The Sux Pastels - General Chaos EP.

When punk rock first reared its ugly head in the late seventies its flag bearers instinctively knew that the short sharp message had to maintain some appeal.

Go back and listen to them and there are hooks a plenty.

Crudely formed some of the material may be, but that was part of the attraction, and as long as the pioneers kept sight of the structure of the song being listenable then all was fine and dandy.

That is until the eighties started to bite in and the shouty shouty brigade took the baton and ran down a cul-de-sac with it screaming anarchy at no one in particular.

Unfortunately their influence cast a shadow over what most perceived punk rock to be and when the name is uttered in the present day a sizeable amount of people paint a picture in their heads of Mohican sporting cider swilling dog on a string individuals acting antisocially.

And while that stereotype certainly does exist it’s only a small part painted into a corner of a very large canvas.

A small part that very often has little to do with majority of musicians who shelter under the punk umbrella.

Bands like The Sux Pastels who originate from East Kilbride in Scotland.

With a credible amount of years under their belts, and participation in more projects than they would probably care to admit to, the four piece have banded together to share their cumulative experiences and see what they can rustle up, and what they managed to rustled up is a rather grand overview of punk rock and roll in its entirety.

With nods to SLF, Buzzcocks and many others who carved a trail the guys have created a solid skeleton to flesh out with their own talents.

From the opening chords to the last guitar string being plucked the whole ep is punk rock ear candy.

The cover of Adam Antz Christian D’Or is supremely well delivered, but it is to the bands credit that this well established, and much loved, fan favourite doesn't manage to overshadow their self penned material.

Instead it’s more the icing on an already impressive slice of punk rock and roll.

The EP is due for release within the next few weeks and pre-orders can be taken on their facebook page.

It will be a limited run for physical copies so consider the pre-order tip your chance to secure a copy. 

Facebook

The Bloodstrings/Party Asylum/The Sux Pastels - 18/0215 - The 13th Note - Glasgow

The Sux Pastels are at the watershed point artistically.

Hovering at a point where they are entertaining people with a fifty-fifty set of originals and covers they are certainly touching all the bases, but it is equally obvious that they are also pressing hard on the tipping point as their self penned songs are starting to muscle the much loved classics to the side in the set.

Covers of early Antz and Clash tracks may well have people singing along, but the songs that are about to surface on their debut ep are the real attention grabbers.

Live the four piece power though their set and it’s damn exhilarating to watch them take the year zero punk template and give it a reboot so that it is ready for the twenty first century.

Very often there’s an inordinate amount of attention paid to youth in the music business, but experience trumps it time and time again.

You only have to give a couple of minutes of attention to The Sux Pastels to appreciate that.

They have all been there and bought the t-shirt, and while some very talented young musicians are out there doing a great job of emulating their heroes there is a certain something that the peer group of the greats has that can’t be grasped.

Maybe it’s a fundamental and organic understanding of the roots of the punk ethos that seeps into everything they do.

Regardless of what it is it sounds authentic and evergreen.

If the term punk rock conjures up an image in your head of well crafted songs that have attitude, swagger and aren’t afraid to challenge the listener then The Sux Pastels are for you.

Party Asylum are once again taking things to another level.

With each show they play you can literally see that a fan base is building.

Slowly and assuredly they are making converts and it is obvious why.

It is simply that they are becoming ever increasingly a better act.

We are seeing and hearing evolution in progress here.

There’s still a garage rock element to their set, and the Ramones ramalama that was inspired by Phil Spector is still there, but everything is tighter, more vibrant, more self assured and more, more, well just more really.

There’s a point in a bands career where they go from being considered a good club band to taking on the mantle of just being a good band, and that’s where Party Asylum are now.

They may still be playing clubs, but they are no longer defined by the venues they play.

Take them out of a small club right now and place them on a big stage and they will command it.

You only have to look at the calibre of the support slots they are tucking under the belts to appreciate that the hard work they are putting in is starting to deliver rewards.

And justifiably so.

Go and see them and enjoy your favourite band of tomorrow today.

The horror punk/rockabilly sound isn’t one that has been widely picked up on in Scotland.

While we do have a few excellent bands ploughing that particular field it is basically true that the fans of the bass being slapped and b-movie lyrics have often had to get their kicks from touring acts who are willing to take a chance and venture north of the border.

So all hail The Bloodstrings, who were making their debut in Glasgow.

It has been a while since I had a fix of this particular genre so it was a very pleasurable experience to get the opportunity to get reacquainted with it.

From the beginning they put their foot down and played a set that rarely had a foot near the brake.

You want it hard and fast? Then this was it.

At points Doc Nics hand was blur on the double bass and the guitar licks were an inspired mix of heavy rock and rock and roll.

Just what the doctor ordered, two great supports and then the icing on the cake.

Surprisingly enough the audience was not made up of the usual psychobilly suspects, and instead a very mixed group of music fans, but not playing to what would be a traditional didn’t seem to matter at all as both the band and audience were operating a mutual respect deal.

The band came to rock, the audience came to be rocked and everyone went home happy.

This ability to entertain out with the genre that they exist in is something that has to be credited.

It draws attention to the crossover appeal that they have and on the cover of the Sonny Bono penned Bang Bang they just hammer home that they have a broader appeal than some of their peers.

Quality entertainment and you should keep an eye out for the bands return. 

The Bloodstrings.

Party Asylum.

The Sux Pastels

Dipping a toe back in with The Bloodstrings.

Okay, I've had enough time off and a few gigs have been booked.
First of these will be German rockabilly/psychobilly band The Bloodstrings.
Touring the UK in support of their debut album 'Coal Black Heart' this is their first time in Glasgow and I am hoping that it won't be their last.

If you love the sound of the Horrorpops, Kitty in a Casket and The Creepshow then these guys will tick all your boxes.

Along with them will be The Sux Pastels and Party Asylum.
Most people will know the latter as they go from strength to strength with every gig, but the former from East Kilbride have all been doing the rounds for a number of years in one band or another such as Jesus and Mary Chain and Baby's got a Gun to name just two.

It's looking good.
A solid three band bill at a fiver.
Maybe Wednesdays will be the new Fridays.
School night rock and roll a go go.

Over the next few days another couple of gigs will be announced.
Just awaiting tickets for this one and they will be on sale from Tickets Scotland and NHC Music* and of course The Sux Pastels and Party Asylum.

* No booking fee from NHC


Event page (Feel free to invite people)

NHC Music

Tickets Scotland