Warehouse Republic, single release, 'Revolver'

'Revolver' 

A new single turning music around by  Warehouse Republic

Its time for 2010 music critic quotas "of the year" etc, plus this weeks releases include Plan B, Kylie Minogue, Micheal Jackson and Kings Of Leon to name but few. They have no competion from interest-stirring new artists profile wise, but their game needs to stay raised against young pretenders to the throne. 

Star Soaked got excited recently about the youth culture rock epitomised by Warehouse Republic. Their debut single, Revolver, is available now for 79p from Amazon, iTunes and more. It turns todays mainstream sounds - urban, pop, indie and electronic - around. A revolution in other words, in that its timeless bluesy hard edge contains a howled call to every decade of popular music obsession. Classic Rock can be young and new too, it's in the composition.

SSM not alone in checking out the WR scene early. Similarly anticipating music fans stepped inside The 100 Club a few weeks ago. Because of it being under threat there was an element of pilgrimage to the evening. Sadly, it may be just another Oxford Street basement soon. For now, breaking artists strut their stuff on the same stage as household names. 

They're not heard of but Warehouse Republic must have virtually sold it out. I joined the crush around the entrance, then was packed in again downstairs. That crowd were really loud as well as moving around. Sometimes for new bands they just watch. It sounded like some of them were on the point of screaming. That was slightly ironic considering the punk energy fizzing with elements of early Kinks / Animals chords from the stage. It could have been the 60s or 70s again with the 100 Club at the start of something. That would be iconically ironic.

The single 'Revolver', was a stand out of a great and noisy set. The song has that catchy title chorus and guitar licks that would be at home in a New Orleans music bar. The four band members looked like they were returning heroes and it felt like they were loving it too. 

Star Soaked recently commented in a news story about Warehouse Republic that they were a bit like "a young shambolic Rolling Stones and a lot of fun". Every word was meant. Their fresh faced nervous energy and one or two moments that seemed created on the spot,  made it all the more engaging an EVENT.  They were far from perfect but they can play and this ability held the balancing act together right up to the swaggering, sweat soaked, stage invaded finale.

In Warehouse Republic I think The Beatles fans of all ages may have something new to rejoice in, beyond the homage of the single's title. The may have a long way to go but this is the kind of racket that used to thrill Hamburg underlaid with a new colour to the chord changes. 

I dont know how they managed to entice Rachel Hurd-Wood, an actress who has appeared in movies with Dustin Hoffman,  Colin Firth, Alan Rickman etc to be in the film noir Revolver video but its a string to their bow. So then, a special rock band to discover (and the 100 Club show was undoubtedly one of 2010's best gigs that you wont find in a list of 2010's best gigs.).

www.warehouserepublic.com

Little Devils - New Song, New Shows, New Debate!

Following from the last article, Oranges, Greens and Blues, some more 
Little Devils;
London dates, 2011 European tour, Christmas release and the opinion starts here.


Caught up with Graeme from the band. "Apart from supporting the Pogues on 21st Dec - we are doing a lot of London gigs in December into the new year"

Saturday Dec 4              Hooper’s Bar, Ivanhoe Road, Dulwich, SE5

Wednesday Dec 8          Power’s Bar, 332 Kilburn High Road London NW6 2QN

Saturday Dec 11            Skehan’s Bar, Kitto Road, SE14

Saturday Dec 18            The Cell, 333 Old Street, Hoxton, EC1V 9LE

Tuesday Dec 21              The Pogues Xmas Party @ The Jamm, Brixton, SW2

Friday Jan 7                   Urban Golf, Tube Station, Kensington High St, W8 5SF

Wednesday Feb 16        Power’s Bar, 332 Kilburn High Road London NW6 2QN

Thursday Feb 24            Bar Music Hall, 134 Curtain Road, Shoreditch , EC2A 3AR

"We have a single out at the moment - "Let's All Hear The Christmas Cheer" - a punky country song cut with a slap and tickle of Benny Hill  available on itunes and all good download sites. Be playing it live at the shows, bringing a little light into everyone's lives with a simple tale of the over indulgence, mass comercialsm, marketing frenzy and "X"-cess that sums up the magic of Christmas these days!

We are touring Europe in May 2011 and hope after that to continue work on our new album and further consolidate plans for world domination."

With Central London turning into a no go zone for live music fantatics (aside from Tin Pan Alley and The Social) it was a shame when the West End's best blues bar was the latest venue to shut recently. What a shame, it was aural gold for the ears and a favourite haunt of those in the know. The 100 Club is under threat if it can't raise enough to save itself by Christmas. Star Soaked asked the Little Devils opinion.

"Charlotte Street Blues appeared to fall foul of Camden Council - we played there earlier this year - and had a great time - it's a shame to lose a central London venue - the Council must have their heads up their a**es - for God's sake - aren't times hard enuff for people - we need places like this - during summer there were loads of tourists in the place all really enjoying the music - it's embarassing to think of places like Chicago and Memphis that are not a patch on London - but have much better blues music venues - that are not restricted, constricted and otherwise screwed by the councils. People travel to Chicago from England just to go to the blues bars! Why can't we do things properly?

I hope the 100 Club doesn't go the same way - but we have to re-evaluate how music is presented in London.

There are a few things I would like to see discussed:

Open Mic nites - free entertainment / money for landlords - sod all for musicians - discuss!

Pay to play - bring 30 people to gig or do gig for nowt - discuss!

Bands playing for nothing - no cover charge - musicians selling themselves cheap - discuss!

Over exposure, over saturation, over kill - and no quality control - you can see a band playing most nights for free - good idea? What place has live music in today's society - we have over saturated the market - why pay to see a band? Why buy a band's album?

I am all for bands creating their own music and retaining control and creating their own cottage industry - building fan base thru playing - and little devils busk, play un-plugged, semi plugged and bloody loud! We can make friends everywhere we go - that's how we want it - but the world is awash with music pouring out of every hole - and it devalues the word "music" - it's a cheapened worthless commodity when it is everywhere. I would love to see some ideas on how we can claw back the value of music - it has to start with musicians - tho where and how it ends - i dunno!

Wow, did i say that?  

Got to be starting something...."Graeme - little devils
news of gigs, songs, pix and friends www.myspace.com/littledevilsmusic

videos of the band - busking, live, odds and sods www.youtube.com/littledevilvideos

THE FOLD - FriendsOf Little Devils

I think Graeme might have really started something. These are opinions that will make up further Star Soaked articles. Tune back. Many thanks to Graeme and Little Devils for the interview.