Civic (Melbourne); Jumpstarted Plowshards (L.A.); Cecyl Ruehlen (Arizona); Rolando Bruno (Buenos Aries); Boss Rush (Birmingham); Tyvek (Detroit)

Melbourne's Civic has a new vinyl release coming out Oct. 20th, New Vietnam & Singles. I listened to it today, it's rock'n'roll, I give it an overall B or so. The best song was "Street Machine Dream," had a cool Iggy Pop vibe. I listened to the song twice today I liked it so much:

"Plowhards Revenge Potion No.4" is a fun punk single from a new Recess Records release, Round Two, by Jumpstarted Plowshards, due out in October. I didn't know it until just now but Jumpstarted Plowshards is Mike Watt (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE) and Todd Congelliere (F.Y.P, Toys That Kill). Maybe like, mention that on the Bandcamp page. I guess you just have to be in the know. This will be their second release.

Here's some interesting new musique concrete frmo Arizona-based artist Cecyl Ruehlen:

This is older, from 2015, but there's a new physical CD for it. Great combo of cumbia and garage-psych:

I haven't heard from Boss Rush in a while, their new 3 songs are, well, boss. It's from a split they're doing with a band called KinZie, I didn't get a chance to listen to KinZie today. Boss Rush are a married couple out of Birmingham. Great rock'n'roll:

Finally, Detroit's Tyvek has a new album due out in November. The first two songs on the album are available, great stuff:

Alright, 4 days, 4 posts in a row! I'm officially in manic terriority, so soon I'll burn out and you won't hear from me on here for 3 months. But, one way or the other I will be doing the Clean Nice Quiet KPISS.FM show -- remember this Saturday I'm going to start doing TWO HOURS every week, from 5 to 7 PM EST. Can't wait!

Rick Treffers (Netherlands); Gasp (Sweden); The Bordellos (UK); The Conspiracy (UK); The Chris Rolling Squad (France); Last Wars (New Jersey); and Adam Holtz (Alabama)

A while ago I featured singer songwriter Rick Treffers from the Netherlands, and his new release, Looking For A Place To Stay, is now out on Bandcamp and streaming services. 12 song album, I haven't gotten a chance to listen to all of it yet, but the few songs I've listened to confirm my suspicion that Treffers is a talent. Highly pleasant indie pop. Here's the video for the first song on the album, "Time Is Really Running Out"

Gasp is solid Swedish three piece punk. They've released a new single, "Least Expected," which is rad. Here's that, as well as the video for their previous single, "Dragging Through Mud." Also rad:

The Bordellos have a new double A-side due out on Metal Postcard Records, "Be My Maybe" and "David Bowie," and it's getting difficult for me to think critically about a Bordellos track, I just think they're the coolest no matter what. Dan's baritone vox (see also: Vukovar, Beauty Stab) is always in fashion, and his pop Brian knows how to write earworms. They are truly my 21st century heroes. While you wait for "Be My Maybe" and "David Bowie," here's their most recent double A-side from Metal Postcard, in case you missed it:

Also from Metal Postcard, I managed to miss this: weirdo pop duo The Conspiracy, with an 18 song album called Apple Zapple. Check out the title track, killer diller:

France's The Chris Rolling Squad released their second album back in April, Cannonball Holocaust, available streaming on Bandcamp or on vinyl. Motörhead-inspired rock'n'roll for sure:

New Jersey's Last Wars have a bitchin' new single, a cover of Flipper's "Get Away." Lo-fi moog-punk excellence:

Alabama's Adam Holtz has a "new" track up on Youtube -- it's actually a 20 year old recording, originally done on a 4 track analog tape porta-studio machine. More super-cool stuff from one of CNQ's favorite singer-songwriters:

Roland Bruno (Argentina); Palberta and Sunk Heaven (New York); The Ducks and Salem Trials (UK); Call In Dead and 2Amature (Florida); The Shifters (Australia); Franck Racket (France); and Adam Holtz (Alabama)

Back in 2016, Buenos Aires based Roland Bruno released a 7" single called "Cumbia Reaction." Apparently Switzerland's Voodoo Rhythm will have a new release from Bruno soon. Absolutely rad Latin garage psych:

Is "rhythm" the weirdest word in the English language or what? I find it impossible to correctly spell it the first or second time. It never looks right.

On May 7, at 7PM Central, Palberta is doing a livestream on Bandcamp where they'll play their new album Palberta5000 in its entirety. Ten bucks, and an electro-noise artist called Sunk Heaven will also be playing. I've got my ticket, and got an e-mail from Warf Cat Records today letting me know my Palberta5000 record has shipped. They still have vinyl for sale on Bandcamp:

On May 19, 7PM GMT, Brighton two-piece The Ducks and something called Super Nothing TV will present "The Ducks Will Fxck You," "a live stream set from The Hope & Ruin in Brighton, a collection of sketches and music videos." I'm intrigued:

Also from the UK, prolific CNQ faves Salem Trials have a rad new track on Soundcloud:

SalemTunes · In the Future lies the Past

Released today, DCxPC Live Volume 1 Presents: Call in Dead and 2AMature Live at the Danger Room in Orlando, FL, is the first 45" put out by new punk label DCxPC. Limited to 200 copies, you can get one for $10. The Call in Dead side is a mishmash of hc and pop punk, crust/screamo, metal, and unfortuntely, a little bit of ska ("Summer Camp"), but despite the skanin' in "Summer Camp," it's quality r'n'r. The 2Amature side leans towards pop/surf but has an edge, and the whole live split is a success at capturing the sound and energy of a kinetic punk show. Recommended:

It's quaint to say I miss going to live shows, but I do. I know some folks have already started going back to live events, but I'm not ready for it.

The Shifters - Live In Gaul was recorded live (on an iPhone!) back in 2019, and put out on cassette this year by French label Arvo Disques. The cassette has already sold out, but a repress is on the way. Meanwhile you can listen to the full thing on Bandcamp. Fun, jangly, lo-fi rock'n'roll, and it's nice to hear a crowd having fun:

Also from France, Franck Racket is a grungy two-piece and their 5 song release Dark Ages is available digitally or on CD. I've been on a '90s hard rock kick lately and this release from back in February hits in that spot:

Finally, longtime CNQ fave Adam Holtz has a new song and video he made called "You." Always a pleasure to hear a new song from Adam:

Adam Holtz Sampler (1998-2005)

Last month I shared Adam Holtz's 1980 single "Party Hardy," and a few weeks later was thrilled to see the man himself had contacted me -- and not to tell me to remove the post!

Instead, he wanted to send me some of his new stuff, as he's still alive and kicking and making music. I got his 12 song CD in the mail today, all songs written and performed by Adam, recorded on a four track home portastudio between 1998-2005.

Adam grew up in Lafayette, Indiana, and moved to Arlington, Texas in 1976, at the age of 16. He won the Terry Award in 1981, People's Choice Entertainer Of The Year and 1984 Best Single Act in the Metroplex. He performed at Billy Bob's on the main stage in 1982 for the Terry Awards show doing The Everly Brother's "Let It Be Me."

As for the CD he shared with me, the ballads and mellow tracks are melodic and pretty, the rockers are bloozy and funky, and it's all catchy, honest, polished for being recorded on a four track, and adult without being stodgy. A very nice 70s/80s classic rock feel throughout the 12 tracks. Adam also uses a drum machine in his songs, something to which you hardcore punkers might turn up a pierced septum -- but I think it gives the tracks a "bedroom recording" aesthetic that I, personally, very much enjoy.

Adam's range - developed over a 34 year stint as a writer and performer - is impressive in itself. He touches on gospel ("Thanks Be To God"), country ("Their Love Lives Forever"), psychedelica ("Need You're Lovin', Right Now"), grunge ("You're The One") and even a mild form of hair metal ("Now That's A Livin'," which he should have sold to Mötley Crüe). Listening to the 12 song sampler, I was reminded of Santana, ZZ Top, and even Todd Rundgren. The majority of the tracks are about love, and you know there's nothing wrong with that.

The last track Adam put on the CD for me, "What I Should Be Doin'," is a funny, touching song about a musician who knows how good he is and wonders why he's still punching a time card. All 12 tracks are endearing and highly listenable. Adam gets extra points for dropping his g's at the end of all his gerunds on the song titles. I grew up in Louisiana and Arkansas and don't know how to pronounce "ing." When I moved to the Metroplex a few years ago, the city-folk here here looked at me like I spoke Greek. They still do.

His main axe is a 1986 Yamaha SA-2100 electric guitar. He's used a Peavey XR-600 PA, with T-300 tall and short cabs since 1978, and his Randall 120 guitar amp with 4-12 cab since 1977, for live shows.

Adam's fave groups include "the Beatles, Kings X, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Badfinger, Boston, Jellyfish, and most guitar bands from the 70s-80s." Of the bands listed, I'd never heard of Jellyfish, which is cool.

He's currently listening to Wilson Phillips' "Dedicated" and The Beach Boys' "That's Why God Made the Radio."

Contact Adam Holtz at:
1616 Abbey Loop
Foley, Alabama 36535


Download: Someone Just Like You

Download: All My Love's For You

Download: I Need Your Lovin'

Download: What I Should Be Doin'