Author: madmackerel

Music blogger, irate fish
Americana, Country, Music, Rock

Mad Mackerel Recommends… Christopher Denny

Christopher Denny is no stranger to battling demons, being a Southern choirboy who attended the church of alcohol, drugs and self-destruction in a failed attempt to deal with his inner pain and conflicts. He says, “There was a lot of poverty, insanity and self-destruction. I was never taught how to take care of myself. I barely lived through my childhood.” Addiction followed, drugs and alcohol … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends… Christopher Denny

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Acoustic, Alternative, Americana, Blues, Country, Folk, Garage, Gothic, Indie, Music, Pop, Psychedelic, Punk, Rock

We’re Heading to the Great Escape…A Playlist

Today, Chris T Popper and I are heading south to Brighton and our first visit to the Great Escape festival. There are a whole host of bands we’re looking forward to seeing, from the South American punk-pop of Las Kellies, the angst of Gambles, the spectral folk of Mirel Wagner and the junkyard blues of the Amazing Snakeheads, to the stoned slacker indie of Dune Rats and the … Continue reading We’re Heading to the Great Escape…A Playlist

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Alternative, Music, Pop, Psychedelic, Rock

Introducing>>> Space Raft

Not specifically a psych band, or a retro-glam outfit, or a blatant ’70’s throwback, Milwaukee’s Space Raft are, instead, a classically brilliant pop-rock combo which incorporates elements of all the above while working by their own rules, beholden to no genre. Space Raft, their self-titled debut album (out next week), is proof positive of this. Have a listen to the shimmering, fulsome We’re Not Alone, and hear … Continue reading Introducing>>> Space Raft

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Alternative, Music, Punk, Rock

Total Control – Expensive Dog

Recently we posted Total Control’s Flesh War from their forthcoming long player Typical System. The band emerged from Australia’s punk scene in ’08, releasing a succession of 7″s that developed from an aggressive post-punk band sound to studio forays into electronic forms from minimal wave to house. Subsequently, they have released four very different records: a split 12″ with Thee Oh Sees, a 7″ single on … Continue reading Total Control – Expensive Dog

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Americana, Indie, Music, Pop, Rock

Video: The Head & The Heart – Summertime

The Head and the Heart have debuted the striking and extraordinary animated video for Summertime off the band’s sophomore effort, Let’s Be Still released on Sub Pop last October. The video was made by another MM fave, the Canadian-based musical and creative force Chad VanGaalen, whose album Shrink Dust came out just last week on the same Seattle label. . . .   Continue reading Video: The Head & The Heart – Summertime

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Alternative, Indie, Music, Punk, Rock

More From Free Swim

We’ve already posted Meal For One, Free Swim’s homage to TV dinners and the delights of Ian McShane’s acting career. From the same EP comes this undeniably infectious homage to some of the mainstay female celebrities (plus some random other things…Cardiff City, the tale of Pigling Bland, flapjacks) that the band have “fallen in love with” over the years. It’s a bit like Art Brut gone madder … Continue reading More From Free Swim

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Americana, Country, Folk, Music

Gold Star – Dark Days Debut Album

Just over a year ago we posted a video for the sweetly organic Americana of Gold Star’s Back To Me.  The project of Los Angeles based songwriter Marlon Rabenreither, his soon to be released debut long-player, Dark Days brings more sincere vocals and warm harmonies with various deconstructed elements of American music using lap steel, harmonica, vintage organ, and finger picking. Watch the video for the lovely Sadie … Continue reading Gold Star – Dark Days Debut Album

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