Having really enjoyed their other CD Casual Culture and having seen them live a couple of times I was eager to hear how the new CD had turned out, now this is the Japanese release and the UK version will be released soon, with a slightly different set of tracks I understand, so I look forward to purchasing that version and adding to this review. But for now to the CD in Hand.

Nice cover art and lyrics inside in English and Japanese 10 tracks and they go like this.

1. Break down the walls the rattle clatter of Chris’s Bass breaks the silence and leads us into a Great starting track, upbeat and catchy this is OMS at there finest straight edged and tight, the rhythm section not overly complicated but with those touches of finesse that take it above and beyond, Ants Guitar distinct and Powerful with some nice little riffs thrown over for good measure, have heard this song a few times before getting this CD so its Joyous familiarity is Good to reacquaint with, Great Lyrics and Ants Voice is strong and consistent, Like it.

2. 78 Ants guitar leads the way on this trip down the memory lane to the start of a personal journey that a lot of us were on “This sound is dynamite, this sound is Fucking right “ that’s the review of this song done haha, it’s an old school Diy clothes, food coloured hair, safety pin in the ear, neon socked, paint splattered, ripped up, pumped up, punked up piece of History and I love it anyone who has there life history entwined in the World that is PUNK will get a little extra something out of this song, But the beauty is if you weren’t there, didn’t get into punk till later, this song will still grab you and throw you head first into it NOW.

3.  Just Link Me is next and a big change here straight into a reggae, dub, skat of echo distant vocal and deep rumbling bass, slow-kick back drumming and scratchy guitar has you skanking from the off this wonderful swirl of cannabis laden thick smoke is crushed by the short, sharp interruption of the Punk breaks that give this song that wonderful two arenas feel, with some hard passionate singing thrown in.

4. Take your chances is next and it breaks us out of the fog with its upbeat OMS style, you nod along and of course join in with the woahs and make a mental note to sing along with the chorus when you hear this track live, little simple guitar break freshens the track before more of the same, Good strong song well produced.

5. Keep on Running nice little build up and then in we go to an upbeat song with slightly haunting feel of dread before slipping into a chorus that’s too catchy for its own good, the amount of times I have broken into this chorus in the last few days haha, the middle 8 is great with its jungle drum tinged back beat, Jans drumming style is hard and tight and the sound of the kit mimics this perfectly short and sweet but a nice little addition to this straight ahead Punk tunethat we soon thunder back into the main song, haha.

My wife has just walked past as I write this singing “keep on running keep on running or you’ll be dead” Now I hope that’s just proof of how catchy this song is not a warning to me from her………

6. Surface to Air next and it sadly just gets over shadowed by the previous song, its good but not as good, the Ghostly Reggae Break is a Great touch and does give the song a little more depth but its just, for me not quite as good and I cant get away from that.

7.  Little Red Riding Could is next, not a cover as I first suspected when I saw the title, but a clever twist on the old story of the wolf and Red riding hood an indictment of todays society no doubt I will not spoil the story for you but a great little track short sweet and another worthy addition to the CD

8.  Kanpai! Is next with a slower pace and a more Oi beat this is a tribute to there many many Japanese fans I think, sung partly in Japanese (with a northern accent) it’s a great tribute and the slower pace does add Yet another dimension to the CD well done Lads.

9. Fetch the Noose Here we go!!! The pace is up the riff is loud, proud and the vocals distorted and angst laden this is a great track with its catchy guitar riff stop start approach, short sharp and angry great stuff and another I hanker to hear live soon, very soon

10.  Acoustic Hole Sadly we have come to an end this the last track, is again another shade added to the mix an acoustic (there’s a surprise as it’s in the name) laden drift, a meander down the streets through a poignant  new version of the Classic Track Black Hole from the last CD, I loved that track and so to have an additional version of it is just great and it’s a fitting end to this CD, another Gem from a Great Band, they deserve far more than they get but aint that the story of today. This is a Cd that will stand the test of time and coupled with the previous one makes for a great sound track, Favourite track for me Keep on running and close second 78

Well done guys and I hope to see you Live soon, I also look forward to getting the UK version of the CD and seeing how that differs from this. Ant, Chris and Jan deserve your support and you should have their music in your life Ok, Oh and I LOVE the BEERMATS haha nice touch

Till next time - This collection of Ranted words was put together and heart felt by

Woodstock Punkrock

New CD currently on release in Japan, UK Version Spring 2010

When I received an email from Vince at Studs and Punks asking me to cast an ear over some tracks by One Man Stand that will, with a couple of additions and one omission, be released in the UK some time soon, I naturally jumped at the opportunity.

I know this a band close to Vince’s heart; Andy at Humdrum Punk seems to rate the band and even that hackneyed old codger FungalPunk, who has seen them play a couple of times (over 30!), has penned a kind word or two about them, so it was time to find out what I have been missing!

Rather than find out everything there is to know about a band I have heard nothing of before embarking on a review like this I have found it best to let the music do the talking initially that way I can ensure I am judging the music on its merits alone.

First impressions are important, so those more learned than I would have you believe anyway, and it’s obviously something One Man Stand are aware of too!

From the first note of the gorgeously grungy  bass riff on the opening track BREAK DOWN THE WALLS my full attention was well and truly grabbed! The simple but powerful drums knits perfectly with the grinding bass, add to this the uncomplicated guitar and a vocal laced with just enough piquancy to give it a kick and you have a very taste opener.  I also particularly liked the fact that the tempo was not quite as frantic as the underlining urgency in the vocal delivery has you believe.

78 is next up telling the tale of the discovery of punk. “This sound is dynamite” and “This is the soundtrack to the story of my life”, a couple of lines from the song, hinting strongly toward the   autobiographical nature of this track. Similar in tempo to the opening track and once more a simple yet highly effective mix of guitar, bass and drums are woven together to produce the back drop on which the lyric is embroidered.

Just Like Me – The intro, low frequency rumbling bass and almost muffled thudding ‘techno synth’ drum beat, reverberates for a few seconds; giving you just enough time to wonder whether is this one going. The vocal arrives with its melancholic undertones and then like passing through a tunnel you enter in to the light, in this case in the shape of some familiar bass, drum and guitar work. Then its back to the brooding bass and drum passage, before finishing out ‘in the open!’
A blend of ingredients that works and works superbly like sweet and sour; hot and cold; spice and fruit. Fantastic.

With Take Your Chances the band has us back in familiar territory. A nice dirty sounding bass riff underpinned by driving drum rhythms. Once more straight forward guitar adds power with its simplicity. The main vocal has just a touch of urgency and the backing vox add depth and colour to what is another great track on an album that is shaping up to be something a bit special.

Keep On Running opens with a single A minor (open) chord that has an echoic vibrato that has my musical taste buds salivating. How can five simple notes have a grown man so excited? That’s not my queue to embark on a long and pompous treatise on the Pavlovian connection between sound and its effect (be it involuntary or conditioned), but a serious question to which I hope some one can send me an answer!  Moving on! Once more it’s the simple construct that catches the ear. I can imagine this being a fantastic live song with its chant-able chorus. Probably my favourite song of those I have available to review. Brilliant!

Surface To Air has an angry edginess that buzzes with energy. The angst ridden main vocal and the harmonic backing really lift the song which again has a great blend of bass, drum and guitar at its foundation producing a high voltage tempo. Then we seem to enter a musical cul-de-sac as we arrive at the bridge, all low thumping bass work and distant baritone ‘voice over’ in slight echo before finding its way back out on to the main road, as it were. I love the song just not sure if this switch of style adds or detracts, but this my personal opinion. You will and should have your own thoughts about this.

Little Red Riding Could – staccato guitar, rumbling bass line, urgent drums lead in to an angry swarm of over-layed guitars is what launches this far from fairytale-esque fable. Delivered with real energy, drive and edge. The vocals possess a sense of warning which work well on top of the machine gun like rhythm. I wasn’t quite able to make out all the lyrics, which is a shame as I do like to be able to hear the story a song tells. Hopefully there will be a lyric sheet with the actual release? All that said my favourite song of the lot!

Fetch The Noose – Coming in at 1 minute and 41 seconds the shortest song on the CD and a real pocket rocket of a tune! A simple fast strummed chord acts as the countdown to lift off which is announced by an eruption of guitar, bass and drums. The song has real ‘pedal to the metal’ tempo and gets from A to B by the shortest and most direct route. Short, but oh so sweet, a real little gem.

And bringing things to a close (on the version I was given to review, as I think the final release may differ slightly) Acoustic Hole (an acoustic version of Black Hole which can be found on their myspace page). I must have listened to this track about a dozen or more times and I am sure I hear something I didn’t hear the time before. What is basically a vocal + acoustic guitar track has lots of layers. There is an electric guitar picking out a melody which has nice clean sound with a touch of echo and a bit of reverb thrown in for good measure, then there is the tambourine that you can just catch every now and then, but it is the keyboard adding a very haunting and melancholic vibe that are the icing, decoration and cherry on top all rolled in to one. I can’t quite work out if it’s an accordion or one of those old Harmoniums, whatever it is, what a brilliant touch.

So there you have it. My first experience of band that are highly regarded by people that know what they are talking about. I can see what all the fuss is about. A band that is not shackled by what some believe punk should sound like. They are not afraid to push the envelope in the pursuit of a good song.  However, no one can deny that true punk ethic flows through the veins.

One Man Stand are:
Ant – Guitar & Vox
Chris – Bass & B/Vox
Jan – Drums

Find out more about the band and when they are likely to be at a venue near you! http://www.myspace.com/onemanstand

Respectfully Submitted By


A Man Called Moose

Following on from my review of the great Casual Culture cd, I decided to grab a copy of the One Man Stand self made DVD from the bands My Space, a fly on the wall documentary, following the band through their successful February 2008 Japan tour.

I had already been pre-warned by Ant, who I felt was a little underselling the DVD, stating that it was very much an acquired taste and designed to give an insight into the Japanese culture and lifestyle and how the punk scene is impacting on this fabulous country and the reason that bands like OMS are turning towards this totally devoted and enthused audience.



The film running time is some 1hr:23m and whilst "home made" is of more than acceptable audio/visual quality.15th February 2008 - Mescalin Drive

The film kicks off on the morning of the first tour date with a wake up call and a first glimpse at "Cracker" and "Fatty" some of the characters that help glide through the 8 days and seem to have welcomed OMS with open arms. Our boys shrug off the hang-over before commencing the drive through the Japanese streets, peeking at everday life en-route towards Mescalin Drive in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, the home of Drex ready for the tour kick-off date.

A fascinating look at the culture differences not only in the living areas of the town, but the general things that form part of their society which seem so far from what we consider "normal" in the uk culture, including the "fag, beer and hot drink machines" that seem to appear on every street corner.

So after breakfast at the "Fatty recommends" burger bar, its on to Mescalin Drive as the DVD morphs wonderfully into some powerful footage of the band stage build up hype ready for an explosive display of "You Can't Polish Shit".

The film is only 6 minutes in and you can already sense the atmosphere that these two cultures bring together. These three guys look relaxed and at home here, beaming with confidence.



16th February 2008 - Moon Step, Nakanoku, Tokyo

Several beers, a short sleep and a sore throat later, we are treated to a tour of the far from luxurious accommodation of the bands bedroom in the basement. These guys certainly are not living the life you would expect, but a very "down to earth" existence, something that is apparent right through the film, and in line with the true Punk Rock theme.  

Relaxed fun and friendly are starting to stand out with the places and company shadowing these guys through this tour. An evening in a local sushi bar followed by some serious shopping in the local shoe shop, an important part of this documentary tagging the tour as the "New Shoes Tour", and again giving an eye-opener into the Japanese everyday life, beautifully topped off with the "oi oi" chants as the camera rotates around the guys. A treat of "Lights Out" again a confident display , great sound quality and atmosphere, before returning back to the bands new "Japanese family" all preaching their own messages into the camera back to their England fellow hardcore.

18th February 2008 Club Sonic Iwaki

Club Sonic arrival in Iawki and a demonstration of some of Chris's dodgy Japanese, before taking a look around this very small but nice venue, with luxury features like  lockers! - The foyer is full of flyers and clearly a recognised venue with a quaInt bar and stage with a good set up of Bootstomp band merchandise, and a look around the backstage area - again very modest, and again absolutely shining of what punk rock is all about, "Wet Paint" thunders in again - and again a great sound considering this is a home-brew production. This really looks like a cracking venue, and you can see why sponsors such as Dr Martins are supporting bands playing here. I have heard rumours of the band and in particular Ant sometimes lacking in confidence, although have to say there are certainly no signs of this from what I have seen playing to the Japanese natives - they really look in their comfort zone.

19th February 2008 Border Horshima

An 18hour drive moves the band on to the much more urban Horoshima, and takes the viewer around the historic land marks that have planted this town firmly into history for  the wrong reasons before swiftly jumping into "What’s Going On". These boys know how to whip up the crowd, who all so clearly know this band and their songs so very well, as  the chants fill the hall, I cannot help asking myself why such a talented dedicated bunch of guys have to travel so many thousands of miles to get this support and enthusiasm, I think their home town fans should bow their heads in shame - we could all learn a lot from this culture. I know Ant and the crew are quite "freaked" at their cds being for sale in the very large Japanese stores - a reflection of how good they are when people get off their arse and take notice.

20th February Keith Flack Fukuoka

Again clearly a well reputed club, with the venue covered in bill posters of local bands, some much better looking than the OMS crew (swiftly noted by Chris), with a variety of claims to fame from Sum 41 to Pizza of Death~? An interesting glance at the local "toilet shaped" police station in the town, complete with sooty and sweep patrol car. The venue itself, well a piece of art that from the outside looks like something from a Harry Potter set modeled in clay, with a cave like entrance below, and  a quick look around shows the merchandise and stage setup along with a feast of live food - a kind of pizza with a strange wing looking specialty flapping within - no where
near as appealing as fatty's performance of belly-button smoking!

A brief look around town for some food and drink before a glimpse of the nights performance of "Black Hole" -

The bands luxury accommodation for two nights is courtesy of the local temple, and a tour gives a strange reflection of how death is respected and celebrated before the band leave after thanking the local priest.

22nd February 2008 King Cobra Osaka

A traditional MacDonald’s breakfast, a trip to Sega world, then a blistering performance of "Time to Go" and with the buzz in the air and eager audience participation  you can understands why the bands scream "my passport is staying here"

A glance at Yamaguchi port before some more sightseeing ventures advancing towards the King Cobra club, situated in a very busy town, and a walk through the back stage entrance into a very impressive bustling club, moving into a nice well edited, compilation of some performance footage this time filmed from behind the stage, and whilst a little distorted it offers the view head on of the small devoted audience as well as a cracking version of "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight", a nicely edited compilation of short bursts of the tracks played throughout the evening performance

23rd February 2008 King Cobra Mie

Entering into Mie, the audience are treated to a full on blast of "Casual Culture", a performance performed exclusively for the Japanese audience only, and don’t the audience  appreciate it! - This song, and in many ways this band, belongs to them anf the gig is totally engulfed with a passion, topped off with a version of the Clash classic "Safe European Home"- and it seems like the whole of Japan are getting on stage to scream this out.

An all out performance at Club Upset Nagoya, brings this 2008 tour to a close, and you can tell they are no way ready to bring this to an end, "Everybodys Looking At Me"



I can understand how this interesting insight is not for everyone, but have to say I give the band full marks for offering an excellent balance of live performance footage, with behind the scene documentary style eye-opener into the culture, neatly editing making this home made recording more than worthy of the reasonable £5 cost. The boys are all set to return in 2010 and I look forward to the follow on update!

Oi Oi Vincey Boy
Studs and Punks Admin Team