Brian's Indie Show Replay - as played on Radio KC - 21.1.18

Ralph's Indie Show Replay

As played on Radio KC

Sunday 10th December from 5-7pm GMT

Internet Radio on rkc.noip.me

Played in 162 countries 

Worldwide on 2 satellites

Website: ralphslife.co.uk

Music Blog: fruitbatwalton.blogspot.co.uk

Submissions: ralphslife@mail.com

Twitter: @fruitbatwalton

PLAYLIST :

Click the band's name to follow them if they're on on Facebook:

One Last Thrill - If Leaving Was An Option
SHEAFS - This Is Not a Protest
Sweat Threats - Hermit
The Della Grants - Red Mist
The Seamonsters - Wonderland
Kidsmoke - And Mine Alone
Pyramid Park - Born To Be Brave
SKJØR - Living Without You
CHILDCARE - Put Down Your Pen
The Pitchforks - Headlock
Megalomatic - Cesspit
Sea Girls - Heavenly War
folda - Aurora
Demons of Ruby Mae - Someday
Multiplier - Shake Me Up A Fever
Luna Rosa - The Fire Inside
Palmes - For You And I
BurningAstronomers - Superficial Swirling
Megan Henwood - Join The Dots (Ash Howes Mix)
Empathy Test - Safe From Harm
Edits - Don't Speak
The Honeymoon Suite - Poser
Salt the Snail - Coffee
The Broken Orchestra - Blinded
John MOuse - Bunkbeds And Broken
Little Sparrow - Tender

Cold Summer

Cold Summer are an energetic post-hardcore 4-piece from Leeds, writing experimental melodic rock with a twist that is developed through a wide range of influences between them. The end result being music which portrays a bitter sweet ambience with angst and raw passion from their punk and hardcore roots.

Formed late in 2011 the band have maintained a strong DIY work ethic, self producing/releasing 2 EP's: Transitions and Wake, in 2012 and a self titled album in 2013, they have also been responsible for self booking an album release tour and UK tour with US band He Is Legend in 2014. 












This kind of mentality has ultimately led to support slots with diverse and established artists Funeral For A Friend, Polar, Self Defense Family, Lemuria, Milk Teeth, Brawlers, Zoax and recently Grieved, Employed To Serve and Sorority Noise.

In 2016 Cold Summer released Fight To Survive to critical acclaim and no small amount of airplay including Ralph's Indie Show playing A Time Imagination Forgot To Inspire on Radio KC. 





Their most refined and emotionally driven music to date, the record holds to right a world of consumption, greed and corruption.

A call to arms for an apathetic generation.

Cold Summer are currently focused on writing a follow up to this release channeling the frustration of a uncertain future due to the  social and political events in the UK last year.




This year kicks off with Cold Summer releasing Waiting as a single in advance of their first live shows of the year. It's a tried and tested fans favourite that grabs you by the nuts from the first riff and doesn't let go until the frantic chant at the end. They're building a bridge between Alt Rock and Post Hardcore/Punk fans with this one. All things to all rockers. 

Needless to say Ralph's giving it a spin on the Radio KC Indie Show in the near (Sunday 5th March) future.

Sat 25th Feb: The Key Club, Leeds supporting Hellions & Acres

Thurs 9th March - The Hop, Wakefield - Headline show (support TBC)

Sun 28th may - King Street Crawl, Snooty Fox Club, Wakefiled

Fighting Caravans - Video Of The Week

Ralph's favourite video this week is In Sicily by Fighting Caravans a 6-piece Alt Rock band from Leeds.

Likened to QOTSA, Fat White Family and Grinderman they've had a very successful 2016, including performances at several festivals including Reading & Leeds and Sound City in Liverpool. The single In Sicily is released by Fighting Caravans on Christmas Day.

You can order the 7" vinyl or download the mp3 here: http://bit.ly/1tx1XWS 

In 2015, Fighting Caravans released their debut EP, Beasts Of England, alongside a UK & EU tour, earning strong local and international plaudits. In 2016 the success of singles Tyrannosaur and Blue Heart Motel, provided the opportunity for the band to complete their first ever UK & EU headline tours.

The band are currently recording their 2nd EP at The Nave, from which the first single will be released in January.

Daniel Clark - Lead Vocals

Riff James - Guitar

Cinnamon Lees - Bass

Ali Fletcher - Guitar

Dave ‘The Sesh’ Hogan - Drums

Danny Marlando - Keys

Campfires In Winter - Video Of The Week

Ralph's favourite video this week is the Campfires In Winter single Free Me From The Howl from their debut album Ischaemia on Olive Grove Records. Free Me From The Howl is available now as a digital download or to stream. iTunes: bit.ly/FMFTHiTunes Spotify: bit.ly/FMFTHSpotify The video was filmed, produced and edited by Stuart Edwards. www.stuedwardsfilmmaker.com Campfires In Winter online: www.campfiresinwinter.com www.facebook.com/campfiresinwinter.com www.twitter.com/campfires_i_w www.soundcloud.com/campfiresinwinter

Day Old Hate

With thanks to Leo Bojesen Photography

Ralph's just got a sniff about a new single from Leeds based alt-rockers Day Old Hate called Don't Chase Me so he thought he'd share the news and the video with you.

“It’s important to not to get too hung up about the people that didn't or don't believe in you”, states vocalist Ollie Swift and it is this very sentiment that forms the basis of the newly released video for the single Don’t Chase Me. 




Reminiscent of 'Rocky' with its visuals, Ollie continues - “The video itself shows someone who is training and striving to reach that end goal by making themselves stronger and better”.



The track is taken from February's EP release First Light, in which the Day Old Hate - completed by guitarists Ben Fletcher and Will Smith, bassist Josh Flynn and drummer/backing vocalist Ed Dennis - load their songs with roaring, satisfyingly chunky rhythm guitar, bursts of sparkling lead guitar top lines and soaring vocal refrains that feel instantly familiar, in the best way possible.

“First Light marks a new beginning for Day Old Hate. Before we seemed to be stuck in a rut of bad habits and even worse luck, but this EP represents us reaching the end of that period in a kind of ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ scenario,” remarks Swift. 

He continues, “We wanted to write better songs then we ever had before. Overall, it feels like a more authentic representation of Day Old Hate than anything that’s come before.”

The Social Order

It's a new year, so here's a new sound from Ralph to tickle your ears. Edinburgh Alt/Rock band The Social Order recently released a three track EP Dark As Day. 

The lead track's fairly mean and moody before leading to the surprisingly lighter, alt-folkier sounding Deja Vu Vegas, before reverting to some more; decidedly heavier, mean and moodiness in GWC.

The Social Order are; in no particular order, Dave Bellingham, Sam Morris, Richmond Taylor and Billy Stag and they'll be playing Edinburgh's Hard Rock Cafe on January 29th, go check them out if you get the chance!

Fighting Caravans

First of the Ralph's Life blogs after the excesses of the Festive Season is aimed at calming things down with news of the release of Exec. Style as a single by Fighting Caravans. They're a Leeds Based Alt Rock band that have been smouldering away since their formation in 2014 and variously described as 'recording political and spiritual disdain with Americana/Blues overtones'.





Exec. Style has a musicality that harks back to the heady days of late 60's, early 70's Wishbone Ash, Moody Blues and Pink Floyd mixed with a more laid back, psychedelic smidgeon of The Birthday Party. This lyrically plaintive track builds nicely to its climax and is a good intro for newcomers to Fighting Caravans.

They've been steadily garnering a steady stream of critical acclaim and radio plays so needless to say, Ralph's featuring them on his Radio KC Indie Show soon and there's news of live Fighting Caravans performances below...get on it!

Jingo

With the majority of unsigned bands pushing their music via the EP recently it's nice to see that a band has the confidence in their songwriting ability to produce a complete album of twelve tracks in order that the listener can get a real handle on their music.

London based, four-piece alt rockers Jingo have done just that with the release today of The Art Of Loving. Comprised of husband and wife Jack and Katie Buckett along with friends Chris Smith and Joe Reeves they've compiled some delightfully mean and moody music that highlights Katie's crystal clear vocals.

The album brings variety and individuality from Jingo as they metamorphosise from being a 'compared against' outfit, to being very much the masters of their own musical universe.  The Art Of Loving kicks of with the angsty, bass driven Black Flowers and it's the perfect vehicle for Katie and a strong contender for a single release.








The subtly understated Sky Punch wouldn't be out of place as a Bond Theme whilst the addictive When You Want Me has a wider appeal with its stick in your head lyric and stylish guitar work.

The aforementioned angsty bass is back in the lead in to Belong To You but it's a more uplifting track vocally underpinned by with a nicely 'choppy' guitar riff. 







The short and soulful The Art Of Loving takes you by surprise before leading you into the alt rockier Home and anthemic Blue Wail. Both tracks which showcase the consummate musicality of Jingo. 

More uplifting vocalising on the hopeful Before You Were Born which soars into a vocally more powerful and punchy Jaclyn and it's back to mean and moody for Jingo.

The smouldering 'Torch Singer' vocal by Katie on Same Without You gives it a mournful yet seductive feel which is offset by some almost  prog rock guitar work.








The album finishes off with the bouncier and mysteriously named 1Q84 and some choppy guitar that wouldn't be out of place in 1984 whilst the plaintive Don't Call It Love finishes the album in style with more powerfully understated vocals overlaid on stylish axe work.

Jingo are having an album launch party on the 17th of October in London's Cable Street Electric and you're all invited - but for now you can order The Art Of Loving from the Jingo Bandcamp page.

In the meantime here's the new video for 1Q84...

Sonic Hearts Foundation

Seeing as Ralph's heading on a road trip home soon, it's about time a few Scottish bands were featured. The first being Sonic Hearts Foundation from Glasgow, who Ralph gave a spin on last Sunday's Indie Show on Radio KC. They're releasing a new Single 'Afterlife' on August 11th and it's a follow up to their critically acclaimed 'Into Forever' EP.

 The four track EP recorded in their home studio gave a snapshot representation of the bands unique and varied sound. A sound which refuses to be tied down and contains elements of ambient, noise, alt rock and eerie synth lines.



Sonic Hearts Foundation have become somewhat of an enigma aided by their reluctance to toe the line with the norm. This is a reputation reinforced by the bands series of unique gigs from Glasgow to London. Gigs which are high in excitement and unrelenting in ambition from the visual installation events to the impromptu guerrilla gig to 2000 Pete Doherty fans, the latter of which resulting in the arrival of an incensed fleet of Glasgow’s police riot vans. Not even a hefty fine from the procurator fiscal can deter this band on their musical quest.




'Afterlife' is as edgy as the bands reputation, leading in with plaintive vocal and then quirky little electro melody before taking on a more anthemic Alt Rock feel with swirling guitar and pounding percussion. Shades of The Fall as the chorus builds to a crescendo...works for me.


Sonic Hearts Foundation are verging on bigger things...watch this space...

The Bedroom Hour

Ralph doesn't usually put blogs out on a Friday, what with the weekend being sacred and all, however when he heard that The Bedroom Hour were releasing their new album Hinterland on the 11th of July he made an exception and wound up the turntable.

There's a couple of old favourites on there in Nocturnal and Heart Will Haunt, but it's the new material that intrigues.

Thanks to Trust A Fox Photography

Lead track Ocean gives an atmospheric lead in to Sea Without Water and it's The Bedroom Hour at their anthemic best, with soaring vocals throughout. The aforementioned and much loved Nocturnal and Heart Will Haunt take us into the moodier Broken and a more reflective and melodic Sapphires.









The rousing Ghost Of A Smile leads into the more alt rockier WW/Me with shades of Big Country and the album continues on it's immaculately conceived way. Some almost psychedelic, organ infused sounds with I See Suns and it goes into the soaring, brief and eponymous Hinterland. The superbly named A Map Made From My Bones finishes off the album in style with it's synth infused richness. For me, it's the highlight.





They're a band destined for the bigger stage, and if; like me, you grew up with Simple Minds, Big Country and U2 this is without a doubt the album for you...and don't miss The Bedroom Hour  debuting Hinterland in Manchester's Night & Day on the 12th July, it'll be huge!