One Eyed Wayne

It's been a couple of years since One Eyed Wayne first graced the hallowed pages of Ralph's Life with a review of their then newly released single After The Break. 

Well the good news is that the track features on the shiny new One Eyed Wayne album Attack Of The Luxury Flats.

It's 10 tracks of pure punky feelgoodness a la Blockheads with a bit of Wreckless Eric and a bit more of that UK Subs vibe that graces After The Break.

They recorded and released the album completely independently with 50p of downloads and £1 of CD sales in December going to The Joe Strummer Foundation.

In this time of fresh faced young 'guitarpop' bands One Eyed Wayne make a refreshing retro change with their bouncy, sing-along Streetcore-esque tunes delivered with no small amount of Hornsey swagger. Just what you'd expect from a band that have been around the musical block a few times.

Needless to say we'll be playing a track or two on the Radio KC Indie Show.

One Eyed Wayne are:

Steve Donoghue- Vocals & Guitar

Pat Joslin – Mandolin & Keys

Donny Donads – Bass

Dean Leggett – Drums and Percussion

Rich Stephenson

London-based singer-songwriter Rich Stephenson released Alibi, the second single from his new I AM RICH (blue) EP, at the end of last week. The new song combines earthy acoustics with pop hooks and is driven by sweeping violins and his signature bendy-legged, rhythmic strumming.

After a busy summer that saw typically frenetic & audience-charming performances at Glastonbury, Boardmasters, Humber Street Sesh and Beverley Folk Festivals, recent single Better Things To Do cemented Rich Stephenson into place as one of the best emerging UK singer-songwriters. 








Rich Stephenson has confirmed fans in the shape of Gaby Roslin and Alan Raw who invited him in for live sessions and interviews with BBC Radio London and BBC Introducing, whilst Amazing Radio’s Baylen Leonard playlisted the track for three consecutive weeks on his show. Audiences all over the UK were also introduced to him with airplay for Better Things To Do on 40 BBC regional stations and 20 other regional radio shows.

Alibi effortlessly blurs the line between folk and pop, and offers another example of an instinctive songwriting talent with an ear for making the personal sound universal. As Rich Stephenson explains...

“Alibi is about the bittersweet nature of relationships and friendships - you fall out, you make up, you share high points, you live through low points, but a tight bond remains throughout.”

Having already featured him on Ralph's Radio KC Indie Show recently, it's no surprise that Alibi will be getting a spin in a couple of weeks time.

Ralph's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - 26.11.16

OK bands you know the score.....

The more hits your blog gets by the fans..... 

The higher you go in The Chart.....

So Tweet it, Facebook it.....

Generally expose yourself.....


ralphslife.co.uk

                                         

Click here for the Ralph's Life website

Now Mr Snuggles and I have been sitting with our heads down counting the hits on each blog to see which band's got what place.

Tracks from the Top Ten Blogged Bands are played 
every Sunday 5-7pm on Radio KC as part of 
Ralph's Indie Show.

No 1: Artbreak

Artbreak write and record their music, create their videos and draw up their artwork from their South London base in Brixton.

All their music is available on Spotify and free to download on Soundcloud. 

The band, who don't believe in LPs or EPs, release a single every few weeks with five available so far and the latest being Polaroids In Paris.

No 2: The Grey Merchant

Cork based recording collaborative, The Grey Merchant, today announce details of a debut single release, Spotless (The Protecting Veil), which was released last week.

The Grey Merchant is the collaborative recording project of Cork based Indie trio Neon Atlas’ bassist Enda O’Flaherty and a collection of friends and fellow musicians. Drawing comparisons with classic noise and stoner rock, influences like the late lamented Slo Burn, Unida, Kyuss and Fu Manchu can certainly be heard.

No 3: The Magic Es

Since forming in 2014, The Magic Es have been busy. All lifelong musicians with world tours, top 40 singles and a wealth of musical experience under their belts.

The boys came together after a chance meeting at a wedding led to them finding common ground in the simple pleasures of classic records and high-energy rock n’ roll. 

No 4: Elephant Memoirs

Elephant Memoirs are a three piece from Gateshead who formed in late 2013 and comprises of John Aspinall (Guitar & Vocals), Barry Drew (Drums) and Carl Aspinall (Bass).

Their new EP Broken Jagged Edges released on the 14/10/16, succeeds in amplifying the band's raw sound of..."a driving powerful rhythm section, with aggressive guitar and bold vocal melodies". 

No 5: Akiva 

Akiva are a Bedfordshire based band made up of brothers and school mates, who for twenty-five years have been bonded by a shared love of Stonesy guitar licks, rolling basslines, Newsnight, Krautrock, Manchester bands, political economy, shuffling, snappy drum beats, analogue synths, The Who and BBC Radio 4. 

No 6: The Mono LPs

One of Ralph's; and of course Liverpool's, favourite bands is The Mono LPs so it was with no little joy to see that they'd released L.O.V.E & H.A.T.E. from their State Of Decay (3rd November launch gig in the Buyers Club) album. 

It's a gorgeously riff-laden rock track overlaid with orchestral cello and a raunchy vocal. Scissor Sisters meets ELO is as close as I can come by way of comparison, although to be fair The Mono LPs are most definitely one of a kind.

No 7: Áine Duffy & The Hypnotyst

Ralph is pleased and proud to be able to premiere GRIT the new single from Áine Duffy & The Hypnotyst.  The two combined forces last April, attempting to create a revolutionary new sound unheard of in the music industry. 

With GRIT Áine Duffy & The Hypnotyst flirts with dance, rock and funk to innovatively combine genres and moods, creating their own individual sound which is designed to get concert venues rocking and the dance floors moving.

No 8: One Day Elliott

One Day Elliott are a melodic rock band from Kent in England’s south east who draw from a broad repertoire of influences. 

The One Day Elliott soundscape is best described as a collection of massive, poppy choruses, enriched with thick vocal harmonies, mixed with a diverse blend of guitar-based genres; incorporating elements of classic rock, metal, punk and anything else to which they may be listening at the time.

No 9: Not Monsters

Ralph's video of choice this week is Sharpshooter by Dublin based rockers Not Monsters. 

They are self-proclaimed "fans of highbrow, complex social satire" and the video is their version of how the controversial US Election would have played out if it was contested by a fight to the death on Dollymount Beach on the north coast of Dublin Bay, however Not Monsters didn't quite get the outcome right!

No 10: This Party

If you're looking for bright and bouncy Indie Pop you don't have to go much further than the new single Money from Brighton's This Party. Ralph's giving the track a spin on the Radio KC Indie Show on December 11th.

Animal Noise - Video Of The Week

Ralph's favourite video this week is Little Things by Animal Noise, a three-piece who hail from the South East of England

Little Things is new single by Animal Noise and you catch the band on a U.K. tour now! Release date for the single is December 9th on Liquid Records.

Tickets and info here: littlethingstickets

Video by Niall Trask The Kill Shop
thekillshop.com You can listen to Animal Noise on Spotify now: http://spoti.fi/1UOROOQ
Tour dates here: http://bit.ly/1PRvyhB

ONLINE:

Website:
animalnoise
Facebook: facebook.com/animalnoise

Twitter: twitter.com/animalnoise

Instagram: instagram.com/animalnoise