Single & EP reviews: WAKING UGLY, CHRIS ADAMS, VANITY RIOTS

Waking Ugly - Say Something Sweet

WAKING UGLY Say Something Sweet EP www.wakingugly.com

If Kylie was going to make a ‘heavy metal’ album it would probably sound like this. Girlie vocals, some decent rock guitar, but ultimately fairly shiny ‘pop’. And that’s just what Waking Ugly, a pop/rock band from Melbourne, Australia deliver with their debut EP release Say Something Sweet.

Essentially a duo of Lydia Gardner (vocals) and Darren Pace (guitar), Gardner’s sweet vocals have been compared to P!nk, Katie Perry and Gwen Stefani, while Pace’s influences are home grown rockers AC/DC and INXS.

It’s a shame then, that Say Something Sweet doesn’t rock out a bit more. It’s a decent enough radio friendly first effort, with ‘Guess It’s Over’ – which marries aspects of John Waite’s ‘Missing You’ and the Police’s ‘Every Breath You Take’ to good effect – being the highlight.

But for Aus rock I thought the production – particularly on the vocals - a little lacklustre. ***
Review by Pete Whalley

VANITY RIOTS – Ambulance EP [Release date 25.05.13]

There seems to be a continuing spate of Aussie-based hard rock releases and they can be female-fronted as with Shadowqueen and, now, Vanity Riots.

The band formed in 2000 and have been playing in and around Sydney, releasing a debut EP in November 2011. This band have the distinction of having one of their videos “enhanced” by performances from some of Sydney’s top pole dancers.

Like similar bands they seem to be taking a cue from Halestorm but they are heavier and more metal in execution. (Their cited influences include As I Lay Dying and Avenged Sevenfold) There seems to have been a line-up change since this recording but the band remains fronted by the formidable Monica Strut. This is a very competent offering and bodes well for an album which must surely follow. ***1/2

Review by David Randall

CHRIS ADAMS Transformed CD single [Released 24.02.14]

Chris Adams is a guitarist whose Godfather Roger Newell was the bassist in Rick Wakeman’s band for a time, so he has already had a grounding in rock music. The single is a rock ballad and features some lovely guitar playing from Adams, along with a suitable vocal – reminded me of Mike & The Mechanics.

Adams’ big influences are Jimi Hendrix and Dave Gilmour, you can certainly hear the Gilmour influences as he draws the notes out in the solos. An impressive single and an artist to keep an eye out for. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)