Hollywood Vampires, The Darkness, The Damned. Live at The Genting Arena Birmngham Review (16/6/18)

Despite having never received the same universal critical acclaim as The Sex Pistols or The Clash,  40 years later The Damned have evolved into being one of the UK's best and most reliable rock' n roll bands. Over time the rough edges of their punk rock roots have been worn away as the years have made them sound tighter and slicker. Their musicianship and showmanship in 2018 is fantastic if a bit lost on a seated arena crowd. Dave Vanian seemed pretty aware of this, introducing 'Eloise' by saying "you might know this one... and it's a cover". For me though, the best part was hearing punk rock classics 'New Rose' and 'Smash it up', even if the latter had a strangely long, and subdued instrumental piece to open with that seemed at odds with the song itself. (7.6/10)
Love them or hate them, back in the early 00's the world needed The Darkness (we still do). This was a special occasion for me as despite being a fan since I was about 12 this was my first time seeing them. Time and cocaine may have aged The Darkness, but Frankie Paulain still rocks an afro, Dan Hawkins can still shred and Justin Hawkins still has an incredible singing range and the ability to fit into a catsuit, although on this occasion he couldn't pull off his signature backwards jump off the drum kit without a stumble. Opening with 'Solid Gold' and a double hit whammy of 'Growing on Me' and 'Love is Only a Feeling'. Yet it's the recent 'Japanese Prisoner of Love' that proved that when The Darkness put their heads down and gimmicks aside they're still a brilliant, kick ass rock 'n roll band. The only other stumble was Justin's mostly funny but at times embarrassing and slightly sexist stage banter, and the attempt to get the crowd to sing along to 'Get Your Hands of my Woman' which fell a bit flat. (8.8)
Seeing The Hollywood Vampires live was a no brainer. A super-group of two rock legends and an a list celebrity playing 90 minutes of covers, backed by two world class supports for only £50. yes please! The Hollywood Vampires may be a glorified covers band but they deserve the glory. Essentially a tribute to rock's golden years and the many members of the original Hollywood Vampires drinking club. Alice Cooper is still one of rock 'n rolls greatest showmen. Not being decapitated this time but still leading the band with all the class and attitude that you'd expect. Joe Perry showed off his incredible guitar skills throughout and his vocals on the thankfully only Aerosmith song 'Sweet Emotion'. Recent scandals aside Johnny Depp is still a star and despite mostly playing rhythm guitar, fits into The Hollywood Vampires like a glove. Johnny wrote The Hollywood Vampires original songs, which are all tributes to those who lived fast and recklessly. He also had the privilege of singing David Bowie's 'Heroes' to a backdrop of several much missed icons, a special moment only slightly dampened by Johnny's average singing ability. The Bowie tribute continued with a surprise special appearance from Mott the Hoople's Ian Hunter, for 'All the Young Dudes'. Yet the most missed icon of all is clearly Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister, going by the cheers for his image and cover of 'Ace of Spades'. Thankfully we still have left the legend that is Alice Cooper. Who performed 'I'm Eighteen' with more conviction than should be expected from a man in his 70's and an encore of 'schools out' which was ingeniously mashed up with Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2". After 90 minutes, an encore where each band member was named an extended drum solo and too many other great bits to mention The Hollywood Vampires earned the first ever Beat Town Blog  10/10 

The best albums of May 2018

Kali Uchis - Isolation
2018 may have seen several female pop stars break into the mainstream yet none of them are as cool, smart or as effortlessly sexy as Kali Uchis. With her début record 'Isolation' Kali brings together artists as diverse as Steve Lacy, Tyler the Creator, Boostsy Collins and Thundercat. The result is a gorgeous ride through the best bits of vintage funk and soul, 60's girl groups and even Kali's take on the Latin trend. Yet it's her modern take on classic funk and soul where Isolation is at it's best.
Check out - Flight 22


Playboi Carti - Die Lit 
Die Lit is where Playboi Carti takes trap to its logical conclusion. While the subversive cover looks more like the sleeve of a hardcore punk record, Die Lit can be judged by its cover. Carti embraces a minimalist punk aesthetic using psychedelic tinged yet minimalist backing tracks. Carti's bizzare style of rapping could almost be seen as anti-rapping, constantly ad-libbing, changing his flow and his voice. Die lit comes across as being completely improvised and off the cuff, much like the punk bands proved you didn't need to be a virtuoso to play rock, Carti proves that you don't even need to rap to be a rapper. Check out - Poke it up


Parliament - Medicaid Fraud Dogg
Parliament's first new album in over 30 years can be a daunting prospect, clocking in at 1 hour 46 minutes and 23 songs, it's hard to take in one listen. Instead of simply trolling for streams, MFD, sounds more like the work of a band with too many ideas to fit into a single 40 minute record. Sounding both retro and cutting edge at the same time, MFD may be the album that brings Patliament a new generation of fans, mixing the classic P-Funk sound with trap bangers and a running commentary on the ethics of the pharmaceutical industry.
Check out - Mama Told Me

Parquet Courts - Wide Awake!
After many years Parquet Courts have delivered what may be their definitive album. Wide Awake is the NYC punks at their smartest, catchiest and most diverse. The title track bursts with funky energy, while 'Back to earth' is the sound of the punks gone Prog. Best of all is the saloon bar Ballard 'Tenderness'. A Savage lyrically focusses on the era we live in with his usual sharp, funny wit, and his observations are backed by the best songs PC have written yet.
Check out - Tenderness

Arctic Monkeys - Tranquillity Base Hotel & Casino
Some fans may disagree but Arctic Monkeys have always been at their best when at their strangest. Tranquillity base... is by far the strangest that Arctic Monkeys have ever sounded and therefore probably their best. While AM smoothed out their quirks until they had little personality left, TB mixes Alex Turner's surreal ramblings and piano into an odd mix that has been compared to Robbie Williams and David Bowie alike. The rambling off beat nature of the songs here only makes them more lovable and memorable. The best Arctic Monkeys album to date is their biggest reinvention yet.
Check out - She looks like fun

Peace - Kindness is the new rock n' roll

The title track of this album is an example of what Peace have always done best, taking a simple idea and ramping it up until it's as epic as possible. Mixing all the charisma that people miss from Oasis with a beating heart and soul that makes it far more endearing than one of Noel Gallagher's surreal platitudes. The songs here sound more like a Harry Koisser solo album than a new Peace record. Writing honestly about depression, and 'lying in my empty room on my broken bed...left alone with my big fucking mental head. While early albums found Peace naive and in love with the idea of love itself. ‘Kindness’ finds Harry maturing as both a songwriter and a person. For all the heartbreak that Peace have been through, they conclude that not only is 'Kindness the new rock 'n roll, love is also the salvation that we sometimes need.

Check out - You don't walk away from love 

I also liked...
Jon Hopkins - Singularity
Beach House - 7
Courtney Barnett - Tell me how you really feel