There is so much great new music kicking about that over here at Into Creative Towers, we were in a bit of a tizzy as to what to share with you first. Fear not, intrepid reader, for our updates are bountiful and plenty!!!! So do read on for the first batch of top bands and artists to feast on and of course, stay tuned for more articles of a similar ilk in due course.

Artist: The Dead Shout 
Single: Jump Your Bones
Label: Mental Records

When news broke that ex-members of The Bikini Bottoms (Jack the Goober), Demented Are G0/The Klingonz (Eddie Edwards) and The Urban Voodoo Machine (Gary Voodoo) had formed a new band called The Dead Shout, eyebrows were raised (well, unless you’ve had botox of course). Those outfits and band members have a long history of fusing punk, psychobilly, rockabilly and that God damn rock and roll to a mighty fine effect.

First single Jump Your Bones has a solid rockabilly rumble and the slightest hint of psychotic tendencies emerging from the three or so minutes on offer here. The voodoo drums and slap bass are in perfect sync which allows a platform for Jack to shriek, holler and deliver an urgent vocal alongside some dexterous fret work on the guitar. The track was recorded at London’s Space Eko Studio with Alex McGowan overseeing the recording. Appetite suitably whet, let’s hope for more new material from The Dead Shout, a great new band on the scene. For more on The Dead Shout, head to their Facebook page here.

Artist: Peter Hall 
Single: Afterlove
Label: Daisyland Recording Co.

Somewhere near Argyll’s secret coast, there is something really special happening. The premise is simple, take some aspiring singer-songwriters, get them to write a song while being mentored by some of Scotland’s top musicians, light the touch paper, sit back and wait for the magic to happen. And invariably it does! To date there have also been two albums worth of content released on the Last Night From Glasgow label as well as gigs showcasing these amazing artists and songs. Peter Hall is one such artist, a songwriter based in Nottingham, he has just released a new song in Afterlove. Hall was mentored at the Secret Coast session by James Grant who also plays lead guitar and contributes backing vocals to the track. The guitar work is exceptional and complements Hall’s vocal perfectly. At times contemplative, the lyrics add to a sense of reflection, possibly sadness with feelings evidently in a tailspin. On this form, it won’t be long before Hall is one of the mentors at such retreats, this is a song wrought with emotion that delves into the soul through heartfelt songwriting. For more on Peter Hall, head to his Facebook page here and his Bandcamp page here

Artist: Johnny Lloyd 
Single: If You Love Them, Let Them Go
Label: Xtra Mile Recordings Ltd

I’ve listened to this song over and over again and it is an absolute earworm. It all seems so easy, so matter of fact to Lloyd but it can’t be, surely? A song of such beauty, yet seemingly so free and easy in its delivery just bewilders (in a good way). This is the kind of thing Nick Drake released at his peak, it is that good. Yet who is Johnny Lloyd? Well, he is a singer, songwriter and composer and this is his first new music since the La La La album of 2021. If You Love Them, Let Them Go is the precursor to a new album called Punchline which is due to drop on 31st January 2025. Johnny said of the new track “If You Love Them, Let Them Go is a song that started life quite heavy and it wasn’t until I got it in the studio that I realised how personal it was and it needed a softer, more Elliot Smith type delivery. It feels new musically to me and it was recorded beautifully by Luke Glazewski at HoxaHQ onto tape”. Ahead of the album release, Johnny Lloyd will be touring as support to Everyone Says Hi which will see both acts play Glasgow McChuills on Monday 28th October as well as other dates across the U.K. For more, head to Johnny’s website here.

John Welsh @welshjb

Links:
@TheDeadShout
@ElfickJack
@secretcoastsong
@LNFGlasgow
@peterhallmusic