LISTEN: Total Rubbish – ‘Honey Ryder’

The name’s Rubbish, Total Rubbish, and they’re a Philadelphia-based trio who craft grungy-yet-poppy guitar tunes about everything from “Bond Girls” to odd-end jobs. Their debut single ‘Honey Ryder’ shares its name with the first ever Bond Girl featured in the 1962 film Dr. No, and the band describe it as an ode to “the first babe in a long line of babes.”

Formed of Bre Steinfeldt (bass), Cass Nguyen (guitar) and Kiki Schiller (drums), Total Rubbish recently signed to Born Losers Records to release their upcoming record, Triple Negative on the 20th September. ‘Honey Ryder’ is lifted from the EP, and it’s a sweet taste of the band’s talent for combining melodic vocals with dense, swirling riffs.

Inspired by the likes of The Dandy Warhols, Veruca Salt and the Velvet Underground, the ironically named Total Rubbish are ready to deliver their bittersweet take on disappointing relationships, new beginnings and historical babes with their upcoming EP. Listen to ‘Honey Ryder’ below and follow the band on Facebook, Instagram and Spotify for more updates.

Photo Credit: Caro Ramirez

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: snake eyes – ‘skeletons’

A brooding, guitar driven observation on inappropriate behaviours and how we try to deal with them, snake eyes have shared their latest single ‘skeletons’. Lifted from their upcoming debut EP of the same name, which is set for release on 9th October via Failure By Design, the track is an abrasive recognition of how despite our differing opinions, we’re all really made of the same flesh and bone.

Formed of Jim Heffy (vocals/guitar), Nicole Gill (bass/vocals) and Thomas Coe-Brooker (drums), snake eyes are three friends who write songs together to avoid over-thinking or over-complicating things. The trio recorded their debut EP between Heffy’s bedroom and Coe-Brooker’s attic, giving it that all important authentic DIY sound.

Heffy penned ‘skeletons’ after seeing first hand the “questionable” behaviour of an ex-colleague. “A guy at my old work would make these ‘jokes’. I didn’t wanna make a scene as I was leaving the job so I’d just bite my lip, which looking back I feel was the wrong move.” As Heffy points out in the song’s lyrics, “It’s hard to see what’s clear with a narrow mind”, so the band take down these “jokes” via clear cut vocals and crashing percussion instead.

Watch the video for ‘skeletons’ below and follow snake eyes on Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Francis Of Delirium – ‘Equality Song’

**TRIGGER WARNING: DISCUSSION OF RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT**

A candid, necessary dismantling of the ingrained sexism and toxic masculinity that permeates society, Luxembourg-based, Canadian-American duo Francis Of Delirium have shared their latest single ‘Equality Song’. Funded by Luxembourg’s Ministry of Equality to celebrate 100 years of women’s right to vote, vocalist & guitarist Jana Bahrich penned the poignant track in the wake of the Brett Kavanaugh hearings.

“Sometimes it feels like a fact of life / You’re born, get your period and you’ll get raped some time,” Bahrich states in the song’s cutting opening lyrics. Her message is made all the more startling by the strength and sincerity in her vocals, highlighting the systems that are “hindering our change” when it comes to openly discussing the inequality that women face on a daily basis.

“The song was written mainly out of anger, at how absurd it is that sexual abuse is so normalised, and the systems that are in place just essentially shit on anyone that comes forward with their story”, explains the 19 year old songwriter. “The Brett Kavanaugh hearings had just happened and then every week it felt like another story came out and it seemed like no-one cared. You grow up learning to be sceptical of other people and spend a lot of time in fear of the people around you. So, the song is meant to be lashing out about how broken structures and systems are”.

Bahrich’s anger is underscored by a desire to support those who speak up about abuse, which is why all proceeds generated from the first week of downloads of the single on Francis Of Delirium’s bandcamp page will go to Femmes en Detresse, a Luxembourg domestic abuse charity that provides protection and therapy.

Listen to ‘Equality Song’ below and follow Francis Of Delirium on Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

Photo Credit: Lynn Theisen

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Ailbhe Reddy – ‘Looking Happy’

Transforming the crushing sadness that comes with seeing your ex “enjoying” their life on social media into a buoyant alt-folk gem, Ailbhe Reddy has shared her latest single ‘Looking Happy’. Lifted from her upcoming debut album Personal History, which is set for release on 2nd October, the track taps into the feelings of inadequacy we all experience when the FOMO unexpectedly hits whilst we’re scrolling through our ex’s newsfeed.

“We should all know by now that what people present online is a shiny happy version of events, but sometimes it’s impossible to have that logic when you’re hurting,” explains the Dublin-based musician. “Most people have probably ended up scrolling through the online profile of an ex and feeling like their life is full of fun parties and holidays, because that’s all people show of their life online.” Reddy’s willingness to expose these well known but often ignored behaviours is what makes ‘Looking Happy’ so painfully relatable.

Fortunately, Reddy has given fans a healthy dose of humour to offset the track’s sad context in the form of a child’s birthday party in the accompanying video for ‘Looking Happy’. “I’ve been to a lot of parties in my life where I feel bummed out but put on a happy face, so I thought it would be funny to have all these fun scenarios and look really glum,” she explains. “The blooper reel is definitely longer than the music video itself as it was incredibly difficult to keep a straight face on the bouncy castle!”

Watch the video for ‘Looking Happy’ below.

Follow Ailbhe Reddy on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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