The Guzzlers: A Pint Of Plain Is Your Only Man

How many songs can you write about alcohol? It is no problem for Irish punk folk duo The Guzzlers, who wrote a love song about Guinnes. Brothers Tom and Cian O'Dowd name a bunch a stumble blocks they have encountered in life, consulted their friends and came to the conclusion that A Pint Of Plain Is Your Only Man is the one thing you can count on, no matter what. It is not the kind of poetry that comes close to the level of Shane McGowan, but it will surely get the thumbs up from their audience, who will have surely nourished quite a few of drinks themselves.

English Teacher: shows in Hamburg and London

photo: Denmarc Creary

Leeds based pop noir quartet English Teacher have not been exactly busy since the release of their Live From BBC Maida Vale Studios in 2024. Their label put out an unremarkable 7" for Record Store Day this year to gain some traction again. Not many live shows either. Let's see what they can come up with shows in Hamburg on September 16 as part of the Reeperbahn Festival and a show in London on January 23 at the Troxy, the latter as part of a line-up celebrating the music of David Byrne.

» englishteacherband.com

HCTF review of Live From BBC Maida Vale Studios

Icarus Phoenix: The Oligarchy

Singer-songwriter Drew Danburry seriously regrets that he did not vote, so to make amends he wrote a soft-spoken warning song about not making that same mistake again for his folk rock band Icarus Phoenix: "While everyone was watching a liar get elected I was making love to the person I care for most // And rather than engaging in powerless worry // I wrote the next three words you'll hate. I didn't vote."

As per usual the track is also available as a solo acoustic version, but this time there is an extra treat: an early demo recorded with the full band.

Jeffrey Halford & The Healers: Used Parts

Roots trio Jeffrey Halford & The Healers have been making the rounds on the club circuit for more than 30 years, treating their audience with bluesy swagger and heartfelt Americana. Main man Jeffrey Halford is never afraid to point out his flaws and making fun of them, like the cool uncle who will pick a guitar and tell a story that will make you laugh, cry or think (sometimes within the space of the same song). The new album Used Parts deals with ageing as well as promise to himself to make some changes - well, not giving up being a guitar man and setting stages on fire, because he can't and doesn't want to get away from that.

Matters of the mind and the heart are for scrambling for getting the upper hand, but in turns out that he does not have to commit, as long as he manages tor retain a careful balance. It all comes together in the superb soulful Chasing Forgiveness ("sunrise is no friend of mine, for promises it can't keep, it's way too late for warning signs"). Smart move to include the stand-alone single Mississippi Flyer, a Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings' cover, as well, as it fits the mood of the album perfectly. Jeffrey Halford & The Healers are road rats, who thrive on stage. They won't bring Halford's son and daughter with them, but their parts on the album are proof that they have inherited his genes and are putting them to good use.

Elephant Stone: "Parallel and Contrary Motion" video

Canadian psychedelic raga band Elephant Stone have unveiled a video for Parallel and Contrary Motion, the centrepiece of their ASHA album, a song about the suicide of band leader Rishi Dhir's friend Christian Dorey: "Being torn apart by emotions it downed on him that it was about his friend's decision to take his own life. Horrible as that might be, it made him rethink and respect that choice." The clip was directed by John-Mark Lapham.