Hey Punka!

What with the recent release of Let's Wrestle's second album, I've been coming over all punk. And as we all know, there's nothing quite like getting your punk on. Especially when you're dancing around your flat with a feather duster (not that that actually happened, you understand. Just creating some amusing imagery, like).

So anyway......I've never had a hardcore (or even softcore) punk-head phase, but occasionally my astoundingly impressive eclectic tastes lead me to bop around to a pop-punk tune or two - nothing too unbecoming of a lady though, Cloud Nothings or Let's Wrestle is about as far as I go. So imagine my surprise - nay, shock even - when a couple of punk bands have managed to be my soundtrack of choice this fine bank holiday.

Eagulls are jumping about all over the scene at the moment, having released their 7" 'Council Flat Blues' on Not Even last year, a small label releasing records under the wing of the Moshi Moshi imprint. They're the kind of band that will play a raucous, drink-kicking, flailing around spraying sweat all over the crowd set (that'll be a punk band, then) and I found myself grinning at the stage like an eejit while they were playing (whilst standing perfectly still with folded arms of course, as is my style). Listen to the single below, and if you happen to be lucky enough to live in Manchester, get on down to Gullivers tonight to catch them and their sweaty antics.

Council Flat Blues - Eagulls by Radar Maker

The other band to be piquing my interest this rainy afternoon are Men, a three-man bouncey pop-punk band from Norwich, a place particularly close to my heart (I went to university there, y'know). They put a free seven-track release up on their Bandcamp way back in 2009, which is still happily available for the downloading here. Whilst Eagulls are more of a moody, frown-and-nod-your-head-vigorously kind of deal, Men are a full-on jumping-on-the-bed pop kind of deal; they even have a track containing some phat 80s synth sounds, 'Big Fucker'. Have a listen to 'Calculators' on the player below as well for some sugary sweet summery goodness. Men appear to be on something of a European tour at the moment, so have a look at their Myspace to see if you can catch them coming your way. Happy puking! Oh, I meant happy punking!