Jagger Holly - The Last Of The International Playboys

The Last Of The International Playboys is the sophomore full length effort from Jagger Holly, a band featuring bass man Jay Dee from Johnie 3 and Spastic Hearts fame. Originally from Ohio where the band was formed in 2015, Jay relocated in Austria 4 years ago. In Europe, he recruited Matt on guitar (DeeCracks from Austria) and Marco on Drums (On My Arms from Italy). 

The Last Of The International Playboys was recorded in Innsbruck, Austria by Magi at the Weirdo Garage with the Euro lineup of the band and the trio delivers a kick ass collection of 12 ultra catchy pop-punk tunes that will stick in your head for days. Jagger Holly excels in bringing poppy and sugary sweet harmonies. And that's exactly that the world needs today.

1) For the viewers of this blog who would not know you, What would you tell about Jagger Holly to introduce yourselves? How long are you guys together as a band? Who is playing what instrument in the band nowadays? 

Hey I'm Jay. I play Bass and formed the band in 2015 in Ohio. I recruited Stiv on Guitar and Mr. Casey on Drums and toured all over the Midwest/east coast USA. Then recorded our debut album at Space Mountain in Youngstown, Ohio called “DJ Free Europe". Shortly after I moved to Europe where I now live for the past 4 years. The European band features Matze on Guitar and Marco on Drums. We have been to Japan and South America and all over Europe with this line up. More stuff coming!

2) About the latest full length record "The Last Of The International Playboys", what can you tell about the recording process? Was this a "live" in the studio recording or a track by track recording with lots of overdubs? 

We usually try and experiment with different guitar tones but keep the same process during recording sessions. We lay down the drums first of course. In The Playboys record Marco did 16 drum tracks in one day. And then we did Bass. Then guitars. Usually, in my bands after the drums are done we do a rhythm guitar track and build off that. So in that sense this record was a bit different. We experimented with different sounds. Like Horns and some percussion. No key's on this record which is a first. We just kind of ran out of time. This was a really fun record to make. It was actually tracked pretty quick but sat there collecting dust waiting on all of our schedules to be the same. In the band here in Europe I live in the middle and Matze and Marco both live 5 hours away in opposite directions. So, you can guess it gets tough to get us all in the same room. We made it happen tho. The Rock don't stop.

3) Do you consider it should be foolish not to use the nowadays recording technology or do you guys only work with analog machines in analog studios?

I don't think it's foolish to not use technology. There is a fine line tho. If you just use a computer to fix every thing and sound perfect then that is a problem. To me you shouldn't sound like a different band when you see them live ya know? So analog or digital...just sound how you sound live.


4) Is there a main composer in the band or is everybody involved in one way or another?

I write and demo the songs and the give the guys the skeletons of the structures. Just with my vocal/guitar and drum machine with just hats and snare. I send them to Matze (who also writes some songs in Jagger) and he does his thing and takes it to another level and Marco lays the foundation with the drums and we build from there. I really enjoy bouncing ideas off one another and making this thing I started on a acoustic guitar into something huge sounding.

5) What is your favorite topic/topic that comes easily when you write a new song?

Girls. Every song is about a girl I think. Either that or a party. At least in this band. Politics don't belong in music. To me at least. To each their own tho. Life is too short to sing about stuff I know nothing about.

6) Jagger Holly is sometimes described as a "punk/powerpop" band. Do you agree with this label? Are you proud of it or do you consider there is way more than that? 

I never think about it really. All the labels that you get along the way saying you are this type of music or that. As long as people are into it. Who cares! It's all Rock and Roll.

7) Do you have a new video on youtube featuring a track from the new LP?? 

Yes we do! For a song called "It Ain't Over (Till I'm Sober) A lot of it was shot in Venice Italy. Some in Innsbruck Austria. And the rest in Brazil. I think it came out niiice. Check it out!



8) What can concert goers expect at a Jagger Holly gig? Are you playing any famous cover songs? Are you playing "I Wanna Be Well"?

As far as the live show we try to play more obscure covers. Like Dee Dee Ramone or Beach Boy cover. Some not so common Ramones songs. I don't like covers really. They are a necessary tho I guess. The "I Wanna Be Well" cover we did for OUTLOUD! Records was on our off day in Brazil and we were checking out our friend Pacote's "Hill Valley Studio" and he asked us if we wanted to record anything. We didn't have anything really new because we had just finished our "Last of the international playboys" back in Europe. So, I heard OUTLOUD was doing this Ramones comp and figured we would pick something obscure and we picked that. It turned out great I think. Loved recording there as well.

9) To what kind of music did you listen to as a teenager and does it still influence your today work? What was your favorite band as a teenager? Name 3 bands that you consider still have a influence on your own work today?

Actually these days I don't listen to anything after 1975 on a steady rotation. I would say the 3 bands that have an influence on me now or at least the ones I listen to most are Rolling Stones, Weezer, Ramones. When I was a teen it was probable Riverdales/Queers. Bands in mine scene I would say Mugwumps, Prozacs, Flanders 72, Sheckies... are always killer.

10) Anything you wanna add?

Support local music and LIVE music. DJ's are not a replacement for live bands.  Thanks for the interview!!

CDs Available at:  

http://outloudrecords.bandcamp.com/

Vinyl albums at: 

https://monsterzerorecords.com/products/jagger-holly-the-last-of-the-international-playboys-lp

FLANDERS 72 - This is a Punk Rock Club

Here comes Flanders 72, which is NOT a Belgian band but a punk rock three piece from São Leopoldo, Brazil. Their latest and already 4th full length record, "This Is a Punk Rock Club", was released on WATERSLIDE Records in Japan a few months ago. 

If you're into The Queers, early Green Day or the Ramones this is totally down your alley!

1) For the viewers of this blog who would not know you, What would you tell about Flanders 72 to introduce yourselves? How long are you guys together as a band? Who is playing what instrument? Where does the name of the band come from? For someone like me, living in Belgium, it's quite strange to have such a band name. 

Hello Eric! Well, Flanders 72 is a punk rock band from Brazil. The band started in 2004 with some friends from high school trying to play Ramones, but I'm the only one in band since then. I'm Paulinho Tscherniak (vocal/guitarrist), Big Mike is the drummer and Davi Pacote is our producer but he also recorded the bass on this new album. That's funny because a lot of people think our band name is because of Belgium or something. Our very first show in Europe was in Belgium (Summer in October Festival 2014) and that was nice to see some "Flanders" signs and some souvenir with the name "Flanders" on it hehehe. Actually the name of our band is because two tv shows that we LOVE: The Simpsons - the Flanders family, Simpsons's neighbors - and El Chavo, this is a Mexican tv show from the 70's which is very famous in Brazil (I think only South America knows El Chavo).

2) About your latest released full length record "This Is a Punk Rock Club",  what can you tell about the recording process? Was this a "live" in the studio recording or a track by track recording with lots of overdubs? 

The process for this album was really fast and punk for each track. It was pretty much like... I would write a song at home, take it to the rehearsal, the guys would put their ideas on it and we'd go straight to Hill Valley Studio to record. This process took one or two rehearsals and 3 or 4 hours of recording sessions. Each instrument was recorded in a different channel, only the guide track was alive. Davi Pacote is a very talented friend of us, he produces our albums since 2006 or 2007 and he is a huge fan of The Ramones so he's not the kind of guy that is much into overdubs and stuff.

3) Do you consider it should be foolish not to use the nowadays recording technology or do you guys only work with analog machines in analog studios?

Here in Brazil, analog studios are not popular. We use to record our albums with "technology" but with good amplifiers, drum set... In my opinion the deal is to sound good. It doesn't matter how did you record it. I'm not that nostalgic with this kind of stuff.

4) Is there a main composer in the band or is everybody involved in one way or another?

I compose the songs, that's my favorite thing in a band. I love creating songs! It's really nice writing a song and see it becoming real. I compose the song, the lyrics, the structure but the guys are always free to put their ideas on it. The bassist and the drummer are free to create their lines by themselves.

5) What is your favorite topic/topic that comes easily when you write a new song?

That's the best part of Flanders 72: we are able to sing about everything! There are songs about videogames, silly lovers, beers... but on the other hand there are songs about tough subjects such as politics, dog adoption, corruption, social problems... So it depends on the mood I am when a song idea comes to me.

6) To what kind of music did you listen to as teenagers? What were your favorite bands as a teenager? Name 3 bands that you consider still have an influence on your own work today.

When I was a 13 years old kid I discovered a band that changed my life: Green Day. I remember when I listened for the first time to Basket Case on the radio. I didn't know that rock music could sound like that.. I was like "whoah this kinda music was made for me!". Then I found the band of my life: The Ramones! Our main influences are: The Ramones, Green Day and The Queers. I could say a lot of band names...

7) Do you have a new video on youtube  featuring a track from the new CD?? 

Yes, the first video of "This is a Punk Rock Club" was "Warpzone". In some days we'll start to shoot the new one. I already have the story board done!




8) What can concert goers expect at a Flanders 72  gig? Are you playing any famous cover songs?

There are songs from our 4 albums on the set list but there is always a place for cover songs.
We use to play some songs from The Ramones, Green Day, The Queers... sometimes we play songs that some drunk guy in the audience ask us to play but we don't even know how to play... but we do hahaha.

9) Are there any bands in the music business today you consider yourself close to?

Some people say that we sound like the old Green Day (that's a huuuuge compliment!) or The Queers but I think we sound like "Flanders 72". We took a lot of influences of bands that we love to make our own music.

10) What are the plans for 2019 as far as Flanders 72 is concerned?

Now, our plan is to make videos of the whole new album. We intend to tour again in Europe soon.
We also have a small documentary about the recording sessions of "This is a Punk Rock Club" that I need to edit as soon as possible.

PURCHASE IT HERE : https://watersliderecords.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-a-punk-rock-club

or a physical copy here : http://watersliderecords.net/?pid=136842255

The Pacers - Forget Everything you know

Some months ago, Psych-A-Rella Records released the brillant debut full length album by London's four piece THE PACERS. Even if the band admits its 60's psych/garage influences there is definitively more to it and this first album proves it enough by sounding absolutely fresh and catchy and raw at the same time.

Previously to this, the band had released their debut single "Losing Touch" / "I'm Down" in 2015, which was followed in 2017 by digital download single "Mirror Man" and on June 1, 2018 by "How Will I Know" / "Tired, Beat And Broken".

Certainly one of the most interesting bands in London these days! Highly recommended!


1) For the viewers of this blog who would not know you, What would you tell about The Pacers to introduce yourselves? How long are you guys together as a band?  Who is playing what instrument in the band? 

We have been together for about 4 years now, have had a couple of different line ups but are pretty settled now. Here is the today's line-up: Alex Friedl – Lead Vocals and Rhythm guitar; Harry Stam – Lead Guitar; Paul Jarvis – Bass; Gimmy El Helou – Drums

2) About the debut full length record "Forget Everything you know", what can you tell about the recording process? Was this a "live" in the studio recording or a track by track recording with lots of overdubs?

We recorded it in three blocks over a few months, but all together, the recording and mixing process was about 10 days, we seem to work pretty quick like that. All tracks were recorded live as in Drums, bass and guitars and over dubbed vocals and guitar solos. We had been playing these songs live for a while so that seems to work for us, and we try capture some live spirit doing it that way. Apart from the vocals, we tried to keep overdubs at a minimum.

3) Do you consider it should be foolish not to use the nowadays recording technology or do you guys only work with analog machines in analog studios?

There is something great about analog that you just can't capture on digital, however for most bands, recording to tape is very expensive so not always possible. We work with a combination of both but if money wasn’t a problem, it would be analog all the way.

4) Is there a main composer in the band or is everybody involved in one way or another?

All Songs are composed by Harry and Alex, once structure and lyrics are completed, its taken into the rehearsal studio where everyone adds their bits to it. But the basis of the songs is completed before everyone works on it.

5) What is your favorite topic/topic that comes easily when you write a new song?

We're no poets, so usually the lyrics don't come too easily. I think in our band, the composition is what comes first when we write songs, and the lyrics are added afterwards. So basically, we just try to come up with a line that sounds cool, and build from that. We rarely have a theme in mind when writing a song, it just becomes what it becomes. Usually something about various relationships or just psychedelic nonsense.

6) The Pacers are described by some people as a being a "60's psych/garage" band. Do you agree with this label? Are you proud of it or do you consider there is way more than that? 

60's psych/garage is definitely where most of our influences come from, so naturally you can hear that in our music. But we're really not trying to be a 60's pastiche band. It's better not to put yourself in a particular category, and keep an open mind when making music - that's what we're trying to do. When we write a new song, we're usually not too worried about how it sounds compared to our other songs, and if it "fits in" or not. If we like it, we'll keep it.

 7) To what kind of music did you listen to as teenagers and does it still influence your today work? What were your favorite bands as a teenager? Name 3 bands that you consider still have a influence on your own work today.

It would have to be The Beatles, The Easybeats and The Stooges. I think the Easybeats and the Stooges still have a big influence on us, especially with writing.

8) Do you have a new video on YouTube featuring a track from the new LP?? 

We have released three Singles from the album, the latest one was How Will I Know? You can also find the videos to our other singles on our channel too.



9) What can concert goers expect at a gig of The Pacers? Are you playing any famous cover songs?

I guess the main thing people will get out of our show is energy, we really get into it and feed off the audience. We don’t do any covers in our set, most sets are 45 mins at the most, so we’d like to cram in as many of our own songs as possible.

10) Are there any bands in The UK today you consider yourself close to?

There are a few bands here in London we play with regularly and are good mates with, Green Seagull, Cat Black, The Liquorice Experiment, The Franklys – there are lots of great bands around.

11) Anything you wanna add?

Our debut record is available to buy over at www.psycharella.com on vinyl, but its also available on Itunes and Spotify. Have a listen and come to a show!Thanks!

PURCHASE IT HERE:

https://psycharella.bigcartel.com/

PSYCHOTIC YOUTH - 21 released on Waterslide Records

Sweden's legendary power-pop-surf-punk heroes are back with a new full-length album called “21” released on Japanese label WATERSLIDE RECORDS. What you get here is super catchy guitar-driven, high energy power-pop, surf and garage-punk as well as their well-known sugary multi-layered vocal harmonies that would even make the Beach Boys jealous.

So it was time for this blog to have a very enlightening conversation with Jörgen Red Westman, mastermind behind Psychotic Youth.

1) Jörgen, we would like you to tell the viewers of this blog the full story of Psychotic youth. The origins of the band, from your first release in 1986 Faster! Faster! till Steroids in 1998 How Psychotic youth got back together again in 2015 and finally the release of your latest CD "21". We want to hear it all from you!

The band was started by me and my childhood friend Anders. As 10-year old we made our own fake guitars and used cookie-jars as drums, put on water-colors and dreamed we were KISS. Later on we started several bands as we learned to play but it wasn’t until we met our drummer Kent at the SAAB factory (we all worked there) Psychotic Youth got together in late 1984. We started for real early 1985 as we joined with Nils on guitar.

Me, Anders and Kent lived way out on the countryside where we rehearsed in a  abandoned house and Nils had to travel 40 kilometers by car with his guitar. From the start we were influenced by The Nomads and tried to sound like them – but we couldn’t. So we got more punkish after the first flexi and EP which resulted FASTER FASTER. By now Gunnar has joined us on organ and as a recording technician.

As for ANYTHING FOR A THRILL we were convinced that we would break internationally. But between the recording and the release the band broke up and me, Kent and Gunnar moved to Gotenburg in the south – just to find the album coming out and bookies demanded a tour. So we found another guy from the north (Magnus) and went for our first tour in Holland and Germany.

But the old albums didn’t fit our new line-up, so I started writing more Detroit-punkish-surf-pop tunes which ended up on SOME FUN – our 2nd coming. After making it big we toured heavy for a few years playing all the big festivals and clubs in Scandinavia and central Europe. But the label we were on was bankrupt and sold to a bigger label (MNW) where we didn’t fit in. The album BE IN THE SUN is the result of that period where we really didn’t find our sound. After that Magnus, the guitarist, left to start his own band and Ulf joined us on guitar.

It all clicked as I wrote the songs for JUICE and POP and the band had its 3rd coming. We got signed by a new label (Nonstop) and could record in a great studio with a real producer which made a lot to the great sound on the albums. The tours kept on until Kent had enough and quit. Then Gunnar developed Tinnitus and also quit. Instead we were joined by Crippa (bass) and Dennis (drums) and the sound got more punkish again as I wrote the songs for STEREOIDS. The tours started to wear us down and as BOMP Records released the album and a US tour was planned – Dennis and Crippa left and me and Ulf decided to call it quits for good. A last concert was held on June 24th 1999 and recorded at a festival in our hometown Kramfors. It can be found as a Italian EP LEAVING THE 20TH CENTURY ALIVE or the whole show as the CD ALIVE UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN (Target Earh/Japan).

After that I started my rockabilly career instead and it wasn’t until 2015 as Paul Collins asked if Psychotic Youth could get together and join him and Kurt Baker Combo on a tour that we started again. But the previous guys were not interested, except Ulf, so I took the guys in my rockabilly band and had them playing Psychotic Youth-tunes instead. It all developed into a compilation album and a Japan-tour where we met Kazu of Waterslide Records, who since then releases our stuff.

I had a painful divorce as I wrote THE VOICE OF SUMMER. I guess the title is a longing to get away from that situation and I was never really pleased with the material. But with the new album 21 I feel I have found what I was looking for back then. The whole band is very proud of the new album and more – the original line up with Kent (drums) and Anders (bass) is back!

2)About this latest release, "21" what can you tell about the recording process? Was this a "live" in the studio recording or a track by track recording with lots of overdubs?

21 was actually recorded in our rehearsal room by me where we kept all drum parts. Then all add ons like guitars were made there. The vocals was laid down in my appartement where I have built a special room just for singing (and not to disturb the neighbors) and the organs were recorded in Gunnars rehearsal room. So the whole album is a DIY project with a minimum of overdubs. The mix and mastering was done by The Yum Yums wizard-maker CHRISTIAN JACOBSEN. He makes all the difference.

3) Do you consider it should be foolish not to use the nowadays recording technology or do you guys only work with analog machines in analog studios?

We use modern recording techniques as it is free and let you do it without the stress that comes with buying studio-time in a professional studio. Just a sound card and a computer. And we will do it like this in the future too.

4) To what kind of music did you listen to as a teenager and does it still influence your today work? What was your favorite band as a teenager? Name 3 bands that you consider still have a influence on your own work today.

As a teenager I listened to Johnny Thunders, Fuzztones, Stiv Bators, Paul Collins Beat, Plimsouls and a lot of Detroit punk like Stooges and MC5. Also Swedish bands like The Nomads and Hidden Charms. But at the same time I also listened to 50’s stuff like Elvis, Billy Lee Riley, Link Wray and Little Richard. I guess it all mixes down in what I write in present time.

5) You Are the main composer in the band. So how do things happen? Do you come to a rehearsal with a full prepared song (music and lyrics) and you tell the other members what to play or is everybody involved in one way or another?

I write, sing lead and all choirs, record all instruments (by the help of the computer) and send full songs to the guys before we meet. I’ve always done it that way. It also give the guys the chance to suggest changes before we try it out or if the song is plain bad and should be thrown away.

6) Is there any video on YOUTUBE to promote the new album?



We have no money to make videos so I record live shows instead and try to promote us that way.

7) What can concert goers expect at a Psychotic youth? 

Energy. A smile on their face as they leave.

8) Are you still playing live songs from the previous records or is the gig only focused on the new material since the band is back together?

We play songs from all albums, but mostly from SOME FUN and onwards. We have loads of songs
to take out if someone asks. Right now we do 1/3 from the new album and mixes up the rest.

9)You previously covered "This is rock'n'roll" of our very own Belgian pride and joy, The Kids. A band I saw live for the first in 1978 opening for Patti Smith. How did you, way up north, become aware of this band? Did you ever consider covering "There Will Be No Next Time" by the Kids?
I was listening to a number of bands on YouTube and the KIDS popped up as a suggestion. I was hooked immediately! I will look into the other song you mentioned.

10)Anything you wanna add?

I hope we will come to France sometime!

PURCHASE IT HERE: http://watersliderecords.net/