Liverpool-based outfit Ernest Moon presents ‘Satdeenight Ready’ off their ‘Ba-jesus’ EP, which is finally being released on CD in early April. Recorded at Orphan Recording in Dublin with Peter Ashmore and Gavin Glass (Paul Brady, John Grant, Lisa Hannigan, Mundy), these four tracks are packed with loads of adrenaline-packed expression that is both critical and tongue-in-cheek.
‘Satdeenight Ready’ is about a fella going out at the weekend to get drunk and look for some romance. Though he gets reflective in the chorus where he laments humanity’s needlessly cruel and trashy aspects, albeit in a humorous rather than heavy way.
Ernest Moon is Steven Doran and Brian Murphy, two English no-marks brought together by a liking for eggs on toast. Their sound is somewhat punky and has been described as pushy pop. They say they are “filling the gap between pretentious lyrical art and bog standard pop music”.
“We were in a band before with our best mate and whatever blert we could get to drum. we released one LP, which bombed everywhere except New Zealand, where we were worshipped and certain underpopulated parts of Estonia there were some unsubstantial sales,” says Steven Doran.
“This is the first time our singularly poetic take on stuff has been released. And it is as polished, in terms of production, as we’ll ever get. One could say that the four songs on the Ba-jesus EP are inspired by the humor and language of working-class Liverpool, and the tendency to be both showy offy and earthy. The music reflects that with its up-frontedness,” says Brian Murphy.
“This EP was recorded in Dublin, which is why we used the utterance Ba-jesus, which derives from Ireland and is an expression of resignation and disbelief among other things”.
The Blockheads, Arab Strap and Talking Heads number among their influences, as do Loudon Wainwright, Joni Mitchell, and writers such as James Kelman, Paddy Kavanagh and Philip Larkin.
The ‘Ba-jesus’ EP is available digitally via iTunes and for streaming on Spotify. The CD is being offered exclusively via Bandcamp and comes in a breathtaking matt finish gatefold card case with bonza photographs by Steven Crabtree and Chris Dorley-Brown.
LINKS:
https://ernestmoon.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/ernestmoon-244815177
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm4-lITLajtU_q4qHN-KEsg/videos
https://twitter.com/ErnestMoonMusic
https://www.facebook.com/steven.doran.545
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The Gloomies – Nightlight
Belying the grim name, Andy Craig formed The Gloomies in a sun-bleached surf town in Southern California. Taking cues from Southern California’s surf scene, The Gloomies are influenced by the sounds of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ariel Pink, and Lana Del Rey.
The Gloomies broke onto the music scene in 2015 with their single “LSD”. This strange paradox, mixing gritty realism and yearning optimism, is what caught listeners’ ears with the single “LSD”. The surfy track was only posted on Soundcloud for friends to hear, but ended up on countless music blogs and eventually landed them “Buzz Band of the Week” in NME.
After receiving praise from Noisey, DIY, KCRW, and many others over the last few years, combined with months of touring, The Gloomies released their “Blackout” EP in 2016. This was followed by the 2017 single “Space” in collaboration with Cults singer Madeline Follin. In 2018, they returned to New York to complete work on the debut LP “Romance”. They have spent the last year in New York recording new music, creating a hypnotic collection of songs that showcase their original vision.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/thegloomies
https://twitter.com/thegloomies
https://www.instagram.com/thegloomies -
Flashfires – Circus Boy
Having already supported the likes of Catfish and the Bottlemen, The Subways, and Ash, it’s clear that Flashfires are already making all the right moves. Able to count the likes of Huw Stephens and Jo Whiley as supporters, the Winchester – based four-piece are turning heads wherever they go. That, however, should come an as little surprise to anyone that’s familiar with the band’s razor-sharp riffs, funk-fuelled rhythm section, and idiosyncratic vocal delivery.
With previous single ‘Manshark’ grabbing the attention of the aforementioned Huw Stephens while establishing Flashfires trademark aesthetic: classic rock aesthetic kicking and screaming into the contemporary, disregarding any of the pomp with which the genre was once synonymous.
Circus Boy felt like a statement of intent from a band on the cusp of big things, their eponymous EP from which it’s taken feels more like an aphorism, a bold insight into what it means to be a 21st Century rock band.
Far from a one-trick pony however, Flashfires strikes a delicate balance between self-restraint and unashamed bombast. The likes of the aforementioned ‘Circus Boy’ or the penultimate ‘Cezanne’ manage to harness the band’s inherent raw power, appealing to fans of both alternative rock while retaining an understated indie edge.
Elsewhere, however, the likes of ‘Champagne On Mars’ or final offering ‘Life’s Cruel Line’ provide present a more melodic side to the band, allowing lead singer Alex Gonzato the chance to let his effortless vocals soar all the while showcasing the diversity which lies at the very core of what Flashfires stand for. (Scruff of the Neck)
Chris Straw from Bauer Radio says: “I like this best of all their tracks so far, it’s a killer driving hook. The vocal is great and there is some really good guitar work tucked away in the mix. A subtle modern twist on the traditional classic rock sound”.
Frontman Alex Gonzato says: “Quicker Than The Eye” is a tale of star crossed lovers, wrapped in their own cocktail of passion and lust. Driving their belief that this rush will last forever, unaware of how quickly things can change in a blink of an eye.
The theme of the song had already started to form before entering the studio, but it really came to life when producer Brian Wheat came onboard”.
FLASHFIRES ARE:
- Alexander Gonzato – Lead Vocals & Acoustic Guitar
- Fraser Roskilly – Lead Guitar and Bass
- Jonathan Cullis – Rhythm Guitar
- Toby Bartlett – Drums, Percussion, and Piano
LINKS:
https://flashfiresofficial.com
https://facebook.com/flashfiresofficial
https://instagram.com/flashfiresofficial
https://youtube.com/flashfiresofficial
https://twitter.com/flashfiresband -
Guns N’ Roses Live @ Rock In Rio 2017
Guns N’ Roses jumped straight from the holes of Los Angeles to mega-stardom with their booming debut album “Appetite for Destruction”, a masterpiece from the 80’s that guaranteed a place for the band at the Olympus of Rock and Roll. With part of its classic formation, the quintet arrived at the new City of Rock closing the night of September 23 after The Who’s concert presenting their fans with a setlist filled with classics such as “Sweet Child o’ Mine”, “Knockin’ on Heavens Door” and “November Rain”.