Author: Shout Louder

Koji: Activism, Community & Collaboration [Interview]

We spoke to America singer-songwriter and political activist Koji ahead of his upcoming European tour.

Interview by Sarah Williams.

Andrew ‘KOJI’ Shiraki is an American singer-songwriter know for his political activism, plaintive songwriting and his collaborations with bands like La Dispute, Into It Over It, Title Fight and Balance and Composure.

He’s embarking on an extensive tour of Europe in January and February, beignning with a run of UK dates with Such Gold and Ducking Punches before a series of headline solo shows on the mainland.

KOJI has been quiet over the last few years, after spending his 20s on the road. Rested and revitalised, he’s aiming to return to music with renewed energy in 2019. We were keen to speak to him ahead of his UK tour.

Thanks so much for talking to us! You’re embarking a major tour around Europe right now, sharing quite a few dates with Such Gold and Ducking Punches in the UK. What are you most excited for?

It’s been a long time since I’ve been over to the UK or toured anywhere for that matter. My one and only tour last year was with the Movielife in Japan and it’s awesome to now experience the culture here in the UK on the back of that experience. Such Gold and I toured here in 2011, so this is such a cool reunion.

You’ve been to the UK quite a few times before. What keeps bringing you back?

The UK music community is amazing. There are so many friends I’ve made here that continue to enrich my life. I’ve always felt inspired by the people, music, and landscape. When I’m in the UK, it really feels like I’m playing music and not just going through the motions. In life, you have to trust the places where you feel joy. Continue reading “Koji: Activism, Community & Collaboration [Interview]”

7 Punk Rock Bands To Stalk In 2019

Our recommendations for ones-to-watch this year – these bands are set to explode.

Written by Sarah Williams. Cover photo by Cold Front Photography.

Now that we’ve completed our round-up of 2018 (check out our top albums, EPs, festivals and live bands) it’s time to look ahead of the future.

The DIY punk scene is thriving in Europe currently; it’s feels like we’re on riding the crest of a wave that’s growing into a tsunami. Online connections are enabling us to share recommendations and enthusiasm across continents, so word is spread quickly about exciting new acts.

It’s easy to find new music nowadays, however I’ve believe there are two methods that stand out above the others: watching support acts at gigs and listening to recommendations from your friends. In 2019, I implore you to get out and see as many new bands as possible. To get you started, here are Shout Louder’s top recommendations:

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Wolfrik

Canadian thrashers Wolfrik are unlike any other band I’ve heard… although it’s safe to say they’re fans of Alexisonfire, A Wilhelm Scream, Protest The Hero and Belvedere. I’ve been keen to get their EP Skeleton City into the ears of anyone I can find and, so far, everyone’s been bowled over by their awesome sound.

Fortunately Skeleton City also found its way to the ears of the Manchester Punk Festival promoters, who pretty much instantly added them to the bill. If Wolfrik are as good live as they are on record then they’re going to tear the faces off the whole UK punk scene when they arrive in England in April. Erring on the metal / rock end of the punk scale, they combine a variety of genres, but it’s all fast, raucous fun with a healthy dose of experimentation. Continue reading “7 Punk Rock Bands To Stalk In 2019”

Band Spotlight: City Mouse [Interview]

Soulful Southern Californian punks City Mouse are a breath of fresh air. We had a quick chat with Miski Dee to learn more.

Southern Californian punk trio City Mouse have crept into the hearts and minds of punk fans in the last few years, humbly becoming a more familiar name. You may have caught the in the UK in 2018 as part a tour with beloved Scottish power-punks The Murderburgers – they’re a treat live!

In support of that tour, Little Rocket Records released the latest City Mouse album Get Right in a limited edition crimson vinyl.

We spoke to vocalist and guitarist Miski Dee to learn more.

Your latest album, Get Right, gives a big tug to the emotional heartstrings. Was that something you sent out to do when you started writing for it?

No. I’ve always used songwriting to work out heartache. It’s not intentional. It’s just something I absolutely have to do to help myself.

What inspired you most when writing for the album?

Just life and loss, really. Continue reading “Band Spotlight: City Mouse [Interview]”

Tour Diary: The Burnt Tapes’ Greek Disaster

Dank Tone shares a tale of cursed weather, swine flu, lost luggage… and good friends.

In January, London’s melodic punk quartet The Burnt Tapes returned to their Athenic roots for a short tour of Greece with pop-punks The Overjoyed.

Tone, the band’s charismatic bassist, wrote this exclusive tour diary for Shout Louder.

Dear Diary,

Best night ever! That’s all there is to be said about our home-coming show in Athens that brought to an end our short, but way overdue, tour of Greece.

The tour that was plagued with nightmarish bad luck. Fates conspired against us with terrible weather, logistical restructuring, unreliable airlines and swine flu. Bear with me, this is a doozy. Continue reading “Tour Diary: The Burnt Tapes’ Greek Disaster”

Last Chance To Grab A Shout Louder T-Shirt!

Our limited edition pre-order of Shout Louder ‘Meowsh Pit’ tees finishes today!

Today is your last opportunity to order one of our purrfect ‘Meowsh Pit’ tees!

We keep the Shout Louder free from advertising, but web hosting, recording equipment and travel aren’t free! You can look pawesome in this limited edition t-shirt and support Shout Louder in creating great, unique and honest content about the punk scene you love.

PRE-ORDER NOW

People often ask us how we make money through Shout Louder. It’s a flattering question, but the reality is that we spend hundreds on web hosting, podcast equipment, transport, gig tickets, etc…

The site would be free if we allowed advertising, but we pay so that you don’t have to look at adverts. We also invest most our free time into writing, editing, organising and promoting the content you see on the site and the podcast.

If you want to support Shout Louder and the cool things we do, grab a tshirt; it really helps.  All proceeds are going to help cover some of the running costs of the site.

The purrfect ‘Meowsh Pit’ design was created by Lasse Steinmetz Mikkelsen. They are available in wide range of skinny and regular fit sizes on lovely Gildan Softstyle, printed by the cracking lads at Merch Stall.

T-shirts are pre-order only and will be taken off sale in 24 hours, so grab one now.

P.S. There’s currently 20% off everything else on the Lockjaw Records website!

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Exclusive: Mean Caesar Premiere Video For ‘Drowning’

London gruff-punks debut the third single from their self-titled EP, released via Little Rocket Records.

Shout Louder are proud to bring you an exclusive look at the brand new video from South London’s Mean Caesar.

This is the third single from their self-titled debut EP, which was released on Little Rocket Records on 5 October 2018 (read our review here).

“Drowning is about attempting to have a healthy relationship with someone while also trying not to face up to mental health issues, pretending everything is fine and then inevitably lighting the fuse and watching everything burn down, before retreating into alcohol as the one thing that will always be there,” said vocalist, Danny Lester, about the new track. “It’s not a particularly optimistic song but I guess it’s real.”

The video for Drowning was shot by Craig Temple from Racketeer Pictures in guitarist Ollie Ward’s living room. They played a gig the nght before and thought having a fry up and filming a video would be a lot more fun than going to their actual jobs. Continue reading “Exclusive: Mean Caesar Premiere Video For ‘Drowning’”

Main Line 10: Fierce Spanish Melodic Hardcore [Interview]

We speak to Dani about Main Line 10’s 13 year history, their influences and their plans for 2019.

Interview by Sarah Williams.

Main Line 10 deliver a whirlwind of positive melodic hardcore loaded with adrenaline. Originating from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, they’re one of the most exciting live acts Europe has to offer.  Their latest release The Fox featured on our Top 10 Punk Rock Albums of 2018, and they’re due an appearance at Manchester Punk Festival in April.

After falling madly in love with their latest record, we were keen to speak to drummer Dani Amengual about their 13 year history as a band, their latest release and their touring plans for 2019.

You’ve been together since 2005. How do you think you’ve grown as a band, and as people in that time?

As a band I think we could have done more things and better, for example our two first records sound like crap! (AdrenaLine released 2006 and Today Is Tomorrow released 2009) We could have done more tours and more shows but when you start a band at 17/18 years old, nobody tells you how to to those things, and didn’t have social media in 2005.

I think we’ve grown well as a band and as people. We are the same as we were in the beginning with the same humor, same bad jokes and with a strong friendship between us… We’re fatter and have more hair in our faces but, in the end: the same. Continue reading “Main Line 10: Fierce Spanish Melodic Hardcore [Interview]”