Radio Chip Pan – Happy Now
Similar artists: U.K. Subs, Ramones, Cockney Rejects, Cock Sparrer, Stiff Little Fingers
Genre: Punk
If you ever find yourself a little too optimistic about the world, your fellow men, and just how much progress the human race has been making over recent decades, take a look at the people in charge. Yes, your computer gets fixed, a whizz kid, brilliant people run plane traffic, and the folks at the grocery are hard-working people.
But the people in charge, for the most part, are the same monsters that have always tended to apply for these kinds of positions. Worst of all, throughout the world, but in particular, in the Western countries, they’re all a bunch of clowns. Sure, there have been some right bastards and murderers throughout history. At least they commanded some respect.
Radio Chip Pan’s “Happy Now” is an old punk-rock sound about familiar problems. It’s enough for a laugh and a cry. None of us are off the hook, regardless of fate has helped us escape the wretched English weather. Maggie hated the working class, Tony didn’t like them very much, and Boris publicly showed his disdain. Thank the Almighty, the Brits are still allowed to pour their anger into punk-rock songs. It’s what they do best now that everyone else has learned to steep a cup o’ tea.
The Moonjacks – Live Set In Spain
Similar artists: Floats, FIDLAR, Sun Room, Surf Trash
Genre: Surf Rock, Pop Rock, Garage Rock
How’s a drugged-up boozehound expected to get any respect in a world so obsessed with people who wear white shirts and who drive their cars to work every morning? Much like punk rock, being on the piss all the time chooses you rather than the other way around. But this is not a view with which many people will agree.
The only road to some kind of redemption is to write songs about it, documenting your troubles. This is what The Moonjacks did, and judging by the actions of some of their predecessors, it might all work out. Why, FIDLAR has made a great career out of writing songs about getting high and waking on a stranger’s floor. And the great Shane MacGowan brought poetry to punk songs about pissing your brains.
The Moonjacks don’t sound or look like folks who could be managing steady employment. That’s why they’re in Spain for this, delivering a short, fast-paced, hazy set of fun punk-rock songs. The majority of the time, The Moonjacks are escaping responsibility and evading all of the people who might ask them to change their course. I won’t lie to you and tell you that The Moonjacks are likely heading to platinum-selling success and white picket fences. I will say, however, that the road to wherever they’ll end up will be amazing if they continue to document it.
