Sweethead have just announced they will support Them Crooked Vultures on their European tour next month.

The power of Twitter tells us:

“SWEETHEAD IS OPENING FOR THEM CROOKED VULTURES IN EUROPE & THE UK STARTING DECEMBER 6 THROUGH DECEMBER 18! YEAH!” – @sweethead

Those dates in full:

12-6 Munich – Zenith
12-7 Berlin – Columbiahalle
12-6 Cologne – Palladium
12-10 Plymouth, England – Pavilions
12-11 Portsmouth, England – Guildhall
12-13 Blackpool, England – Empress Ballroom
12-14 Birmingham, England – O2 Academy
12-15 Edinburgh, Scotland – Corn Exchange
12-17 London, England – HMV Hammersmith Apollo
12-18 London, England – HMV Hammersmith Apollo

Album Review: Crazy Arm
Album: Born To Ruin
Label: Xtra Mile

Heralded by Mr UK Superstar himself, HRH Frank Turner, Crazy Arm burst onto the Xtra Mile label with a debut that sounds like a barn-storming country hoedown clashing gloriously with mohawks, piercings and everything else punk is remembered for.

Things don’t hang around. ‘Asphalt’ starts simply enough but evolves into a fantastic sing-along anthem before it’s even reached the halfway point, and Darren Johns’ heart-pounding scream leaves hearts fluttering. Throughout the album he’s shows off a cracking pair of lungs, with a vocal range that injects the more cliché moments with a shot of vitality.

On their MySpace, the band describes themselves as “Fugazi with banjos, but without banjos”. Admittedly it’s not too far off the truth, although Crazy Arm seem happier to embrace cheerier sounds alongside some thought-provoking lyrics. ‘Blind Summit’ deals with religion, or lack thereof, whilst sounding like something that belongs in a barn (and by that, I don’t mean Jesus).

Give ‘Born To Ruin’ more than a few spins and it won’t be long before you’re singing along. There’s something about the combination of toe-tapping rhythm and common man vocals that makes every chorus ripe for your own vocal accompaniment. Single ‘Broken By The Wheel’ is an emphatic cheer for sticking to your guns, a subject close to the band’s heart considering their prolonged involvement in the Plymouth music scene.

The boys of Crazy Arm have brought the hoedown to the UK with accomplished and unashamed flair. They successfully mix an appreciation for country vibes with more traditional punk roots, creating a catchy and polished collection of songs. The future of UK music? It’s unlikely, but if The King Blues can get their humdrum piss on the radio, then there’s no reason why Crazy Arm can’t show the nation how a party should really go down.

Originally published on Sonic Dice.

Gay For Johnny Depp have released the video for ‘Hey Fucked Up! (Punk Rock Can’t Exist In Countries With Good Social Services)’ .

The band are also currently touring with Blakfish and Outcry Collective.

Past Lives have made a track from their new album available on Pitchfork.

‘Hex Takes Hold’ is taken from Tapestry Of Webs, which is due for release on 23 February.

The band features ex-members of The Blood Brothers, who had all their albums recently reissued as special editions.

It looks like Glassjaw will play a selection of headline dates when they visit the UK next year.

As well as supporting Brand New at Wembley Arena, the band’s website is listing February dates for Manchester, Nottingham and Glasgow.

There is however, no separate London date.

As is to be expected with the band, these dates may or may not happen depending on frontman Daryl Palumbo’s affliction with Chromes disease.

Those dates in full:

Saturday, 23 January: London, UK – Wembley Arena (w/ Brand New)
Sunday, 24 January: Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy
Monday, 25 January: Nottingham, UK – Rock City
Tuesday, 26 January: Glasgow, UK – ABC