All the Bands

A feared adversary of the rock’n’roll purists, Lidl Richard trashes his way through everything once held sacred, God help us. Words alone cannot express the craziness of this man's stage show. Just come and see him.

Last year Lil’ Lost Lou released the BBC Radio 2 acclaimed limited 7” single “Bad Bad Girl” which Steve Lamaq described as “a great little single”. Recently Lou’s band has played some great supports – from Wanda Jackson, the queen of rock’n’roll (although Little Richard might fight for the title) to Pete Doherty, the king of the skid row.  A mix of country blues and PJ Harvey on speed (or, possibly, Jack White in drag), Lil’ Lost Lou has arrived.

This legendary Australian group first exploded into the unsuspecting ears of the music public in the post-punk era of the early 1980s. Described by Rolling Stone magazine as "the Sex Pistols on acid", their sound was inspired by everything from ‘60s punk/pop/psychedelia to the more innovative and eclectic ‘70s rock and late-‘70s punk. The hybrid created combined the most extreme elements of all these influences to create a monster – a sonic assault of unparalleled intensity. Dominating the Australian independent scene in the mid-1980s their "Slave Girl" remains a classic of the period.

One of London's best-kept secrets, the Little Villeins combine raw garage-punk with the added extra of a bit of inspiration from The Specials, resulting in a sound that is very rock'n'roll but also very much British. Known for their boistrous stage performances their social commentary lyrics make these kids seem wise beyond their years.

Dirthole plays loud, with short bursts of bruised, anguished, no frills garage punk rock tunes, with two drummers, two guitarists, as many bass players as they can find, and whoever else feels like joining in. Finding time left over whilst working on a session for someone or other at Toe Rag Studios, this bunch of miscreant types who do know better but do it anyway, found they were some spare time left over and did their own thing. And recorded an album’s worth of material in two hours. They enjoyed it so much they decided to be an actual band.

The Long Bone Trio blast out a Cramps style guitar driven set that shakes the walls and comes close to punching bloody great holes in them. This two guitars and drums trio was formed by a bunch of old friends who had known one another since the original punk era (being former members of 13th Chime, The Fire Department and Final Scream). Around two years ago, the three finally regrouped as The Long Bone Trio to create a raw, primitive and infectious strain of bluesy garage rock and roll. With lyrics that are very dark, twisted and slightly surreal, they mix elements of their punk rock roots with rockabilly, post-punk, Jon Spencer, Link Wray and a dollop of the blues.

The Lords Of Altamont takes the raw power of 1960s punk and brings it into today to crank out rock'n'roll the way it was meant to be played - loud, fast and out of control. With a front man who commands the audience and has a tendency to jump onto his Farfisa (or set it on fire), a guitarist who unleashes a fury of feedback and fuzz, plus a bassist and drummer that form an unholy rhythm section, the Lords are a genuine, real-deal rock and roll experience.

You know that most of our favourite bands of recent years have come over from Spain or the Basque Country? Well, here's another one that'll knock your socks off when you see them live. Like putting up a good fight or making out in the back seat of a Chevrolet, seeing The Lost Souls will get your blood pumping, your heart racing, head spinning and - most of all - leave you begging for more. This is an undeniably powerful, raw and relentless force of fuzz- and psych-edged blues influenced rock'n'roll, a powerhouse that pounds through the floorboards and reverberates to the pit of your stomach, sending glorious shivers down your spine.

This Italian/Japanese male/female duo makes a stripped-back garage punk meets new wave sound influenced by the Oblivians, Coachwhips and Cheater Slicks as well as The Contortions and Wire.

Skuzzy punk’n’roll in the style of the New Bomb Turks is the order of the day with these Dutch guys. They don’t attempt to reign in the energy at all during a frenetic and action packed live show. Spitting out songs like a machine gun you get a full on tsunami of fast and raw garage punk rock’n’roll, but a singer that still keeps a soulful vibe, that makes me think that they’re soon to be underground legends.

The Lucky Strikes take the passion and menace of the delta blues and channel it into three-minute rock and roll anthems. The easiest comparison would be to say that they're a mix of the Black Keys and "Exile"-era Stones. But louder! More punk. More garage. Lyrically, the songs have more in common with a Nelson Algren novel than your typical three-chord rock and roll. With a subtle nod to Tom Waits, Johnny Cash and the Two Gallants, there are tales of outlaws, desperadoes and chain gangs, all delivered through Tom Keenan's impassioned howl. His throat-tearing vocals are backed by louder-than-loud guitar and bass from Dave Giles and Matt Boulter, without forgetting Will Bray's raw pounding drums.

A ramshackle garage rocking outfit with lots of spirit and spunk, they’ve taken “learn three chords and form a band” to heart. This is stupid, sloppy teenage punk rock the way it should be done – aimless, pointless, moronic, chaotic, snotty, noisy, funny, drunk and guaranteed to enrage any musician within earshot. But man, who cares, when you see the girls jumping for joy at the front of the stage. This is the group the Black Lips could be if they stopped acting like dicks and just tried to have fun instead of trying to impress an increasingly bored and trying-to-be-trendy audience. The Lusts are, alongside Thee Vicars, here to show you that teenage rock’n’roll is still alive and kicking.

This is the psychedelic sound of Camden Town - featuring an international line up (Italian, English, Brazilian) influenced by the likes of Barrett-era Pink Floyd, Tomorrow, Hendrix, the Seeds, Iron Butterfly, Silver Apples and Grand Funk Railroad.

This new group features former members of psychobilly maniacs King Kurt getting down to a funky rhythm and blues groove that'll guarantee to have your feet moving. This is party time  music, desperately catchy rock'n'roll and a bit of soul with fire, energy, gusto and fun! This is a band that knows how to dress. The frontman, the self-proclaimed Rockin' Reverend N***er whoops and hollers and jumps and jives across the stage leaving no stone unturned in his holy mission to give the audience a great time.

This quartet of Japanese girls playing frenetic garage rock'n'roll with a drummer who appears to be the happiest sticks basher in music, a bassist rocking from side to side like Pheobe from "Friends" on industrial strength prozac, a laconic guitarist, and a vocalist who stretches out on the floor, legs in the air, flashing her stockings as she screams blue murder into the mic. Apparently, they're always worth seeing - and especially for their version of "Wooly Bully" at the end. And they sing in Japanese!

Anything on the Voodoo Rhythm label out of Switzerland is worth hearing, lemme tell ya. And Mama Rosin are no exception! A gumbo of old cajun and zydeco sounds, minced and spiced up with the sound and the power of the new millennium  – it’s like the old deep south Louisiana black roots music meeting up with the Velvet Underground, Daniel Johnston and Jonathan Richman. Songs on their new album include the Clash inspired “You Stole My Motorcycle” and a cover version of the Movie Star Junkies “Dead Love Rag”, for example. Live on stage they pack a punch, making it impossible for anyone in the audience to look the other way.

Absolutely the best punk band ever to come out of Italy, the Manges have have been on the frontline for more than a decade now, forging a better tomorrow with their Ramones inspired bubblegum pop rock'n'roll. Focusing on life’s insignificant moments of clarity via break-ups, fist-fights, Happy Days and pop culture from yesteryear, they bring a true punk rock honesty to the stage but with tunes you can dance to.

Their 1980 single "Time of My Life" is a classic slice of power pop pun reminscent of X-Ray Spex and Penetration, plus a bit more. In the post punk fallout of 1978, four spiky haired teenagers under the guidance of the dubiously debonair Roy Pierson, come together as Fourth Reich and make their debut at The Marquee supporting the UK Subs. During 1979 they support the UK Subs on their "Stranglehold" tour, appear in the film "Punk Can Take It" and change their name to Manufactured Romance.

Band of Outsiders formed in New York's East Village in 1980 and were regulars on the downtown club circuit, including Max's, CBGB, A7 and Mudd Club and recorded with Ivan Kral (Patti Smith Band) behind the desk. They're described as "a sound that compares favorably to both Television and the then-nascent Cali-zona bands (True West, Green on Red, Thin White Rope): heartland songsmithery with guitars in uneasy collaboration and/or comfortable rivalry.... Like the subtler concurrent New Zealand bands couching their pop in muted tones and colors, Band of Outsiders relied not so much on hooks or abandon as an ensnaring ambience."

Excellent garage pop from a Dutch quintet who not only love and were influenced by Barry & The Remains, the Beatles and the Zombies, for example, they let it infuse the music.