Reviews roundup – Pussies on the Dancefloor ~ Fighter V ~ Linda Campbell ~ John & Shelly ~ Pröwess ~ Molly Karloff
PUSSIES ON THE DANCEFLOOR
P.O.T.D. / First Touch
Zoundr
I suppose nowadays if you’re going to do vintage Motley Crue then you have to do it ironically. Unless you’re Motley Crue who wouldn’t know irony if they were hit across the head with a large piece of iron fashioned in the shape of the word irony.
So, over in Munich, Germany, Pussies On The Dancefloor have decided to adopt the Steel Panther approach to the eighties. And very good they are at it to as they set off on their mission to Make Glam Great Again. I’m sure there’s a baseball cap in there somewhere.
Leo “Goldenvoice” Lightning, Ray “the Brain” Dancefloor, Taylor Riff, Phil “Fastfinger“ Fyre and Tom “Smashing” Timber are the men responsible and I suppose with names like that it was inevitable that they would end up in a band like POTD. Musically they’re actually very good as it’s not as easy as it looks. Just ask Pretty Boy Floyd. And with English not being their first language most of the entendres toil to be single never mind double. They have songs about sex, drinking, having sex while drunk and getting drunk while having sex. All the major food groups covered there.
Songwise they don’t hit the bulls-eye every time but on tunes like ‘Lick It Up And Smile’, ‘Pussies Take Them Everywhere’ and ‘Cherry Pie’ (no relation) they always raise a smile. And some other things as well. They throw in a couple of covers. @Tell It TO My Heart’ from legendary diva Taylor Dayne and ‘Send Me An Angel’. The second time I’ve heard a German band cover this eighties synth pop tune in a week. Is something happening over there I need to know about? Has there been a revival of the BMX-bike fantasy “Rad”. They even throw in the obligatory big ballad, ‘For The Rest Of My Life’. I’m too late for Valentines Day (and I’m a widower) but should I be fortunate enough to meet an actual lady, this will be our tune.
If a whole album threatens your masculinity too much, then the “First Touch” EP may be for you. A couple of album tracks and covers of ‘You Spin Me Round’ and ‘Heaven Is A Place On Earth’ should be enough to drag you into their world of lip gloss and eye liner.
FIGHTER V
Fighter
Cargo
Hello? We’re staying in the eighties for this record. But this time it’s vintage Bon Jovi that’s being channeled.
And it’s in Switzerland where the oddly named Fighter V have decided that with Jon Bongiovi having abandoned good songs twenty years back it’s time for them to take over the mantle.
And this is really good if hard edged melodic rock meets AOR from days of yore is your thing. It is mine so this was a real treat. There are plenty of catchy choruses, big hooks and songs called ‘Can’t Stop The Rock’. My favourite.
I’m guessing they were probably Gotthard fans growing up and vocalist Dave Niederberger has certainly got the chops to carry it off. The band know their way around the genre and the guitar solos arrive exactly where they should. They even throw in some pomp keyboards here and there just to keep your attention firmly focused.
There are a handful of songs here that wold have been hits thirty years ago with ‘Dangerous’, ‘Frontline’ and ‘City of Sinners’ top of the poppers. A real good one.
LINDA CAMPBELL
My Geography
independent
Well this is quite astounding. In fact I demand an immediate public inquiry into why the name Linda Campbell isn’t known in every household.
For sure, it’s seventies styled singer / songwriter meets soft rock but apparently “Rumours” sells a million copies a year and folk who like that will love this.
Turns out this is the third album from Ms Campbell but as we’re in best keep secret mode, good luck tracking the first two down. However she has got some big names in her Rolodex with country legends Albert Lee and Jerry Donahue putting in an appearance. But it’s not country or Americana or whatever they’re calling it this week. It’s multi dimensional. As well as writing the songs Ms Campbell has a fantastic voice and is a full time professional session singer and vocal coach. Something that has probably stopped her hitting the road to spread the word of what’s she capable of.
Which is a shame as this release so deserves a ridiculously wide audience. Guests aside, Ms Campbell plays acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, keyboards and percussion like a right how off but that would be for nowt if the songs weren’t so good. And they definitely are with ‘The Devil Is A Womans Touch’, ‘Girl Who Lost Her Smile’ and ‘Shades Of You’ emotional showstoppers. Although every song here is a winner.
There are some great arrangements, fine brass flourishes hither and thither and this is an album that is going to stay with me for a while. Her FB has vanished and the web URL isn’t working so use the Wix thing below to get a copy.
https://lindyvox.wixsite.com/lindacampbellmusic
JOHN & SHELLY
You Cray
Tapella Music
They seem to be the go to opening act for every 80s rock covers band playing in their part of California but now John and Shelly have released an EP of originals. With a Poison cover. And a Warrant drummer. They’ve been on the go for a while now and are the textbook definition of jobbing musicians. Playing where, when and whatever they can. Which is as it should be and very commendable.
The title track is reminiscent of a Lovin’ Spoonful B-side while ‘Give Me Your Love’ has a nineties college rock / alt rock vibe to it. Then things go a bit sleaze rock on ‘Kissing Christine’ as you would expect with Steven Sweet playing drums on it. They finish things with ‘Nothin’ But A Good Time’. And you can’t lose with that especially as it’s a fairly faithful reproduction. But with female vocals. Although that’s not a million miles away from the original.
Production wise it’s fairly basic but it’ll make a good souvenir if you happened to see them live.
https://www.facebook.com/JohnandShellyClassicRockBand/
PROWESS
Blacktop Therapy
independent
Blimey! It’s all 80s this week.
Pröwess with legally obligatory 80s umlaut are the latest to head down that road Although they also throw in some seventies guitar licks and some southern rock swagger.
Apparently they put out an EP back in 2018 but this is their debut album and it’s very promising indeed. The title track opens things up and while it’s not an out and out winner it gives you a feel for what is to come. And what’s next is ‘Lookin’ For A Bullet’ which is a pure bastard of a rock tune. It’s got a sped up stoner riff, a raw vocal and a riff you will hold close to your heart.
It’s probably my favourite but there are plenty of other gems tucked away here. ‘Tombstone Blue’ is a cracker. It’s sort of a power ballad but it’s the most southern of the tracks. Whiskey Myers would be proud to call it their own. The most radio friendly of the songs is probably ‘Bring Your Love’ although even that probably has a bit too much energy. There are no real clunkers here and the whole band really puts in an excellent shift.
It’s an indie release so you give them some leeway with the production as the drums aren’t quite forceful enough. But given the right money, studio and producer, songs like these will soar even higher.
https://www.facebook.com/prowessrocks/
MOLLY KARLOFF
Supernaturalation
Cargo
I’m not 100% sure about this one. That’s mainly because they can’t seem to decide whether they’re sleaze rock or grunge or somewhere in-between.
Let me try and explain. The vocals and melodies are pure Sunset Strip but the guitars are straight out of Seattle. It sounds odd. Not bad. Different. Now different is normally a good thing which is why I am inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.
They certainly make a fine racket for a three piece and the sound has been captured well. The oddly titled title track is up first and it’s the best of them especially as it throws in a Randy Hanson type psych guitar solo to the above mix. That’s fun. ‘She Said’ is probably the closest they come to a more conventional sound and it’s the kind of thing that will get spun on rock radio and heads shaking doon the club..
Elsewhere they channel some doom riffs, some punk energy and even some desert rock along the way. Big props for doing exactly what they want to in a world where conformity is king. They’re on tour in England through March so worth a night out
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St Columba’s Hospice Tribute Fund for Linda Hamilton
http://linda.hamilton.muchloved.com/
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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