Raucous Records

SEX PRESLEYS coming to the UK...

2009-07-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

The SEX PRESLEYS will be playing their first UK dates in October 2009. If you like The Sex Pistols and Elvis Presley, then this is a band not to be missed.

Dates in Swindon (15 October) and Leicester (16 October) have been confirmed already. The full list of shows will be posted here shortly...

Listen to "Can't Help Falling In Love" by THE SEX PRESLEYS

Rocket To Memphis CD reviewed in Deadbeat

2009-07-07T02:29:00.001-07:00

Another great review for Rocket To Memphis "Hip Shakin' Voodoo" CD. This one is from Deadbeat magazine.

Rockers for Knockers #1

2009-06-25T12:06:00.000-07:00

Please support this event in aid of BREAST CANCER RESEARCH.

at : SUMO, Braunstone Gate, LEICESTER.
on: Saturday 29th August 2009. 4pm until late.
FREE ADMISSION. Donation on entry appreciated.

Bands appearing:
EMPRESS OF FUR
ACES & EIGHTS
LOS CYCLONES
THE GO-KATZ
THE FOOTSTOMPERS
STEVE & THE RAISE
+ DJs

Keep Rock'n'Roll on the BBC...

2009-06-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

Join the campaign to save "Shake Rattle & Roll on the BBC".

Visit the site here : www.myspace.com/saveshakerattlenroll

The text below is taken from the site. Please show your support and let the BBC know that 50's Rock 'n' Roll has a place on national radio.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BBC Radio 2 is a national institution. As the successor to the old Light Programme, it is a station that holds a special place in British hearts.

There are programmes on the channel, aimed squarely at senior citizens, that belong to a bygone age. As the older listeners fade away, the station needs to keep pace with the shift in demographic taste. Seventy-year olds no longer want to hear 'Sing Something Simple' or '100 Favourite Tunes', that is now the preserve of those aged 80+. However, with the recent changes at the top of Radio Two, this transition is not being effected as well as it might.

One of the prime tactics that R2 used until recently to maintain its unassailable ratings was using specialist music programmes. It was possible to tune in each evening during the week and hear fascinating, diverse music from 7pm up til near midnight. Music that wasn't played anywhere else, and covering an incredibly wide range.

Knowing this made the station fascinating listening for music lovers. And this vertical programming was immensely successful. Listening figures went stratospheric as the country, blues, rock'n'roll and other genre shows proved to be powerful magnets for fiercely dedicated devotees. Rather than just being background for people driving, doing household tasks or working, these shows were also 'destination radio'. Loyal listeners would stop whatever they were doing and retune their radios specifically to hear what the expert DJs played.

This all changed with the arrival of Bob Shennan as controller of Radio 2 in the wake of the Brand / Ross - Andrew Sachs scandal last year.

Shennan has a background in talk radio such as Radio 5 live, and Asian Network. He joined Channel 4 Radio in April 2008, and the station promptly folded within 6 months. Now this Chief of Chat is presiding over Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music. And therein lies the problem.

It seems that the Controller has not grasped the significance of these specialist shows, and has fundamentally misunderstood what makes them attractive. In talk radio, the appeal is all about the personality in front of the microphone. A lively and entertaining presenter will bring in the listeners. If there is any music played, it is secondary to the interviews, phone-ins and jokes. There is definitely a place for shows like this during the daytime on Radio Two. Jonathon Ross's show on Saturday mornings fits this pattern perfectly, and is hugely popular. This is why Ross has kept his lucrative job, despite behaviour that would have had the rest of us fired and prosecuted, if we had done it. And Mark Lamarr can turn his hand to this type of show on occasion, which is why he has been the obvious choice to stand in when Ross is away.

But the specialist shows are presented by people who are more than just presenters and broadcasters, they are also DISC JOCKEYs. Far from the Smashy and Nicey style, people like Mark Lamarr put the music first. Mark expends a vast amount of time and effort hunting down music that is not heard anywhere else. This surely upholds Reithian concepts of public broadcasting in its purest form. Such an approach is diametrically opposed to everything in Bob Shennan's experience of radio, and therefore he despises it.

The schedule changes to specialist shows in the last year or so have been appalling. For example, Mark Lamarr's Thursday slot was first shoved out of way to a later slot by a bland show (which was better suited to daytime) presented by a pair of dullards. Then, the reggae/60s/rock'n'roll strands where shuffled into a confusing 3 week pattern, discouraging the regular listeners from tuning in. Now it appears to have been cancelled altogether. This is a cretinous waste of the station's best DJ. It's been a similar story for Paul Jones, Bob Harris, country etc etc. Meanwhile the homogenous general music that is played on every other channel is becoming more prevalent, and overrunning the evening schedules.

The radio listings that the BBC send out for publication showed Mark's Thursday night slot as "Mark Lamarr". No mention of whether it would be reggae, sixties or Rock'n'Roll music that week. As far as the station was concerned, it didn't matter - "top TV personality Mark Lamarr" was the draw, who could care what music he played? Nobody at the station seemed to understand that the MUSIC was the focus, the whole point of the show. If the presenter was a knowledgeable nobody that spoke in a monotone, these shows would still have a large loyal audience. The fact that Mark is an experienced, popular broadcaster with a lively, funny and likeable style is a huge layer of icing on the cake. If the BBC were looking for a way to undermine Mark's Thursday night show, they couldn't have chosen better than to chop those different genre threads into three-week pieces without publicity.

And now, Shake Rattle & Roll has been cancelled. Oh yes, there is a token few episodes scheduled for the end of the year, but that is just a holding tactic to placate the wave of protest when the program is surreptitiously axed. And you can bet that the last shows will be buried in the small hours of the morning without fanfare. Shake Rattle & Roll is for the chopping block.

Even if you aren't a fan of 1950s Rock'n'Roll, if you care about the future of music radio in this country then you need to campaign with us to save Shake Rattle & Roll. Mark Lamarr is a true music-loving DJ in the style of the late and lamented John Peel. (Peel often spoke of his admiration for Mark). The passion and commitment he has shown for playing fantastic music that is not heard anywhere else is a unique asset that the BBC is squandering. Rocking music is not a dead genre, quite the opposite. Every month there is a rocking festival somewhere in the world that draws many thousands of fans. The listening figures for SR&R remain incredibly strong despite the BBC's best efforts to undermine it. And Mark's shows are among the most popular 'Listen Again' choices on the Radio 2 website.

Let the BBC know how you feel about this subject. Fill out the BBC Trust survey at their website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/

and keep checking back here for more tips on how you can help.

Together, we can keep Rock'n'Roll & Rockabilly on the BBC. LET'S DO IT!

Raucous CDs reviewed by Simon "Big Cheese" Nott

2009-06-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

THE SEX PRESLEYS ‘God Save The King’
(Raucous) 3/5

The Sex Pistols do Elvis.

This is a weird one, a mini album by what on first listening seem to be a very talented Sex Pistols tribute band circa 1977. There are six songs made famous by the Elvis Presley that are sung in a very convincing Johnny Rotten snarl, at least those are the songs that are on the cover. Each one is played Pistols style and then morph into Pistols classics and back again in an almost seamless fashion. ‘Teddy Bear’ into ‘Anarchy In The UK’ anyone? The intro to ‘Pretty Vacant’ twisting into ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’? I kid you not. Further investigation makes things all the weirder. ‘Johnny Rotten’ is a bloke named Priscilla that looks like a bird. It gets a three because it’s so short, but a five for curiosity value! (Simon Nott)

ACES AND EIGHTS 'Ace and Eights' (Raucous) 4/5

Excellent rocking debut. An in places shambolic, fuzzed up and pummeling slab of unpolished rockin' mayhem with distorted vocals a serious irreverence and attitude problem, you can't get much better praise than that. Aces and Eights have their own style but it seems to morph in each and every song, definitely not boring almost as if you are hearing a band develop as the album progresses. There are some excellent little touches in songs like a lovely plink plink of piano when you least expect it. This is a very promising debut from a band that can diversify from track to track and still stamp their own identity on each one. (Simon Nott)

Raucous on the BBC!

2009-06-09T05:34:00.000-07:00

Two Raucous Releases have gained BBC airplay this week. Thanks to Geoff Barker for playing "Voodoo Voodoo" by Lisa George on his Saturday Night show, and to Mike Davies for playing "The Creature That Ate Sheboygan" by Aces & Eights on Tuesday morning on Radio One.

You can listen to both shows on the BBC "listen again" feature at www.bbc.co.uk

Here's an mp3 of Aces & Eights

New Rockabilly CDs

2009-06-09T03:47:00.001-07:00

ROCKET TO MEMPHIS CD REVIEW

2009-05-21T09:54:00.000-07:00

Rocket To Memphis - "Hip Shakin' Voodoo"
Raucous

Showing there’s power enough in many an old swamp to suck you down into come this quaking quartet from Perth, Australia. Pleasingly forgoing the apparently too easy to resist temptation of glib Stray Cats or Cramps going-overs or clattering through the already too cluttered closets of psychobilly while dressed in Lucky 13 clobber and sporting spider tattoos, Betty Bombhell and her rocketeers Death Rattle Dave, Razor Jack and Voodoo Viv tread an altogether more seductive path to lure you into their uncertain but marvelously murky depths of lizard slink. For starters they actually do creak out Creole mambas and tiki twirls, with Betty’s deceptively demure vocals and Jack’s crooked knee angular guitar suggestive of Marc Ribot’s work with Tom Waits on Rain Dogs helping them to stand out further by several strides, and when they both come to a head they increase the already impossibly sexy She's My Witch and No Kissin' At The Hop to near ridiculously chilling stakes of enticing wildness somewhere within. A sultry shimmery sway through fog-laden nights and sinister death-glam discos that stand as eerily inviting detours from the overflowing drive-ins of run of the mill rockabilly of little or no regard.
Stu Gibson (www.sleazegrinder.com)

BARGAIN TIME! More CD prices reduced.

2009-05-21T08:46:00.000-07:00

Raucous Records has reduced the price of more CDs. Check out these popular titles at bargain prices...

Down to £7.50...
AL & THE BLACK CATS : "Fabulous Rockabilly Sounds" CD
AL & THE BLACK CATS : "Shakin' At The Knees" CD
- The first two great albums from one of the best live bands around.
FRANTIC FLINTSTONES : "Speed Kills" CD
- One of the best ever releases from Psychobilly scene favourites.
Various Artists : "GET RHYTHM - A TRIBUTE TO THE MAN IN BLACK" CD
- A Rockabilly tribute to Johnny Cash featuring Boz Boorer, Cat Scratch Fever, Union Avenue, Drugstore Cowboys and many others.

Down to £5.99...
THE SKIPRATS : "Let Your Hair Down Baby" CD
Traditional style stripped down Rockabilly trio - one of the very best bands in this style.
THE SLINGSHOTS : "Feels So Right" CD
Vintage style Rockabilly inspired by Carl Perkins, Pat Cupp, Sleepy LaBeef & other 50s greats.
WILDWIND : "Jump About & Boogie" CD
Talented trio mix together classic Rock'n'Roll, Rockabilly, Doo-Wop and a touch of Swing.

These are thousands more CDs available at www.raucousrecords.com

FRANK GANNON TRIO CD REVIEW

2009-05-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

From Sleazegrinder:

UK Garage-blues surf crew with original slants and slicks on this set, written entirely by the main man (well, except Fever). With incisive guitar sears like Mick Green of The Pirates in a stand-off with Link Wray, toe-stubbing Duane Eddy / Dick Dale and Dimples dunks abound and the grit of The Sonics is right up square in your face these guys eschew the tired tricks that litter Rock’n’Roll’s backyards. They’ve been around many blocks (ex members of Clarksdale Bluebeats, Jesse James and the Outlaws and The Blueflames) and soldiered on through circuits unsoldered to time to chuck this fresh and energising real roll of rock in your breadbasket. No tired re-tarmacing of the same driveways as last week, showing that with that indefinable kaZing that transcends a pinch of talent, conventional staples can be transmuted into a rare sustaining treat. Essential.
Stu Gibson

JOHNNY STORM RETURNS

2009-05-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

Those rockin' cats from the 80's keep coming back! JOHNNY STORM has returned fronting THE JOHNNY STORM BAND - playing old and new material, original songs and classic rockers.

Look out for the forthcoming CD "Rockin' Machine", which will of course be on sale at www.raucousrecords.com as well as at JOHNNY STORM gigs.

Here are the forthcoming live dates... More to be added soon:

May 24 2009 Rossington Welfare Club DONCASTER
May 30 2009 Crazy Kaiffari club TUUSULA (Finland)
Jun 13 2009 Rock'n'Roll Club CHESTERFIELD
Jun 26 2009 Martin’s Nest BRIGHOUSE
Jul 24 2009 Rock’n’Roll Club BOLTON
Sep 26 2009 The Fox THORPE WILLOUGHBY
Oct 10 2009 Irish Centre LEEDS
Oct 16 2009 Croft Rock'n'R club DARLINGTON
Nov 7 2009 Woodfield Club DONCASTER
Nov 21 2009 Easington Club EASINGTON COLLIERY
Dec 4 2009 The New Roscoe LEEDS

ROCKET TO MEMPHIS - Bad Girl

2009-05-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

ROCKET TO MEMPHIS perform BAD GIRL with Mel and Michelle from SUGAR BLUE BURLESQUE! Shot at the VOODOO JAMBOREE in Feb 2009, a vaudeville event to launch their HIP SHAKIN' VOODOO CD.

Rockabilly Credit Crunch Special!

2009-05-04T02:29:00.001-07:00

Raucous Records is reducing the price of some choice back catalogue selections. Here are the first ones to be discounted:

HICKSVILLE BOMBERS : THE HICKSVILLE BOMBERS CD - now £5.99 + p&p
25 tracks of real-gone Rockabilly from longtime rockin' scene favourites The Hicksville Bombers. This is their first album which helped to catapult them to popularity among the Rock'n'Roll fraternity.

THE RHYTHMAIRES : TENTH ANNIVERSARY ALBUM CD - now £5.99 + p&p
A great collection of early recordings from one of Britain's most respected rockin' bands of the 1980s & '90s. Featuring tracks from early singles and EPs, and lots of previously unreleased cuts too.

THE RICARDOS : WILD SATURDAY NIGHT ON EARTH CD - now £5.99 + p&p
The Ricardos' second album - packed with wild, raw, boppin' 1950s style Rockabilly. Recorded at Riverside Studio on vintage equipment to capture a perfectly authentic vintage sound.

SHOTGUN : SHOTGUN RIDES AGAIN CD - now £5.99 + p&p
One of the pioneering bands of the British Rockabilly boom - a 22 track collection of early and rare tracks from Shotgun's first 10 years (1978-1987) featuring many previously unreleased tracks.

Deuces Wild are back!

2009-04-29T00:29:00.000-07:00

DEUCES WILD are the latest 1980s Rockabilly band to re-emerge on the scene. They cut two great albums, "Brutal Purity" and "Johnny Rider", playing mostly original material which would appealed to fans of Eddie Cochran and The Stray Cats.

You can catch them live at:
Saturday 9th May : The Redhouse - SHEFFIELD
Saturday 23rd May : The Milo Bar - LEEDS

Listen to DEUCES WILD "Tear It Up" here!!!

Wigsville Spliffs at Whitley Bay Meow Club

2009-04-27T04:07:00.000-07:00

Klub Foot Neo-Rockabilly legends THE WIGSVILLE SPLIFFS are back and rockin' once more. With a few festival appearances already notched up, they have been going down a storm and have begun work some new recordings.
Meanwhile, you can grab their original 80s cuts on the self titled "Wigsville Spliffs" CD here:

THE WIGSVILLE SPLIFFS CD

Look out for them appearing at the new MEOW CLUB in Whitley Bay in the north east of England on Saturday 27th June. Support comes from the excellent ACES & EIGHTS and 80s/90s Psychobillies SPOOK & THE GHOULS.

Listen to ACES & EIGHTS "The Creature That Ate Sheboygan" here!

Rockin' In The North West

2009-04-10T03:00:00.000-07:00

Nifty Fiftys Rock 'n' Roll Club have an impressive line-up over the coming months. Raucous Records will have a CD stand at most of these dates:

Saturday 9th May 2009:
THE KEYTONES

Saturday 4th July 2009:
THE MOJO KINGS

Saturday 15th August 2009:
THE REVOLUTIONAIRES

Saturday 5th September 2009:
WILDWIND

Saturday 7th November 2009:
THE ROOMATES

Wednesday 23rd December 2009:
THE RHYTHM ACES

Wednesday 30th December 2009:
CROWN TOP KINGS + THE WILDKATS

All gigs are at Lowton Labour Club, Lowton, Cheshire WA3 2AQ - easy to get to from Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Staffordshire and Greater Manchester.
Nifty Fiftys is a long running Rock 'n' Roll club who continue to bring some great bands to the area. Please come along and support these gigs and enjoy some of the UKs rockinest bands.

The Keytones new album "Whooper Snooper" is picture above - available from Raucous Records on CD or on vinyl LP.

Gigs! Gigs! Gigs!

2009-03-29T06:14:00.000-07:00

A couple of FRANK GANNON TRIO gigs to coincide with the new album...

Sunday 12th April 2009:
THE FRANK GANNON TRIO
+ THE MOURNING AFTER
@ The Mill, MANSFIELD

Saturday 9th May 2009:
THE FRANK GANNON TRIO
+ THE DRUGSTORE COWBOYS
@ The Musician, LEICESTER

Listen to "Ricochet" mp3
(from the album "The Frank Gannon Trio")

Go-Katz "Maniac" review in Car Kulture Deluxe magazine

2009-03-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Car Kulture Deluxe magazine for this great review...

THE GO-KATZ "Maniac" CD (RAUCD 215)

Once again a band from across the pond has taken our American music and fed it back to us with a twist of limey. First it was the Beatles and their British invasion. And this time it's the Go Katz's sound that's skipping across the Atlantic to get us jumpin' to their psychobilly beat. heir four-track CD, Maniac, starts things off with the quick and witty ditty about a maniac that just can't stay cool. Oh what's a maniac to do? But his loss is our gain thanks to blurring guitar licks, a beat that leaves a mark and a crunchy, yet on-the-money vocal performance. And best of all, it's a love story sans mush.
The next track, Walkin' Talkin' Johnny Cash Blues, is sung by a man who, after taking a whole lotta drugs, becomes Johnny Cash-like. He's dressed in black, and there's no looking back. Even his old lady won't have him. She knows the score and doesn't want to answer his 5,000 questions-a-minute inquiries. It's unfortunate that a song would try to associate clean-living Johnny Cash with anything as tawdry as drug use. But a good beat can make up for almost anything.
Long Blond Hair is a wide-load number that barrels down the highway at breakneck speed. Why not, it's a love song. Pre-school rhymes get the message across loud and clear. This is a band in love. Loud and repetitious, it's an infectious little ditty. Warning: May cause involuntary head banging.
Last but not least is my personal favorite, Brain Decay. It's a semi-speedy number with shout outs to traditional rockabilly beats. With a sun studio-like echo and catchy lyrics, listen to it enough times and you too will be a fan of brain decay.
Reviewed by Richard Davis

Listen to "LONG BLOND HAIR" by THE GO-KATZ