Revellers stuff their faces with overpriced sausages.nuts and alcohol outside Wooden Huts in City Centre Manchester where mere yards away homeless people shiver in shop doorways in damp sleeping bags.
This is so very wrong in a so called first world country.
It struck us that the homeless might use the Wooden Huts as some form of temporary shelter, and our more anarchistic inner monologues even suggested knocking down the Huts and using them for firewood to keep the rough sleepers warm. These ideas are covered in Moet’s lyrics.
However temporary solutions, a bit like the Huts themselves, aren’t the answer, so we would like to give you the chance to donate to a homeless charity by buying our musical offering. All the money raised from this release will be sent to Crisis after we have paid our admin fees to Bandcamp and Paypal.
A donation of £28.18 to Crisis will give someone this Christmas
-A warm welcome and good company
-Three nutritious, hot meals daily, including a delicious Christmas dinner
-A bed for the night, if needed
-A chance to shower, freshen up and get clean clothes
-A health check and treatment from a doctor, optician and dentist
-Expert help with mental health and addiction problems
-Advice on housing, employment and benefits
-A way out of homelessness for good through Crisis’ year-round training, education and support.
We have 800 followers on Facebook – if each of them donated £1 we could help over 20 people.
This new release was the last song Sam wrote and recorded in his old studio of nearly 10 years, where he composed over 200 songs.
He recorded it in 2017, all as one take, with a couple of overdubs added recently for this release.
The song is explicitly about victim shaming and what it feels to be on the thick end of that.
It is a deeply personal song that had to be shared
“…… a fabulous, quite moving piece…. deserves to be heard far and wide.” Dave Hammond, Cambridge 105
“…after too long a wait Sam Smith is back with a stunning new single which is a marker for his first full length album in early 2019. Building on his success to date in capturing the raw heart of rock and roll Sam has delivered a breathtaking new tune, an epic song wracked with emotion which will leave the listener gripped until the very last note.” AURAL DELIGHTS BLOG
Hello and welcome to our weekly newsletter….in this edition
The Screaming Love Collective return with new album “Imola”
Moff Skellington announces Manchester date
Charlie Marshall UK tour dates finalised
Mistletoe to release new three track
Gig Guide
THE SCREAMING LOVE COLLECTIVE – IMOLA
The Screaming Love Collective return with their infectious “Psychedelic Punk Rock Groove Sensation” with the album “Imola” which comprises 13 tracks of dance orientated hypnotic grooves. Including former single “Laika/Cosmonaut No 1.” the album takes found sound/clips and mingles them with electronic explorations to create 42 minutes of prime aural entertainment. Led by the ever busy Bryn Thorburn the Collectives’ latest release is due on 7th September via Bandcamp, Spotify, I Tunes, Apple, Amazon and a wide selection of other digital download options. Lovers of dance oriented electronica will enjoy the wide open sound on this excellent collection.
MOFF IN MANCHESTER
Poet of the surreal, musician extraordinaire, and exceptional artist Moff Skellington returns to Manchester on Thursday October 11th for a mixed media show. Dubbed “An Evening with Moff Skellington” the show features one or two songs and a lantern show based upon Moff’s celebrated art pictures. The show will be held at The Peer Hat on Faraday Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester and commences at 7:30pm. The show is £3.50 and there will be no ticketing so pay on the door. We hope to see you there for what will be a fascinating evening.
CHARLIE MARSHALL DATES FINALISED
Longstanding German Shepherd watchers will know that for the last four years we have hosted visits from visiting Australian musicians – two visits by Dave Graney and Clare Moore (The Moodists, The Coral Snakes, MistLy), and one by Harry Howard and the NDE (Birthday Party, Crime and City Solution). This year it’s the turn of Charlie Marshall. Charlie is over for a short solo tour of the UK during September- here are the dates
15th The Cornerhouse, Cambridge with Scissors
21st The Peer Hat, Manchester with Four Candles and Poppycock
23rd Grayston Unity, Halifax
28th Betsy Trotwood, Clerkenwell, London with Doomed Bird of Paradise and Michael Plater
Charlie’s most recent album “Sublime” was rightly heralded a pop masterpiece with some exquisite melodies and thought provoking lyrics.
Charlie Marshall is an acclaimed singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Australia who has been an important part of the scene in that great music city since the 1980s. As a performer and songwriter, he comes from a similar place, and stands comparison, with better known Australian exports like Nick Cave, Ed Kuepper, Robert Forster, Dirty Three, Kim Salmon and Dave Graney.
Charlie has been the guitar-slinging backbone for many of Melbourne’s finest bands, starting with the legendary Harem Scarem who were a dynamite force in the key of punk blues, followed by the soulful intensity of The Body Electric whose stellar lineup included members of Dirty Three, Beasts of Bourbon and the Avalanches. Lately, he’s been backed by The Curious Minds featuring Clare Moore (Dave Graney ‘n the Coral Snakes), Bryan Colechin (Hugo Race True Spirit) and Tim Deane (Ron Peno & the Superstitions).
His songs are poetic, romantic meditations on life, love, philosophy and the universe, combining colourful chords with incisive lyrics and plenty of soul. In solo mode he’s a passionate, foot stomping, electric guitar slinging force, ranging from gentle, intimate moments to raging, beguiling intensity when in full flight. The latest album ‘Sublime’ is a unique blend of music, politics and science – try imagining Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys collaborating with the BBC’s rock star scientist Brian Cox. A new recording due out September 2018 promises lots of late 60s/early 70s soul-inspired grooves.
“My musical adventures have taken me on many paths since the 90’s but still some of my fondest musical memories are of playing with Charlie in The Body Electric and recording our first album, which I still regard as a great piece of work. A stone cold classic.” Warren Ellis, Paris, 2016
MISTLETOE RETURN WITH THREE TRACK EP
Ian Moss’s solo project “Mistletoe” returns with a new three track in EP. The September release will include collaborations with Loop-aznavour, The Boom Da Da Booms and Foghorn Leghorn. Watch this space for more details.
GIG GUIDE
6th September – The Strays play Tap ‘N’ Tumbler, Nottingham
15th September – The Scissors and Charlie Marshall play The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
15th September – Mesmer Disciples play Music Lounge, Stockton on Tees
16th September – Mesmer Disciples play Museum Vaults Sunderland.
21st September – Four Candles, Poppycock and Charlie Marshall play The Peer Hat, Manchester
27th September – Inferior Complex play Ferndown RBL
27th September – Electric Cheese support Tom Hingley at Preston Guildhall
28th September – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
5th October – The Scissors are at Oxford Wheatsheaf (Klub Kakofanney).
5th October – Shaun Maxwell of Taser Puppets plays a solo acoustic set at Chorley Live
6th October – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
6th October – Inferior Complex play Liberties, Southampton
11th October – An Evening with Moff Skellington at The Peer Hat, Manchester
14th October – Taser Puppets play TNT Punk Fest at The Peer Hat, Manchester
17th October – The Strays play West Street Live, Sheffield
19th October – Taser Puppets play Old Courts, Wigan
2nd November – German Shepherd Records Fundraiser at The Peer Hat, Manchester – with Drink and Drive, Taser Puppets, The Strays and Flea
22nd November – Inferior Complex play The King Charles, Poole
29th November – Four Candles play “Free Rock & Roll” at Sound, Duke Street, Liverpool
1st December – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
8th December – Boz Hayward and Ketrix play The Peer Hat, Manchester
8th December – Poppycock support Vic Godard at Yes (The Basement) on Charles Street, Manchester with ASBO Derek – it’s next to the Lass O’ Gowrie.
22nd December – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club
Hello and welcome to this weeks edition of the German Shepherd Records Newsletter.
This week:
Four Obscure B Sides from KIT B
Four Candles put on their Chastity Belt
The third Volume of Cambridge Calling announced
Gig News
KIT B RETURN WITH FOUR OBSCURE B-SIDES
Manchester’s purveyors of quality popular music KIT B return with a new four-track EP “Four Obscure B-Sides” on August 24th. Founder members Danny Cusick (Guitar, Vocals) and John “Monty” Montague (Bass) are joined by new member Vicky Middles (Keyboards) and have created an amazing set of songs to launch this phase of the KIT B experience. With assistance from Craig Bodell the trio has crafted four pop nuggets which combine elements of Cusick’s tongue in cheek outlook on life, sex and death with electronica, motorik beats, and rock vibes all mixed in a tasty stew with a piquant Manchester flavouring. The band are still in the process of hiring a drummer so there are no live appearances planned at the moment.
You can hear track three from the EP “Swisser Swatter” here
FOUR CANDLES – CHASTITY BELT AND DIPPING A TOE IN THE WATER
The final pairing of tracks from Four Candles “Spiritual Rapture” album sees digital release as a single on August 24th. The intense “Chastity Belt” which chronicles vocalist Moet’s experiences in a previous band, and the groovin’ “Dipping A Toe In The Water”, which concerns Muddy Waters battle with the conservative music press on a UK Tour, complete a set of three releases which celebrate the bands biggest seller to date
Forthcoming gigs for the band:
26th August – The Station Hotel, Ashton Under Lyne
27th August – 2nd annual Pressure Drop summer gig (private by invite only)
21st September – The Peer Hat, Manchester with Poppycock and Charlie Marshall
“Cambridge Calling” is a series of compilations of emerging artists from Cambridge which has been curated by Dave Hammond whose fortnightly show on Cambridge 105 Radio, The Smelly Flowerpot, is a mainstay of the cities music scene. The first compilation was released in March 2017 and a second in October of the same year. What started out as a vague idea to pull a few tracks together soon snowballed into the current multi-genre epic, fired by the enthusiasm of the artists involved. The more the perpetrator scratched the surface of the local music scene, the more it became apparent how much excellent music was out there. Aside from putting some superb music out there, the aim is also to raise money for deserving charities. A third volume comprising 21 tracks is currently at the post-production stage with a release date of August 31st planned. Stewart Harris (The Scissors) excellent artwork also adorns this volume. This will be a Bandcamp only release.
The featured artists are
Artist
Ember Rev
Carolyn’s Fingers
Goddammit Jeremiah
Lemondaze
The Fifths
Elma
Jessica Law
The New Fools
Blue Alatar
Grieving
Eeeyore
Section 3
Crackleford
Romy Gensale
Honeywitch
False Adults
Manic Mannequin
Influx of Insanity
Self Love
Moody Swing Things
Fay Roberts
Forthcoming gigs featuring artists released by German Shepherd
17th August – The Strays play Swan With Two Necks Macclesfield
17th August – The Junta and Special Friends Live At The Peer Hat, Manchester – album launch
17th August – Drink and Drive play The Railway, Shaw Hall Bank Rd, OL3 7JZ
19th August- The Strays play West Street Live Sheffield
25th August – Electric Cheese play Lucky 8s Rock and Blues Bar, Chorley
25th August – The Mind Sweepers play the Carlisle Fringe Festival
25th August – Umbrella Assassins play Rugfest, Haverhill
25th August – Toska Wilde plays It Came From the Sea, It Died On the Beach- festival afterparty at 101 Social Club, Cliftonville.
26th August – The Mind Sweepers play Solfest – Cottage Stage
26th August – Four Candles and Sam Smith play The Station Hotel, Ashton Under Lyne
27th August – Four Candles play The 2nd annual Pressure Drop summer gig (private by invite only)
27th August – Taser Puppets play Glaston-Bury, Bury
15th September – The Scissors and Charlie Marshall play The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
15th September – Mesmer Disciples play Music Lounge, Stockton on Tees
16th September – Mesmer Disciples play Museum Vaults Sunderland.
21st September – Four Candles, Poppycock and Charlie Marshall play The Peer Hat, Manchester
27th September – Inferior Complex play Ferndown RBL
27th September – Electric Cheese support Tom Hingley at Preston Guildhall
28th September – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
5th October – The Scissors are at Oxford Wheatsheaf (Klub Kakofanney).
5th October – Shaun Maxwell of Taser Puppets plays a solo acoustic set at Chorley Live
6th October – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
14th October – Taser Puppets play TNT Punk Fest at The Peer Hat
19th October – Taser Puppets play Old Courts, Wigan
2nd November – German Shepherd Records Fundraiser at The Peer Hat, Manchester – with Drink and Drive, Taser Puppets, The Strays and Flea
1st December – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
8th December – Boz Hayward, Poppycock and Ketrix play The Peer Hat, Manchester
22nd December – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club
Hello and welcome to your weekly news from German Shepherd Records
This week
Toska Wilde releases new EP
KIT B announces a new four-track release
Dominic Carlton Jones debut album
New Video from Four Candles
Gig Guide
TOSKA WILDE – OSCAR IN EARNEST
The shy and retiring Toska Wilde is back with a new six-track EP on 17tth August. Considerably more dance-focused than previous releases, Toska has embraced his inner Disco Diva and produced some remarkable dancefloor friendly stompers. From the high energy beats of “str8m8” with guest vocalist Brucie Bitch, through the Jamaican rhythms of “Choc Ice Boy” with Kev Daintree, to the Trump baiting martial beats of “My Camp” Toska feeds a diet of camp classics. Partnering with a range of producers and mixers he has produced his best work to date.
You can hear the Auster Boys/Space Museum remix of the lead track “str8m8” below
KIT B RETURN WITH NEW FOUR TRACK EP
24th August sees the return of KIT B with a new release “Four Obscure B Sides”. Following a few line-up changes the original members Danny Cusick (Guitar, Lead Vocals) John Montague (Bass) are joined by Vicky Middles (Keyboards) with assistance from Craig Bodell for this set of songs. The trio is still in search of a drummer for live work but this four tracker gives a strong indication of what to expect. The focus, as is usually the case with the band, is a pure Manchester Indie Sound. Check out next weeks newsletter for more info.
DOMINIC CARLTON JONES COMPLETES DEBUT ALBUM
5th October will see the release of the debut album from Salford based singer-songwriter Dominic Carlton Jones. The new release follows his highly regarded debut EP “1”.
Entitled “Salford Punk Poetry Sadness Death New Life” the album is an emotional journey through recent major events in Dominic’s life. Featuring spoken word, acoustic ballads, electronic pop and more experimental pieces we are extremely pleased with this new release. Watch this space for more details.
FOUR CANDLES LAUNCH NEW VIDEO FOR FORTHCOMING SINGLE
The fourth and final single from Four Candles’ Spiritual Rapture album “Chastity Belt/Dipping A Toe In The Water” is previewed with a hot off the press brand new video which has been shared on Facebook – we’ve not had a chance to put it on YouTube yet but it has a lot of views on Facebook! The single will be released on August 24th as a digital-only release.
GIG NEWS
Here’s what we have coming up :
17th August – The Strays play Swan With Two Necks Macclesfield
17th August – The Junta and Special Friends Live At The Peer Hat, Manchester – album launch
17th August – Drink and Drive play The Railway, Shaw Hall Bank Rd, OL3 7JZ
19th August- The Strays play West Street Live Sheffield
25th August – Electric Cheese play Lucky 8s Rock and Blues Bar, Chorley
25th August – The Mind Sweepers play the Carlisle Fringe Festival
25th August – Umbrella Assassins play Rugfest, Haverhill
25th August – Toska Wilde plays It Came From the Sea, It Died On the Beach- festival afterparty at 101 Social Club, Cliftonville.
26th August – The Mind Sweepers play Solfest – Cottage Stage
26th August – Four Candles and Sam Smith play The Station Hotel, Ashton Under Lyne
27th August – Four Candles play The 2nd annual Pressure Drop summer gig (private by invite only)
27th August – Taser Puppets play Glaston-Bury, Bury
15th September – The Scissors and Charlie Marshall play The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
15th September – Mesmer Disciples play Music Lounge, Stockton on Tees
16th September – Mesmer Disciples play Museum Vaults Sunderland.
21st September – Four Candles, Poppycock and Charlie Marshall play The Peer Hat, Manchester
27th September – Inferior Complex play Ferndown RBL
27th September – Electric Cheese support Tom Hingley at Preston Guildhall
28th September – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
5th October – The Scissors are at Oxford Wheatsheaf (Klub Kakofanney).
5th October – Shaun Maxwell of Taser Puppets plays a solo acoustic set at Chorley Live
6th October – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
14th October – Taser Puppets play TNT Punk Fest at The Peer Hat
19th October – Taser Puppets play Old Courts, Wigan
2nd November – German Shepherd Records Fundraiser at The Peer Hat, Manchester – with Drink and Drive, Taser Puppets, The Strays and Flea
1st December – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
8th December – Boz Hayward, Poppycock and Ketrix play The Peer Hat, Manchester
22nd December – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club
Once again Ian “Moet” Moss and Moff Skellington have combined to weave their aural magic with a new combo called “The Colourful Disease”.
Moet says ” The Colourful Disease, a sexy trans-Pennine boy band , a duo in the manner of Wham with hip shakingly catchy tunes that sound like everything else , lyrics of total banality they are content to trade on their cute good looks and ability to strike glamorous poses they could be this year’s bright new things decorating the bedroom walls of the nation’s teens, superstardom surely awaits bad boy Moff and boy next door Ian.”
Bringing the world of Eddodi into Moet’s rich lyrical landscape offers a variety of music hitherto experienced in the modern world. Confound your expectations and have a listen…
The Strays have announced a lengthy list of gigs for the latter end of June and July. Taking in Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Chesterfield, Oldham, and Glossop the dynamic duo are also working on a new EP which will be available in a few months and are also planning a live album, the proceeds of which will be donated to charity, which we hope to release in July. Watch this space for details
Hello and welcome to another edition of the German Shepherd Newsletter…
This week
– Moff and Moet are back as The Colourful Disease
– Forthcoming Gigs
– What’s in the pipeline
CATCHING A COLOURFUL DISEASE
Moff Skellington and Ian “Moet” Moss have worked together for over three years now with releases as
Ion-Morph & Moff Skellington – Boomerangs/Body Bad
Moss Skellington – The Wickedest Man In The World
Moss Skellington – The Lump
…as well a series of live events branded as “Smoked Ears Will Not Grow Back”.
Check out the previous releases on our Bandcamp Page.
They have decided to work together under a new name The Colourful Disease.
We release a new five-track EP from the duo on June 29th called “Economics”.
Blending Moff’s unique musical stylings and Moet’s trade-mark polemic with subjects varying between Kiplingesque anecdotes, Brexit, and a reprise of previous track “The Lump” in the form of a “Carbuncle” the pair explore hitherto unfound musical nooks and crannies.
Writing about the album Moss, tongue in cheek, says:
The Colourful Disease, a sexy trans-Pennine boy band , a duo in the manner of Wham with hip shakingly catchy tunes that sound like everything else , lyrics of total banality they are content to trade on their cute good looks and ability to strike glamorous poses they could be this year’s bright new things decorating the bedroom walls of the nation’s teens, superstardom surely awaits bad boy Moff and boy next door Ian.
Ian Moss – Voice and Words
Moff Skellington – Instruments and Music
Uncle Ian – Banjo on “Dance”
With Cover Art by Moff Skellington this release is a Uterus Cottage Production
You can stream track 5 from the release “Dance” here:
FORTHCOMING GIGS
We have added a couple of new gigs to our guide with a notable pre-Xmas gig at the Peer Hat, Manchester on December 8th with Boz Hayward, Poppycock and Keltrix.
There are only 9 early bird tickets for this Saturday’s Summer All Day Spectacular – grab one now via the link at the top of the page at the reduced price of £7.50
21st June – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Bedford Esquires
22nd June – Inferior Complex play The Railway, Winchester
23rd June – Manchester Meltdown Summer All Day Special
30th June – The Scissors play Knackfest, Karma Farm, Isleham Fen
6th July – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
7th July – Toska Wilde plays SAKS, Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13
14th July – Drink and Drive and The Strays play Whittles, Oldham with Little Avis
17th July – Scissors supporting KOLARS at The Portland Arms Cambridge
21st July – Mesmer Disciples play Alston Festival
26th July – Pearl Divers play Jimmy’s, Manchester
27th July – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge in Stamford
28th July – Drink and Drive play Peer Hat, Manchester
28th July – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Pim Jam Festival, Haverhill
15th September – The Scissors and Charlie Marshall play The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
15th September – Mesmer Disciples play Music Lounge, Stockton on Tees
15th September – Drink and Drive play Agueda, Portugal
16th September – Mesmer Disciples play Museum Vaults Sunderland.
21st September – Four Candles, Poppycock and Charlie Marshall play The Peer Hat, Manchester
8th December – Boz Hayward, Poppycock and Ketrix play The Peer Hat, Manchester
22nd December – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club
IN THE PIPELINE
Future releases in the schedule
06/07/2018 Auster Boys – With Moet : Unnatural Appetites (Album)
13/07/2018 m.t. scott – When The Lamb Become Lame (Album)
20/07/2018 Mesmer Disciples -Real Loud (Single)
27/07/2018 Four Candles -You Can’t Be What You Pretend/Basket Weaving (Single)
We are also anticipating
-new albums from The Junta, Bouquet of Dead Crows, and The Screaming Love Collective
– new EPs from Toska Wilde and The Scissors
– and a new various artists compilation in the Cambridge Calling range
A limited edition run of 50 copies of Pearl Divers debut EP “The Past Ain’t Made To Last” in CD format is now available on the German Shepherd Bandcamp page.
Containing live favourites Sunshine, Smoking Gun and Waterfall, this is a stunning debut which we recently re-released in digital format.
In keeping with our DIY ethos each order will be personally posted out by the band.
Forthcoming gigs for Pearl Divers
16th June – Another Fine Festival, Amigos Stage Ulverston (on stage approx 6pm)
