Apologies, I Have None

Apologies, I Have None is an upbeat, punk-influenced four piece from London who have been with Resident Studios since 2009.

Starting off as a two piece drums and guitar band in 2007, with Dan Bond and Josh Mckenzie, they later expanded the line up by adding PJ Shepherd on bass and Joe Watson on drums in 2009.

To date they have played to scores of people, gaining popularity in their native England and a strong following in continental Europe.

In March 2011, Apologies I Have None were featured on BBC Radio 1's "The Punk Show with Mike Davies". The show featured several tracks recorded in session at the BBC's Maida Vale studios in London, and an interview with Mike Davies.

Look out for the new album which was recorded over May and June 2011 and which will likely be released in 2012.

Check them out here:

http://apologiesihavenone.co.uk/

Duty Bound Hound - as featured on mahala.co.za

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The quiet before Storm Awesome!!!

There was a wild monkey-like scream. Right below me a surging mass of sweat and tattoos begins to part and reveals a sinewy beast in it’s epicenter. He screamed again and then proceeded to beat three colours of shit out of a floor tom. I can remember the sharp taste of electricity and blood. Storm “Awesome” Thomas is not your average drummer.

“I believe one of the important things in life is to be open minded and have a wide perception,” he tells me in a recent internet conversation. “Funny enough, I remember sitting in my garage behind my drum kit about 10 years ago. We were having band practice and things seemed so different back then. Since that point I have played with so many bands, so many people and done so many shows.”

He’s been known to be one of the hardest working musicians in South Africa, once playing  7 shows in 3 days. “There have been late nights, fatigue and doubts, but when I look back on this road that I have traveled there isn't a thing that I would change. I feel fortunate and blessed that through hard work and perseverance, I finally got out of the garage.”

Persistence is the key, listening to the inner critic and learning not only from your influences but from yourself. In Storm’s words “Even when your mind says stop, never let your heart hear it.”

When it comes to keeping his skills in check he is not afraid to stretch into other styles and genres. “I am fortunate in the sense that I listen to a lot of different music and so when I approach a piece of music or my practice routine, I can approach it with an open mind and its good for building muscle memory by always challenging yourself with things you would normally never play. My drumming influences are mainly drummers who maintain a strong groove, play for the song, keep things original and fresh, portray their energy and feeling into what they are playing and are generally good guys that work hard.”

“I have been self taught for the most part of my drumming career. When I was 14 I learn't the basic 4/4 beat on a bongo drum. Two years later I moved onto the drum kit and watched endless concerts of my favorite bands on VHS. I studied the drummers I saw and learn't my instrument. It was only until this year that I enrolled in Georg Voros School of Drumming. I do feel that it made me a better player because I got to find my style first and now at this point in time, I am perfecting my style and with that, learning more in depth about my craft from an outside source.”

When it comes to his gear it seems that it’s the bigger the better. “I have always had a weakness for big drumkits. I also love a lot of percussion built into a kit. Timbales, roto-drums and a gong!!!”

And your closing message to all the young drummers out there?

“This music thing is hard and heavy at times and there will be days when you want to give it all up. On those days, that is when you have to work at it a little harder. This life ain't easy but it can rewarding if we work hard and persevere. And remember that in everything you do, you are Awesome!!!!”

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Press RElease

Back on Vinyl and Right with God Vinyl Re-issues of Three Blues Explosion Classics Available NOW!!!
Orange, Extra Width, and Now I Got Worry in their Purest Form!



The is Blues is still No. 1!!!
Due to popular demand, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's Holy Trinity of avant-punk and revolutionary, gut-busting grooves are available once again in their original vinyl formats — spectacularly re-mastered and and sounding tougher than ever.
These are the records that made the Blues Explosion's bones as the kings of damaged and dangerous rock'n'roll!
Featuring the hits "Afro," "Bellbottoms," "Wail" and "Two Kinds of Love," these three slabs tore through the earnest ennui of 1990s alt-rock shlubbery with their razor-blade riffs and dirty delta revelations and made the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion the hottest band on the planet! Dig it…
EXTRA WIDTH 
Even if you had been tuned into the Blues Explosion's first jagged, high-energy outings, there was nothing that could have prepared you for Extra Width…. "Afro" was the beginning of the revolution, the first truly indelible song by the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and anyone looking for meaning in the lyrics is just asking for a sonic cock-tease of Deep Throat meets Raw Power proportions…. This is rock'n'roll so primal that it obviates the need for literate touchstones.
ORANGE 
The Blues Explosion's acknowledged masterpiece, a primer in the art of being flashy without being gaudy —The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion took that old time religion and hit it with high-powered microwaves. They cooked the blues from the inside out, radiating that shit until you had to clean it off the walls.
NOW I GOT WORRY
Given the long shadow of Orange, it is no wonder that it took a moment for Worry to find its way into the canon, but these days it rates as many fans' favorite Blues Explosion record, putting into sharp relief the two sides of The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion — the immediacy of their show, the fireball-throwing soul revue that helped make them the most feared band on the scene — and Spencer the meticulous artist who pays attention to every detail in crafting astonishingly complex and very personal records.
Friends, this is the real shit. Genuine rock'n'roll record albums, big enough to clean your stash on! Each one is twelve big inches of hot, shiny black vinyl, and guaranteed to get the party started! Get with Side A.. and then flip it over and dig Side B! That ain't retro, baby, that is bona fide! You can watch the needle in the groove… you can actually see the magic!
Says Mr. Jon Spencer: "This is the way these records were intended to be heard. This is the way God wants them."

David Baudains - check it out

Album Review - Rambling Bones & His Bloody Agents

Far removed from Fuzigish, South African underground legend Bones is back with his second solo album but this time he is not alone - he’s brought his Bloody Agents with. Filled with charisma and the sweat of a thousand club gigs, the latest release showcases his unique talent for songwriting.

This album seems to be a little more reflective than the first installation with the lyrics weaving in and out of colourful metaphors. The recording itself is masterfully stripped down and reflective of Bones’ live aesthetic, no fancy studio tricks here but a definite step up from the bare basics production of the EP “Live with Rusty”. Kudos must go to recording engineer Stevie G for very tasteful production. 

Stand out tracks include “Crystal Ball”, “Baboon Moon Rising” and the highly addictive “When I’m with You”.

Review : Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones

Since his split from post hardcore band Million Dead in 2005, Frank Turner has become one of the hardest workers in the music industry. His songs are infectious folk/punk sing alongs that have sparked the interest of mainstream audiences all over the world. He has toured extensively, playing gigs in venues as small as peoples bedrooms and as large as some of the world’s most prestigious festivals, supporting acts like Green Day and Flogging Molly. 

England Keep My Bones is his fourth full studio album to be released by Epitaph and could very well be the best one yet. Although the production seems a little dry at times, it contains some of his best song writing to date. The acoustic guitar is his weapon and his lyrics aim for your heart. With a tip of the hat to Dylan and Springsteen, Frank Turner delivers a truly memorable album that is modern and yet traditional and very nostalgic.

"I can't wait to get this record out there," Frank explains. "The new songs have been going down really well live, but I think that when people hear the studio versions they're going to go nuts. I really think it's the strongest set of material I've had on one record."

Stand out tracks include the single “Peggy Sue Sang The Blues” and the uplifting “I Still Believe”. Turner will be touring extensively in the spring in summer, with dates in Europe, Canada, the US and Australia.