By Daffs https://twitter.com/TwoDaff
Formed just after the pandemic, using the legendary Exeter venue ‘The Cavern’ as a home base, The Issues exploded onto the South West underground scene, bringing with them raucous tunes, blistering live performances and an unmatched stage presence.
The Issues (Joe Jenkins, Tom Ryan-McGragh, Mike Slack and Olly Fawcett) have, for the last couple of years been channelling their sound taking influence from bands like The libertines, Clash and The Cure with a bit of Sports Team thrown into the mix. Producing high energy indie/punk rock n roll, tongue in cheek yet catchy lyrics, with songs about sexy English teachers and scandalous siblings, taking a lighter view of life. Previous releases include ‘My Sister was a Punk’, ‘Katie’, ‘My Ex Stacey’ and more recently ‘Morning Cigarette’. (Review Here)
“Humorous yet biting lyrics”
Recorded at Cabin Studios in Dawlish, ‘Arancini’ is their latest track due for releases on October 31st 2022. It carries on the typical ‘Issues’ style with tongue in cheek, humorous yet biting lyrics that contain more truth than you think. Something the band pride themselves in. According to Joe “ We wrote the tune in the car on the way to a gig, and what started as a total piss take of a song has now turned into our favourite single we’ve recorded so far! On the surface it’s about a gross Eton sleazeball gorging on his favourite bitesize appetiser, but really it’s an audible culmination of our generation’s rage towards the callousness and gross frivolity of our leaders” Ring any bells?
“Turbo charged guitars”
Arancini opens with a thundering bass line, punk fuelled drum beat and blistering, turbo charged guitars. This needs to be played loud, its raucous, super high energy and punches hard. The lyrics are just brilliant, humorous yet totally relevant complete with expletives its certainly not for the faint hearted.
“Packed with drive and angst”
Its pure modern punk, chaotic yet organised (unlike the subject matter which is just plain chaotic!) Joe’s vocal is raw yet it fits in with the style, an aggressive lilt towards the powers that be, packed with drive and angst and it screams attitude. This could be the anthem for 2022 with everything that’s gone on with Uk politics lately.
There are no filters on this one, they say it as they see it, brutally honest and yet there is humour rumbling away underneath. Its three and a half minutes of explosive, chaotic punk rock, yet its modern and relevant. This is sure to be a favourite with many. It will certainly blow any roof off any venue when played live. I love it.
“An explosion of sound”
The Issues are the undisputed kings of chaotic, catchy punk Rock’n’Roll this side of the Bristol Channel, they are like a modern day Pistols with more bite. They bring an explosion of sound, pummelling drums and thunderous bass lines, high energy and frenzied guitar playing with punchy vocals, attitude and most importantly a smattering of truthful humour. A sure-fire winner this!
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