WE LOVE Gong, a legendary band. So we leapt at the chance to catch them when they visited Oxford’s O2 recently.
It should be no surprise that we’ve picked them to head up this week’s selection of music for your aural pleasure.
Have a listen thanks to the RaW Sounds Today playlist – it features 10 great tracks to enjoy at your leisure, and they are all available on Spotify.
Simply head to https://bit.ly/rawsoundstoday and enjoy the music.
There is also a Facebook page and group chat that bands and music fans can tap into. You can search for RaW Sounds Today and it will come up.
Gong – My Guitar is a Spaceship
A couple of years ago I went along to Reading’s Sub89 to see the latest incarnation of the legendary band, Gong.
It was a brilliant night and so, when Andy Merritt and I had the opportunity to attend the opening night of their double header tour with another legendary band, Ozric Tentacles, at Oxford’s O2 Academy last week, we jumped at the chance.
We were so glad we did as it was a night of the best in psychedelic rock from two bands that are as inventive and exciting now as they ever were.
Both bands have just released new albums and this track is from Gong’s album, Unending Ascending.
There are a few dates left on the current tour and, if you don’t get a chance to go along to those, both bands are heading out together again in the Spring – https://www.gongband.com/
Thomas Heppell – Underdog
Thomas is a talented Berkshire-based musician who is building up a reputation with his live shows and his three UK Blues Award nominations.
He has released a new album titled simply Thomas Heppell, from which this song is taken, which showcases his modern take on blues, jazz and rock and shows that this is an artist who is worth checking out.
There’s a wonderful opportunity to do that when Thomas and his band perform on Friday, December 8 at Wokingham Music Club – https://www.thomasheppell.com/
Dakorra – Falling
Dakorra’s Elevate Me EP was one of our favourite releases of 2022 and now the band, based around local musician, Kate Kerridge, have just released this new single.
It’s a very atmospheric sound featuring a cool drum’ n’ bass groove with synth and guitar sounds overlayed with Kate’s wonderful vocal which builds beautifully to a euphoric guitar-laden climax. Great stuff – https://www.facebook.com/dakorraband
One Last Day – No Chemical
It’s another rock anthem from these local rockers who have performed several successful shows recently – https://linktr.ee/onelastday
Pet Needs – Separation Anxiety
Pet Needs prove that punk is alive and well and, if you don’t believe that, get down to Reading’s Face Bar on Thursday, November 30 when the band will be revisiting the area for another great Club Velocity show – https://petneedsband.com/
Barbara – Master Narrative
The two brothers from Brighton, who supported Haircut 100 at The Hexagon recently, with another piece of pop magic – https://linktr.ee/barbaratheband
Funke and the Two Tone Baby – Can’t Stop the Music
He performed a great set, at a Club Velocity Reading Show earlier this year and now this Kent based artist has just released Reacclimate, a very strong album – https://funkeandthetwotonebaby.co.uk/
Mackenzie – Ordinary
Here’s a wonderful uplifting pop-rock anthem from a very talented musician from Reading – https://linktr.ee/Mackenzieofficial
Spriggan Mist – Kintbury Witch
Here’s an exciting new 10th anniversary re-recording of a song from the band’s Ghostly Tales’ album – https://www.sprigganmist.com/
Hayley Griffiths – Melanie
We saw Hayley and her band at an excellent show on a road trip to Southampton’s The 1865 venue recently – https://www.hayleygriffiths.com/
