For a man that has come dangerously close to self destruction on several occasions, Ginger’s doing pretty damn well. He’s alive, which is a start.

Not only is Ginger alive, but the Wildhearts are too. Read the rest of this entry »

What happens when the Black Lips flee India and find themselves holed up in a house in Berlin with King Khan and Mark ‘BBQ’ Sultan for a few days? They make a gospel record, that’s what. Jared Swilley told us all about it.

“It’s called the Almighty Defenders. We went to Germany – we weren’t expecting to be there but we booked our tickets from India and were in Berlin 8 or 9 hours later.

“We wanted to record just a single and do a couple of songs. When we got there we started recording, and BBQ had a song, and King Kahn wrote one, and we just decided to do a whole album because everyone was having a lot of fun. It was like all of us jammed in this house, and BBQ was staying there, and his daughter has just started playing violin this year so she played violin on one of the songs. We’ve been listening to a lot of gospel music lately, and the whole album is kind of like that. We did 11 or 12 songs, already finished the artwork and now we’ve just got to find a label to put it out on (it’s out on Vice on September 22 -Ed).

“I’m really happy with it. I like it more than the record we just made (the Black Lips’ 200 Million Thousand -Ed) because it’s kind of sloppy and done really fast. But I love imperfections. It was like the happiest week of my life. Berlin is a second home to us. Making an album can be kind of stressful sometimes but we didn’t give a shit about this one, it was just for us, and it turned in to an album out of nowhere. When I do that it makes me really happy.

“It’s like a gospel record, but minus the Jesus.”

To hear the Almighty Defenders’ ‘Bow Down and Die’ click here. They are on MySpaz here.

They say so here.

As you can see bass player Tommy Dean loves us the most.

We caught up with the guys in London’s legendary Crobar after their blistering, blood drenched industry showcase at the 100 Club last night. We’ve got a real treat of a feature on everyone’s favourite Norwegian rock deviants in the next issue of the zine. Sweet.

Thanks to Hydar for the photo – www.dewachi.com.

They record in a caravan but they ain’t trailer trash.

If we were dickheads, we’d go round telling people about how we were there when White Denim broke, man. You know, SXSW 2007, when a series of blistering home town shows earned the Austin threesome more than just a few high fives. Everyone’s been banging on about them ever since, and we don’t blame ‘em.

But how much do we really know about White Denim? Read the rest of this entry »

We caught up with the brilliant Jim Jones Revue at London’s legendary 100 Club last week after their sold-out launch party for new single ‘The Princess and the Frog’, out today on their own Punk Rock Blues Records.

We love Times New Viking. And on Thursday they were bloody great at Jamboree, a random little studio-turned-venue in the depths of the old East End. With support from Teen Sheikhs and Mazes, the whole evening just made us wish that there had been this many accessible Sebadoh-a-like bands around when we were young scamps. Still, can’t complain, they’re here now and we like it.

Just as ROTR were starting to pine for some Scandi-sleaze-rock action (we frankly do not get enough of it), Norway’s The Cumshots arrive on our shores for a week of havoc-wreaking live shows that would make even the most seasoned Turbonegro fan blush. We caught them at the legendary Crobar where we were treated to balls out (literally), sweaty, guitar-splintering, self-destruct rock and roll of the highest order.

“Whoever retreives this ring from my scrotum, be it man, woman or beast, I will marry and take back to Norway,” announced towering, tattooed frontman Max Cargo as he teased one testicle from his flies and placed a silver ring upon it. He didn’t seem too offended that no one took the bait.

Check out the pictures, and stay tuned for a Cumshots interview in the next issue of Riot on the Rocks…

Sian B Rockin’ x

Sarah Myring Gets Wet.

So, Andrew W.K. is in town – and you should all know the drill by now. Tall guy, white t-shirt, keyboard, backing track, songs about partying, having parties, partying till you puke, being ready to party…well, you get the idea. Tonight the few that managed to get tickets (and make it through the baffling support acts – which can simply be described as an oversized man with a giant balloon for a head and a Ted Danson lookalike starring in a budget vampire movie) and withstand the sweat-pit that is upstairs at The Old Blue Last were rewarded with a ‘Don’t Look Back’ style performance of the 2001 album I Get Wet and a particularly large dose of reckless abandon.

Andrew W.K. hadn’t even finished the first line of opening track ‘It’s Time To Party’ before the stage was invaded and the phrase audience participation was taken to new heights. The entire set was sung with his arms around fans, passing the microphone amongst the crowd, even leaving it with one guy so his hands were free to crowd surf across the room and back again. Despite being mobbed and pulled about the stage from start to finish, the grin never disappeared from his face. This is how he likes it – being able to spread his message of peace, love and happiness through rock and roll, stage diving and, not to forget, partying. An unforgettable night for those lucky enough to witness it.

Keep your eyes peeled for a rather special Andrew W.K. interview coming soon to ROTR.

xox