Bananas Magazine #16

New issue of our favourite inky 'zine!

2018 is rapidly approaching its midway mark. It's been a weird one for me so far, a few profesional breakthroughs but more than enough day-job ennui, usually experienced with the added impairment of a hangover. So yeah too much booze, too much work and moments of true joy few and far between. That said the new music I've heard this year has been pretty special. I've spent more money on vinyl this year than I have the previous few years put together and I've not regretted a penny. I'm not sure how you readers (I'm presuming there are some!), come across new bands and records. Don't get me wrong, the internet can be a wonderful thing and I use Spotify, Twitter, YouTube and all the rest of it and occasionally come across new music and bands that way, but there's no substitute for good old printed paper, curated content and stylistic parameters.That's why it's always such a pleasure to read a new issue of Bananas Magazine. For the latest in global garage rock nobody does it better.

The latest issue dropped through my letterbox last Saturday and truly brightened my day. I took it along to the pub that night and read through some of the great record reviews and interviews while my mate's band were soundchecking. Great to see HD faves The Blind Owls get a feature. Their latest Four EP was one my recent vinyl puchases by the way! There are also some fabulous pieces on Archie and The Bumkers, Les Sullies, The Creation Factory, Reverend Beat-Man and more. Bananas magazine always has the greatest illustrations, the artist spotlight interview with artist Matt Adams is fabulous too. Makes me wish I could draw! As ever the've put together a Bandcamp compilation to accompany the issue. Check it out below. In a time when politicians from every country seem to be getting more and more insular, protectionist and nationalistic, it 's encouraging to see musicians and music fans in favour of disregarding boundaries and borders and fostering a truly global inclusive attitude. More of it please!

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Bananas Magazine - Issue #14

Latest issue of the coolest zine around! Garage, punk and psych inky available from all good stores & distros!

I think we can all agree that 2016 has been a heinous beast of a year. Brexit, Trump, all those deaths and the murder of a forward-thinking, kind-hearted MP. A seismic year, the effects of which have yet to truly affect us. Where the hell do we go from here?! It's a point well made by editor Christophe in his column of the latest issue of Bananas Magazine. What we do need to do is pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and continue to stand up and fight for what we believe in. As a musical community, (especially one as uniquely small yet global, as the garage scene is), is to keep the "citizen of the world" ethos alive, despite what Theresa May and nativist politicians the world over want to do. Hey, maybe here's not the place for politics but I just wanted to get that off my chest and try and remain positive.

Anyhow, one bright spot at the tail end of the year is issue #14 of the best garage 'zine around, a timely reminder that there are still good people, good events and great bands. If Ian Dury was around today it would be one of his reasons to be cheerful. Packed as usual with interviews, reviews, awesome illustrations that'll have even the most rural dwellers hip to the scene. Grab a copy from your local store or distro, or via the mag's website. And also check out their latest online comp, (see embedded player below). A soundtrack for your New Year's Eve party. Here's to 2017, stay strong brothers and sisters!

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Bananas Magazine - Issue 11 OUT NOW!

Latest issue of garage, punk & psych zine, available from all good stores & distros is out now!


Always a pleasure to get hold of the latest Bananas Magazine and this issue doesn't disappoint. Alongside the sharp, insighful reviews there's the usual bumper-fest of features and interviews with the scene's latest movers and shakers. Bands such as Thee Marvin Gays, Thee Tsunamis and The Youth all share their thoughts with us humble readers, as do labels such as Dead Beat Records, State, and Hidden Volume.

If that's not enough there's volume 2 of their Bananas Peel Sessions, their accompanying online compilations. I've shared the Bandcamp link below but be sure to head over to the mag's website to check out the equally awesome volume 1, subscribe to the mag or track down those elusive back issues. For bonus fun play count the number of stripy breton tops in the mag's photos. No prizes though, this one's for fun only!

http://bananas-magazine.com/

Bananas Magazine - Isssue #10

Latest issue of NYC-based garage zine! With free online download compilation!


It's always a pleasure to receive the lastest copy of Bananas Magazine. Perhaps the best worldwide garage rock 'zine. This time round there's interviews aplenty - Mystery Lights (New York), Travel Check (Paris), Ave Negra (Costa Rica), Les Grys-Grys, (Southern France), The Ugly Beats (Austin, TX), Groovie Records (Portugal), Genital Hospital (Montreal), The Sound Reasons (Los Angeles), Os Noctàmbulos (Paris) and more! If that's not enough there's also some helpful country-picking guitar tabs and tons of 7" & LP reviews. Check out the Bananas Magazine website for a list of distros or order a copy direct from the site.

Fittingly for a musical genre that's best served on good ol' black vinyl, the mag has a similarly analogue nod in its old school inkyness. Older readers will no what I mean. Younger pups might want to ask their parents. The mag has made a foray into digital modernity though, by compiling a rather wonderful download compilation of the bands featured in this issue. And it's free! Head over to http://bananasmagazine.bandcamp.com/ or check it out on the embedded widget thingy below. Happy listening!


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Bananas Magazine #9 - OUT NOW!

Spring is here, and for garage rockers that can only mean one thing! The latest issue of the NYC-based garage zine is available now!


Great news for fans of fuzz, pych, garage and lo-fi punk. The latest issue of the scene's best quarterly magazine is ready for your perusal. I love this mag, it's a great read that always manages to point you in the direction of great new bands as well as reminding you why you fell for garage rock in the first place. And it has a sense of the genre's humour that other zines sometimes overlook in their quest for that all elusive authenticity.

On top of the comprehensive and informed reviews the mag has interviews with King Salami, Viv And The Sect, Shag Rats, Dead Ghosts, Giant Robots and more. There's also a feature on Benidorm's Funtastic Dracula Festival, as well as a spotlight on the artwork of Lluis Fuzzhound. (www.lluisfuzzhound.com)

The guitarists among us will have fun trying out the issue's psych-themed tabs which this time round have riffs and breaks by Iron Butterfly, The Troggs, The Attack and Teddy And His Patches. Plug in and play indeed! Hit the link below for a list of the magazine's ditributors or order direct from their website.

NB. As well as being an ace read, Bananas also features many amazing illustrations by the mag's editor, Christophe Lopez-Huichi. Check out the link to his website below to see more of his work.

www.bananasmag.com
www.clopezhuici.com

Bananas Magazine - Issue #7 Out Now!

Get inky! Latest issue of New York 'zine will fulfill all your garage, punk & psych needs.


One of the most endearing facts about the garage rock scene is that although it's small, it's a dedicated, supportive, global community. The latest issue of Bananas Magazine is evidence of that. Issue #7 of the New York based garage 'zine has features on Spain's Purple Weekend Festival, Germany's Screaming Apple record label, Russian and Italian garage scenes, along with an excellent interview with Belgian artist Robin Renard.

There's also interviews with The Eeries (Philadelphia), The Othermen (NYC), The Thunderbeats (Moscow), Le Kid & Les Marinelli (Montreal), The High Learys (Perth), and The Mentalettes (all over the place). If that's not enough check out the vinyl-heavy reviews section for all that's hot in the garage punk scene right now.

Perhaps my favourite feature though is Todd's Tabs, a guitar tutorial which in this issue fittingly centres on '60s Swiss garage legends The Sevens. Hell, it makes me want to go and dust down my old Teisco right now!

Bananas Magazine is free where available, though if you can't find one in your local store just pay for the postage and order online from their website. Year old issues are available to read online too, whaddya waitin' for?!

www.bananasmag.com