Formed in 2022, Liverpool’s Detroit Run began their musical journey in a post-lockdown world at a time when a lot of other new bands were taking their first important steps, or a wealth of should have been established acts were rebuilding the momentum they’d lost from two years away from live audiences. The crowded alt-rock scene didn’t stop these lads making an impression, however. Their early singles ‘Maniac’ (2023) and ‘Prototype’ (2024) were flawless showcases for their sound, sharing a driving, riff based approach, augmented with darkwave synths. Both tracks suggested there would be more greatness ahead, assuming the world could keep itself on an even keel.
THE LEMON DROP GANG – Leave The World Behind / Let The World Stay
On a couple of singles released in 2023, Tucson’s The Lemon Drop Gang cemented their very retro sound on tracks that melded garage rock with surf, and roughly hewn 60s pop with an obvious love of Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound. Nobody would ever have called the results perfect, but to expect perfection from a band such as this would be to miss the point, since The Lemon Drop Gang champion a fun aesthetic and they deliver a raw sound that – if you’re into it – can thrill purely because of its imperfections.
STATUS QUO – Quo…Live!
Issued in 1977, Status Quo’s first official live album, ‘Quo…Live!’ has long been a favourite among fans. Completely without any overdubs – a rarity for a live album from the era – its raw and dirty sound captured The Frantic Four line up in the most natural way possible, and for years held its place as the definitive record of the ‘Blue For You’ tour. The much-missed Rick Parfitt shared the fans’ enthusiasm for this rough and ready recording, but Francis Rossi disagreed. Rossi has also thrown a spanner in the works regarding the official word that the original 2LP set was sourced from the best performances captured during a three night stint at the Glasgow Apollo in October ’76, claiming that when the time came for the track selection, they “just picked the first ones”. This statement has led to a little confusion over the years, as to whether he meant “first” as in “chose the performance from the 27th October in its entirety”, or “chose the first versions of each of the thirteen tracks [he and Rick] were played”.
THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #103
This visit to the Singles Bar ends with some of our noisier picks from recent times, taking in a love letter to 90s grunge, a crushing metallic riff with alternative leanings and even a slab of old school thrash, but that’s not to say we’ve overlooked other musical interests. With a disco/electronica infused workout, a quirky track from an up and coming Irish singer-songwriter and some pure pop from a now familiar voice, the usual musical detours that have helped our weekly column retain interest are still very much present. As always, we hope you find something new to enjoy…
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RICHARD EVANS – Quantum
When it comes to applying retro synth melodies to compositions that still hold up decades after some their 80s influences have long faded, the work of Richard Evans is hard to beat. His 2023 EP ‘Dream of The World’ brought the classic elements of Jean Michel Jarre and Tangerine Dream’s mid 80s soundtrack works into the then present, and by dropping in a few nods to very early Depeche Mode along the way, the short release also felt a little more lyrical and accessible in a “pop” sense. Part of its appeal also came from the brevity of the release: three songs was enough to get the measure of a great artist, but didn’t allow anything to feel repetitive.