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Glam-Punk Outlaws Gypsy Pistoleros Conjure Gothic Chaos on ‘Dark Faerie Tales’

Eric Alper
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Glam-Punk Outlaws Gypsy Pistoleros Conjure Gothic Chaos on ‘Dark Faerie Tales’

While much of rock plays it safe, Gypsy Pistoleros are busy burning the rulebook. The self-styled world’s only Glam Punk Goth ‘n’ Roll outlaws return with their most dangerous, theatrical, and uncompromising record yet, ‘Dark Faerie Tales: A Fairytale for the Damned,’ out now on The New Church Records. It’s feral, glitter-streaked gothic punk rock with teeth.

The album draws openly from the bloodlines of The Damned, Hanoi Rocks, Killing Joke, The Cult, and the modern defiance of YUNGBLUD, but the band mutate those influences rather than imitate them. Produced and co-written by long-time sonic conspirator Dave Draper (Michael Monroe, Ginger Wildheart, The Wildhearts, Therapy?, Elvana), it fuses glam-soaked punk energy with gothic grandeur, raw fire, and apocalyptic swagger, a record for outsiders, believers, romantics, and beautiful misfits.

It follows the success of ‘Church of the Pistoleros,’ hailed as one of 2025’s most fearless and eclectic rock albums, and pushes things even bolder. Born from the band’s own mythology, ‘Dark Faerie Tales’ drifts through haunted woods and neon dreams, where sleaze-drenched punk anthems meet gothic grandeur and glam swagger burns with outlaw soul. As Overdrive put it, it’s a love letter to the beautiful and broken and proof that rock ‘n’ roll still has room for danger, drama, and glitter in the dark.

The album is available worldwide on three-colour vinyl in Neon Purple and Black Splatter and Neon Green and Black Splatter, plus a deluxe 4-panel digisleeve CD and digital. The band is Gypsy Lee Pistolero (vocals), Kerry Pistolero White (bass and backing vocals), Shane Pistolero Sparkz (guitar and backing vocals), and Chris Pistolero Hopton (drums).

Live, Gypsy Pistoleros deliver gothic theatre, glam-punk ritual, and full-on rock spectacle, part gothic carnival, part rock ‘n’ roll ritual. For fans of Alice Cooper, YUNGBLUD, Ghost, The Cult, The Damned, Hanoi Rocks, and Killing Joke, they’re heading toward one of their biggest stretches yet, including a slot at Rebellion Punk Festival, with more festival and European dates to be announced.

2026 Live Dates:

6–9 August – Rebellion Punk Festival, Blackpool Winter Gardens

Heaven & Hell Revisit Dio’s Final Act on ‘Breaking Out Of Heaven 2007–2009’

Eric Alper
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Heaven & Hell Revisit Dio’s Final Act on ‘Breaking Out Of Heaven 2007–2009’

A scorching 2007 reunion performance gets a fresh coat of HD. Heaven & Hell have released an HD-upscaled video of “The Mob Rules,” captured live at Radio City Music Hall, out now. Where the 1981 original signalled a darker turn for the band, this Radio City reading lands with the precise, massive weight that only decades of chemistry could produce.

The video previews ‘Breaking Out Of Heaven 2007–2009,’ a new collection focusing on the final chapter of Ronnie James Dio’s celebrated tenure with members of Black Sabbath. Reuniting with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice under the Heaven & Hell name, the band returned to stage and studio decades after their original run for an unexpected second act. The set is out now via BMG as 7LP and 4CD/Blu-ray boxed sets, each with an illustrated book featuring new liner notes by Hugh Gilmour, plus a replica tour book and poster.

The collection is a real treasure for fans. It marks the first time the complete ‘Live From Radio City Music Hall’ performance appears on vinyl, and features eight tracks making their vinyl debut, including studio recordings from ‘The Dio Years’ and select live performances. The Blu-ray expands things further with video from Radio City and ‘Neon Nights: 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell – Live at Wacken,’ plus band interviews.

The set traces the band’s full reunion arc, beginning with the triumphant 2007 New York show, followed by the Top 10 studio album ‘The Devil You Know’ in 2009, and the live album ‘Neon Nights,’ recorded later that year on tour in Germany. Taken together, it’s a fitting tribute to a late, powerful chapter in Dio’s storied career.

‘Breaking Out Of Heaven 2007–2009’ 4CD Track Listing:

Disc One: The Devil You Know

“Atom and Evil”

“Fear”

“Bible Black”

“Double The Pain”

“Rock And Roll Angel”

“The Turn Of The Screw”

“Eating The Cannibals”

“Follow The Tears”

“Neverwhere”

“Breaking Into Heaven”

“The Devil Cried”

“Shadow Of The Wind”

“Ear In The Wall”

Disc Two: Live from Radio City Music Hall

“E5150 / After All (The Dead)”

“The Mob Rules”

“Children Of The Sea”

“Lady Evil”

“I”

“The Sign Of The Southern Cross”

“Voodoo”

“The Devil Cried”

Disc Three: Live from Radio City Music Hall

“Computer God”

“Falling Off the Edge Of The World”

“Shadow Of The Wind”

“Die Young”

“Heaven And Hell”

“Lonely Is the Word”

“Neon Knights”

Disc Four: Neon Nights: 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell

“Mob Rules”

“Children Of The Sea”

“I”

“Bible Black”

“Time Machine”

“Fear”

“Falling Off The Edge Of The World”

“Follow The Tears”

“Die Young”

“Heaven And Hell”

“Neon Knights”

Kansas City Bubble-Grunge Quartet The Eradicats Turn Recovery Into an Anthem on “I Ate a Sandwich”

Eric Alper
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Kansas City Bubble-Grunge Quartet The Eradicats Turn Recovery Into an Anthem on “I Ate a Sandwich”

A small, private milestone became one of the band’s most meaningful songs. Kansas City bubble-grunge quartet The Eradicats have released “I Ate a Sandwich,” a heartfelt and deeply personal track that shows a more vulnerable side of the band while keeping the catchy hooks and playful spirit that define their sound. It’s out now here.

Known for turning life’s oddities into infectious punk songs, from overeager friendship pursuits to legendary stunt horses, The Eradicats take a more intimate approach here. The song draws on bassist and co-vocalist Kristi’s journey through eating disorder recovery, built around a single quiet moment at a teaching conference lunch that carried enormous weight for her.

Driven by bright melodies, punchy guitars, and the band’s signature mix of sincerity and humour, “I Ate a Sandwich” captures both the anxiety and the triumph of doing something that once felt impossible. It’s proof that pop-punk can be goofy and deeply meaningful at the same time.

Kristi spoke openly about what the song means to her. “I’ve been working with a therapist and dietician for just over a year now and it has transformed my life,” she shares. She described the conference lunch as a planned, supported step in her recovery, one she approached with trepidation and came through proud of herself. “The whole experience became this song and it means a lot to me because it’s goofy and fun, as our music tends to be, but it’s also deeply serious, and I hope it can resonate with anyone else who may be struggling.”

Formed in Kansas City, The Eradicats feature Kristi (bass, vocals), Josh (guitar, vocals), Chris (guitar), and Justin (drums). They first made waves with their debut EP ‘Best in Show,’ which blends the wild energy of the Pixies, the clever wit of They Might Be Giants, and the urgency of ’90s pop-punk with a dash of ska. Critics have praised that balance of humour and heart, with The Punk Site calling their music equal parts witty humour and energetic punk rock, and Punk Rock Theory noting their knack for turning everyday awkwardness into punk rock gold. With “I Ate a Sandwich,” the band expand their range without losing the playful charm fans love, delivering something catchy, courageous, and cathartic.

This is a sensitive subject, and if you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline can connect you with support.

Michigan Alt-Rockers 84 Tigers Honor a Fallen Friend on the “Two Rivers” Video With Rocky Votolato

Eric Alper
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Michigan Alt-Rockers 84 Tigers Honor a Fallen Friend on the “Two Rivers” Video With Rocky Votolato

Grief and remembrance run through the latest from 84 Tigers. The Michigan alt-rock trio have unveiled the official music video for “Two Rivers,” featuring acclaimed singer-songwriter Rocky Votolato, who appears prominently throughout. The track is a centerpiece from the band’s latest album ‘Nothing Ends,’ which is out now via Spartan Records.

The song stands as a heartfelt tribute to the late Travis Dopp of Small Brown Bike, weaving in lyrical nods to his work and honoring both his creative spirit and enduring influence. Votolato’s presence deepens its sense of remembrance and connection, lending it real emotional gravity.

“‘Two Rivers’ is a tribute to our old friend and bandmate Travis. Some of his lyrics are quoted in the song,” says Mike Reed. “When Rocky and I realized that we had both written songs with the word ‘River’ in the title separately, it was cosmic fate that brought him into the song. I had no idea what it would become, but he took it to new heights and I still get choked up when I hear it.”

The video matched the song’s spirit. “Making this video was very special,” Reed continues. “Ben did all of the filming, drone work, and editing. It was all of us sitting in the woods by the river and a fire. It felt very Michigan and an awesome way to honor Travis.”

84 Tigers formed when brothers Mike and Ben Reed (Small Brown Bike) joined longtime friend Jono Diener (The Swellers). The trio first made waves in 2022 with ‘Time in the Lighthouse,’ earning acclaim for a widescreen blend of post-hardcore urgency, ’90s alternative grit, and sweeping melodic hooks.

The road to ‘Nothing Ends’ was shaped by profound loss. Travis Dopp’s sudden passing left the band reeling and uncertain about the future. “I questioned if losing a creative partner took the energy out of my process,” Reed recalls. “Songs started and stopped. I struggled. Then one day it broke, this mantra popped into my head: Tears in your eyes. Fist in the air. That became a path forward.”

Produced by Marc Jacob Hudson, ‘Nothing Ends’ turns grief into catharsis through a raw three-piece dynamic. From the aching “Two Rivers” to the hopeful “Only Light” and the rousing “Regeneration Days” (featuring Aaron Stauffer of Seaweed/Ghost Work), the album balances devastation with defiance, building toward its closing refrain: “Everything you love will hurt you someday.”

‘Nothing Ends’ Track Listing:

The Crush of It All

Two Rivers (feat. Rocky Votolato)

Through Centuries

Fathom

Only Light

Regeneration Days (feat. Aaron Stauffer)

Navigator

The Becoming

In Infinite

Everything You Love

Brazilian Power-Pop Revivalists Banda AL9 Step Into the US Spotlight With “She Can Do It All”

Eric Alper
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Brazilian Power-Pop Revivalists Banda AL9 Step Into the US Spotlight With “She Can Do It All”

A Brazilian power-pop sensation is making serious inroads stateside. Banda AL9 are off and running in the US with their new single “She Can Do It All,” out now via Wicked Cool Records. It marks the band’s first official American single and arrives amid a surge of momentum that includes a triumphant New York City debut, a live performance on SiriusXM’s Little Steven’s Underground Garage, and one of the station’s coveted “Coolest Song in the World” honours. Listen here.

The live show is translating across borders. Fresh off a sold-out first US appearance at The Cutting Room in New York, the band packed the room with a tight, hook-filled set of chiming guitars, dual-lead vocals, and infectious enthusiasm. That same week they performed on Little Steven’s Underground Garage, a major co-sign from one of rock’s most influential tastemakers.

Written by Kurt Baker and Wyatt Funderburk, “She Can Do It All” showcases the band’s blend of classic power-pop sparkle and modern indie urgency. “As soon as we heard ‘She Can Do It All,’ it immediately felt like a perfect fit for Banda AL9,” the band share. “The song has strong, memorable melodies, great vocal openings, and lyrics about love that really reflect what the band is all about. From the first listen, we could already hear ourselves singing it.” Produced by Matheus Khouri and Thiago Khouri, mixed by Wyatt Funderburk, and mastered by Justin Perkins, the single bursts with tight harmonies and crisp guitars, with a video directed by the Khouri brothers capturing the group’s retro-tinged flair.

Formed in 2017 and led by brothers Matheus Khouri (vocals, lead guitar) and Thiago Khouri (vocals, bass), Banda AL9 first gained traction through acoustic covers before exploding online with viral originals, amassing millions of streams and over 2 million followers. Their rise has drawn major co-signs, including praise from Justin Hawkins of The Darkness and an endorsement from Steve Aoki, who covered their hit “Chama de Amor,” invited them to Tomorrowland Brazil, and joined them again in 2025 for a stadium performance at São Paulo’s Allianz Parque.

Now signed to Wicked Cool Records, founded by Little Steven Van Zandt, the band channel their Beatles-meets-early-Who energy through a distinctly Brazilian lens, fusing ’60s-inspired melodies with contemporary indie drive. “She Can Do It All” is the first taste of their forthcoming album ‘Hey! Hey! We’re Banda AL9,’ due July 17. With their US debut behind them and tastemakers firmly in their corner, Banda AL9 are stepping into their biggest chapter yet.

Garage-Rock Stalwarts The Woggles Crank It Up on New Single “Love Tick”

Eric Alper
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More than three decades in, The Woggles still play like the shark that has to keep moving. The garage-rock stalwarts kick off 2026 with their brand-new single “Love Tick,” out now, arriving alongside their collection ‘Stop and Take A Minute,’ a handpicked set of B-sides and rarities now out via Wicked Cool Records. Listen here.

Written by frontman “The Professor” Mighty Manfred and guitarist Peter Greenberg (Barrence Whitfield & The Savages, The Lyres, DMZ), “Love Tick” is a high-voltage dose of the band’s signature rock ‘n’ soul swagger, born out of a creative partnership that took shape during the pandemic. “Our bands touring together in the past built a friendship that led to us writing songs during the pandemic,” says Greenberg. “‘Love Tick’ tells the story of Manfred’s attraction to ladies worldwide.”

While the single surges forward with fresh electricity, ‘Stop and Take A Minute’ digs deep into the vault, gathering hard-to-find tracks, overlooked gems, and choice cuts that showcase the band’s raw power and enduring groove. Far from a simple retrospective, it captures the breadth of a group that’s spent more than 30 years keeping real rock ‘n’ roll alive and dangerous.

For a band this deep into its run, The Woggles operate as a forward-moving force rather than a legacy act. “The band is not as much an institution as a way of life,” says Mighty Manfred. “The main thing is to keep swimming, ’cause the shark has got to keep moving.” That momentum is powered by a formidable lineup: a twin-guitar attack from Graham Day (The Prisoners, Solar Flares, Thee Mighty Caesars) and Shane Pringle (Tiger! Tiger!, Bad Spell), with Pringle also on saxophone, anchored by the rhythm section of Buzz Hagstrom (bass) and Dan Elektro (drums).

Drawing from early rock ‘n’ roll and R&B through ’60s garage, soul, and the British Invasion, The Woggles fuse vintage fire into a singular sound, hard, loud, and delivered with more majesty than recklessness. Having shared stages with legends including Johnny Cash, Link Wray, and The Zombies, their live reputation remains untouchable. As Meredith Ochs declared on NPR’s All Songs Considered, a Woggles show will change your life.

Upcoming Shows:

July 31 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill

August 1 – Sacramento, CA – Torch Club

August 4 – Palmdale, CA – Transplants Brewery

August 6 – Long Beach, CA – Alex’s Bar

August 8 – Los Angeles, CA – Permanent Records Roadhouse

South-West Wales Indie-Pop Artist Brook Fox Throws a Hometown Anthem With “Together”

Eric Alper
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South-West Wales Indie-Pop Artist Brook Fox Throws a Hometown Anthem With “Together”

A night out in his hometown turned into a love letter to the music that started it all. South-West Wales artist Brook Fox returns with “Together,” a vibrant indie-pop/rock single inspired by the electric energy of the 2000s and early 2010s indie scene. It’s out now.

Drawing on Bloc Party and Two Door Cinema Club, the track is built around chunky guitars, offbeat disco drums, and a simple but effective chorus, the right ingredients for an indie anthem. It also marks the debut studio performance of Brook Fox’s live band, whose energetic sets have seen them support Liverpool’s Keyside and Glastonbury performer Mali-Haf. That energy carries straight into the recording, made with trusted producer and mixer Tim Hamill.

The song came from a personal place. “This song is a love letter to the songs that inspired me in the first place, writing this felt like rediscovering my obsession with music,” says Brook Fox. “Lyrically it’s just based around a night out in my hometown and just wanting to escape the judgement of being different, I think it’ll speak to a lot of people.”

The BBC Radio Welsh A-Lister has hinted that “Together” is just one piece of a larger puzzle, though only time will tell whether a bigger project is on the way. Fox first grew obsessed with songwriting during the 2020 pandemic, idolising Sam Fender and Catfish and the Bottlemen for their ear-worm hooks and working-class lyricism, and that emotionally direct streak runs right through this release.

Upcoming Live Dates 2026:

June 11th – Fuel, Cardiff

June 12th – Bunkhouse, Swansea

Indie-Rock Favorites Tigers Jaw Drift Inward on Sweeping New Single “BREEZER”

Eric Alper
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Indie-Rock Favorites Tigers Jaw Drift Inward on Sweeping New Single “BREEZER”

An inward journey gets the short-film treatment on the latest from Tigers Jaw. The band have shared “BREEZER,” a sweeping single from their new album ‘Lost on You,’ out now via Hopeless Records. It arrives alongside a cinematic video directed by Rebecca Lader and Kelsey Ayres that spotlights Brianna Collins as both lead vocalist and featured star, wandering in solitude through palatial, otherworldly scenes.

The directors approached it as more than a clip. “From the beginning, we imagined ‘BREEZER’ as an inward journey, a world shaped by comfort, solitude, and self-connection rather than isolation,” Lader and Ayres explain. “The film becomes Brianna’s inner landscape: a lived-in, ceremonial space where memory and ritual feel sacred and emotionally honest.” Inspired by Romanticism, mythology, and the still intimacy of Sofia Coppola, Alex Prager, and David Lynch, they let every choice of pacing, framing, and light follow emotion rather than tempo.

The song works the same emotional terrain. “I tend to romanticize past versions of myself in moments of uncertainty, while also finding comfort in life’s unpredictability,” Collins explains. “‘BREEZER’ is about the ebb and flow of insecurity, doubt, and escapism, and my gradual acceptance of the cyclical nature of these feelings.”

“BREEZER” is the band’s fourth single ahead of ‘Lost on You,’ following “Primary Colors,” “Ghost,” and “Head is Like a Sinking Stone,” which earned praise from Kerrang!, The Line of Best Fit, BBC Radio 1 Rock Show, Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, and The Needle Drop. Collins recently appeared on Jeremy Bolm’s The First Ever Podcast, while bandmate Ben Walsh guested on Indie Basketball, each discussing the record. The band will also appear at Outbreak Fest in Manchester in June.

‘Lost on You’ was produced and engineered by longtime collaborator Will Yip (Turnstile, Movements) at his famed Studio 4 in Philadelphia, and continues what listeners have always loved about Tigers Jaw: the pounding rhythm section, melodic leads that shift from instrument to instrument, and Walsh and Collins’ overlapping vocals. While decidedly of the present, it stays embedded in their history, with moments that would feel at home at the defunct Scranton venue Test Pattern just as much as in the huge halls of Philadelphia’s Union Transfer, which they now sell out. The scene’s present moment owes a lot to Tigers Jaw, and the group keeps moving forward.

‘Lost on You’ Tracklist:

  1. It’s ok
  2. Primary Colors
  3. Head is Like a Sinking Stone
  4. Anxious Blade
  5. Baptized on a Redwood Drive
  6. BREEZER
  7. Ghost
  8. Staring at Empty Faces
  9. Light Leaks Through
  10. Roses + Thorns
  11. Lost on You

Charlie Puth Sweats Through the Spicy Wings on Hot Ones

Eric Alper
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Charlie Puth Sweats Through the Spicy Wings on Hot Ones

Four-time Grammy nominee Charlie Puth takes on the gauntlet of increasingly spicy wings in the latest episode of Hot Ones, riffing on yacht rock, SpongeBob SquarePants, and why hot sauce makes him as nervous as singing the Star Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl, all while breaking down the emotional impact of chord structures and his early hustle days. The hot-seat appearance lands as Puth rolls out his album ‘Whatever’s Clever.,’ out now, with singles “Changes” and “Beat Yourself Up” leading the way and a world tour to follow.

Austin Singer Sarah Sharp Reimagines Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”

Eric Alper
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Austin Singer Sarah Sharp Reimagines Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”

A song born from loss anchors the debut from Sarah Sharp. The Austin-based singer-songwriter has released her interpretation of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” the first taste of her debut album ‘Deja Vu,’ which is out now via Spaceflight Records. A staple of the Austin scene and former leader of the critically acclaimed Jitterbug Vipers, Sharp blends intimate, nocturnal arrangements with serious vocal prowess.

The Dylan cover carries deep personal history. Sharp started performing it during her nine-year residency at the Elephant Room in Austin when a former boyfriend developed cancer and passed away soon after. Her reading reflects on the disappointment of past relationships, embodying life experience and loss.

The timing of the debut came down to family. “My kids are now old enough,” Sharp says, underscoring her commitment as a single mother. “I want to play for way more people. Traveling with your music to other parts of the world is like running up and saying hello to parts of yourself that you can’t always access. It’s so powerful to integrate them. I’m always striving to become whole while keeping my heart open, living in the flow of what my friends call ‘Sarahdipity.'”

The record came together in a fitting setting. After her Elephant Room residency, Sharp recorded ‘Deja Vu’ in the studio of local guitar legend Eric Johnson, who offered the space after being mesmerized by one of her performances. The result crosses jazz, folk, and americana, a wide cinematic canvas for a haunting emotional journey, carried by a smokey vocal in the lineage of Norah Jones.

Sharp brings a decorated track record. She’s a three-time Austin Music Awards winner for Best Jazz, and beyond her success with the Jitterbug Vipers, she’s a widely acclaimed commercial songwriter for brands like Kia, Chanel, and Macy’s, with compositions that have drawn millions of streams and a feature on NPR’s Song Travels. ‘Deja Vu’ marks her stepping into the national spotlight as a solo artist, conveying vulnerability through sound alongside a band that’s shaped this music over years of performance.

‘Deja Vu’ Tracklist:

  1. Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright
  2. The Boy From Ipanema
  3. It’s Been A Long, Long Time
  4. The Nearness of You
  5. Sweet Lotus Blossom
  6. For No One
  7. I’m Beginning To See The Light
  8. I Think It’s Going To Rain
  9. Losing My Mind
  10. Quizas, Quizas, Quizas
  11. Moon River
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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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