It could be you, but probably won't be. In my experience, when a new platform asks for your data in exchange for "being heard," it’s worth checking the blueprint of the machine you're feeding. I’ve been digging into the launch of Vista Music—the new label fronted by Thom Rylance of The Lottery Winners (the friendly … Continue reading The Vista Files: Auditing the “Sign-Up” Framework
The Audit: Thrillhouse – Smile (Spirit of Spike Island)
The Aesthetic: Brighton’s panoramic alchemists trading the coastal grey for a widescreen, neon-soaked horizon. The Verdict: I’ve been a fan of Thrillhouse since the lockdown days, back when we were all searching for something to anchor the isolation. Watching them evolve their sound has been a clinical study in artistic growth, and here we are … Continue reading The Audit: Thrillhouse – Smile (Spirit of Spike Island)
MARCH 2026: THE AUDITOR’S CHOICE
The Top 5: The Rebirth of Cool While the corporate spreadsheets are busy recycling 2014’s "Safe Indie" for the summer festivals, the real ROI is happening on the fringes. No fleece. No filler. Just the sounds of the resistance. 1. Hannah Robinson – Ruining The Moment The Vibe: Grunge-rock Natalie Dormer. The Audit: A visceral, … Continue reading MARCH 2026: THE AUDITOR’S CHOICE
The Spreadsheet Vs The Soul
"It’s Friday night, March 27, 2026. The tour buses are cooling down, the variant-sellers are counting their plastic trophies, and the audit is officially closed. This week, we’ve tracked the 32-variant 'fleece' and the 72-place chart drops. But tonight, we look at the real ROI: Integrity. While the corporate giants syndicate the 'Summer of Sameness,' … Continue reading The Spreadsheet Vs The Soul
How to Fleece Fans and Win a Vanity Trophy
The KLF once released a book about it: The Manual (How to Have a Number One the Easy Way). It was a step-by-step guide on how to hijack the charts with no money and no musical skills. It worked. Now, it seems our favorite new bands—the ones who have scaled the uppermost positions in the … Continue reading How to Fleece Fans and Win a Vanity Trophy
The Crossroads: What are you prepared to do for your art?
I’ve been sitting on a draft for two years. I called it Privilege. I wrote it because I was tired of the 'Shortcut' culture—the bands with the label connections and the backgrounds that get 'glossed over' to create a fake grit. Looking at the landscape in 2026, I realize that privilege was just the entry … Continue reading The Crossroads: What are you prepared to do for your art?
Why Average is just Small Talk (And the Death of the Parka pantomime)
I once called a band called Small Talk 'average.' The sky fell in. I got piled on by fans who had cosied up to celebrity endorsements rather than actual songwriting. I told them they’d regret charging £15 a pop to see them with no real fanbase, and I was right. Where are they now? We’ve … Continue reading Why Average is just Small Talk (And the Death of the Parka pantomime)
The Rebirth of Cool: Five Years Later
The Voice is Far From Strangled. I’ve been silent for a while. Real life—the kind with clocks to punch, bills to pay, and the daily grind—has a habit of taking over. But while I’ve been away, I’ve been watching. I’ve seen great artists, truly talented people who have given everything to their craft, finally chuck … Continue reading The Rebirth of Cool: Five Years Later
You Bedda Believe It – Yon Mon
Yon Mon's album starts with an almost classical piano, a surprising start but Better Days draws you in instantly and its message is clear. Power and Corruption makes the world go round. It paints a picture of what it's like to live in the world today and how towns and cities are becoming ghost towns, … Continue reading You Bedda Believe It – Yon Mon
It’s a Good, Good, Good Friday….. April Choons…
After what seems like an age, finally 2025 gets in the swing and a load of great new releases are tickling my eardrums... Here's a brief review of my favourites. SENSES - Accelerate Your Love/Already Part Of The Problem. Coventry's own Senses return with two new tracks and an announced second album making The Stone … Continue reading It’s a Good, Good, Good Friday….. April Choons…
Moonlight Parade’s 4th Album: A Musical Journey – Strange Times
If you'd of told me 5 years ago that I would've heard a bunch of new music artists whose output would dictate my musical listening pleasure I would have laughed in your face. If I was then to say to you, that half a dozen or so of these artists would entwine themselves within the … Continue reading Moonlight Parade’s 4th Album: A Musical Journey – Strange Times
Album Review – The Shop Window – Daysdream
Once derided by music press for it's overly stereotyped bretton shirt wearing skinny white boys with floppy hair, in recent years Jangle-pop has made a triumphant return to favour. This uplifting and life affirming sound with it's history dating back to the late 50's/early 60's sound of the Everly brothers through to the masters of … Continue reading Album Review – The Shop Window – Daysdream
Single Review – The Avelons – Chit Chat
Word has been sent to me here in Tanner Towers from the cold North East. It says there has been a rumbling recently and these shy and retiring types, clad mostly in their black and white armour have returned from a quest into Europe with a new found purpose and reason to shout. Cast free … Continue reading Single Review – The Avelons – Chit Chat
I’ve Got The Blues – The Shed Project
Heartbreak brings out the best songs in people...in many ways it's the foundations of popular music...from the early blues to modern pop songs about lost loves, forlorn aching for those moments for one more time. "I suppose it's head down, just carry on" sings Roy on the Sheds new song and the next step in … Continue reading I’ve Got The Blues – The Shed Project
It’s the end of the year as I know it and I feel…
My Review of 2023 in Music (Mostly). That's it, 2023 is done, another year older and still none the wiser. As we leave the carnage of '23 behind us and head into the new dawn of '24, I thought I would write some words about my thoughts on the indie music scene with some of … Continue reading It’s the end of the year as I know it and I feel…
The Shed Project – Our Fear Is Their Power
If 2023 new music can be remembered for one thing I hope it's because some bands decided it was time to make a stand and release songs about the current climate we are living in, social & racial issues as well as continued Government lies and rule breaking have been themes that Kill, The Icon, … Continue reading The Shed Project – Our Fear Is Their Power
The Heavy North – Delta Shakedown
Classic - a work of art of recognized and established value. judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind. Let's get this straight from the start, The Heavy North are not an indie band, they are a Classic Rock band in the purest tradition of what … Continue reading The Heavy North – Delta Shakedown
Album Review – The Mariners – Four Sides Of The Circle
A double album, 22 songs from an unsigned band that focuses mostly on the sound forged in the 1960s seems foolhardy at the very least. In a world where the average attention span of a new single release is about 2 mins and apparently nobody listens to albums anymore is either commercial fcking suicide (their … Continue reading Album Review – The Mariners – Four Sides Of The Circle
Single Review – The Heavy North – Round Again
The Heavy North get heavy for their second single from the eagerly awaited second album Delta Shakedown. With a blistering harmonica start and a pound of drums the new single kicks of with Kenny declaring a New Sensation like a new music INXS. Comparisons to the Ozzie Rock Monsters isn't that far off, both have/had … Continue reading Single Review – The Heavy North – Round Again
Album Review – Your Cuckoo – Teenage Waitress
Pop Music.....seems to be a dirty word at the moment... We all love pop music don't we though? It's still selling in its droves and throwing up some amazing music, however the in your face blatant merry-go-round of manufactured Pop Artists from TV shows n Tik Tok n You Tube is a bit too much … Continue reading Album Review – Your Cuckoo – Teenage Waitress
Single Review – Our Fear is Their Power- The Shed Project
I love this band so much and the song is incredible I had to share it now. #fightthepower #ourfearistheirpower @@project_shed @ianbrown Please read, share and save this single - The Sheds are on fire.
Single Review – Lunar Towers – About Time
Jangle-Mod...is that a thing? If it is then Lunar Towers are the current kings of that castle (Tower)? I've been interested in the band ever since I heard their excellent E.P. Released on the Uber Cool Colorama records last year. The E.P. - Hurry Up and Wait was a perfect mix of classic indie jangle … Continue reading Single Review – Lunar Towers – About Time
Getting to know you – Leigh Thomas
I first heard of Leigh thanks to an In Your Ears Takeover by Nunny Boy - he called him the housewives favourite from Australia. Immediately I could see and importantly hear why. A voice and sound that was so cool in a Ozzie laid back way - it brought back echoes of my favourite Oz … Continue reading Getting to know you – Leigh Thomas
Single Review – The Heavy North – Where Are You Now?
You know your onto something great when the buzz around releasing your new single is at tinnitus noise levels. Many bands had this, The Smiths, Oasis for sure and certainly that beat combo from Merseyside whose name escapes me...fans literally counting down the days until new music hits the airwaves. So it's testament to The … Continue reading Single Review – The Heavy North – Where Are You Now?
March In Already……Single Reviews
Here's a non-regular review of some of my favourite singles released in the last few weeks in no particular order. Grey Skies - Teenage Waitress The first official release from TW second album the fantastically named Your Cuckoo. I've been a fan of Dan's since I first heard Leaving Berlin from the debut album Love … Continue reading March In Already……Single Reviews
All Change it’s 2023.
Here we go again then, it's a New Year with new challenges and new opportunities. I type this as The Reytons sit atop of the old hit parade with their second album What's Rock n Roll? Indeed....guitar music it's dead they say. They say a lot of things don't they. Well seems like they have … Continue reading All Change it’s 2023.
Getting to know you 2023 – Joe Peacock
Joe Peacock is a singer and songwriter that has been writing and releasing music for a few years. He is a regular on social media, often showing off his talents on the extremely popular Twitter #Murderedsongoftheday where he will play a song related to something relevant going on at that point. It's good fun and … Continue reading Getting to know you 2023 – Joe Peacock
Belfast Gig Review by Kimbo
McHughs 19th November 2022 DP EVENTS and Paula present Brother Vice, The Baines and Red Eye Pariah DP EVENTS with the support of our Belfast Music Queen , The Real Paula C put on an incredible night of music for us at McHughs this rainy November evening with sets from Brother Vice, The Baines and … Continue reading Belfast Gig Review by Kimbo
Life Pop Bang – Lyon Tide – Album of the month.
Midlands based Lyon Tide have just chucked a hand grenade into the reckoning for best album of the year with their sophomore album Life Pop Bang. The follow up to their debut - shoegazey, dream pop debut Beginnings of Ends the Brummie trio have released an album that is as far away from that rather … Continue reading Life Pop Bang – Lyon Tide – Album of the month.
Single Review – Teenage Waitress – Pretty Little Baby
After releasing one of my favourite albums of 2020 with the Wonky Psychedelic Pop of Love & Chemicals plus also doing a few gigs (one of which was for me 😃) Mr Teenage Waitress or Dan to his friends has been a bit quiet. Beavering away working on album two, he has only released a … Continue reading Single Review – Teenage Waitress – Pretty Little Baby
Single Review – The Shed Project – If you know you know
No waiting around for these bunch of fine fellows. Hot on the heels of their debut album The Curious Mind Of A Common Man, The Sheds have wasted no time in going back to the studio and the unofficial "Hardest Working Band in The North" have cracked on with writing and demoing album number 2 … Continue reading Single Review – The Shed Project – If you know you know
Single Review – Minerva Daisy – Wildfire
The art of good pop music is making a song that sounds relevant and contemporary but also harks back to what has came before and gives you a little sense of nostalgia of music you heard as a kid or a teenager, oh and to ideally wrap it all up in 3 mins of musical … Continue reading Single Review – Minerva Daisy – Wildfire
Martin Holley Interviews Moby Tanner
Yes I have been interviewed by Martin Holley. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCshtr0klDVgbfOJpEghtPVg Martin is an indie musician & promoter - he has his own website link above on You Tube where he interviews Indie Musicians and also interviewed me for my take on the indie scene giving advice and just chatting about stuff for probably too long. It … Continue reading Martin Holley Interviews Moby Tanner
The Shed Project – The Curious Mind Of A Common Man – Album Review
Was it Noel Gallagher that wrote on Fade Away. While we're livingThe dreams we have as children fade away. I've always felt the poignancy of this lyric especially as I got older and felt at times that my dreams had indeed gone forever. Well sometimes they don't, sometimes if you're (mostly) 5 middle aged blokes … Continue reading The Shed Project – The Curious Mind Of A Common Man – Album Review
The Heavy North – Electric Soul Machine – Album Review
There is a moment at the end of the first song on the album - The Genie a huge Black Sabbath type riff opening salvo, when the trumpet kicks in when you say your first WOW!...it's the first of many. Liverpool's The Heavy North have been playing their rock n roll n soul n blues … Continue reading The Heavy North – Electric Soul Machine – Album Review
Brits n Pieces III – Album Review
Three is a magic number! Three is seen as a lucky number amongst owners of Mini Cooper's from the 1960's because it represents the 3 used in the classic Michael Caine Film The Italian Job. This may not actually be true but I'd like to think it is. What is true though is that Marc … Continue reading Brits n Pieces III – Album Review
The Skinner Brothers – The Real Peaky Blinders
Zac Skinner with his peaky hat, lank curly hair, looking like he is coming down or coming back up is like a modern day Artful Dodger. He looks like nothing else around at the moment! He's going to be the next big rock star (if things like that still exist). More attitude then NWA, more … Continue reading The Skinner Brothers – The Real Peaky Blinders
Jay Tennant – Forever Roses
Jay Tennant is a prolific singer songwriter from the Midlands. He surprised everyone on Friday 4th February by announcing his new album and dropping the bandcamp streams and vinyl pre-order links to a bit of a rumpus on the twitterverse. Wasting no time I was straight over there, reserving my copy in eagerness of what … Continue reading Jay Tennant – Forever Roses
The Heavy North – Satisfy You – Single Review
Happy New Year! As the clocks hit 12 and we ushered in 2022, The Heavy North cranked their Marshall Amps upto 11 and blew our "drunken" minds by releasing a new single, Satisfy You from their eagerly awaited debut album Electric Soul Machine. After pulling off a masterstroke of PR Genius by allowing fans to … Continue reading The Heavy North – Satisfy You – Single Review
My Albums of the Year 2021
Below are snippets and links to the albums that I reviewed in 2021 - they are in no particular order and I haven't ranked them as there are all worthy and interesting which is why I reviewed them in the first place. Please take some time to revisit or read for the first time and … Continue reading My Albums of the Year 2021
What If? Moonlight Parade – Album Review
Read my review of #Whatif by the wonderful @band_parade Dedicated to the equally wonderful @NewIndieSounds1 #indie #newmusic #blog #blogging #worthing #review #rt #readsharebuyrepeat @robertcarlyle_ @Stypist
Wake up! It’s the Sky Diving Penguins. Album review
2021 has been a funny year for music, certainly in my musical tastes, as a large part of it has been dipped in rich psychedelic chocolate loveliness. Starting the year off with the McCartney type sounds of Teenage Waitress I was then flying high with the full on, out there Lennon meets Floyd Space rock … Continue reading Wake up! It’s the Sky Diving Penguins. Album review
Live Review – The Capollos – Guest Reviewer – Kimbo
This is our City, This is our Town I remember that beautiful feeling when bands started accouncing gigs again and having seen The Capollos live before, I know how good it gets so there wasn't a second thought from me about purchasing tickets for a hometown show at Drummonds. Tonight the time had come, fresh … Continue reading Live Review – The Capollos – Guest Reviewer – Kimbo
London Calling – The Heavy North – Live Review
The Fiddler - Kilburn - London 11th November 2021 The Fab 5 were back on stage tonight and ready to show London town what they were made of. Making their debut at the historic Fiddler Venue the offspring of the Mean Fiddler where the likes of Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, Paul McCartney, John Martyn, Dr … Continue reading London Calling – The Heavy North – Live Review
Album Review – Apollo Junction – All In
A year is a long time in music - especially if you have been locked down and unable to gig and promote yourself.What if you had just issued your debut album and were starting to make some headway in the choppy indie waters, trying to bring your electro pop fussed bangers to the world? What … Continue reading Album Review – Apollo Junction – All In
Autumn Almanac – Tanner’s Bangers
There's no point having a blog if you don't write, so therefore my faithful reader I apologise for my recent tardiness and to make it up to you I'm giving you an extra special version of my reviews and what's been floating my boat over at Tanner Towers. First up then it's Hits to Spare … Continue reading Autumn Almanac – Tanner’s Bangers
Aberdreams, schemes and young teams – Live Review by Kimbo Forsyth – Shambolics, Monza Express, General Winston
It's been a long time coming to walk back through the doors at Cafe Drummond and I have never had to queue before to get in, the place was packed out before the first support act had even got onto the stage , a sight I've never seen before but what a delight to know … Continue reading Aberdreams, schemes and young teams – Live Review by Kimbo Forsyth – Shambolics, Monza Express, General Winston
Single Review – The Shed Project – My Life
I make no apologies for writing again about The Shed Project. When a band or artist continues to raise their own bar, repeatedly with each release or each decision they make, it needs to be documented and it needs to be shared. So, without sounding sycophantic, the Sheds have done it again and this might … Continue reading Single Review – The Shed Project – My Life
Andrew Cushin & Michael Gallagher – LIVE Review – Guest Writer Mr Dan Potter
Independent, Sunderland Promoter: This Feeling Friday 10th September 2021 Every good story usually starts with a beginning, middle and end, however this particular tale will start at the end, the next morning. Waking up to a double whammy of a hangover that makes your head feel like a tonne weight combined with remembering a hideously … Continue reading Andrew Cushin & Michael Gallagher – LIVE Review – Guest Writer Mr Dan Potter
Neighbourhood Weekender 21 Review – Guest Writer Amy Parkin
Well, I guess I should start this the week before #NBHDWKND21 when we made a very last-minute decision to throw caution to the wind and get tickets for a festival the next weekend. It felt like pre-Covid times, deciding to do something on a whim, how exciting! I’ve never been to Neighbourhood Weekender before and … Continue reading Neighbourhood Weekender 21 Review – Guest Writer Amy Parkin
