Andy Steele - Here Comes The Sunshine

Here at Bobbysix.com, we love love love Hannah Peel, or, as we call her, The Flame. You may remember we interviewed her a while ago. Anyway, a little bird told us that she is involved with another project, so we'd thought we'd share it with you. As well as continuing with her solo stuff, Peel now makes up part of Liverpool-based progressive folk artist Andy Steele's band. Also in an impressive line-up (pictured above, without Hannah) are members of Echo & The Bunnymen, Turin Breaks and The High Llamas, solo artist Helen Maher and - brilliantly - USA National Banjo Champion, John Dowling.

The band consists of an accordion, fiddle, piano, banjo and bouble bass and you can hear a couple of examples of their stuff below. If you like it, then an album, Night Fishing, is due to land on October 24th.

Andy Steele - A Wish For A Word by Bright Lights PR
Andy Steele - Here Comes The Sunshine by Bright Lights PR

Shane Beales - A New Year

This video clip from Liverpool-based singer/songwriter Shane Beales arrived in BobbySix.com's inbox recently, so we thought we'd share it with you. We're nice like that. Anyway have a listen and share your thoughts in the comments section below.

The Cubical - Come Sing These Crippled Tunes

Another week, another critically acclaimed act to come out of the UK. This time, it’s Liverpool’s The Cubical. Produced by Dave Sardy (Oasis, Primal Scream, Wolfmother) at LA’s legendary Sunset Sound studios, Come Sing These Crippled Tunes takes from a number of sounds, like Nuggets-esque garage, deep blues and psychedelic rock.

Opening song Great White Lie is a pulsating start, with infectious “Whoa-oh-oh,” backing vocals, blues-rock guitars and lead singer Dan Wilson’s whisky soaked growl. It sounds like The Zutons being beaten into submission with an empty Jack Daniels bottle by Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart. Wilson sounds even more like Waits on second track, Edward The Confessor, roaring with the gravel of an 80-a-day smoker over twangy guitars.

Sometimes, the influences are channelled a bit too faithfully though, like Would Be Lovers, which is Murder Ballads-era Nick Cave to the point of pastiche. However, unlike other backwards-lookers like King Khan, things here aren’t done with a knowing nudge in the ribs and an ‘aren’t we clever?’ wink, but rather with an authentic rock spirit; one gets the sense that this quintet really means it. Yeah, so they sound a bit like this band and a bit like they’re from that era, but, regardless of the fact that they are hardly treading uncharted territory, Come Sing These Crippled Tunes unquestionably has a fire in its belly. With music as raucous and enjoyable as this - and delivered with such passion - it seems a shame to question whether it amounts to anything more relevant and long-lasting than a loving homage. Just turn up your stereo and enjoy the ride.