Some people have the ability to take themselves to heights that others can only dream of. And still others have the uncanny ability to take themselves to heights that others can only dream of, after taking themselves to the edge of the abyss. And that gives some of us not only the ability to strive even harder still, but the reflection in which to appreciate the scope of such and achievement. Simon Mason is the later, to say the least. Just read his 2013 autobiography “Too High, Too Far, Too Soon”and you will see what I am talking about.
Fast forward to 2017. Simon, in record time, forms Hightown Pirates, writes and records a very solid album (review HERE), and generates a name for the band as one of the freshest in indie for 2017. That talent only comes with a deep personal reflection. And today we talk about that talent, and so much more with Simon Mason. Enjoy!
Hightown Pirates’ debut album, “Dry and High”, was released June 16th on Strike-Back Records.
Check out our news piece on Hightown Pirates on our TV show “Jammerzine’s The Week in #Indie” HERE and on Amazon Prime.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/TheHightownPirates
https://hightownpirates.com
https://twitter.com/hightownpirates
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Partisan Premieres ‘Too Late’
Beginning with the momentum that began with “Two Lovers”, Partisan continue their evolution of revolution with their new single titled “Too Late”. Partisan has always been a band that I personally have, not only enjoyed but respect musically.
Partisan have always had the habit of adding intrigue, musically interesting hooks, and just enough influence to make Partisan a sure contender as a truly established act for the next generation of aspiring artists. Yes, folks, I I have said many times before, Partisan’s sh*t is THAT together. Just listen. You can hear it in our interview with Stuart Armstrong, Partisan’s killer vocal-piece.
To hear Partisan is to love Partisan, and we now have yet another example of such. The chorus for “Too Late” is spacious and breathtaking, the intro and first verse build up to the chorus like a good story, and the crescendo also serves as an “I’ll be back” to the listener to prove, yet again, that it’s never too late to be a Partisan.
LINKS:
https://www.wearepartisan.rocks
https://www.facebook.com/wearepartisan
https://twitter.com/wearepartisan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeA7ADB8ws4
https://soundcloud.com/partisan77
https://reverbnation.com/partisan3 -
An Interview with Sweet Justice
Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with a pair of sheer talents in the form of Frank Meyer and Bruce Duff, a.k.a. two-thirds of Sweet Justice. Add drummer Mike Sessa to the mix and you have the absolute definition of a power trio. And that is what you hear in their new EP titled ‘Redline’. You get the sheer face of true rock n’ roll. That sucker punch of rebel rock with the stank of slide and the power of mojo. Fleeting moments of heart for the soft-spoken surrounded by the grit and grime of a constant rock anthem.
And today we get to talk with Frank and Bruce about the power of music, the power of THEIR music, and how that music is going to help ease us out of the pandemic and put the unity of music back in music.
About Sweet Justice
Featuring the founding members Frank Meyer (vocals, guitar) and Bruce Duff (vocals, bass, guitar) of indie punk vets The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs with drummer Mike Sessa of Rosie Flores, Cracker, The Joneses, and Cheetahs fame joining in for the fun, Sweet Justice delivers consistently strong and pure modern blues rock that follows the stylistic paths of Gary Clarke Jr, Rival Sons, and the Black Crowes.
Produced and written by Duff and Meyer The Redline EP tackles a White Stripes-style stomp-clap (“Tell the Preacher”), swampy pop (“Sunny Daze”), Texas blues (“Medicine Show”), glam-boogie (“I Get More”), and the Robert Johnson-by-way-of-AC/DC strut (“Redline”). “Aww Shucks,” “Feeling Fine,” and “Gotta Get That” round out this hot ‘n’ juicy classic rock swagger platter.
“These songs are a little harder-edged than the first album and a lot catchier,” explains Meyer. “We got inspired by all the great blues-rock acts happening these days and wondered if our first album wasn’t a bit ahead of its time. It seemed like the time was right to revisit the Sweet Justice sound, but we gave it a modern twist on this one. This new album is less traditional than our earlier work and fits much comfortably in the modern rock landscape.”
“I think both Frank and I have evolved a great deal as producers since the first Sweet Justice record which was one of the very first LPs we produced as a team,” notes Duff. “Applying all of that combined experience to these songs was a blast; that, and plugging in all the crazy fuzztones we’ve acquired in the past 15 years!”
All three Sweet Justice members arose as underground emissaries from the real rock world, as well as also playing in The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs, though each member has their own impressive pedigree. Meyer is also the frontman for Iggy & The Stooges guitarist James Williamson, a member of Long Beach supergroup Blind House, and bandmate of Eddie Spaghetti (Supersuckers) in their side project Spaghetti & Frank. Duff is an established music producer and manager who cut his teeth in 45 Grave, ADZ, Jeff Dahl, and plays in Jesters of Destiny, The Magnificent, and Scared Cowboys. Meanwhile, Sessa has toured with everyone from Cracker, Rosie Flores, The Joneses, and Wayne Kramer.
Featured image by Jason Valdez
LINKS:
https://www.instagram.com/sweetjustice_music
https://www.facebook.com/sweetjusticetheband
https://lnk.to/SweetJusticeRedlineEP -
Interview with Republica’s Saffron
Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with one of my personal favorite artists and an artist that helped define my younger years, both musically and personally, in the form of Saffron Sprackling from the almighty Republica. To say that Republica not only defined the 90s and electronic rock and pop music in general is an understatement. They helped create a bevy of music that came after them and have continued to fill stadiums from then to now.
Republica, consisting of Saffron, Tim Dorney, and Johnny Glue, have also released their new single and video titled ‘New York’, from their upcoming album ‘Damaged Gods’, releasing in 2024. Continuing that alt.pop magic that Republica planted those sonic seeds for, ‘New York’ is the gateway drug that will continue that special legacy that Republica is know around the globe for. Showing the songwriting within the group is a continuous evolution of revolution feels so refreshing knowing that great artists never die.
And, in this interview, we talk with Saffron about ‘New York’ and ‘Damaged Gods’ as well as everything Republica and Saffron, including her charity work as a keyworker in the mental health industry during the pandemic (BBC News video below).
This is truly as much a good conversation with a wonderful person as it is an interview. Watch the video above to check it out. Enjoy!
About ‘New York’ & ‘Damaged Gods’
It’s been a long time coming as the mighty REPUBLICA release their first new material in a decade in the guise of massive new single ‘NEW YORK’. It may be chilly outside but Republica are determined to continue the Summer mood with this stunning feel-good anthem to send souls soaring and get bodies moving. A short, sharp shot of dopamine to the heart and soul, vocalist (and cultural icon) Saffron says; “We’re so happy to be back out headlining live festivals and gigs again after lockdown and delighted at the reactions from the crowds and every audience who seemed to have taken ‘New York’ to their hearts already, as it has become a firm live favorite. So for us it means the world to have the opportunity to finally release new material through Armalyte Records.”
2023 has been a stellar year for Republica featuring a headline performance at Blackpool’s Rebellion Punk Festival, playing to 25,000 people alongside the Happy Mondays, and a sellout UK tour with The Boomtown Rats, it seems only fitting that the band close out the year in celebratory style with this joyous, upbeat anthem.
Following in the footsteps of gigantic smash singles ‘Ready To Go’ (with an incredible 42 million Spotify streams and counting) and ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’, ‘New York’ is another Republica instant alt. pop classic, and is the first single to drop following their newly inked deal with Armalyte Records, London’s leading underground alternative label.
About Republica
Republica dominated the charts in the Nineties with the band’s iconic and fiery front woman, Saffron, Tim Dorney (keyboards) and Johnny Male (guitar). They rode the Britpop wave of female-fronted rock bands like Sleeper, Elastica, Garbage and Lush, injecting it with their self-dubbed ‘techno-pop, punk rock’ sound.
Between 1996 and 1999, Republica sold an incredible 3 million albums and clinched Top 5 slots in the UK, America, South America and Europe with platinum sales across the globe, while their hit single ‘Ready to Go’ soared to Number One in many countries.
Their music has become a sought after soundtrack: ‘Ready To Go’ is currently being used on a Chevrolet advert in the US and featured in the billion dollar grossing ‘Capt Marvel’ movie, ‘YellowJackets’, Ted Lasso, Cruel Summer, Dua Lipa’s World for Vogue and Olivia Rodrigo covered it live on her 2022 world tour. It has been used in more than 300 films and adverts. Wes Craven selected their hit single, ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ for the soundtrack to his hit movie ‘Scream’ and invited them to perform at its Hollywood premiere.
Recently they have had headlining mainstage festival appearances including: the huge European City Of Culture festival in Serbia last year; Dubai, Israel, Germany, Isle Of Wight Festival, Victorious Festival, Norway’s Midnattsrocken, Little Orchard, Whychwood, Chalfest, Rebellion Punk Festival, Tom Kerridge’s Pub In The Park and a sell out UK tour with Sir Bob Geldolf’s Boomtown Rats.
Saffron also performed at two half times in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup last December and with Orchestras at the Brit Pop Festival and Back To Basics in Leeds with more coming in 2024.
Saffron has appeared on recordings by some of the world’s biggest music acts: The Prodigy (‘Fuel My Fire’ from ‘Fat of the Land’ album); The Cure ‘Just Say Yes’; Junkie XL; Gary Numan; Jeff Beck; DJ Carl Cox; Jah Wobble; N-Joi (‘Anthem’); Mark Moore, St Etienne and The Shamen.
Republica’s first album has been reissued as a Deluxe Triple CD, followed by colored vinyl reissues of both their albums: ‘Speed Ballads’ for 2023’s Record Store Day in April.
Saffron starred in a piece for the BBC for their classic TOTP documentary shows on the year 1997.
LINKS:
http://www.republicamusic.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/officialrepublica
https://twitter.com/saffrepublica
http://www.youtube.com/user/RepublicaTV1
https://republicaofficial.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1rSp8CsbPdFVq84q123pJy
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/republica/616725537