POOK IS BACK! Our usual eclectic mix of ska music, music that is definitely not ska, and arguing about technical support issues is here!
Pook shares a little about what’s going on with Pookout Records, including the very exciting upcoming Andy B & The World release – you heard it here first! Except you didn’t, because we recorded it months ago but didn’t put it out early enough…
I need to start this review with a confession. Cards on the table time. It’s this: I love what TNS Records represent, absolutely. I absolutely love who they are in the scene, I love their DIY ethic, their stand out values, their inclusivity. But… I struggle to love a lot of the music they release. The problem’s not them – its me.
They’re just a bit too ferocious for me. Their music? It’s wild, it’s untamed. It’s punk with the limiters taken off. And, I’ll be honest, I spent most of yesterday evening reading by the log burner, listening to Nina Simone, and some very chilled out Pama International reggae. And so, the brutal reality is… TNS Records are too punk for me?
My friend Dave joins us for episode 4! Unfortunately, Dave apparently only listens to hardcore. Which makes him a rubbish guest for a ska show. He also runs the now defunct Zap Records, and loads of cool/weird zine stuff at Visions Press!
We cover a variety of things including his experience being homeless and how a degree in Archaeology is exactly what led him there. (Not true, before I get shouted at for joking about such things. His homeless experience was to improve his empathy, whilst he is still waiting for his Archaeology degree to lead him anywhere at all!)
Rootin’ and tootin’ round the town with Colin Clark from Colin’s Punk Rock World
We cover a variety of captivating topics, such as “unexpected aisles in Sainsbury’s” and “what I have for Christmas dinner”. Plus I discover my new favourite game – putting Colin on the spot!
We are all trapped inside again due to Lockdown 2.0. However, just before we went back into it, I got to do some fell running up Pendle Hill. Thanks to some inspiration from TNS Andy, I decided to set it to a soundtrack of some 2000s rock, and some 2020s ska punk.
After half a decade as an absolute stalwart of UK Ska Punk, Millie Manders and The Shutup have finally put an album together.
Now, it’s always a challenge reviewing something by someone you are totally in awe of. Not only is Millie utterly ferocious in performance – whilst managing to be friendly and generous in person – she also lives with a cut-me-in-half-and-I-bleed-truth integrity. Whether its her youth musician development tutoring, or her unceasing championing of the under-funded and under-loved Norfolk Arts scene, she’s there. Plus she drew a unicorn mermaid that my 6 year old daughter thought was amazing. She’s slightly intimidating really, but that’s fine, because truly awesome people are meant to be.
Getting down with The JB Conspiracy!
We interview Bob, Rikk and Lank from The JB Conspiracy. Discover exciting stuff like…
This review is not one of my normal ones. I usually listen to an album 20 plus times, really get to know it, so I can give you my honest balanced opinion.
Pook from Pookout Records joins Chris for our first ever Podcast!
Featuring tracks from a range of cool bands, with a weirdly high number of them based in Japan for some reason…
