US ska/punk outfit Mad Caddies have confirmed a short run of live shows which will take the band across the US and Canada this autumn. All confirmed dates are listed below.
The shows are in continued support of their current studio record ‘Dirty Rice’.
In the 1970s greatest hits collections were a quick way for record companies to bundle together previously released material under the pretence that it was a celebration of a band’s career up to a particular point. These were not usually so much a celebration as a way to make a quick buck, but whatever the justification, such releases rarely troubled the more serious record buyer. In the late 80s, the game changed when record companies began to pad such collections out with two or three unreleased tracks, not only ensuring the collection of singles would sell to a more casual listener, but also hoping it would tempt the long term fan into that extra purchase. Such practice became common.
To help promote their upcoming extensive anthology the Levellers have issued a new video clip featuring the legendary Billy Bragg.
The atmospheric, sepia toned clip features the musicians in the studio, performing their new collaboration – a re-recording of the Levellers 1995 hit ‘Hope Street’. The collaboration is one of four new songs from the upcoming greatest hits set, the other new tracks featuring vocals and musical input from Imelda May, Bellowhead and Frank Turner.
Through Thorn and Brier is a band made up of four musicians from New Jersey who claim their key influences and interests are “pizza” and “filth”. Although billed as crust/hardcore punk, their music rarely takes the speedy grindcore or powerviolence route of their closer contemporaries. Where most are content with thrashing out minute long bursts of noise paying homage to the likes of Discharge and F-Minus, Through Thorn and Brier take far longer to get their point across, preferring instead to throw down long, grinding metallic riffs, served up with a slightly raw garage punk production value. On this EP, the mix of styles serves them well.
As every music fan is aware by now, Record Store Day is held every April supposedly to encourage music buyers to visit their local independent store. In practice, this is a great idea – but the reality often means frustration for many. For every fan who seeks that special edition issued to mark the occasion, the event is often spoilt by chancers and dealers buying stuff up to hock on ebay later in the day. In some cases, these items appear on the world-famous internet auction site hours before the stores open, hours before the event has even begun, leading to the question of how many stores are even playing by the rules.