Mountain Jam

Ralph's featuring Lemon And Lime the latest release by Midlands band Mountain Jam on his Radio KC Indie Show this Sunday. 

It's psychedelic, 'Madchester-esque' guitar driven sound is quietly addictive and sure to be a firm favourite with their fans at gigs, the next of which is in Hinckley on March 25th.

No surprises Mountain Jam cite The Who, Small Faces, Stone Roses, and The Charlatans as influences as there are shades of them all woven into this offering.

Mountain Jam are, Dean Dovey on vocals & rhythm guitar, Andy Varden on lead guitar, Nick Robert on Bass and Pez on drums. 

Despite only having formed in March of 2015 they've quickly developed a tight, well-crafted sound. 

Last year saw the release of a Double A-side single, Jeleaous Of Me and the flip side, Lust, which was followed by the critically acclaimed EP. This year should see them increase their fan-base as they seek out not only festival appearances but also gigs country-wide. Get on it!

All The King's Men

Manchester band All The King's Men have released a new EP called Making My Escape and it's another step up in their attempt to establish themselves as one of the top rocking it out Indie bands in the North West.

Lead track Fever is very much in the rocking it out vain and guaranteed to be a live favourite, whilst Someday has a more laid back psychedelic feel. It's one for a lazy Sunday's listening pleasure.




Third track in City Lights sees All The King's Men going back to a raunchier rock track with shades of the Small Faces and it's closely followed by a moodier My Mother's Son with it's swooping guitar riffs. The EP finishes with the eponymous Making My Escape, which is a more thoughtful, reflective alt/rock track.

All The King's Men are a fairly recently formed band comprising of Matt Holland (guitar/vocals), Tino Caine (bass) and Ben Robinson on drums but have developed a very tight sound that is rapidly gaining them a faithful local following and with that in mind they'll be playing a number of gigs including the Launch Night at Marley Music Studio on Oct 23d, a headliner in The Live Room, Manchester on the 21st November before spreading their wings and playing Drummonds in Aberdeen on the 4th December with Alias Kid.


The EP Making My Escape is available by clicking on this iTunes link

Rivertairs

Ralph's recently played English band Rivertairs on his Radio KC Sunday Show thanks to a heads up from Blue Soap Music so thought it was a good idea to investigate their voyage of musical discovery in which they channel influences from rock n’ roll through to psychedelia to create what they describe as - 

"a soundscape of many colours".





Rivertairs musical odyssey began at Warth Mill in Saddleworth, Greater Manchester, where passion and persistence weaved together an exciting prospect. Having a variety of influences from The Kinks to Small Faces to The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger to Temples, they write songs containing vivacious vocals, whimsical guitar parts, punchy bass lines, shimmering keys, vintage beats and shaking tambourines - which led to the creation of their first three-track demo, 2013's Fool’s Parade.

A number of gigs, which included a support slot for nineties Liverpool band Space and a show with the illustrious UK music promoters This Feeling, where the band gained praise from BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Chris Hawkins.

Rivertairs are producing a catalogue of new music. Jack is the first of some new songs to be released; a tongue in cheek vignette centered on the infamous Jack the Ripper.

Describing their new single, Rivertairs say Jack is - "a suspenseful sonance plucking the strings of imagination". The release is accompanied by a deliciously dark video.

The band released the video to accompany Jack at one minute past midnight on 31st October 2014 to celebrate Halloween. 

Jack will be available as a free download from the band's website from November 10th 2014.

Crystal Seagulls.....clear cut ambition.....

Crystal Seagulls bill themselves as a new London-based four piece Brit Rock band whose music holds a mixture of the infectious sounds of the Sixties, the swagger of the Nineties whilst simultaneously paving the way for a whole new style of music.  Brave words but do they live up to their swag?  Yes they do as they've just seen of some stiff competition to win the right to play the Isle Of Wight festival Introducing Stage at this years festival!  They're one of only 6 bands chosen from the 3,000 who originally applied.




Well you only have to listen to 'Yours For As Long As You Keep Me' to pick up the Brit Pop vibe, hints of those cheeky chappies Supergrass and just a sprinkling of Blur.  If you want to dredge the depths of time for a true influence there's more than just a nod to the godfathers of Brit Pop,The Small Faces.....this is a good thing!

Despite only having formed early this year they've had some exposure on the airwaves including French station RKC, BBC Three Counties Radio and most recently Brooklands Radio in North Surrey when they were nice enough to give this very blog a name-check!  

Back to the music and the next track for your delictation is 'Ups and Downs' which is a punchier guitar driven track that'll have the Crystal Seagull's crowds firmly in the palm of their hands.....or should that be under their wings?  Despite their relatively recent formation they've been doing some extensive gigging including a spot at this years sell out Brisfest!

Jim Lawton- Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
Elz Whitty- Lead Guitar/Vocals

John Armstrong- Bass/VocalsBen Heliczer- Drums

'Play Dead' is a dirtier, sleazier track, all throaty vocals, drums and thrashing guitar.....gotta love it.....a bit more grown up from ones so young.  They got together whilst at college earlier this year and things have moved on fairly swiftly since.....some very accomplished music for ones so relatively young.  Crystal Seagulls seem to have a good grasp of what it takes to get noticed and how to get their music out there.....