Modcast #210: Is There A Cool New Mod Revival?

The pressing question on my mind of late is whether or not we might be in the midst of a sort of mod revival. Is there a new mod revival in the offing? Hard to say, especially from the middle of the moment. But I do have to say that there are a few things aligning that might be pointing that way.

There's no denying that there are more so-called mod bands on the circuit these days then there were say five years ago when I launched the modcast. And these are bands that don't run from being tagged as mod. There have always been mod friendly bands, --soul groups, beat bands, power pop trios and so on-- but it seems that they often didn't want to get labeled as mod. Not so with the newer bands.

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So, are we in the midst of a new mod revival or not? It seems to me that the one thing that is lacking to really have a mod revival is a leader, a figure head, someone like Townsend or Weller. Movements need their leading lights, someone to rally around. The sixties had great bands like The High Numbers, The Creation, The Small Faces, complete with larger than life legends like Pete Townsend and Steve Marriott. And there were complimentary bands like The Zombies, The Beatles, The Kinks and more. In the seventies the first mod revival had Paul Weller and The Jam. The Britpop scene had Olympian-sized bands (with matching egos) like Oasis and Blur. Thus far, while there are perhaps more and better (gasp! did he just say that?) bands, no group or individual has risen to the pinnacle of supreme leader status, that sort of god-like figure that is neccesary to really ignite a revolution.

Let me know what you think. In this modcast I am gonna make a case that there's lots of good mod friendly music being made right this very moment and that's at least half the battle. You let me know in the comments below if that means it's a revival.

Suedehead -- New Traditions (2011)
The Broken Vinyl Club -- I Want You Girl (2011)
The School -- I Want You Back (2010)
Houdini Dax -- O.L.L. (2011)
Steve Craddock -- I--Man (2011)
Raphael Saddiq -- Radio (2011)
Miles Kane -- Counting Down The Days (2011)
Laura Vane & The Vipertones -- All Over Again (2011)
James Taylor Quartet -- Why Can't We Get Along (2011)
DC Fontana -- Sleeping With X (2010)
The Method -- Gunners March (2011)
The Modesty -- 1975 (2010)
Booze -- Rachel (2011)
The Like -- I Can See It In Your Eyes (2010)


The School -- Is He Really Coming Home?



Miles Kane Interview

Modcast #209: The Hour of Power

The mod world is busier than a fly at a crap convention this week. So, I picked out songs that for the most part need no introduction, by artists that you are all well familiar with. Then I just get out of the way and let the music testify. The verdict? Guilty of greatness I'm sure.

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The Jam -- Set The House Ablaze
The Kinks -- I'm Not Like Everybody Else
The Rolling Stones -- Have You Ever Seen Your Mother Baby, Standing In The Shadow
The Monkees -- Pleasant Valley Sunday
The Attack -- Feel Like Flying
The Move -- I Can Hear The Grass Grow
The Creation -- Through My Eyes
Steve Marriott & The Moments -- Good Morning Blues
Sergio Mendes & Brazil '66 -- With A Little Help From My Friends
Generation X -- Friday's Angels
The Specials -- Stereotype
The Last Ones -- Number One Again
The First Steps -- I Got The News
The Jags -- She's So Considerate
Secret Affair -- I'm Not Free
The Style Council -- Have You Ever Had It Blue
Squire -- Girl On A Train
Mod Fun -- Your Eyes Reflect
The Jetset -- Count The Beating Hearts
The Red Button -- Free
Graham Coxon -- Freakin' Out


And keep up with me between modcasts:
Twitter - @mistersuave
Facebook - facebook.com/modmodworld
Spotify - Spotify
Subscribe - iTunes
Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World. Mod friendly music mixes since 2006.

Clue by The Contrast

From the Vaults: Modcast #169: It Must Be Summer!

Once more into the vault my friends, once more into the vault. Step back in time, to a time when the modcast was young and fresh. Take a giant step outside your current listening constraints and journey with me back to a not so distant past. I've opened up the vaults and dusted off a classic modcast that I think you'll enjoy. Again.

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Never mind the gray skies, summer is finally upon us and as usual Ken from The Shingles is here to drive you straight into summer and beyond. And he's got a co-pilot along for the ride, the famous Mike Simmons. So get on board, select your seat, get strapped in and get set for high flying hi-jinks on the annual summer modcast.

Hi-Risers - Summertime Here We Come (Buzz Around With The Hi-Risers 7" single, 2006)
Radio Birdman - Aloha Steve & Danno (Aloha Steve And Danno 7" single, 1977)
Beach Boys - Amusement Parks U.S.A. ( Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!), 1965)
Five Americans - Disneyland (Second LP, 1969)
Candy Butchers - California Girl (Live at La BonBonniere, 1996)
http://www.mikeviola.com/
Fountains of Wayne - It Must Be Summer (Utopia Parkway, 1999)
Sunrays - I Live for the Sun (Andrea, 1966)
Kompost - One Summer Sunday (Single, 2004)
Flashing Lights - Summertime Climb (Where the Change Is, 1999)
sparkle*jets u.k. - Summertime Dreamin' (He's a Rebel: The Gene Pitney Story Retold, 2002)
The Knack - The Man On The Beach (Normal as the Next Guy, 2001)
Wondermints - Ride (Mind If We Make Love to You, 2002)
Sammy Davis, Jr. - You Can Count On Me (You Can Count On Me, 7" single, 1976)
Presidents of the United States of America - Tiki God (II, 1996)


Sunrays - "I Live For The Sun"

From the Vaults: Modcasts #86 & #122

Once more into the vault my friends, once more into the vault. Step back in time, to a time when the modcast was young and fresh. Take a giant step outside your current listening constraints and journey with me back in time. I've opened up the vaults and dusted off two classic modcasts that I think you'll enjoy. Again.

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Modcast #86: Take a Tip From a Tip Top Mod
Welcome to Mr. Suave’s Mod Mod World, episode #86 in which we have a few interesting connections. Opening act Elton Motello frontman Alan Ward had once been in another band with future Damned member Bryan James, so maybe it’s no surprise that both bands produced great punk rock. Another connection made in the show is between more 70s Brit punks, this time the move from Chelsea to Generation X. Lots of pitch perfect power pop in this week’s show up from the likes of Martha & the Muffins, Clive Culbertson, The Briliant Corners, Fast Eddie and more. And if you head on over to the modcast homepage you can check out this week’s bonus video from Beulah. Thanks for listening.

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• Elton Motello – Get The Guy
• Sit N’Spin – I’m Sick
• The Untold Fables – I Try
• The Aromatics – Maureen
• The Brilliant Corners – Friday Saturday Sunday Monday
• Beulah – Silver Lining
• Headlights – Catch Them All
• Martha & The Muffins – Hide and Seek
• Clive Culbertson – Time to Kill
• Chelsea – Urban Kids
• Fast Eddie – Help Me

Bonus Video Beulah -- Landslide



Modcast #122: Watch. This. Now.
Welcome to modcast #122 and welcome to the Moscow Underground a brand new London mod band on this week's show. They've got a really cool, really heavy mod sound, as does the rest of the show. There's more new stuff as well from Supernova, Morrissey, and the Takeover UK, some garage rock from Los Immediatos and Magic Christian, as well as some Britpop from the likes of Blur and Sleeper.

• Moscow Underground - Soho Strut
• Morrisey - Last Time I Spoke to Carol
• The Takeover UK -- Never Been So Sick
• The Supernovas -- Diamonds and Gems
• Los Immediatos -- Something Wrong With You
• New Salem WitchHunters -- At The border
• Magic Christian -- Tomorrow Never Come
• Blur -- Clover Over Dover
• Sleeper -- What Do You
• Automatics -- Watch Her Now
• Dead Boys -- (I Don't Wanna Be No) Catholic Boy

Los Immediatos - Ella



Blur -- Charmless Man

Mr. Suave's Reviews You Can Use - Steve Craddock

Mr. Suave's Reviews You Can Use - Steve Cradock

Steve Cradock is a mod man among mod men. Main man of Britpop modsters Ocean Colour Scene. Long time guitarist in Paul Weller's band. Mod street cred that most wannabe mod up and comers would die for. His latest release is his second, and by far best, solo album -- Peace City West.

Cradock was a mod in the 80s, played in UK mod outfit The Boys, which is when he came to Paul Weller's attention and their lifelong association began. His big break came with Ocean Colour Scene's 2nd album, 1995's Moseley Shoals which became one of Britpop's earliest, biggest successes selling 3 million copies. Alongside Oasis and Weller the band helped to spearhead Britpop's claim to be the scene for the modern mods.

If you dropped your needle down on Peace City West and let it bounce accross the vinyl you might have fleeting thoughts of Supergrass, Kinks, Small Faces, and early David Bowie. Interestingly the one thing that didn't come to mind for me was Ocean Colour Scene.

Peace City West isn't perfect, but it is damn close. Cradock shows himself to be the kind of singer songwriter that Noel Gallegher and Paul Weller probably have always known he was. The songs are smooth, both lyrically and musically. None are deriviative, this isn't retro or vintage. Cradock doesn't dwell in the past as much as builds on it. His songs are evocative of the best of the sixties, sometimes psychadelic like in "Kites Rise Up Against The Wind", and at other times with a nod to the sixties styled power pop mods love so much as with "I-Man". The chorus has Who like guitars ringing out and you can just tell that in a live show this would be a stripped and ripped number.

So many songs stand out on Peace City West it's hard not to mention them all. From the opening "Last Days of the World" with a jangleness that resonates, to the jaunty "Little Girl", Cradock shows off a Welleresque kind of writing and guitar work, and a sort of poppishness you can't not fall in love with. Overall it's very much a product of an old soul, a sixties soul, but one that is still a bit mired in Britpop.

Just listen to "Only Look Up When Your Down. Beatles anyone? Cradock channels Lennon and McCartney pretty perfectly there. And "Steppin Aside" -- it's a bit less sixties and a bit more original, with nice guitar work that signals a real change of pace for what probably would have been considered side two some 40 years back.

Cradock has produced a thoroughly mod album, something you don't find much anymore. You will enjoy it from opening groove to closing chords.

Modcast #207: It's A Smash!

Welcome to the modcast and to another great set of music from pop with power to garage rockin' beats and even some smooth soul to warm the icy corners of your hearts.


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The Mallrats -- Baby Take Me Back (2007)
The Len Price 3 -- Medway Eye (2005)
The Cocktail Slippers -- Give It To Me (2007)
Ripchord -- Back Of The Van (2009)
Le Future Pompiste -- Sunflower (2004)
Cloudberry Jam -- I Sit A While Considering (2008)
Baskervilles -- Smash (2008)
Steve Cradock -- Last Day Of The World(2011)
Choo Choo -- The Sun (2011)
Cirrone -- Uplands Park Road (2011)
The Moving Sounds -- Two Times (2004?)
Elvis Costello -- Radio Radio (1978)
The Corsairs -- Never Listen (1984)
Holme -- Runaway (1985)
Crawling Walls -- Fly Tonight (1985)


Elvis Costello & The Attractions -- Olivers Army



Cocktail Slippers - St. Valentine's Day Massacre

Ready, Steady Go! Episode 1 with The Beatles, Tha Animals, Dave Clark 5, and more

Interestingly that this is labeled as show #1, but introduced as "another" episode of Ready, Steady, Go! No matter this is some great stuff.