In News

The Hillbilly Moon Explosion featuring Mark ‘Sparky’ Phillips – The Sparky Sessions

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard While it’s only in the last few years that I discovered Swiss rockabilly swing band The Hillbilly Moon Explosion for reasons I’m not quite sure of Welsh psychobillies Demented Are Go and their unmistakable frontman Sparky (aka Mark Phillips) have been on the edge of my knowledge for far...
February 24, 2020 by Tom Girard
In News

Tiger Army, Grave Pleasures and The Nightmares – O2 Islington Academy – 29/11/19

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Tiger ArmyDespite this being my fifth time seeing Tiger Army this was my first time seeing them in my usual gig going location of London – on their last UK tour I caught them in Manchester and otherwise attended Octoberflame in 2015 and 2017 at The Observatory in Santa...
December 3, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Tiger Army – Retrofuture

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard When Tiger Army released their fifth album, V…-, a couple of years ago it felt like Nick 13 and his crew had closed the book on past debates as to their status as a psychobilly band with a set of songs immersed in a kind of 50s film noir...
September 21, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Hot Juice – Small Town Blues

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard A couple of weeks ago Jersey based three piece Hot Juice played their biggest show to date headlining the Made In Jersey Stage at the island’s Weekender festival after winning a battle of the bands contest and releasing their third single, Small Town Blues. The track starts out as...
September 14, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Roots, Radicals And Rockers: How Skiffle Changed The World by Billy Bragg

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard During the late 1970s and early 1980s Billy Bragg rode the wave of DIY punk rock to establish himself as a new kind of protest singer for (excuse the pun) a New England. While firmly a part of the punk movement it’s easy to trace Bragg’s musical roots back...
July 18, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Stray Cats – 40

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard After great ‘comeback’ albums from both The Wildhearts and Rammstein dropped in May 2019 after a 10 year break, rockabilly revivalists Stray Cats outdid both and, almost out of the blue, marked their 40th anniversary with their first album of new material in 27 years, appropriately named 40. While...
May 29, 2019 by Tom Girard
In News

Tiger Army – Dark Paradise EP

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard As Tiger Army albums tend to come along only every once in a while an EP from the band two years after their last full album, V…, is always going to be something for fans to celebrate. With that in mind the band held a pair of special shows,...
June 26, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Of Empires – Suzie

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Hot on the heels of double a-side Waist Up In Gold/Gunslingers in March, Of Empires are back with another single, Suzie. While it remains firmly placed in the 60s retro stylings of their last few releases, Suzie sees the Brighton based rock ‘n’ rollers in lighter mood with much...
May 31, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Guernsey Literary Festival present David Hepworth: Uncommon People – St James – 13/05/18

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Hepworth on stage at St JamesEvery year since its inception the Guernsey Literary Festival has included a musical cross over element to its programme from the punk poetry of John Cooper Clarke and Attila The Stockbroker to the comedy songs of Neil Innes or more straight musical performance for...
May 17, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Of Empires – Waist Up In Gold/Gunslingers Double A-Side

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Brighton based and Guernsey born retro-rockers Of Empires have just completed their latest mini-tour of the UK, including their much delayed first foray north to Manchester, and to cap it off have released their new ‘double A-side’ single Waist Up In Gold/Gunslingers (oh for it to be a real...
March 9, 2018 by Tom Girard
In News

Live music highlights – Guernsey Press – 18/01/18

This is an excerpt of an article written by Tom Girard Against Me, Thee Jenerators, Rancid and TeaspoonriverneckAs part of an ongoing series of articles I was asked by The Guernsey Press about my favourite live music experiences both on the island and off. Choosing my favourite shows away from the island was relatively easy as a couple have long...
January 20, 2018 by Tom Girard