January 5th, 2011

It’s only been a few months since Mona  released their single “Listen To Your Love” and “Trouble on The Way” on their own label ‘Zion Noiz Recordings via Rough Trade shops and independent stores across the UK this year.

Since then, the gang of four has signed with Mercury Records in the US, and is set to kick off select winter tour dates in New York City, Brooklyn, Los Angeles and San Francisco to much anticipation. Mona makes arm-pumping, vein-throbbing, knee-jittering, raw-throated, sing-a-long rock n’roll. If you haven’t heard the thunderous vintage rock that Mona plays, you shouldn’t wait another day.

The Greenhornes have escaped a Mid-western winter to head to Australia for Big Day Out and play a string of dates with The Black Keys. However, U.S. fans will be treated to a run of dates upon their return in the spring. November 2010 saw the release of long-awaited album ★★★★ (Third Man Records), the band’s first in over 7 years. The band also made their TV debut on Fuel TV’s “The Daily Habit” before wrapping up the year with New Years Eve and Day shows with compadres, The Black Keys.

Say ‘Elbow’ out loud. Right now. Sounds nice on the tongue, right? There’s a simple, effortless pleasure in the English language, no denying it. Words have a subtle power beyond their literal meaning; any lyricist who knows this soon finds that their songs stick around long after the fade-out of the final chorus. And wouldn’t you know it, Guy Garvey of Elbow happens to be one of those lyricists, championing nice words whenever he opens his mouth near a microphone.

Beady Eye frontman Liam Gallagher has claimed to have heard ‘over half’ of the material set for inclusion on brother Noel‘s debut solo album.

Justin Young, frontman of rising London stars The Vaccines, has laughed off suggestions his move from solo folk singer to rock frontman was a calculated change of direction.

The Strokes‘ long awaited fourth studio album will be released in March, according to the band’s bassist Nikolai Fraiture.

Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty has died aged 63 following a long illness. His family have said the singer passed away peacefully at home with his daughter Martha.