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Jesse Hartman who had a very successful time with his alt-pop project LAPTOP in the early part of this century releasing three classy albums; 'Opening Credits' (2000), 'The Old Me vs. The New You' (2001), and 'Don't Try This At Home' (2003). I have been listening to those collections again and they have aged very…
Brooklyn's Biohazard are preparing to release their first album in almost ten years. It is called 'Divided We Fall' and to get us prepared for the riff onslaught they have gifted us with a new single hot on the heels of "Fuck The System" (July) and "Forsaken" (June). The third single from the new album…
We haven't featured a release from the delightful Safe Suburban Home Records for too long and we will rectify that now as we tell you about the new single from LOWMOON. UK based musician and producer Mikey Wilson is LOWMOON and his new song "Vacant Youth" is simply gorgeous. The music is a wonderful blend…
Specky Cult is the best named band in many a moon in my opinion. It makes me feel guilty for calling another lad at my school, even more moons ago, we called him Specky followed by another four letter word beginning with C. The new Specky Cult single is called "Dad Dance" which is definitely…
On this day, 18th August 1982, the City of Liverpool named four Streets after the Beatles: John Lennon Drive, Paul McCartney Way, George Harrison Close and Ringo Starr Drive. So yes, they became their own long and winding road! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDP3dwpoVTo&list=RDyDP3dwpoVTo&start_radio=1 If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog. You can also…
Here is the Mayhem chart for July 2025, a little late (just like last month) I know, but better late than never right? Regular readers know the chart is based on my streaming listening habits. These are gathered over the last month by obscurify.com. My taste in music dropped one point to 98% more obscure…
Woodrow Wilson Guthrie a.k.a. Woody Guthrie died nearly 60 years ago aged just 55. Now some of his previously unpublished home demos have been released almost 75 years after they were recorded. 'This 'Woody At Home' was released this weekend on Shamus Records. The 22 song collection features recordings made by Guthrie at his Brooklyn…
The new EP from ace Louisiana based artist SINthetik Messiah is called 'Beneath The Surface' and it is a dark shrouded, deeply pertinent comment on the world today. Musically it evokes the Prodigy and Faithless, but with even more balls. The voice samples on opener "Maniacal Means" is apt and as scary as fuck. "Caught…
At the end of last year I reviewed Andy Watson's book 'Total Cover Band Domination' which is in effect a manual about the best way to build, manage and make your covers band more successful. His new book 'Your Band Is A War Machine' takes things to the next level. If the earlier book was…
This new single from Montreal based singer songwriter Guilhelm has pop, punk and a slacker laid-back Weezer type vibe. A summer anthem for 2025 with a wonderfully positive "I know I'm not gonna die" vocal hook. Guilhem described the song "This song explores the different ways to overcome a hangover in some sort of quest…
On 6th August 1970 the 10th National Jazz, Blues and Pop four day Festival was held at Plumpton Racecourse in Sussex, England. Featuring, Family, Groundhogs, Cat Stevens, Deep Purple, Fat Mattress, Yes, Caravan, The Strawbs, Black Sabbath, Wild Angles, Wishbone Ash and Daddy Longlegs. The following year it moved to Richfield Avenue in Reading, and…
Back in April we reviewed, "BLAIR!", Industry Standard's debut single, we bloody loved that one, so there was a lot of excitement here at Mayhem Towers when their latest hit the world. It is wonderfully titled "C.J.O.S. (Circle Jerk Of Sadness)" and is rather different, but just as explosive, as "BLAIR!". This new track is…
This is the 25th entry in the Mayhem Virgins series where we showcase artists that have never featured in these pages before. This time it is the turn of Fishing 4 Compliments’ a five-piece band from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Their music revolves around the impassioned, soulful and emotional songs of lead singer–songwriter Eileen Wattam with…
Cardiff-based punk quintet Panic Shack, who exploded onto the scene back in 2018, will unleash their much-anticipated self-titled debut album on 18 July 2025 via Brace Yourself Records. This energetic slab of perfect punk energy was produced by Ali Chant (PJ Harvey, Perfume Genius, Yard Act). The album opens with a classy combination of punk…
Here is the Mayhem chart for June 2025, rather late (just like last month) I know, but better late than never right? Regular readers know the chart is based on my streaming listening habits. These are gathered over the last month by obscurify.com. My taste in music remains 99% more obscure than the rest of…
Last Sunday I was one of the lucky people that experienced Kindelan’s intimate gig at the Vinyl Whistle record shop in Leeds to support the launch of her new double‑single ‘After Before’. The release features two tracks, “Cigarettes” (After) and “Wish I Wrote A Love Song” (Before). Before I tell you about her set let…
“L‑Shaped Couch” is the fabulous new glitter ball of a single from the phenomenon that is Scene Queen. It is a stunning, pop based move away from her signature bimbocore sound. It is a delightful divergence into a sparkling disco sound. This song would not be out of place on a classic disco playlist, but…
Those delightful people at The Modern Record asked me to review Simple Minds at the Piece Hall in Halifax last Monday and that was an opportunity I did not intend to miss. Check out my review on the Modern Record site by clicking here. All the ace photos are from rock photographer extraordinaire John Hayhurst!…
On a baking hot July evening, the Fulford Arms in York was lit up with an electric mix of energy, activism, and genre-hopping joy for this year’s Jamnesty gig, a fundraiser in support of Amnesty International. (If you would like to donate, just click here) The lineup was packed with local talent and rising stars,…
It was great to catch up with friends old and new at another mega gig in the Museum Gardens in York. Headliner for this one was Richard Hawley, a man who was once a member of Longpigs (1993-2000) and a touring member of Pulp (1998–2002, 2011–2012). He released his first solo album 'Late Night Final'…
After seeing local heroes Shed Seven at the Museum Gardens in York last year I returned to the venue to witness the legend that is Nile Rodgers and Chic. I have seen Chic once before, but that was back in 1979! Was Nile on good form? Read on to find out, I need to tell…
PHOTOCREDIT - THE PIECE HALL HALIFAX (SOCIAL MEDIA) Those wonderful folks at The Modern Record asked me to review Weezer at the Piece Hall in Halifax last Monday and that was an opportunity I did not intend to miss. It came with two review tickets so I was there with my good buddy Baz. We…
This was another gig pulled together by music promoter extraordinaire, Simon P of Northern Radar and featured some of my favourite bands, notably headliners Lost Trends, but more of them later as I need to talk about the rather stunning support acts. First up it was Saliva Birds. If you are addicted to class A…
I repeat my humblest of apologies to the creators of the iconic NOW music compilation series of tri-annual releases. Their compilations began in 1983. I posted and compiled the first WOW That's What I Call Mayhem collection back in March 2024. Volumes 2, 3 and 4 followed in August and September. Volume 5 was was…
Here is the Mayhem chart for May 2025, rather late (just like last month) I know, but better late than never right? Regular readers know the chart is based on my streaming listening habits. These are gathered over the last month by obscurify.com. My taste in music remains 99% more obscure than the rest of…
Back in January I reviewed the rather excellent album from uber talented LA based artist Party Nails. That record remains a contender for Mayhem's album of the year 2025. Now I have had the utmost pleasure in getting to interview Party Nails. She is not only a talented musician she is also a great raconteur.…
Last month I reviewed "Worst Trimester" and that was my first experience listening to LA/ Brighton duo peach|melba. In case you didn't read that piece let me recap a little. They write, record and mix everything themselves. The band have said “We swear on your mother’s life to release a new song every six weeks…
We are huge fans of HerOrangeCoat here at Mayhem Towers, so we are always excited when she releases new material. She has just released a new single, "Daytime TV" and it is darkly gorgeous. A tale of losing your job just before Christmas and getting drawn into shitty daytime TV and the whole range of…
Lloren last appeared on the pages of With Just A Hint Of Mayhem when we reviewed her single "Mad Woman" last September. Back then I sensed an element of the dark side of Lana del Ray in her music. That is still there with new single "Like I Need". But this time there is a…
SUNBENDR from San Diego are what might be called a super group with Chris Cote (Kut U UP) on bass and vocals, Brandon Parkhurst (Kut U UP and Yovee) on guitar and Frank Dixon (Nancy and Sister Juanita) on drums. The trio are augmented on this track with backing vocals from George Perks (Mogwai and…
Imagine, if you will, a mad professors laboratory in the Stygian darkness of deepest Transylvania. Then imagine that someone has captured the creative brilliance of Talking Heads, added the essence of My Chemical Romance and sprinkled that with some Mark E Smith. Are you picturing it yet? You are? Well good, but now you no…
On 9th June 1972 Bruce Springsteen was signed to Columbia Records by label boss John Hammond and started to assemble the core E Street Band from various Asbury Park ex-band mates. The wonderful thing is that more than 50 years later he is still going strong. He continues to regularly attack TACO Donny and I…
Regular readers will know that I have never been a huge Robbie Williams fan and that in fact I have been quite negative towards him over the years. That changed when I went to the cinema to see the Robbie biopic 'Better Man'. I saw him in a very different light after that. As soon…
Kindelan has a new single, called "Cigarettes" and it is once again her best yet! It is a dark tale of break up and maybe being spurned. There is anger in Laura's strong R & B style vocals which skim wonderfully over a funky, jazzy sound with some great folk injections. The lyrics are deep…
Delilah Bon is back after locking herself away in her Princess Castle and now she is out she is fucking angry. This time mostly with those misogynistic arseholes. Those kind of men really won't like her when she is angry because Delilah becomes the She-Hulk of brat metal rap and fights the fight for fairness…
The wonderful and super talented singer songwriter that is Molly Rymer has a new release. It features a couple of different versions of "Say The Same" which was originally included on her 'All You Can Eat' EP from October last year. The first is a spacious and stripped back acoustic version in which every emotion…
York's Drop Dead McPhee are back with a delightful new single. It reminded me of a classy acoustic style indie band spliced with the Byrds. Vocally it is their best yet and shows that they have an ability to move in any style or genre. There is a bonus B Side too, "Opposite Day" which…
Sleuth Gang are a fucking awesome live band and with every release they prove that they are fucking awesome in the studio too. New single "Safe Bet" is their best yet, it deserves some live festival exposure. Reading/ Leeds are you listening? It has their signature three pronged vocal attack and an incessant heavy groove…
I must confess that until my good friend and colleague introduced me to the music of Leo Middea I had no idea who he was. Eva had discovered that he was playing a gig in York and having heard some of Leo's songs on Spotify I jumped along with my wife Catherine (a.k.a. Catwoman) at…
It is always sad when a great band decides to go their separate ways, especially one as good as York's Everything After Midnight. But this parting last year was clearly amicable as Steph and Jacob from the band are now performing as After Midnight and the rest of the band turned up to show their…