MJ Presents: The Drowns / Billy Liar

THE DROWNS

(Punk Rock’n’Roll / Seattle / USA)

Seattle rockers The Drowns have unleashed their latest salvo of blue-collar punk rock ’n roll: Blacked Out. Returning to the studio for this LP with longtime producer Ted Hutt (Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, The Gaslight Anthem), the band have laid down a collection of songs that fuse their varied influences brilliantly – from the boogie-woogie shuffle roots of original 50s rock ’n roll, to the strutting swagger of 70s glam & “bovver rock,” to the gritty rabble-rousing of ’77 style anthemic street punk – into a laser-tight, cohesive sound that is unmistakably theirs.
On Blacked Out, the imagery and storytelling in their songwriting is stronger than ever on standout tracks like “1979 Trans Am” & “The Way She Goes.”

BILLY LIAR
(Edinburgh/ UK / Acoustic Punk Rock)

Billy Liar has a certain kind of charisma that can only be explained by listening to his songs. He could easily silence a room full of drunk punks with simply a guitar and his voice, but he also has the ability to play with a full band without losing any of the magic. Powerful, emotional, yet somber and sweet; a near perfect blend of punk rock sound and great songwriting.