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 200 club gigs and festivals in Germany, England, Spain, Slovakia, Austria and Switzerland, together with The Vibrators, The Lurkers, The Damned, Attila The Stockbroker, as well as regular touring partner TV Smith from The Adverts, who also contributes backing vocals to the current albums.
The actual Garden Gang Albums SHOPPERS UNITED and FOLLOW THE TREND are available in shops throughout Germany on redwinetunes, distributed by Rough Trade and schlecht & schwindlig, distributed by New Music (Germany, Switzerland + Austria) and are also available for ordering from WWW.AMAZON.DE
ALL GARDEN GANG MERCH AVAILABLE THROUGH THESE GUYS WWW.PUNK-SHOP.COM
WWW.INTERPUNK.COM
Garden Gang in OTHERS' words:
Despite their late 70's feel, Garden Gang burst onto the stage with far more than their fair share of glam-rock pizazz. A male and a female singer front up the Gang. They've got a great dynamic going, he with the lanky body and high hair, launching a Biafra cry to the sky, she the shocked and wide-eyed 50's cheerleader, with babydoll chorus chants from a parallel universe.
Meantime, guitar revs into fast-frilling riffs, wild west twangs with spangly reverb, drizzling chords and wah-wah squiggles. Deep rumbling splurges from an almost hidden keyboard join punchy bass hooks on a highjacked train hurtling to destruction.
Lyrics focus on money, spending and power, yet they're delivered in football-anthem style. Chorus repeats of 'Parcel packer number 1' are more rousing than derisive, whilst 'Shoppers United' and 'All around the market place' seem like celebrations. On the other hand, there's the trademark TV Smith dystopianism of 'Euro-disneyland tomorrow' ("We speak the same language, we wear the same clothes") and the classic John Lydon parting shot "Waiting for your mother's pension".
Garden Gang give 1977 punk the overhaul that it's due, but stay true to the essence. At the trad end of the spectrum, there's plenty of reference to the Sex Pistols and Anti Nowhere League, on the glam side, surprising elements of The Dickies and the early years of Adam and the Ants. Catchy and anthemic music that never loses the sense of danger, chords pitched to resonate your sternum. Eat, eat, eat, eat, eat the rich, tonight.
Author: RF *** @ Bull & Gate, London, UK
