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Indie rock maestros The Sound Ex have been spotted laying down the tracks which will eventually form the follow-up to the classy yet criminally overlooked Palomino.

The Tyneside crew took up residence in Newcastle’s Blast! studios last week to demo a series of stonking hook-laden tracks. And mixing is slated for mid-October. Quite why the career of these former major label darlings hasn’t come full circle is anyone’s guess but the guys are still producing music many a bigger band would kill for. Read the rest of this entry »

Global Music continue to strengthen their DR2 roster of emerging rock Gods following the news that Leeds mob The Glitterati have inked a deal with the Tyneside-based label.

Joining the likes of The Sound Ex, Dear Superstar and Killing For Company, the band joins a stable brimming with ambitious British talent.

And as Global Music preapares to release new records by W.A.S.P. and Wednesday 13 next month these are heady times for the Cook brothers and theur Jarrow-based operation. Read the rest of this entry »

Rising stars Remedy embark on a summer tour across the country this month as one of Britain’s most talented new acts bids to spread the rock gospel far beyond their native North East.

With EP Strange Fast Now continuing to receive critical acclaim Jenn and the gang will headline a Club Fandango night in London on June 16 before setting out on a series of seven further dates this month. Remedy wrap up the June leg of their tour alongside fellow locals The Sound Ex at Trillians on June 29. Read the rest of this entry »

Hot news for fans of Global Music/DR2 faves Hydrogyn – the band fronted by rock diva Julie Westlake will play Newcastle next month as part of a five-date UK tour.

Hot on the heels of 2008 debut UK album Deadly Passions, the Kentucky crew will headline a gig at Legends on April 25 with Rise To Addiction in tow. The quintet are touring their home country now and are expected back in Britain later this year. Read the rest of this entry »

Brit rock giants Therapy? have unveiled the rather spanking cover of their soon-to-be unleashed studio opus Crooked Timber and the bleak imagery has already got the rushonrock team likening it to the band’s classic artwork of yesteryear.

Famed for some pretty outrageous pics over the years, Andy and the band have stripped it down to deliver a menacing new look for 2009. And if the brazen black on white doesn’t get Therapy? noticed this year then a slab of grinding rock classics certainly will.

Crooked Timber hits stores on March 23 (talk about an agonising wait) but we’ve been given a sneak peak of the tracklisting. According to insiders the band has never sounded more vital and it seems a stint in Newcastle’s Blast studios has given the band fresh impetus and a new-found hunger.

Therapy? told rushonrock: “We’re really excited about getting these tracks heard and can’t wait to play them live. We’ve spent enough time away now – it’s time to get involved. There’s always the risk of getting lazy and simply churning out what’s ‘expected’ or a ’safe bet’ but that was never an option for Crooked Timber. Making the album on Tyneside was a great experience and now it’s time to get back in peoples faces.”

Rumours of a tour with local faves The Sound Ex are still doing the rounds and that’s one gig you’d be mad to miss. But don’t despair – we’ll have the details right here as soon as they’re confirmed.

For now feast your eyes on the Crooked Timber tracklisting and prepare for a full review in March: 1 The Head That Tried To Strangle Itself 2 Enjoy The Struggle 3 Clowns Galore 4 Exiles 5 Crooked Timber 6 I Told You I Was Ill 7 Somnambulist 8 Blacken The Page 9 Magic Mountain  10 Bad Excuse For Daylight

When Chelsea visit Newcastle it’s never that pretty for those of a black and white persuasion but when The Chelsea Smiles take in Tyneside…now that’s going to be a different matter.

Newly signed to groundbreaking Global Music imprint DR2 Records, the LA-based glam rockers (should be right up Self Made Man’s street) will support Wednesday 13 at what promises to be a cracking Academy gig on March 31.

And our friends at the Jarrow-based record label are very excited to have added another fast-emerging act to a roster already boasting the likes of Dear Superstar, The Sound Ex and McQueen.

The Chelsea Smiles were formed by ex-Danzig guitar slinger Todd Youth in 2004 and released their full length debut two years later. Support slots with rushonrock faves Backyard Babies and the reformed New York Dolls won rave reviews and DR2 will release their forthcoming, as yet untitled, album in early 2009.

It’s another coup for the fast-growing North East label and The Chelsea Smiles’ manager Jon Nelson said: “We are extremely excited to be working with everyone at DR2 Records.  I have previously worked with them on some other releases and they are willing to put the time and effort into breaking bands.  They are hard working and get results.  It will be great to see what they do with The Chelsea Smiles!”

Look out for a first review right here. And expect to see SMM first in the queue come March…

It’s Sunday night so it has to be new music night on the website dedicated to the rock of our ages. This week there’s some true Geordie power, some serious six-string action and the latest from one of America’s biggest bands…

Children Of The Future: A Tribute To Les Paul – Various Artists (Immergent)

Normally speaking any record boasting the combined talents of Slash, Joe Perry, Peter Frampton, Joe Bonamassa, Richie Sambora and the great Les Paul would warrant special praise. But then that red-haired nightclub crooner Mick Hucknall has to go and spoil it all by making an unwelcome guest appearance.

Why some bloke from Simply Red was ever considered for this latest tribute to the man who invented the solid body electric guitar is anyone’s guess. But hey, we’ll get over it. And instead we’ll pour over some truly inspirational music from a clutch of artists even our very own Self Made Man might have heard of over the years…

Dying To Live is to die for as Les teams up with Edgar Winter to produce a timless piece of rootsy guitar genius. Les and Joe Perry do their best to drown out the wailing Hucknall on I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know (OK, we haven’t quite got over it just yet) and what’s not to like about the boy Bonamassa trading licks with Sir Les on the brilliant The Good Luck You’re Having? 

Vocalise, featuring Slash, is sensational stuff and Sambora finishes off a fine release with a flourish as the Bon Jovi man lets rip on Great Hall Of Fame. All in all this album is surprising and mesmerising in equal measure.

rushonrock rated: 9/10 Les Filler, More Killer

3 Doors Down – 3 Doors Down (Island Records)

More than 15 million paying customers can’t be wrong as 3 Doors Down continue to rack up album sales at an unbelievable rate. Or can they?

While the US quintet continue to blaze a coast to coast trail in their home country it’s fair to say Brad Arnold and the boys have yet to convince European audiences of their true worth. A five-date UK tour this month might change the perception of us Brits but don’t bank on it.

It seems to us that 3 Doors Down don’t quite know where to pitch themselves to the unconverted. Are they a beefed up Matchbox Twenty, a toned down Nickelback or Bon Jovi’s bastard sons?

Number one US single It’s Not My Time is unremarkable enough but check out Citizen/Soldier and Runaway if you’re looking for what’s right about a band which manages occasional brilliance against all odds. This could be their breakthrough record over here but it could go the same way as their previous three.

rushonrock rated: 5/10 Doors Open Up

The Sound Ex – Palomino (DR2)

At times it’s difficult to believe this accomplished rock record has been sitting on the shelf gathering dust for two agonising years. One listen tells you everything you need to know about The Sound Ex: even after a rebranding, a re-signing and a rebirth the Geordie foursome are as relevant and rocking as ever.

What’s great about Tyneside’s self-styled rock and soul brothers is the diversity which courses through Palomino from start to finish. At times you think you’re listening to the MC5 singing Blaydon Races but pierce the punk and there are refreshing elements of indie, pop and classic rock.

This is a record which keeps you guessing from start to finish and even after several plays it’s impossible to know where Palomino will lead The Sound Ex in the future. The boys tell rushonrock there’s already more than enough new material written to fire out another record asap. But too soon would be too cruel – let us savour this one for a while please.

rushonrock rated: 8/10 Sounds Fine

In less than 24 hours those quirky Teesside chaps Dartz will be delivering their first North East set in yonks and they will be doing so on the back of a Kerrang! KKK album review!

Yes the bible of British metal may have sneered at our favourite threesome’s propensity for very long song titles but all in all they seemed to like new album The Sad History Of The Village Of Alnerique. And so they should.

Look out for a full review right here in Sunday’s Rock Solid. But if you can’t wait that long for a verdict on Dartz then damn well make the effort to catch them at Sunderland’s The White Rooms tomorrow night – and deliver your own.

The 18-plus gig marks the first of three must-see shows by a trio of the North East’s very best rock upstarts with The Sound Ex (Friday) and Dirty Rock And Roll (Wednesday) making this a loud and proud week to savour.

Those fine purveyors of fuzzy chords and crunching riffs – The Sound Ex – make a long awaited return to the North East’s live scene tonight at Newcastle’s Cooperage.

And if you have an urge to reacquaint yourself with one of Tyneside’s finest ahead of the release of their new record Palomino then they’re due on stage around 10.30pm.

Of course the boys might just be keeping their powder dry before their album launch party later this month. But we very much doubt it. They’re not called the Explosion any more but they can still explode given a stage, some amps and a couple of people in the crowd.

Ex-citing news has reached rushonrock in the shape of a flyer bigging up what should be one of the gigs of the year next month!

Yes those Tyneside guitar heroes The Sound Ex are throwing an album launch party at trendy Toon watering hole End Bar. And if that wasn’t enough to whip the soul rock community into a frenzy then support will come in the shape of Small Town Dogs and DJ ME.

The chord crunching action gets underway from 7.30pm and the die hards can party thru to 1am – by which time the rushonrock team will be safely tucked up in bed under their Def Leppard duvets and Meshuggah sheets.

Entry on Friday September 19 is a frankly giveaway £4 and it goes without saying the frantic four piece will be playing songs from forthcoming long player Palomino. Cool.