The Branded
The Branded
WOW!!! Fans of The Pretty Things, The Inmates, Dr. Feelgood, The Troggs, early Milkshakes, The Standells, The Canary Sect, and The Maharajas - this one's for you! The Branded formed in summer 2006. Hailing from Malmö in southern Sweden they are fronted by Englishman Lee Tea (formerly bassist with Thee Exciters) who is responsible for the raw vocal and guitar sounds while John Krantz on bass and Anders Hansson make up the driving rhythm section. "I Do As I Please" "The Thang" could've both been Pretty Things songs! "Those in desperate need of your required fix of raw rawk'n'roll will do yourselves a mighty favour by hooking up to this shoe-shuffling '60s throwback. Curdling beatnik blues boogie is what's on offer, indelibly cast with the spectre of the Standells, this lo-fi fuzz-fleeced babe shimmies and shakes like a recently unearthed '60s throwback!" - LosingToday.com "Sweden's new garage kings give us a debut album that delivers everything you want from a style-conscious, but yet not nostalgic retroband – demolishing guitars, screaching, snotty caveman singing, maximum grooving and guaranteed male chauvinistic lyrics. The Troggs and Bo Diddley are key words in this Fuzz-crossword puzzle, but their influences are so cleverly dissected and reconstructed that you will find yourself sweating and dancing in front of the gramophone!" - Rootsy.nu Spot on! It's nothing but ragged, raw, retro, and gritty garage r&b at its finest - and in glorious mono - the way it should be! GREAT!!!!!!

from www.koolkatmusik.com

OK so its now 2009, so first of all I'd better say happy new year to our legions of Branded fans ;-) So its time again for the Branded's yearly round-up, sometimes the year rushes past so fast we forget where we were and what we did, booze is usually the main reason, of course. So its good to gather up all the info of what gigs we played and just see what the hell we've been up to over the last year. Also its a good chance to say thanks to everybody who has put on shows, let us stay at their place, put up with our behaviour, and generally kept the band on the road. We must say some special thanks to a few people, for their extra hard work: Paul, PJ, Diego and the Professor for getting our LP out and sounding good, also to Hanno for all his work in promoting and getting the band gigs, Salvatore for all his hard work getting us shows in Italy, also Lutz Soundflat for some good parties, and everyone who came to our shows. So whats next for 2009, well for Jan we will work on getting our new recordings finished, these include a new LP plus two 45's, the LP and one 45 will be released on Dirty Water records and another 45 on Fuzz Overdose records in Greece. In Febuary we tour Germany, then for the rest of the first half of 2009 we are planning tours of Finland, UK and Spain. Hopefully sometime late spring the new LP will be released. So heres to 2009, hopefully there will be some crazy parties ahead....

Heres all our gigs for 2008...

01 Febuary 2008 - Vinylbaren, KB, Malmö, Single Launch Party (Got the hurt 45 released)

22 Febuary 2008 - Bassy Club, Berlin, Germany

8 March 2008 - 99th Floor Club, Stockholm, Sweden

22 March 2008 - Beat Bespoke weekend, 229 Club, London, UK

26 April 2008 - Das Bett, Franfurt, Germany

27 April 2008 - Hafenklang Exil, Hamburg, Germany

28 April 2008 - Beatschauffe recording, Bremen, (due out March 09)

30 April 2008 - Waldermeister, Solingen, Germany

1 May 2008- Artieler Art & Bar, Wohlen, Switzerland

2 May 2008 - Chäller, Schaffhausen, Switzerland

3 May 2008 - Mariaberg, Rorschach, Switzerland

10 May 2008 - Vinylbaren, Malmö, Sweden

10 May 2008 - Bodoni, Malmö, Sweden

30 May 2008 - La Maroquinerie, Paris, France

6 June 2008 - Far i Hatten, Folkets Park, Malmö, Sweden

21 June 2008 - Rat Pack Lounge, Berlin, Germany

21 June 2008 - Bassy Club, Berlin, Germany

6 July 2008 - Festival Beat, Salsomaggiore Terme (Parma), Italy

8 July 2008 - La Salumeria del Rock - Arceto (Reggio Emilia), Italy

9 July 2008 - Bagno Etorre, Punto Marina, Ravenna, Italy

11 July 2008 - Motorcycle Festival, Alessandria, Italy

12 July 2008 - Fools Circus Festival, la Spezia, Italy

16 July 2008 - The Firefly, Worcester, UK

17 July 2008 - The Buffalo Bar, London, UK

18 July 2008 - Dirty Water Club, London, UK- LP launch party!!!!

19 July 2008 - Frat Cave, Bristol, UK

20 July 2008 - Queen Charlotte, Norwich, UK

31 July 2008 - Teenstomp club, Musikhuset Elværket, Helsingør, Denmark

2 August 2008 - Obskyrfestival 2008, Glava, Arvika, Sweden

9 September 2008 - Official release date for 'Branded' LP

19 September 2008 - Cafe Mono, Oslo, Norway

20 September 2008 - Back to Beat, The Garage, Bergen, Norway

17 October 2008 - The Hideout, Debaser, Stockholm

1 November 2008 - The Tribe Bar, Athens, Greece

2 November 2008 - Tiki Athens, Athens, Greece

21 November 2008 - Pretty Face, Raahuset, Copenhagen, Denmark

5 December 2008 - Bodoni, Malmö, Sweden

11 December 2008 - Waldermeister, Solingen, Germany

12 December 2008 - Bassy Club, Berlin, Germany

13 Decembe 2008 - Das Bett, Frankfurt, Germany

14 December 2008 - Hafenklang Exil, Hamburg, Germany

26 December 2008 - Shake Club, La Spezia, Italy

27 Decmeber 2008 - Four Bears Pub, Alessandria, Italy

28 December 2008 - Four Bears Pub, Alessandria, Italy (with Hollywood Sinners)

Yuk yuk yuk, thats all folks.... see you in 2009!!!!!!!

The Branded Dig Up Howlin' Wolf On Their Debut Album!
Current mood:Seared and Scarred For Life!

The Branded

(Self titled)
Dirty Water Records


For our final look into Sweden for the month, we end appropriately with the debut full length release from The Branded, a bare bones garage rock trio based in Maimo that includes Brit Lee Tea, former member of garage/booze thugs Thee Exciters. Recorded in mono, this stuff is so raw and basic that it sounds old in a good way. The opening 'I Do As I Please' is nothing less than vintage garage punk with Lee's scratchy voice and little more than a few chords, but there's some Keith Moon madness from drummer Anders Hanson that's over the top. 'The Thang' can't be called anything else. Superfuzzed out, howling dive bar garage that's easy even for the uninitiated and sober to sing and shuffle along to. Although their music style is so tried and true that it's easy to note who they sound like, that's still complimentary. The Branded sound like they were reared on strict '60s garage r & b and nothing afterwards. 'Dirty Old Me' pulls a louder step from Nuggets like Cuby & The Blizzards while 'Shattered' is nothing less or more than growing up with nothing but The Sonics. Although we're not stretching it here, it's no less original. The honest truth is that there's nothing better than some simple garage rock trio pounding out great tunes that one drinks, sings along with, and stomps their feet to simultaneously. Although tried and true, it's only really good if one puts all they have into it and doesn't give a fuck about what anyone thinks. Although many garage rockers do great performances, their recordings often fall short by missing the live vibe. The real proof of greatness is when the band can emit that from a recording. The Branded succeed much more than most acts on this front.

'I'm A Mean Tomcat' is more lowdown and dirty than Chuck Berry's rap sheet, but nobody's a victim except for one's ears. Lee's guitar playing picks up some classic r & b style derived from early greats like Link Wray and Bo Diddley. It's the kind of stuff that early Rolling Stones cut their chops on as the dirty Beatles. Some pysch with a lot of fuzz creeps into the picture with 'Black Gold', a faster, garage punk tune, but the fuzz just dominates! A hint of monotonic Easybeats creeps up on the caved-out 'Voodoo Love', except the harmony is basic and the song is much more raunchy. The obvious anthem 'I'm Branded' makes no bones about it's seedy origins in r & b. Although it's an original song, it sounds and feels like something would would have heard in some little pre-integration blues joint in the deep American South! The Blues is about being down but feeling good about letting it out. With early blues talents being considered to have a deal with 'The Dark Side' and good ole' sin, there's nothing more descriptive than being 'branded' emotionally, but the physical act points to the earlier origins of those who invented The Blues. It's an honest compliment to the originators in its ability to communicate through the most basic simplicity.

'You Got The Hurt Now' is among the tracks where Lee's voice is clearer and more commanding. However, bassist John Krantz and drummer Anders never take a backseat. Athough lead singer's are usually frontmen, Lee's voice is serves as an important vehicle to communicate the music and thus, the singing is a component, as great as it is. This is obvious on the 1-2-3-4 standard beat of 'I Need A woman', the bass is a near drone in contrast to Lee's brighter guitar and Anders' drumming, while the Added vocal's of 'I need a woman' provide an echo that's true to common sentiment. 'Mother Packed Bag' is a brilliant album ender that's part skiffle, then settles into a nasty and vintage '60s Brit interpretation of The Blues, but ends with a 2nd tempo and melody change as a closer. The ending hoots and dialog give it a great, unrehearsed, live feel that seems to include the listener as an honored guest.

Dirty Water Records has created its own niche in the garage rock pantheon with bands like The Branded, who dip into the earliest past of r & b/garage rock to pull out the rawest bones and bring it into the future. The Branded are a perfect example of this ethos. They're loud and raunchy, but never come accross as anything less than great rock 'n' roll. What makes The Branded notable in the modern state of so many great garage bands in current existence is their full dive into the original influences of garage rock, r & b and its earlier, lonely incarnation in blues. If down and dirty, r & b based rock 'n' roll is your thing, The Branded, full length debut is nothing less than a must own.

To read full review and other great reviews from Paisley Umbrella go to: Paisley Umbrella

Ok so you ready to party......?

21 Nov 2008 - Pretty Face, Raahuset, Copenhagen, Denmark

5 Dec 2008 - Bodoni, Malmö, Sweden

11 Dec 2008 - Waldmiester, Solingen, Germany (Soundflat party)

12 Dec 2008 - Bassy Club, Berlin, Germany

13 Dec 2008 - Das Bett, Frankfurt, Germany

14 Dec 2008 - Hafenklang, Hamburg, Germany

26 Dec 2008 - The Shake Club, La Spezia, Italy

27 Dec 2008 - Four Bears, Alessandria, Italy

28 Dec 2008 - Buena vida, Acqui Terme, Italy

29 Dec 2008 - TBA, Italy

See you there.....

Hosted By: THE BRANDED
When: 05 Dec 2008, 21:00
Where Bodoni
Bergsgatan 20
Malmö,
Sweden
Description:
THE BRANDED

Click Here To View Event

New LP out now, and selling fast! See below for links to buy the LP or CD or Download, go to www.dirtywaterrecords.co.uk or our page for LP reviews.

Get you copy NOW click on the links below...

Dirty Water Records.

Cargo Records UK.

Bootleg Booze Records, Sweden

Hepcat records, Sweden

Hot Stuff, Sweden

Soundflat Records, Germany.

Fuzz Overdose Records, Greece

Copasetic Mailorder, Germany

CD and LP.com, France.

Road Records, Ireland

Get Hip Records, USA

Groovenet mailorder, USA

iTunes Download

The record is distributed through Cargo Records in the UK and Europe so can be ordered from most good record stores too! If you have any problems getting hold of the LP please let us know.... cheers The Branded

There's a certain satisfaction that you can only get from three drunken oafs hammerin' out crude chords at ear-splittin' volume. Wailin' and vein-bustin', The Branded demand you do "The Thang all day, all night!", and man, I don't even know what the 'thang' is... but that don't matter none because, if I don't, I'm sure to get a kickin' from these sonic hooligans...

...at any rate it kinda sounds cool.

So whut kinda cool? Well, it sounds like the middleground between 13th Floor Elevators and The Who when they were still playin' in function rooms above pubs.

Man, this is Maximum R&Beer!

Featured on this cracking roundheaded rock 'n' drool is one of this writer's fave single this year, 'You Got The Hurt'... and to be honest, if you dig that, you're sure as hell gon' dig this long-playin' rakkit. To try and pick apart each beautiful orchestration, each pitch-perfect French Horn, each intricate folk picking that interweves with the deft harpsicord... would be pointless because this is the in-sound from the spare bedroom. It's drums, bass, geetar and a buncha people seeing who can sound the meanest, the most dejected. They do a sterling job of it too... maybe these cats are dejected... and as such, have grown mean-eyed with hardened finger-tips from abusing their geetars too much. Whatever, The Branded are just alright with me...

Stand-out rockers, single aside, is the slow stagger of 'I'm a Mean Tomcat' and overdriven insane tribute to poppers, 'Black Gold'. Thinkin' 'bout that, poppers is a true garage drug. It's part substance abuse, marginally better than glue and kicks for 2-and-a-half-minutes that makes your head pound. In saying that, I've got no idea whether this track is really about 'Room Odorizers'... it's probably not because I've jus' realised that I was talkin' 'bout 'Liquid Gold'... still, a good point was made in there somewhere.

Anyway... back to the sound...

If you're one of those readers who needs a real and direct checkpoint before buying an album and are too lazy to find a Myspace site without a link being provided by us, then there's two things you need to know about this Branded LP. Firs', each track is driven by the kind of pounding R&B found in Dave Berry's 'Don't Give Me No Lip Child'. Knowwharramean? There's something unashamedly European about it... in a good way. It's tight 'n' loud as you like. It's a rekkid that demands you play it loud. Second thing you need to know is that this is a band who ain't afraid of havin' some fun... and you deserve a slice o'this fun-pie too... sauce runnin' down yer chin... hammered on ale... grinning at passers-by and gettin' funny looks and it's not even 7pm yet.

Bleary-eyed and brilliant. (Electric Roulette)

Available at: http://dirtywaterrecords.co.uk/product/the-branded-dwc1016

So its now 2008, 2007 was the first year for The Branded, with our first gig on Dec 1 2006 and last gig of 2007 on Dec 31. So what the hell happened in between? Well..... heres a list of all our gigs/tours for the whole of 2007. A look back over the year and a reminder of some those amazing party's we played which are now kinda blurred in the old memory. So to start with thanks to everyone we played with and everyone who booked the shows and of course everyone who showed up! And special thanks to Club Mau Mau for gig number 1. So here goes................


1 December 2006 - Club Mau Mau, Copenhagen, DK (with Len Price 3)

2 Febuary 2007 - Bodoni, Malmö SE (with Maeds Dominos)

24 Febuary 2007 - Mejeriet, Lund, SE (wih Buckshot)

23 march 2007 - Panora, Malmö, SE (with Mau Mau DJ's)

30 March 2007 - The Crypt, Fredrikstad, Norway

31 March 2007 - Caven Club, Oslo, Norway

20 April 2007 - Bodoni, malmö, SE (with Ewing Family Stone)

26 May 2007 - Bodoni, Malmö, SE ( with King Khan & the Shrines)

15 June 2007 - Bodoni, Malmö, SE (with Problem)

15 June 2007 - First 45 'She's my woman' Released.

29 June 2007 - Cafe Mono, Oslo, Norway. (Doctor Mongo's Party)

30 June 2007 - Feelgood, Halden, Norway

20 July 2007 - Dirty Water Club, London, UK (with The Ettes)

21 July 2007 - The Go Go Cage, Liverpool, UK

22 July 2007 - The Birdcage, London, UK (with The Masonics)

29 September 2007 - Bodoni, Malmö, SE (with The Untamed & The Satans)

26 October 2007 - Robin Hood Pub, Turin, Italy

27 October 2007 - Madly Pub, Piacenza, Italy

31 October 2007 - Centro Stable di Cultura, Vicenza, Italy

2 November 2007 - Barre Live, Cesena, Italy

3 November 2007 - Covo, Alessanria, Italy

10 December 2007 - Bang Bang Club, Berlin, Germany

29 December 2007 - Second 45 'You Got The Hurt' Released.

29 December 2007 - Sweet But Deadly, London, UK

31 December 2007 - The Dome, London, UK


Heres to 2008!!