Ryan's Gig Guide - July 2018

www.ryansgigguide.com 38 rgg July 2018 Los Angeles punk-pop veter- ansThe Dickies have survived line-up changes, "untimely deaths" and gigs spent sweat- ing in satin clown costumes in a career spanning more than forty years. Founding members Stan Lee and Leonard Graves Phillips still have the same energy and ferocity they had in the 70s when they were at the cusp of the burgeoning LA punk scene, inspired by bands like the Ramones and the Damned.“The Dickies” are well known for recording many fast-paced punk covers of classic rock songs, including The Moody Blues' "Nights inWhite Satin," Black Sabbath's "Paranoid," and the TV theme from "The Banana Splits”.They are only playing a handful of shows in the UK to coincide with the 40th Anniversary of their album “Incredi- Monday 6th August The Robin 2, Bilston  ble Shrinking Dickies” and their classic single “Paranoid”. Stan Lee says, “The set list will be a musical potpourri and as long as we do Banana Splits we'll get out alive."  www.therobin.co.uk Friday 3rd August Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath  matters Formed in the old factory spaces of digbeth, Matters embarked on the journey to finding their sound in 2015 and released their self-titled debut ep in June. Work on the release started in 2017 with Simon Weaver (ex Free School) as recording engineer.The record is intended to be a journey full of twists and turns, lows and highs. Emotion is the aim, expressed without the need for lyrics.The push and pull of the three personalities that make up Matters can be heard, taking the music into new and often strange directions. Matters utilise synthesisers, guitars and drums to create expansive music, blending krautrock, psychedelic, post rock and techno into a rich and powerful sound. Mat- ters have been cham- pioned by Steve Lamacq and their first single taken from this record placed on his BBC 6 Music recommends playlist. 2017 saw them win support slots with the likes of Postwar Glamour Girls, Holyfuck, IDLES & Merchandise. “This is something quite epic. Another winner from Static Caravan Records” Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music  www.mattersband.co.uk