PETE BENTHAM & THE DINNER LADIES (UK)
Kitchen Core from Liverpool
Pete Bentham & The Dinner Ladies are a four piece from Liverpool. Pete on Guitar, Paella Fitzgerald on Bass, Sonny Rollingpin on Saxophone and Tony Calzone on Drums. Plus The Dinnerettes. They are at the vanguard of current Liverpool music scene
The band was formed in 2006. Pete wanted to form a band that was a pure rock & roll band with modern lyrics about real life. They have clever, witty songs about working class life that feature Night Club Bouncers, Lorry Drivers, Cats & Dogs, always telling the truth and they speak out against things they oppose like consumerism and racism.
The music is raw punk rock and roll reminiscent of the The Cramps, The Fall and the Velvet Underground.
They have so far released three albums, toured the UK and Europe and have played many festivals including Rebellion Festival, the largest punk festival in the world alongside bands such as The Damned, The Beat and the New York Dolls.
A band who actually sing about things they know and believe in and always with sense of humour. This is Kitchencore!
Reviews
"It’s an utterly joyous spectacle. The songs are defiant yet fun odes to rebellion, with the likes of ‘Do the Don’t providing a suitably fun two-fingered salute to conformity. There’s a tune about being a ‘Hip Potater’ and a blistering, Billy Childish-esque tribute to their hero ‘Marcel Duchamp’. The set ends with the two dinner ladies having a mock fight on the floor and in the middle of the audience. If we weren’t already standing I’m pretty sure the band would have got a standing ovation."
- Soundblab magazine
"Check it out. Its easy to see why they are a great band to have at any festival, as they bring with them energy, up beat rock songs to have any crowd dancing about."
- little indie night
"Classic Liverpool Rock & Roll. Songs about things you've observed and experienced. Fun and upbeat."
- Sound City
"Third album from Pete & The Dinner Ladies, the Liverpool based ‘kitchencore’ outfit who with this offering have produced their most accomplished release to date... somehow The Dinner Ladies have not just pulled this off, this is a triumph – played with due respect but also with that ‘fuck you’ punk attitude that certainly Syd Barrett expressed; I get the feeling Barrett would chuckle if he had heard The Dinner Ladies, instantly responding to their free-spirit DIY take on rock ‘n’ roll."
- Louder Than War Magazine
"It’s a shame John Peel is not with us any more as Pete & The Dinner Ladies would certainly have been taken to the great mans heart and been regular favourites of the twilight airwaves. This album has pretty much been on constant repeat for the last month and protest has never sounded so great. This should feature highly in the end of year best of albums that we so love to compile and read about."
- Never Loved The Shovel Blog
"Best performance of the year thus far due to nothing more than the aforementioned points and the downright commitment to the cause. A fitting exclamation mark to a fine day that provoked much thought and much pleasure."
- Fungalpunk fanzine
"We were starting to flag at this stage but Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies rev it up with an entertaining set back at the Art Academy and prove punks not dead, it just wears a shiny 80's suit and is surrounded by Dinner ladies, it also proves that you can write a decent protest song without being a po-faced navel gazer, or tortured poet with a shit beard. “Do The Don’t” “Part Time Punk” and ” Hip Potater” are all crowd pleasers, but if you listen and pay attention you’ll find that behind the “fun” façade Mr Bentham’s got plenty to say and raises some very salient points."
- The VPME, Live Review
"To have spent many a gig in the company of Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies is not going to prepare you for just how good they sound, just how wickedly delicious and note-worthy they are tasty a band when allowed the freedom to wax lyrically in an anarchistic scrumptious style... The idea of David Bowie performing it with David Gilmour is one to feel goose bumps appear, to hear Pete Bentham and The Dinner Ladies play it is to almost understand the gender blurring of fun, slight majestic sleaze and sex appeal that runs through each line. You can only imagine the curly haired music genius who shone too brightly would have raised a smile towards the band, for it is a piece of art."
- Liverpool Sound and Vision
"Their infectious fusion of ska, folk and, er, circus music (that’s the only way to describe it, honest) seems a good enough reason to work off Pete’s (legendary) free Veggie Scouse via the medium of boogie... Pete begins by inviting everyone to pray for more good weather 'so we can riot in shorts and t-shirts'. Comedy is as much a part of Pete's act as the music; he enthusiastically explains the meaning behind songs, such as 'Nature', which was inspired by a conversation with a self-righteous hippy...
By the second encore, it's turned into a right old organic cider-fuelled knees-up; everyone obeys Pete's command to kneel on the floor before leaping back up for one chorus. Despite a lone stage invader almost spoiling proceedings, the show is a triumph."
- Purple Revolver, Live Review
"When all of the band kick in, the sound is tremendous; Pete thrashing away on his guitar trying to wear out the scratch plate (and his elbow); Gabrielle bashing the hell out of the drums. Marigoldy thunderously playing the bassiest bass possible and John 'The Caretaker' Lewis going cross-eyed trying to inflate either the sax or clarinet. The crowd loved them... Those diehards resisting the kitchen assault were all to be reigned in with the totally interactive 'Hip Potater'. Here, Pete had the crowd in the palm of his hand, ordering them to shout back the words 'Hip Potater, Hip Potater' at his command. A truly marvellous spectacle… You must give this band a listen, preferably live."
- Roomthirteen, Live review
"Wow, ich bin echt begeistert und habe mir das Album zum Besprechen sicher 10x angehört."
- Kink Records
"Bentham und Co. schaffen es, sich von allen Genrekonventionen zu lösen und Pubrock mit der Tanzmusik von Holly Golightly zu verbinden, Chuck Berry und Punkrock zu kombinieren, Saxophon und Klarinette einzubinden, eine entschärfte Version von THE FALL in Richtung KINGS OF NUTHIN’ zu lenken, mit einem kleinen Schlenker Richtung TOY DOLLS, und dabei dann doch nie wie eine der hier erwähnten Bands/Musiker zu klingen..."
- Ox fanzine
"Ihre Scheibe 'Hip Potater' läuft bei mir schon den ganzen Sommer lang... Trotz der frühen Uhrzeit ist sehr viel Publikum anwesend. Live sind sie eine Spur härter und schneller. Ein richtig guter Auftritt."
- Useless fanzine, Live Review
Pete Bentham and The Dinner Ladies – Marcel Duchamp
Upcoming shows
| Date | City | Venue | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec/03/22 | Stourbridge | Claptrap | UK |
Band
- Pete Bentham: Guitar & Vocals
- Paella Fitzgerald: Bass & Vocals
- Sonny Rolling Pin: Saxophone, Cat Flaps
- Tony Calzone – Drums
Discography
- 2017 – Psychedelic Village EP, Antipop Records
- 2014 – I Heart Here, CD, Antipop Records
- 2012 – Spacepunx EP, track 7″ vinyl, Free Rock & Roll
- 2010 – Hip Potater, CD, Free Rock & Roll
- 2009 – The New Underground, CD, Free Rock & Roll
Also check out:
THE FRANKLYS (UK)
Garage / Rock
Drawn to the raw and engaging indie rock scene emerging from the UK, Swedish Jen Ahlkvist and Fanny Broberg packed up themselves and their guitars to came to London intent on carving out a new vital sound. After crossing paths with bassist Zoe Biggs and drummer Lexi Clark, The Franklys were formed with a determination for creating energetic and powerful garage rock.
Wasting no time, the band threw themselves into relentless touring, extending their reach across the UK, Europe and America. After performances at Isle of Wight and Download festivals, they completed the circuit of O2 venues in the UK opening up for Airbourne. The Franklys went on to feature in an Apple Music advert, exclusively aired during The Brit Awards 2017, and released their debut album ‘Are You Listening?’ later that same year. The release of their single ‘Castaway’ from the album was described as ‘the best thing they’ve done to date’ by Steve Lamacq of BBC 6 Music.
The band have built a reputation in London and beyond as a ‘must see’ live band, combining dark and heavy riffs with frenetic and dynamic on stage performances. 2018 saw The Franklys complete four European tours alongside various UK dates, and in 2019 they published their new EP „Framed“.
Reviews
"The half-Swedish, half-English quartet debuted with the beautiful, raw garage sound of 'Are You Listening' in 2017 and are back this month with a hot fresh EP 'Framed', launching tonight. The room quickly fills and we can’t take our eyes off of sequined-up glamorous Jennifer Ahklvist centre stage with the first thrums of guitar. The Franklys have an instant magnetic presence – it’s all in from that moment, we’re all in, fully engaged... Flying high on their ferocious energy, the gig ends with enthusiastic applause and all of us chanting for more. The Franklys prove they’re not to be missed with a live show that gets all of our heart beats pumping with DIY love. Needless to say, my mate runs to the merch stall seconds after The Franklys go off stage to get the t-shirt. We’ll sure be back when they are."
- Joyzine, live review
“Fun filled garage rock with a pop twist, The Franklys have a feminine edge which sets them apart from their more laddish contemporaries”
- Clash
"From the opening track ‘Castaway’ on The Frankly’s debut album 'Are You Listening' you are instantly captured by the all girl band. The sound is pure garage and has a great pop feel to it. The 4 members, half Swedish half British, have a hint of The Runaways and certainly provide a raw edge that is present throughout the album. The mix of strong heavy riffs with the straight talking lyrics is captivating to listen to and it’s all held together with the steady bass provided by Zoe Biggs and Clark’s drums which creates something that is rare to hear in music at the moment. It is an album I haven’t stopped listening to since I first turned it on and I’ll certainly be trying to catch them on their UK tour this month! 'Are You Listening?' is an unequivocal triumph. So, are you?"
- Rocknloadmag.com
“Think The Hives but with better hair and make-up”
- Radio X
“The Franklys come on with a smattering of Hives gusto”
- NME
AGROTÓXICO (BR)
Hardcore / Punk Rock
Agrotóxico is one of the most popular and active punk bands ever to emerge from Brazil. They formed in São Paulo in 1993.
Agrotóxico's is a Hardcore Punk band with lyrics about anarchism, DIY actions and also about repression, fascism, 3rd world violence, ecological problems and all of this shit around the world. Live, this band turns every venue into a kettle of hot and steaming pogo punk with their relentless energy.
The bands history has 6 albums and a DVD documentation released in Brazil by Redstar Recs. All the albums were also released in Europe by Dirty Faces Records and Ruin Nation Records. That helped the band with 6 tours with more than 150 concerts around Europe, also having part in several compilations in lots of different countries.
In summer 2018 they will bring their new album (Break the Silence Records, Germany).
Reviews
"Heilige Mutter Gottes! So muss Hardcore-Punk klingen. Zwanzig Jahre gibt es die Band aus São Paulo/Brasilien jetzt schon und wenn sie irgendetwas nicht machen, dann ist es vom eingeschlagenen Weg abzuweichen. Stark UK-beeinflusster Hardcore-Punk, mit leichten Metal-Anleihen à la BROKEN BONES, nur ohne nervende Hardrock-Gitarrensoli. Ich weiß gar nicht genau, wann ich das letzte Mal so straight und energiereichen Punk schon beim ersten Hören so abgefeiert habe."
- Ox fanzine
"Auch nach 20 Jahren sind AGROTOXICO aus Brasilien das Nonplusultra in Sachen Power-Hardcore. Gestern erst hab ich mich auf ihrem Konzert in Bochum zum wiederholten Mal von ihnen an die Wand nageln lassen... Die Texte sind politisch wie immer und in portugisischer Sprache. Vieles in der Welt befindet sich im Wandel. Aber manche Dinge werden sich nie ändern. Zumindest kann ich mir nicht vorstellen, dass AGROTOXICO auf Platte jemals enttäuschen und auf Konzerten nicht 100% Vollgas geben werden."
- Plastic Bomb fanzine
"Agrotoxico dürften vielen von ihren genialen Slime- und Canalterror-Covern bekannt sein. Aggressiv scheppernder HC/Punk aus Sao Paulo, der den täglichen Wahnsinn der Mega City und die sozialen Missstände dieser Welt thematisiert. Erinnert etwas an die legendären Olho Seco, bei denen mittlerweile ja auch Leute von Agrotoxico mitmischen. Die Kerls bringen vor allem live die geballte Ladung Energie und Wut auf die Bühne, auf der sie alles geben. Wenn dieses Heft rauskommt, sind sie grad auf ihrer dritten Europa-Tour gewesen. Ihr solltet unbedingt hingegangen sein. Ansonsten halt das nächste Mal. "
- Pogoradio.de
"Etwas über 100 Leute fanden sich an diesem Donnerstagabend in der Meierei ein, was doch gar nicht schlecht ist. Die "Hauptbühne" im Saal wollte man heute ungenutzt lassen, nicht zuletzt wegen der doch sehr kurzfristigen Anbahnung dieses Konzis... Von Song zu Song merkte ich, wie ich zunehmend unwillkürlich zu zucken begann und das DISCHARGE-Cover „Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing“ riss mich endgültig vor die Bühne. Den CHAOS CONTROL-Jungs neben mir ging es ebenso, hatten sie den Song doch auch kürzlich an selber Stelle (na gut, ein paar Meter weiter...) zum besten gegeben."
- Dremufuestias.de
DON’T (US)
Garage / Punk Rock
Don't formed in Portland in 2009 when Jenny Don't (lead vocals, guitar) was introduced to drummer Sam Henry (The Wipers, Napalm Beach, The Rats). They created a genre-blurring blend that opened a Pandora's box of musical touchstones.
Recently bassist Kelly Halliburton (Pierced Arrows, Problems, Defiance) and guitarist Eric "Vegetable" Olson (Poison Idea) were roped in which makes Don't the ultimate Portland Punk-All-Star band.
A live presence to be reckoned with from their very first show, the band quickly built an enthusiastic and loyal following across the US and Europe.
Their powerful songs defy easy classification, sometimes dark and eerie, sometimes punk and surfy, but always melodic. Rooted in the same blues that are the foundation for almost all rock and roll, Don't contorts that basic concept into something dark and mysterious.
After their first album “Away Away”, several single releases and extended US and Europe tours, Don't published their new album "Fever Dreams" in the US (Doomtown Sounds) and Germany (Rockstar Records) in 2016.
Twisted Chords (Germany) will publish their new 7" "Enough is Enough" in spring 2017, before the next Don't-tour in May and June.
Reviews
'Don’t' are a surf-tinged punk group from Seattle featuring members of Napalm Beach and the Wipers and fantastic singer Jenny Don’t, whose voice has the same throaty, dark quality as a young, hungry Siouxie Sioux. The group are touring around a forthcoming full-length, and if their songwriting is as strong across the album as on the few preview tracks on their website, it should be a hell of a show."
- l’étoile magazine
"Before Portland earned its reputation as a playground for young adults, it was (and continues to be) home to individuals who devoted themselves to lifelong efforts at creative endeavors. Thankfully this side of the city endures amid escalating stereotypes and is on display with the musical project Don't. Formed in 2009 the band combines the talents of legendary local musicians Sam Henry (drummer of the Wipers, member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, and tonight's birthday boy) and Dave Minick (bassist for Napalm Beach and more), with the pioneering spirits of guitarist Dan Lowinger (the Love Lasers) and vivacious frontwoman Jenny Don't. The result is music that sounds effortlessly timeless while pulsating with that new and earnest energy we call rock and roll..."
- Portland Mercury
"DON'T is a band that is best described as being of the garage persuasion with hints of surf and punk thrown in. Fronted by the striking Jenny Don't the band also includes Sam Henry on drums, a man who has been inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, partially due to the fact that he was the drummer for The Wipers, one of the most well-known bands from that region. Musically the songs on this new release are laid back with Jenny DON'T providing a luxurious vocal performance that has a soothing quality to it, just right for kicking back and relaxing, as you drink whatever poison is needed to reset the levels of normalcy after the tedium of work."
- Punknews.org
"Portland’s got no shortage of throwback punk-garage outfits, but few nail the low-fi, devil-may-cry sound as seamlessly as quartet Don’t. Credit that to a lineup that includes members of groups like the Love Lasers, Audios Amigos, the Wipers and Napalm Beach. Traversing a robust musical plane of garage rock, country, spaghetti Western instrumental work and other seemingly divergent styles, the band’s sound mixes the rollicking rowdiness of old-school punk with a touch of Ventures-style surf rock. It’s all held together by guitarist-vocalist Jenny Don’t, whose voice combines the cadence of a lost Ramones sister and Metric’s Emily Haines, punctuating every slick riff with bravado. The group, formed three years ago, is steadily gaining a following by keeping one foot in the past and putting the other one forward."
- Willamette Week
"Bis auf die junge Frau an der Gitarre und am Mikro alles gestandene Menschen mit langjähriger Banderfahrung (unter anderem bei WIPERS und NAPALM BEACH), die dürfen dann eben auch mal GUN CLUB oder eben die WIPERS höchstselbst covern, ohne dass es aufgesetzt wirkt. Eine wunderbare Band, die zur richtigen Zeit am richtigen Ort einen Laden in Flammen setzen kann. DON’T muss ich wieder sehen!"
- Ox fanzine
"Jennys zuckersüßes Stimmchen verursacht Wohlfühl-Gänsehaut, während die Herren um sie herum das machen, was sie offenbar schon seit Ewigkeiten am besten können: gängige Melodien zu einem Surf-Postpunk-Rock'n'Roll-da-steckt-jede-Menge-Wipers-drin-Cocktail zu mixen. Noch einen bitte!"
- Plastic Bomb fanzine
"For those who are into gut-punching rock 'n' roll, this is some satisfying shit."
- Willamette Week, about "Fever Dreams"