Related
Interviews
Interview
Rob Pursey from Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, The Catenary Wires and Swansea Sound, talks about his and Amelia Fletcher's new label Skep Wax, and its new compilation 'Under the Bridge' which features acts who were signed to the influential indie label Sarah Records as they are now.
Interview
London-based producer, arranger and keyboardist Janette Mason talks to John Clarkson about her forthcoming EP ‘Wall to Wall Bowie’ which features on vocals David McAlmont and Sam Obernik and reworks five of David Bowie’s songs as jazz torch ballads.
Interview
Alice Cooper talks to Nick Dent-Robinson about his new album ‘Detroit Stories,’ which, in homage to the infamous blue-collar city and his home town, includes new and classic covers, and features original band members.
Band Of Holy Joy
Interview
In our fifth interview with them, John Clarkson talks to Johny Brown, Inga Tillere and James Stephen Finn from London-based alternative/indie rock band the Band of Holy Joy about their remarkable latest album, ‘Neon Primitives’.
Black Sedan
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to author, publisher and broadcaster Mark Hodkinson about his musical project Black Sedan’s debut album, ‘Adventure Lit Their Star’, which features forty other contributors, including Charlie Chaplin, and took over two years to record.
Band Of Holy Joy
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to London-based alternative rock group the Band of Holy Joy front man Johny Brown about their latest two albums, ‘The Clouds That Break the Sky’ and ‘Funambulist We Love You’.
Rothko
Interview
Mark Beazley talks to John Clarkson about the return of his bass/ambient project Rothko and thir second album of this year, ‘A Young Fist Curled around a Cinder for a Wager’, which features Band of Holy Joy singer Johny Brown
Blang Records
Interview with Joe Murphy and Jules Dakin
Owen Peters talks to Joe Murphy and Jules Dakin, the co-owners of London-based indie label Blang Records, about its recent tenth anniversary and 'Lucky Dip', a new celebratory compilation album which features acts from throughout its history
Band Of Holy Joy
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to Johny Brown, Inga Tillere and James Stephen Finn from London-based alternative rock band the Band of Holy Joy about the making of their band's latest album, 'The Land of Holy Joy'.
Black Site
Interview
The Black Site are a new raw blues/avant-garde rock duo which features ex-members of Madam and Sophia. Dominic Simpson talks to them about their forthcoming appearance at our next Pennyblackmusic Bands' Night
Monster Magnet
Interview
Lisa Torem chats to Dave Wyndorf, the front man with New Jersey rockers, about their new album 'Milking the Stars: A Reimagining of Last Patrol', which features alternative versions of songs from their previous album
Dodson and Fogg
Interview
Malcom Carter talks to singer-songriter and author Chris Wade about his 60's-influenced band Dodson and Fogg's sixth album and new concept record, 'In a Strange Slumber', which features a guest appearance from 'The Young Ones' actor, Nigel Planer
Band of Holy Joy
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to Johny Brown from London-based alternative rock band the Band of Holy Joy about his group's life-affirming new album, 'Easy Listening'
A Little Orchestra
Interview
John Clarkson chats to Bobby Barry and Natalie Hudson from the ten-piece A Little Orchestra about their debut album 'Clocks', which features contributions from Darren Hayman, ballboy's Gordon McIntyre, the Loves' Simon Love and Swedish singer-songwriter Lisa Bouvier
Band of Holy Joy
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to Johny Brown from London-based alternative rock band the Band of Holy Joy about his group's two new albums, 'How to Kill a Butterfly' and 'The North is Another Land'; writing plays and his group's new radio show
A Band Called Quinn
Interview
Louise Quinn from Glasgow electronic group A Band Called Quinn speaks to John Clarkson about appearing in Edinburgh in a controversial modern version of the 1728 play 'The Beggar's Opera' and their new album, which features the songs that they wrote for it
Willard Grant Conspiracy
Interview
At a show in Edinburgh, Robert Fisher from the Willard Grant Conspiracy speaks to John Clarkson about the split reaction to his band's last album, 'Pilgrim Road', and their just released eighth album 'Paper Covers Stone', which features both reworked old songs and also new material
Dot Allison
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to Scottish-born songwriter Dot Allison about her recently released fourth solo album, 'Room 7½', which features appearances from both Paul Weller and Peter Doherty
Steve Wynn
Interview
Solo artist and ex-frontman with the Dream Syndicate, Steve Wynn recently toured Europe with his side project Danny and Dusty, which also features Green on Red frontman Dan Stuart. After speaking to Stuart, Anthony Strutt now speaks to Steve Wynn about Danny and Dusty's new album, 'Cast Iron Soul'
Original Silence
Interview
Original Silence is an improvised alt rock/jazz formed by Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, and which also features Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and producer Jim O' Rourke. Mark Rowland talks to him about it, and 'The First Original Silence', the band's debut CD
Profiles
Kasai Allstars
Félicité
Maarten Schiethart reflects on new film 'Félicité' and its accompanying soundtrack, which, curremtly touring European cinemas, is set in the Congo,and features the Kasaï Allstars in several bar scenes.
Big Star
Thank You, Friends: Big Star's Third Live ... And More
Mark Rowland enjoys DVD tribute concert 'Thank You, Friends: Big Star's Third Live ... And More' which features Big Star members Jody Stephens, Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer and also guests including REM's Mike Mills, Robyn Hitchcock and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy
Sharon Signs To Cherry Red
Profile
Anthony Dhanendran examines 'Sharon Signs to Cherry Red', an eclectic new double CD retrospective which features indie label female artists from 1979 to 1985
Scarlet Page
Interview
Nick Dent-Robinson chats to rock photographer Scarlet Page about her current exhibition ‘Resonators', which features photographs of around forty guitarists including her father, Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page
Sheila Rock
Interview
Dave Goodwin talks to acclaimed photographer Sheila Rock about her new book ‘Punk+’, which features her classic photos of the 70's punk era
Profile
Jesus and Mary Chain Part 3
In the second third of his occasional series, about the Jesus and Mary Chain, who have recently had all their albums reissued, Anthony Strutt examines their fourth album, 'Honey's Dead'
Profile
Jesus and Mary Chain Part 2
In the second part of his series, and wth all of their studio albums having been recently reissued in double CD editions, Anthony Strutt reflects upon the Jesus and Mary Chain's 1989 third album, 'Automatic'
Profile
Jesus and Mary Chain Part 1
With all six of their studio albums having been recently reissued, Anthony Strutt in a new series looks back on the career of Scottish alternative group the Jesus and Mary Chain and begins by looking at their first two albums, 'Psychocandy' and 'Darklands'
DVD-Klangbad/Faust
Avant-Garde in the Meadows/Live at Klangbad Festival
Dominic Simpson finds much to recommend on a new double DVD which features two films, one about the pop avant-garde music festival Klangbad curated by the German experimental group Faust and the other which captures a rare live performance by them
DVD
Lizard in a Woman's Skin
Anthony Strutt examines 1971 Italian horror film, 'Lizard in a Woman's Skin', which has just been restored on DVD, and features a psychedelic soundtrack from Ennio Morricone
DVD-Calexico
Live from Austin, Texas, 13/9/2006
The ‘Live From Austin, Texas’ series of DVDs features previously unreleased performances from selected Americana bands. Malcolm Carter is impresseed by the latest in the series, which is a recording of a Calexico show from 2006
Sonic Cathedral
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to Nathaniel Cramp, the owner of London-based record label and shoegazing club Sonic Cathedral, which has just released its first compilation CD and album, which features tracks from all its singles to date
DVD-Herman's Hermits
The Hilton Show
Herman's Hermits new DVD, a concert film which which filmed on an Australian tour in 1966, features both the original and also a modern version. While there is much to recommend in the old film, he finds a lot less so in the new version
Levellers
Chaos Theory
The Levellers' new two disc DVD, 'Chaos Theory', features a disc of a live concert at Reading Hexagon, and another disc of extra material. Helen Tipping finds that it makes both excellent and entertaining viewing
Live
Sata Moon, Valencia, 19/11/2023
Philamonjaro is impressed by supergroup tribute to Big Star which features original member Jody Stephens as well as The Posies’ Jon Auer, R.E.M.s Mike Miles, DB’s Chris Stamey and Wilco’s Pat Sansome.
Space, Evanston, 11/5/2023
Lisa Torem enjoys a Billy Childs Quartet concert at Space in Evanston which features songs from the jazz pianist’s latest album, ‘The Winds of Change’, a Chick Corea cover and classic chestnuts.
Albert Hall, Manchester, 19/11/2021
At a concert at the Albert Hall in Manchester featuring classics from their brooding 1987 second album, ‘Darklands',’ Denzil Watson finds The Jesus and Mary Chain rendering a refreshingly subtle and dynamic range.
Jesus And Mary Chain
O2 Academy, Liverpool, 21/9/2017
Noise rock pioneers The Jesus and Mary Chain turn in an excellent career-spanning set at the O2 Academy, Liverpool in support of recent LP ‘Damage and Joy’. Richard Lewis reviews.
Jesus And Mary Chain
Academy, Manchester, 25/3/2017
Richard Lewis finds the Jesus and Mary Chain, who are currently touring 'Damage and Joy' their first new album in nineteen years, to be on formidable form at a near-capacity Manchester Academy
Stewart Copeland
The Invention of Morel, Chicago, Illinois, 24/2/2017
Lisa Torem watches Chicago Opera Theater's exciting telling of 'The Invention of Morel' which features the collaboration of former Police drummer Stewart Copeland with British playwright/director Jonathan Moore
Jesus and Mary Chain
Rock City, Nottingham, 22/2/2015
Anthony Strutt at Rock City in Nottingham watches the Jesus and Mary Chain play an enjoyable but over-rehearsed show to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of 'Psychocandy', their seminal debut album
Band of Holy Joy
Tiger Lounge, Manchester, 27/9/2014
Bill Seagrave watches the Band of Holy Joy play an atmospheric and inventive set at the Tiger Lounge in Manchester
Chameleons Vox
Broadcast, Glasgow, 27/5/2014
Tony Gaughan watches Chameleons Vox, which features original Chameleons bassist Mark Burgess, in an excellent show play all of Burgess' former band's 1982 classic debut album, 'Script of the Bridge' at Broadcast in Glasgow
Chris Farlowe
(Solid 60's Silver Show) Playhouse, Edinburgh, 24/2014
John Clarkson at the Playhouse in Edinburgh is impressed by the Solid Silver 60’s Show, which now in its 29th year features original 60's artists, and which included a strong set from blues legend Chris Farlowe
Jim Reid/Story One
Cavern, Exeter, 29/10/2005
Jim Reid was one of the seminal figures of the late 80's and early 90's as the frontman with the Jesus and Mary Chain. At a disastrous show at the Exeter Cavern, Ben Howarth watches hin fall prey to an unresponsive audience
Jim Reid
12 Bar, London, 19/4/2004
Former Jesus and Mary Chain star Jim Reid rarely plays gigs these days. In what is possibly his last performance , Olga Sladeckova sees him affect a in-part JAMC reunion with former drummer John Moore at the tiny London 12 Bar
Violet Indiana
London Borderline, 8th October 200
The London based band, Violet Indiana, which formed just under a year ago, and which features ex-Cocteau Twins member Robin Guthrie on guitar and Siobhan de Mare on vocals, started their first ever UK tour by playing the London Borderline on the 8th Octob
Albums
Jefferson Airplane
Sweeping Up The Spotlight: Live at the Fillmore East 1969
Lisa Torem finds that this Jefferson Airplane live album, which was recorded at the Fillmore East in New York in 1969 and features hits and fillers, exemplifies the Summer of Love experience.
Graham Day and the Forefathers
Good Things
In our 'Re:View' section. in which our writers reflect on albums from the past. Fiona Hutchings examines Medway garage rockers Graham Day and the Forefathers reissue of their 2014 album 'Good Things' which features three bonus tracks.
Terry Dolan
Terry Dolan
Carl Bookstein examines San Francisco-based singer-songwriter Terry Dolan’s posthumously released self-titled 1972 debut album which features fine songwriting and a cast of brilliant musicians
Re : View -Jesus and Mary Chain
Stoned and Dethroned
In the latest in our new 'Re :View' series, in which we look back upon albums that we feel deserve re-evaluation, Olga Sladeckova reflects upon the Jesus and Mary Chain's underacknowledged masterpiece, 'Stoned and Dethroned'
Jesus and Mary Chain
Psycho Candy
When East Kilbride’s The Jesus And Mary Chain surfaced early in 1984 it changed music forever for me. Before that I’d hated the eighties mainstream music and really only listened to 60’s stuff and als
Features
Isley Brothers
The Image That Made Me Weep
As part of our new series 'The Image That Made Me Weep', we are inviting a different guest with each edition to write of a music photograph that has had an impact on them. Scottish singer-songwriter Roy Moller writes of a 1960 photo of the Isley Brothers which also features his photographer father.
Band Of Holy Joy
(With Moon Under Water and Dream Maps), Water Rats, London, 17/1/2020
We profile our next London Pennyblackmusic Bands' night which will take place with The Band of Holy Joy, Moon Under Water and Dream Maps at the Water Rats on the 17th January, 2020.
Band Of Holy Joy
(With the Cathode Ray), Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh, 10/12/2017
We profile our next Pennyblackmusic Bands Night which will take place with The Band Of Holy Joy and The Cathode Ray on the 10th December at the Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh.
Bob Boilen
Your Song Changed My Life
In her 'Raging Pages' column Lisa Torem reflects on American author and NPR host Bob Boilen's new book, which features 35 interviews with songwriters and musicians on their inspirations
Band of Holy Joy
(With the Bitter Springs and Idiot Son), Macbeth, London, 9/1/2015
Dominic Simpson looks back on our first Bands' Nights of 2015, which at the Macbeth in London, saw sets from the Band of Holy Joy, the Bitter Springs and Idiot Son
Soundtrack of Our Lives
The Jesus and Mary Chain
In our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' column in which our writers describe the personal impact of music in their lives, Anthony Strutt writes of discovering the Jesus and Mary Chain in the mid 1980s
Moby
Live The Hotel Tour
Sarah Johnston examines Moby's new live DVD, which was filmed at at a venue in Belgium and features footage from a tour to promote his recent 'Hotel' album
V/A
Give 'Em the Boot
Anthony Strutt examines Dutch punk label Hellcat's new DVD 'Give 'Em the Boot', which features footage of some of the best bands on their roster including Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, Rancid, Horrorpops and the Dropkick Murphys
Firewater
Profile
Firewater features members of the Jesus Lizard, Cop Shoot Cop, Foetus, Soul Coughing, and Laughing Hyenas. With both the bands' two albums to date out for the first time in Britain, Mark Rowland profiles this exciting new American group