 How in the hell is it October already? I’ve had one hell of a great summer and photographed a ton of amazing bands, and discovered some incredible music along the way. I’ve spent a tremendous amount of time crafting what I believe is the best playlist on the planet for new music right now. There’s something for everyone here, along with a glimpse into the future of what will be big in 2023. Get ready for a PhD in all things new music.
Get the playlists here: Here’s a breakdown of why I chose these songs and a few fun facts about the bands:
2. Iraina Mancini – “Do It (You Stole the Rhythm)” – Saw her open for Fantastic Negrito a few weeks back and was blown away. Like Mazzy Star crossed with Amy Winehouse, with absolutely breathtaking sound. Northern soul reinvented.  3. The Rosellas – “Common Ground “- f there’s such a thing as the “new Manchester” sound them, this is it. Somewhere between that lush brit-pop sound of the 80s and 90s and the Stone Roses at their peak crammed full of attitude. I give them 12 months, and they are one of the biggest bands in the UK. 4. ARXX – Deep – Another new one for me, this duo, made up of Hanni Pidduck on lead vocals and guitar and Clara Townsend on drums, makes a lot of noise for only two people. Once Hanni starts to sing, it becomes very apparent that she has one hell of a strong voice, one of those bluesy, soulful powerhouses that can sing just about anything and make it interesting. Add to that the drums and programming from Clara and you have some massive hooks over the top of some driving guitars and just enough electronica to fill out those choruses and bring a bit of synth-pop to the grooves. In the girls’ rule Rebellion category, here’s another one that blew me away.
5. Kid Kaphichi – 5 Days On (2 Days Off) – Everyone once in a while, a new sound comes out of the UK, ready to take over the world. This is it. I saw them open for Liam Gallagher, and it was fucking incredible. 6. The Horn – The Power Show – The Horn played their fourth gig ever last week at Shepherds Bush Empire, and it sounded like they had been playing together for years. One of the most unique sounds I’ve heard in a while.I was watching in awe, trying to figure out who or what they sounded like. Lo-fi lounge rock? 70s late-night AM radio? I’m not exactly sure, but it’s absolutely brilliant songwriting.
7. Fantastic Negrito – They Go Low – Imagine if Sly Stone, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown and Prince were all rolled into one musician. Imagine no more. Brilliant lyrics, rock, soul, funk and jazz, alongside some next-level storytelling and musicianship. Probably the most underrated artist on the planet right now. 8. Bad Nerves – Alright – Somehow, I managed to stay up until 1 am at the Rebellion festival to see these guys, and it was well worth it. Like the Ramones crossed with My Chemical Romance, but ten times better than you can imagine that being. The melody, the energy, these songs are fast and furious with just the right amount of polish. 9. Panic Shack – I Don’t Really Like It – With all the hype around Wet Leg, one would think that the stage would be set for the next in line. In this case, I think this is the better band. It was a perfect mix of fun, angst, wit, and sharp songwriting. 10. Starsailor – Lullaby – I added this one in as I just saw Starsailor perform their debut album, Love is Here, in its entirely last week in London to celebrate its 20th anniversary. This is one of my favourite albums of all time, and this song is the one that gets me everything. How anyone can write a song so magnificent is beyond me. 11. The Sheepdogs I Wanna Know You – The only unsigned band to ever appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, these guys are bringing back that 70s sound for a new generation. Get ready to be transported back to 1974 at the height of the southern rock wave. I’m going to see these guys live on Sunday, so watch this space for the report. Get the playlists here: I recently moved from Spotify over to Amazon Music HD and I highly recommend it. The HD music sounds amazing and is a massive upgrade in sound quality. Try it out and get 30 days Free Trial with this special offer for RocknRollCocktail.com subscribers! I would love your feedback on the playlists so please send me a note on what your favorite songs are. #rocknrollcocktail |
Fantastic Negrito at Islington Assembly Hall: Funk’s Fiercest Storyteller at His Peak
October 31, 2024
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