, that's not counting all the EP's and other assorted bits and bobs! They were signed in my dads best mate the late Roger Eagle's club Eric's in Liverpool during the very end of the punk era, and along with Echo And The Bunnymen, they were the next cream of the crop! 'Psycho Mafia' is their answer to The Stooges 'Funhouse' LP, a record Mark always praised and mentioned a lot in early interviews as being the album that inspired him to form his iconic group. I picked this recording as John Peel was partly responsible for making the outside world aware of Smith's ram-shackled collective (gaining and losing over 100 members since their original formation believe it or not). 'Hex Enduction Hour' is another pinnacle era of the group released in 1982 with tracks such as 'The Classical' and 'Just Step S'Ways', also the 'Grotesque' record released before that which is often quoted as their most influential album. My personal favourite has always been mid 90's outlet 'Middle Class Revolt', mostly on account of its repetitive rhythms and angsty lyrics! The musical world we know today wouldn't be as great if we never had Mark E. Smith and The Fall. I watched them for the first time at Hove’s Old Market in 2007 and it still remains to this day one of the greatest shows I've ever seen. So many people told me not to go, that they had watched them in places like Bristol and they were dreadful, but I suppose that's the thing about them, maybe they were crap sometimes, but they continued into oblivion and that's what made them and him better than anyone else in my opinion. As for most loved Fall songs, big favourite’s include ‘Industrial Estate’ and ‘Dead Beat Descendant’, though just play 'Telephone Thing' as loud as you can and tell me that that's not heaven to the ears, pardon the pun. If there was ever a true poet be it mythological, political, or better yet observational, the main man of The Fall was definitely at the top of the ladder! MARK E.SMITH FOREVER

By Gavin Tate

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Paul McCartney - Come On To Me  (Single & Lyric Video)

20/07/18

Possibly the richest musician on Earth and easily the most famous, but fuck all that cause if the music’s good, then that’s all that matters as far as I’m concerned! This blew my face off when I first heard it right from the opening bars, just as when I first heard The Stone Roses ‘Beautiful Thing’, or New Order’s fierce offering ‘Singularity’, better yet Primal Scream’s come back collaboration featuring none other than the current queen of cool Sky Ferreira with ‘Where The Light Gets In’. It’s lyrically effective and musically hard hitting in the same vein as past classics written by his former group such as ‘Taxman’, ‘Free As A Bird’, and ‘The Ballad Of John And Yoko’. You’ll hear reminiscence of the original Thomas The Tank Engine theme (a classic kids cartoon only narrated by Ringo Star himself), whilst much equipped with a punchy hook laden delivery that will stick in your head for decades! I’d even go as far as saying that this is his best work since ‘Band On The Run’, and latest album 'Egypt Station' is proof enough that The Beatles spirit is still very much prominent in the current world of modern day rock. They kicked it all off in 1960 becoming Liverpool’s greatest exports taking the world by storm, and Sir Macca is still carrying the torch today by banging out singles as good as this! The uber immense McCartney II album is still regarded as his most prolific, bizarre, and inspiring solo work to date influencing everyone from Prince to Gorillaz. As ancient as he is, I bet he still has a few tricks up his sleeve.

By Gavin Tate

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Nine Inch Nails - God Break Down The Door (Audio) Song

20/07/18

Trent and his earth crumbling group need no introductions, though even in 2018 they’re still making an impact and creating some of the greatest sounds ever to be pelted out there into the known universe. As gut rumbling synth overdrive bury a path through rivers of repetition, subtle lyrical heaven floats perfectly above the chaotic noise and sonic bliss! Almost 30 years on NIN are still carrying the weight of 1989′s ‘Pretty Hate Machine’, one of the greatest industrial and alternative offerings to grace the world of music as we know it. Their live shows in the early to mid 90′s looked insane, just check the footage from Woodstock in 94 and tell me that that’s not a fucking show and a half! Much better than when I watched them at Primavera Sound Festival in 2014. ‘Bad Witch’ is definitely one of this years most flavoured and essential releases and this track ‘God Break Down The Door’ more than caught my attention. The darker element of groups that set the platform many moons ago are still very much prominent today with The Cure promising a new record in the next year or so; a group often credited by Reznor’s army as being one of the all time greats (and rightly so). With a legacy as boastful as NIN's, there would be no need to doubt their ability, yet just off the back of this, I predict further recordings to come of mammoth proportions.

By Gavin Tate

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Zounds - Can’t Cheat Karma (7") EP

20/07/18

Kings of the Anarcho-punk movement Zounds are truly one of the most underrated and overlooked groups in the UK. Spawned in Reading during the late 70′s, they signed to Fuck Off Records (a tape cassette only record label), before signing to Crass Records and releasing this gem. Along with Crass, The Mob, Conflict, and Flux of Pink Indians, they caused a racket among the squatter/guerrilla fest scene that circulated throughout the capital and beyond. Their debut album ‘ The Curse Of Zounds’ was unleashed in 1981 out on Rough Trade Records, though prior to that was this 3 track EP titled ‘Can’t Cheat Karma’, also featuring ‘War’, a ferocious anarchistic number and ‘Subvert’ a post-punk classic, all are equally as effective. The thing that most stood out for me was all the intricate arrangements, especially in CCK which is possibly the greatest song written from that very movement. The introduction cameo from Steve Lake is a lot like something off of The Fall’s ‘Hex’ album, though delivered in his own style and with much conviction. My group shared a festival bill with Zounds in Lithuania in 2010 and I met Steve’s son when I was with my brother Tom Jordan at a bus stop in London in April just gone. So he rings up his Dad and puts me on the phone to him. I said “alright mate my band The Gaa Gaas played with you at Drop Dead Festival”, he replies “what night were you on?” I said “the last night with Sex Gang Children” he said “Yeah I was there”, and then he asked me if I was the guy with the beard. I replied with “Yeah I had a massive bum beard back then” so he say’s “You’re funny mate, all the best” and then just hung up hahaha!! POINTLESS BUT BRILLIANT

By Gavin Tate

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Jon Spencer - Do The Trash Can (Debut Solo Single) & Music Video

01/07/18

Out of nowhere appears the once Pussy Galore/Blues Explosion/Boss Hog/Heavy Trash main man, the immense talent that is Jon Spencer, a punk blues veteran from New Hampshire USA and one of the most influential musicians of the last 35 years. Back with his debut solo single, you can hear the ghosts of his eccentric past; whilst howling vocals surface jilted bass heavy rhythms and psychotic guitar mayhem, you get that Cramps feel from the word go along with his Link Wray style modernism. It's filthy and that has always been Spencer's approach (to make music to fuck to). Judging just off the back of this, his debut album 'Spencer Sings The Hits' looks to crumble empires and will definitely be worth looking out for! I watched the Blues Explosion at London's Shepherds Bush Empire in 2004 and it still remains one of the loudest shows I've witnessed. By the end of it there was a puddle of spit at his feet and every member of the audience deafened by their manic fusion, what a gig!! A horror pop art style music video by Andrew Hooper complements this great montage that fits perfectly, and if his solo material doesn't float your boat, you must be as square as rubix cube assembled by The Brady Bunch. 

By Gavin Tate

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