Johnny Marr

Live Strong Forever – Two Smiths Reunite On Anthemic BLITZ VEGA Chant

Posted on by JL

Daily electricity to load your batteries

22 November 2022

BLITZ VEGA is the band of Andy Rourke, the former bassist of Manchester‘s
indie icons The Smiths and Happy Mondays’ guitarist Kav Blaggers.

They started their project on Xmas day in 2017
and let the world know it in 2019 with 3 singles.

The tandem is back now with a new piece named STRONG FOREVER
featuring guitar hero Johnny Marr reuniting with his old bandmate
since the split of The Smiths in 1987.

Kav:  “What began life as a theme for a campaign against discrimination in football
evolved into a broader message appropriate to the challenging times we live in. We all
seem to be fighting to survive, but it’s not too late. There are lots of good people on this
planet who want to do something positive, big or small, it’s just hard to notice them
sometimes with all the noise. But now’s the time to make some kind of difference if
you can.”

Rourke: “I wanted exactly what Johnny does. He has a very distinctive sound, and
that’s what he did. We love what he brought to the track. Marr and I remained friends,
we’ve known each other since we were 13 years old. He’s my oldest and dearest friend
and I feel our friendship gets stronger as time passes.”

TUTV: Strong Forever has that glorious and optimistic perspective of Oasis‘ 1993
classic Live Forever. Amidst all the shit going on the past few years (pandemic, war, economic crisis, the resurrection of racism, sexism, intolerance with the help of far-right leaders) this sickly cathcy chant reflects some welcome light at the end of a troubled tunnel. They’re is only one way to get through these worrying times and that’s with spiritual and unbiased unity. Blitz Vega knows, we all know. We need to act now.

All together…

We have the love
We got the power
We’re in it together
Strong forever

Also st(r)eaming on Spotify

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BLITZ VEGA: Facebook – Instagram

NOEL GALLAGHER And His FLYING BIRDS Share New Single ‘PRETTY BOY’

Posted on by JL

Works faster than caffeine

1 November 2022

NOEL GALLAGHER and his HIGH FLYING BIRDS
return with a new single, titled PRETTY BOY.

A speedy psych roller featuring guitar lines from Johnny Marr.
The song is the first piece The Chief shared from a new album
coming next year. Details follow later.

Gallagher: “For this new record it was the first thing I wrote, the first thing I demoed and the first thing I finished, so it’s only right that it’s the first thing people get to hear. Massive shout out to my mainest man Johnny Marr for taking it somewhere special. Oh… and watch out for a cameo from me in the video… first one to spot me wins a bag of Flamin’ Hot Wotsits Giants!!”

Johnny Marr: “We’ve been friends now for something like 30 years. He’s one of the most disciplined people I’ve ever worked with, without a shadow of a doubt. Then there’s the other side of his life. He can’t walk 100 meters around the British Isles without people stopping him for selfies, and he’s not insane. I would be. I only have to get stopped five times and I go into a meltdown about culture. He’s a very impressive dude.”

Music, maestro, please…

NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS: Facebook – Instagram

JOHNNY MARR Plays SMITHS Classic For Foo Fighter TAYLOR HAWKINS

Posted on by JL

Now watching

Last Sunday Johnny Marr played in Cardiff, Wales. To pay tribute to Taylor Hawkins,
the Foo Fighters’ drummer who passed away March 25 at the age of 50, he played
a classic he wrote with Morrissey for his former band The Smiths.

Before going into There Is A Light That Never Goes Out Marr said: “This is a song
that we’d like to dedicate to our friend Dave Grohl. Lots of love going out to you guys and
all the Foos family. We miss you Taylor, we won’t ever forget you. God bless you. This is
from all of us.”

JOHNNY MARR: Facebook

JOHNNY MARR Launched His 4th Solo Album (A Double One) Today – Stream ‘FEVER DREAMS PTS 1-4’ Here

Posted on by JL

25 February 2022

Artist: JOHNNY MARR
Who: The former musical director
of indie icons The Smiths
Solo albums: 4 (including the new one)

New album: FEVER DREAMS PTS 1-4
A double one. More info here.
Release: 25 February 2022

Marr:“There’s a set of influences and a very broad sound that I’ve been
developing – really since getting out of The Smiths until now, and I hear
it in this record. There are so many strands of music in it. We didn’t do
that consciously, but I think I’ve got a vocabulary of sound. And I feel
very satisfied that I’ve been able to harness it.”

DIY Magazine: “His perfectly serviceable croon is not quite strong enough
to carry it across 16 long tracks. If only he’d given ‘Lightning People’’ to Liam
Gallagher, it might well have been the soundtrack of the summer. Moments
of greatness are plentiful, but ‘Fever Dreams…’ shines brightest when Marr lets
his guitar do the talking.” Score: 3/5.

Turn Up The Volume: I love Marr‘s guitar virtuosity, I love his human view
of life and society, I love his coolness, I love his critical attitude vs his old Smiths
buddy and right-wing idiot Morrissey and I loved his live concerts I witnessed yet
I need to be honest and say what I said before about his solo work. He always
comes up with some killers, but also too many mediocre songs on his solo LPs.
I’ll make a compilation of all my favorites on his 4 longplayers. Good idea.

Ahead of the album’s launch, Marr shared 8 songs via 2 EPs…

– FEVER DREAMS PT. 1 –

.
– FEVER DREAMS PT. 2 –

.

Full album on Spotify…

JOHNNY MARR: Facebook

New Albums In 2022 – Double One From JOHNNY MARR Comes Next Month

Posted on by JL

4 January 2022

Artist: JOHNNY MARR
Who: The former musical director
of indie icons The Smiths
Solo albums: 4 (including the new one)

New album: FEVER DREAMS PTS 1-4
A double one. More info here.
Release: 25 February 2022

Marr:“There’s a set of influences and a very broad sound that I’ve been
developing – really since getting out of The Smiths until now, and I hear
it in this record. There are so many strands of music in it. We didn’t do
that consciously, but I think I’ve got a vocabulary of sound. And I feel
very satisfied that I’ve been able to harness it.”

Marr already shared 8 songs via 2 EPs…

– FEVER DREAMS PT. 1 –

.
– FEVER DREAMS PT. 2 –

.
JOHNNY MARR: Facebook

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN – 7 New Firecrackers Week 46

Posted on by JL

Every week Turn Up The Volume picks 7 new
firecrackers that burned his ears the past 7 days

1. ‘Let’s See Each Other’ by A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS (New York)

New York’s electro darkwave bulldozer has its 6th album See Through You
ready for release on 4th February 2022. It’s a return to their fiercely independent,
DIY roots on their own label Dedstrange.

Lead single Let’s See Each Other is an intimate and disarming love song from
a forgotten future. Syncopated memories and deconstructed fantasies of lovers
lost in an ity that doesn’t know their names.

Press play, watch and listen…

________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ‘Sonic’ by DAYFLOWER (UK)

This indie dream-pop band from Leicester, England, combines nursery rhyme melodies, reverb-drenched guitars, and electronic textures. They released their debut full-length Honeyspun two years ago and now return with this astonishing wall-of-shoegaze stroke. Imagine My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and Swervedriver having a decibels contest.

Sonic is a hazy, multi-layered and perplexing
discharge leaving you behind with your mouth open
and totally puzzled.

Here’s why…


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_________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ‘Do Ya Feel The Love’ by STEREOPHONICS (Wales, UK)

On 4 March 2022, the vivid Welsh veterans will make their
loyal fans smile with new full-length Oochya!, their 12th LP.

This track is a feverish rocker with an immediate impact on your
body’s activity. Add Kelly Jones‘ characteristically fervid vocals and
energetic guitars and you have a solid gold Stereophonics winner.

Make your move here, folks…

________________________________________________________________________________________________

‘4. Be Sarcastic‘ by SHYBITS (Berlin)

This fervent German trio fuzz and buzz with panache and determination. Jingle jangle electricity with that early B-52′s swagger. If this steaming stunner doesn’t make you jump out of your lazy couch you better fire your shrink and change your meds at once while we all go crazy to this head-spinning twister. Top!

Feel the heat here…

________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. ‘Capture Love’ by MELTED WINGS (Toronto)

Melted Wings is the multigenre project of Toronto musician Michael Wynn (founding member of bands Trains of Winter and Vicky von Vicky.)

His new longplayer lands next year. Ahead of it comes first taster Capture Love which explores the melancholy of feeling down and the occasional small lights of brightness
that can help you get out of the funk of these depressing times.

​​
Expect an electro head-in-the-clouds groove with an 80s New Romantics vibe.
Heartening, beatific, and hopeful…

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

6. ‘Tenement Time’ by JOHNNY MARR (Manchester UK)

The Former The Smiths guitar hero has another solo LP canned,
actually, a double one called Fever Dreams Pts 1-4 that lands
next year, in February.

New single Tenement Time is an excitatory tune, with
instantly appealing hooks and upbeat chorus.

Turn it up, Johnny…

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. ‘Big Wave’ by MODERN MOXIE (South Carolina, US)

Vivid guitar pop band centered around multi-instrumentalist
Madison Lucas who took up songwriting in college.

Two years ago entrancing debut album Claw Your Way Out saw the day
of light and now Modern Moxie have a 5-track EP, called Gutter Honey,
ready to unleash on 9 December.

First taster Big Wave sticks from the kick-off, jumps forth and back
and energizes all the way driven by Lucas‘ avid vocals. Touchdown!

Let’s roll…

See/hear you next week, music junkies…

JOHNNY MARR Launches Two Brand New Pieces From Upcoming Double Album

Posted on by JL

New striking strokes

9 November 2021

Artist: JOHNNY MARR
Who: The former musical director
of indie icons The Smiths
Solo albums: 4 (including the new one)

New album: FEVER DREAMS PTS 1-4
Release: 25 February 2022 – more info here

Marr: “There’s a set of influences and a very broad sound that I’ve been
developing – really since getting out of The Smiths until now, and I hear
it in this record. There are so many strands of music in it. We didn’t do
that consciously, but I think I’ve got a vocabulary of sound. And I feel very
satisfied that I’ve been able to harness it.”

A few weeks ago Marr gave us the first single, glittery pop power punch
Spirit Power And Soul and now our ears get spoiled with two other
new pieces. Two excitatory tunes, with instantly appealing hooks and
upbeat choruses. Check them out below…

– TENEMENT TIME –

– SENSORY STREET –

JOHNNY MARR: Facebook


(photo by Turn Up The Volume)