Shambolics - Love Collides

With the world maligned and the arts being sold down the river by the short sighted Chancellor, hope and escapism are drifting out of site. As the dam is set to overflow and surge away for good, Alan McGee’s Creation23 stable is providing the glimmer we all need.

Leading his charge are Fife’s Shambolics. A string of shimmering rock ‘n’ roll meets Big Star singles behind them, they have returned their latest record ‘Love Collides’.

With Marr’s jangle set to drug fueled release, they channel their love of Fleetwood Mac into this sauntering pop gem. Behind the glory of the racing guitars lies a relationship clinging on for dear life. Its fingernails claw at the dirt as life’s pressures damningly swirl above all the while guitars howl with anguish.

Shambolics rise to glory is inevitable. Their effortlessness hits a mid-point ecstatic rush where nothing else in the world matters which, when, in a time when everything matters, might just be the most important thing of all.

The K’s - Valley One

The K’s set This Feeling’s ‘Big In 2020’ alight in January and followed that up with sold out shows Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. This was there year!

Cue, covid19!

The Earlestown outfit’s inevitable rise to stardom has been curtailed. It’s not easy to survive in a band when Spotify pays you 7p for a million streams. These are more than testing times for the band and their fans.

However, on May 15th, they released ‘Valley One’ and proved they still have their finger of Britain’s cultural pulse. The solemn affair captures the aching isolation so many have endured:

“now I’m back home I am seeing your shadow from anyone”.

You’ll be hard pressed not to snigger at Dominic Cummings when frontman Jamie Boyle decrees “even Midas would find it surprising you’re out here devising a plan for me”.

Winston Churchill once said, “never waste a good crisis”. The K’s have used their diminished platform expertly here. This might still be their year yet!

*Image courtesy of Ricky Atterby.

Shambolics - Sandra Speed

Dunfermline four piece, Shambolics, returned on Valentine’s Day with their new single 'Sandra Speed'. Released on Alan McGee's Creation23, it follows November's sold 7 inch 'Fight Another Feeling'.

Last November, they sold out London’s Water Rats (full review). A stepping stone towards bigger for many, but, for Shambolics, it was a night where they laid bare who they truly were. The pop majesty of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ and ‘Tusk’ and the genius of Alex Chilton shone through their playing. Now, on ‘Sandra Speed’, they have a record to do the same.

The effortlessness and, slightly wayward genius of Chilton’s 'The Ballad of El Gonodo' shines bright. With 70s hedonism gone and, the working class triumph of the mid-90s a vague memory, Shambolics rightly, had to inject an urgent grittiness to the single.

At present, punk is in the ascendency. It’s a great angst filled moment in time to savour. Lurking in the shadows though, are tunesmiths like Shambolics. The spirit of punk in their hearts, they are waiting to infiltrate the masses. It won’t be long!

The K’s: Nambucca, London

After supporting the The Rifles last October, The K’s, from Earlestown, put the UK on red alert. Last Saturday, they headlined This Feeling’s ‘Big in 2020’ at London’s Nambucca.

Their Roundhouse support slot, was eyebrow raising. Their Nambucca slot however, this was biblical. More aggression and venom found its way into their Northern escapism meets The Jam sound.

Frontman James Boyle furiously attacked his lyrics with real menace, an approach he should seldom stray from in future. This was the real deal. His naturally far reaching and angelic vocals, came with a nasty streak and elevated him to icon in the making status.

In a perfectly scripted twist of fate, Carl Barat, the guitarist of a generation was in the crowd. Such was the brilliance of Ryan Breslin’s lead guitars, it felt as though the baton was being handed over.

With a sold out gig in Manchester the 25th of this month on the slate, it rapidly becoming clear that we won’t get to see them in intimate venues for much longer.

*Image courtesy of Ricky Atterby.

Shambolics: Water Rats, London

Fife four piece Shambolics brought their brand of dreamy rock n roll to the London’s Water Rats last Thursday. Signed to Alan McGee’s impeccable Creation23, the buzz was tangible for their first sold out London date.

Some bands are forever better live than they are on record. For Shambolics, it was more a case of let’s playing with their influences. ‘My Time Is Now’ goes from a Miles Kane anthem to a Donna Summer colossus live. Meanwhile, ‘Fight Inside of Me’ took the extravagance of the Roses ‘Second Coming’ and injected it with the pop-punk of The Buzzcocks.

The set hit magical heights when they combined modern day indie-punk with the 1970s West Coast USA. ‘Sandra Speed’ showcased the blossoming partnership of Lewis McDonald and Darren Forbes. The shimmering guitars of David Crosby and the excess of Stephen Stills combined on a tale of pure escapism, it was undeniable.

Latest single ‘Chasing A Disaster’, walked the tight rope being heavily reliant on The LA’s and The View but, it’s infectious melody was too good to reject. Toxic masculinity, a hot topic of recent times was washed away with warm embracing and carefree dancing during these blissful four minutes.

When Gerry Cinnamon burst onto the scene in 2017, he reminded everyone just how popular tales of everyday are.  On ’When She Goes Home’, we’re given even a bigger reminder. Via Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’, Shambolics lit up the Water Rats with their tale of a naive female protagonist. Put through their CSN harmonies and early hooks of The View, they’ve built a joyous set closer for life.

The big challenge for Shambolics now is, converting all this magic into a killer album. It’s inevitable right?

The Clockworks: The Boogaloo, London

Something is afoot across the Irish Sea right now. Fontaines DC, Inhaler, Sick Love and The Wha have all delivered quality albums and singles this year. Last night, Galway’s The Clockworks headlined Alan McGee’s night at The Boogaloo and took their spot in the limelight.

Much like IDLES and Fontaines DC, they’re remarkably fully formed for a band so new. The set is full of Mike Skinner quips, The Rakes’ charm, and unbridled intensity.

Former single ‘Bills and Pills’ stuns The Boogaloo. It’s sublime punk rock. The lyricism of Sleaford Mods and the desolate guitar hooks of The Cribs mark The Clockworks out as future festival headliners.

In front man James McGregor, they have someone truly special for fans to idolise. His attack of the microphone from the first word of ‘Future’ is a volatile death or glory moment. The venomous howl of ‘this is not a fucking joke’ strikes a powerful chord with a drooling crowd.

The pop stomp of ‘Rumours in the Stockroom’ showcases they are not all fire and brimstone. The melancholic pop licks of Editors collide with the sense of urgency. This is vital!

The Clockworks, on this showing, are undoubtedly are band with a meteoric rise on the horizon. They are so immediate, and so necessary, it’s impossible to deny them.

Friday 2nd August marks our 8th birthday. Come down to the New Cross Inn for a night of great live music. Tickets available here: