Andi Social-Bass Ann Dee-Vocal PamP-Lead Vocal Nelly-Drums Peter-Guitar
A high energy glam punk rock feast! Hailing from deepest Bavaria, the band’s musical influences nevertheless stretch around the world, ranging from American ’50’s rock’n’roll, through to the English beat groups of the ’60’s, and on up ’70’s punk and the new wave of the early ’80’s – all these styles fusing together to create something totally original.
No strangers to the European live circuit, in the last couple of years Garden Gang have played more than 500 club gigs and festivals in Germany, England, Spain, Slovakia, Austria and Switzerland, together with The Damned, The Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers, The Vibrators, XSLF, as well as regular touring partners Eastfield and TV Smith from The Adverts, who also contributes backing vocals to the actual album.
Now they are back with a new a line up featuring Nelly (ex The Lurkers, Loaded 44 + HiFi Spitfires) on the drums.
MIDDLE CLASS SYMPHONY
ALBUM REVIEWS 2016
ÜBERROCK – Album review (english)
Power pop with plenty of punk rock going on and some decent additions always make for a good record and Garden Gang can be added to that long list of doers. ‘Middle Class Symphony’ has variety and attitude aplenty but they also manage to combine a bucket full of good ideas into good songs
Kicking off with a sprightly title track things are up and running and the marker has been thrown down. ‘There Ain’t No Better Place’ throws a little bit of Psychobilly into the ring, especially with that spanking salamander stick in the intro before the song motors along.
‘Tainted Summer’ has some interesting horns a honkin’ and the song has a great arrangement with a lot going on. I think this record might not be an instant hit but dipping in and out threw up plenty of treats; with thirteen tracks it’s a lot of music. ‘Stop Complaining’ is power pop with a great chorus and riff and the breakdown works well. Clearly the work of a very accomplished bunch of musicians ‘Late Night Gospel’ is tight and as it weaves its frantic tapestry it’s a very good song. ‘The Likes Of Us Have To Take It As It Comes’ begins sounding like a Mott The Hoople song but that soon passes once the band kicks in. They even sound guitar tapping-tastic on ‘Another Dimension’ as they get some serious hard rocking riffing done.
This Gang has, however, saved the best til last as ‘Model Citizen’ has a great energy and is a really well crafted slice of power pop which only leaves ‘Grave In Your Garden’ as we get all atmospheric as the song weaves towards its almost prog-like length of just under five minutes. But all joking aside there is a hint of Bowie about the album closer which isn’t a bad thing at all.
A very accomplished record with some stand out songs played by a band who are very accomplished and it’s never a bad thing to have TV Smith guesting on three tracks either.
BACKSTAIR REVOLUTION
ALBUM REVIEWS 2012
veglam webzine (english)
The German GANG is back with a 10 song album on which you’ll find 2 tracks from their previous single: 77 rock’n’roll hit “The Master Plan” and anthemic punk-a-billy song “Target Group Wellness & Wine”.
Opening song “Access All Areas” on this album reminds of The BOYS (not that surprising with such a band name!) while “Get a Move On” naturally goes into the power pop territory with Johnny Rotten kind of vocals and rock’n’roll piano!
As “Silence Is Only In Heaven” shows, GARDEN GANG is a high-energy band but they don’t fall into the big wall of distortion sound trap, their energy is directly taken from the 50s/60s and 70s and this largely contributes to their uniqueness, they’ll use an upright bass or a QUEEN kind of melody if they feel like the song needs one, and it always works in the end. The band can also be surprising on a song like “Room At The Top Up Above” which could please any ARCADE FIRE fan.
Moreover, this albums is released as a digipack with a good-looking 12 page booklet. Always a plus in this mp3 age!
Don’t look further if you’re sick of generic punk rock bands that all sound the same and are looking for a brand new bold GANG!/Laurent C.
LIVE REVIEWS
live music review UK
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