The Shindig! Revue #2 Band Showcase – Cat Black

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Jon 'Mojo' Mills — No Comments ↓

BEN ADLAM has the unenviable task of introducing a band almost possibly hard to introduce – London retro rockers CAT BLACK, who headline The Shindig! Revue #2 on Friday 18^thMay at The Victoria in Dalston. Tickets here

Formed in a wizard’s hat in 2011, East London quintet Cat Black have been blowing audiences away for the last seven years. Their full throttle rock ’n’ roll drives at 100mph with no hands on the wheel and both eyes on the rear view mirror. Retrospective, yes. Revivalist, no. The intertwined guitars of Ed Jalil and Dave Preston have authentic ’70s overdrive and licks, the rhythm section (Tony Coote on drums and Lee Grubb on bass) keep the grooves flowing. Cat Black also have a rare commodity in a world of beige singers, they have a solid gold, 100% gen-u-ine, bona fide frontman.

Like the rock ’n’ roll bastard messiah child of Mick ’n’ Keef , Rodders ’n’ Woody, Chris Robinson, Jim Jones and Bobby Gillespie leaping from the stage, Billy Skinner is a cyclone of a front man, engaging, funny and really fucking loud! His particular brand of rock ’n’ roll excess has graced almost every stage in London and across the country leaving jaws on the floor and ears pinned to the wall. It’s no surprise that they were voted one of the NME‘s Must See Live Acts.

Criminally under represented on record Cat Black have released a single self titled EP (buy here). Six tracks of diamond encrusted glam spliced with Exile era Stones and The Black Crowes. The sound is a journey to a time of choppers, hotpants and spangles, it’s ’73 and it’s hot. I feel shortchanged, there should be an album, there should be stadium tours, there should be stretch limos, this is real rock ’n’ roll band!

Come to the Vic and catch the black cats.

The Shindig! Revue #2 Band Showcase – Black Cat Revue

Posted on May 10, 2018 by Jon 'Mojo' Mills — No Comments ↓

BEN ADLAM introduces Glasgow quartet BLACK CAT REVUE who’ll be making their London debut and taking the middle slot at The Shindig Revue #2 on Friday 18^thMay at The Victoria, Dalston. Buy tickets here

Black Cat Revue were born when (in their own words) “two freaky cats met atop a grassy knoll at midnight under a full moon to marinate in smoke and play sacred vibrations to each other”. On that night a brand new psychedelic fuzz manifesto was written and they’ve been preaching it ever since. Those two freaky cats were Garry Thomson and David McIlwraith. After some gigs as a duo they were joined by bassist Gary de la Latina and more recently Alex Abate behind the kit.

With a knack for writing songs that spin around your head for days and a steely determination to convert the masses to the psychedelic way Black Cat Revue have made great advances north of the border in their three short years, supporting heavy hitters such as Thee Hypnotics, The Stairs, Mystic Braves and Night Beat as well as playing for BBC Introducing at the legendary King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. Now these psychedelic post-punk outlaws are coming south!

Last year’s debut single ‘Them Red, White & Blues’ b/w ‘Gravedancer’ (Buy It Here) is an acid drenched West Coast jangle affair that feels like it was recorded in a Berlin coal cellar. Full of reverb and echoes but still feeling intensely claustrophobic, shades of Neil Young and The Black Angels, it’s a strong beginning and definitely deserves a follow up soon!

The Shindig! Revue #1

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Jon 'Mojo' Mills — No Comments ↓

This Saturday Shindig! join forces with Psych-A-Rella for a fab night of live music and deejays

This coming Saturday 17^th sees Shindig! teaming up with super cool London club night Psych-A-Rella for the first of our quarterly club nights of live music at ultra-cool boozer The Victoria in Dalston, London. Headlining our inaugural event are The Dials who will be showcasing songs from 2017s excellent That Was The Future album. Support comes from the returning freakbeat kings The Embrooks and garage marvels The Pacers. There’ll also be Shindig! and Psych-A-Rella DJs to keep the night moving, providing an opportunity for a rave-up into the wee small hours. Psych-A-Rella co-founder and main man Ben Adlam explains the genesis behind his much-loved monthly rave-up: “We’ve been looking to get into the live arena for a while” says Adlam “and had our first event in December at The Victoria. It’s a night that’s taken on many guises and it’s certainly been a baptism of fire, but we’re confident it will be a success. This is a great space with the live music room on the back of an achingly hip Dalston boozer that does great food and a good line in reasonably (for London) priced beers.” He’s as excited as we are about the prospect of working together. “This is hugely exciting for us and we can’t wait to bring some of the best emerging talent to the stage alongside more established acts.”

Jon ‘Mojo’ Mills says: “Ben and his fine lady Sarina are a top couple and really driven. This is a match made in heaven. I’m really excited about what lies ahead.”

Further dates are planned in May (18^th), August (17^th) and November (16^th). “We’re looking to bring bands and DJs from outside of London to play at these nights,” adds Adlam, “with the cache of being associated with an international magazine like Shindig! being a draw for both bands and fans!”

What better way to show your love for your favourite music magazine and listen to the best sounds from then and now. We’d love to see you there, drink a pint with you and say hi.

Psych-A-Rella presents The Shindig! Revue takes place on Saturday 17^th February at The Victoria, 451 Queensbridge Road, Dalston, London, E8 3AS. Tickets cost £5 in advance or £7 on the door.

Advance tickets are available from www.psycharella.com