Rick Larson – Did you see the Osees at Glastonbury? I didn’t because I live in California, but I did see them this month at the Mosswood Meltdown, the annual Oakland celebration of punk and weirdness hosted by John Waters. The prolific, veteran Bay Area band goes just about harder than any band I’ve seen since the Butthole Surfers back in the day. I’m not normally a fan of the two drum kit approach, but holy hell, those guys. And John Dwyer with his guitar strapped up to his sternum orchestrates something that manages to be both joyful and malicious.
Was tipped off to a band called Golomb from Columbus, Ohio and its new release ‘The Beat Goes On’. Psyche rock with sloppy Midwest emo overtones. The song ‘Staring” is a doozy.
Sam Atkins – July was a month of some great new music but it was long awaited live shows from three of my favourite acts that dominated my month.
The month started seeing Olivia Rodrigo who defied any expectations I may have had and showed herself to be a genuine star. Her ability to command an arena stage almost singlehandedly was so impressive.
Then onto Billie Eilish who not only delivered my favourite album of last year but one of the best arena shows I’ve ever seen in 2025. She’s never sounded better and the way she conveys this music life is second to none.
And then we have the gig of the summer for most of us; Oasis. I think I was the final Picky Bastard to finally see Noel and Liam perform together missing out on them back in the day. What impressed me most was how great both of them sounded, having seen both Noel and Liam perform separately over the last decade, neither has seemed as comfortable and as vocally strong as they did that night. A transcendent live moment and one I never expected we’d get to witness.
Fran Slater – I could pick any of the amazing sets I saw at Deer Shed as the best thing I heard in July. Naima Bock brought beautiful, much needed calm to the Lodge Stage (helped by the fact my daughter was napping in her slumber trolley), Honesty produced a dynamic performance which demonstrated why I’m so excited by them, Big Special brought the fun, and Benefits smashed the shit out of our ears with their gorgeously angry brand of music.
But the set of the weekend had to be Saturday headliner, Kae Tempest. I have been a fan of him for years, but there was something extra special about him taking the stage as his true self with a back catalogue that now more than warrants being the weekend’s marquee performer. It was powerful, emotional, and breathtaking.
James Spearing – As Sam put it, ‘Christine and the Queens releasing an EP of disco pop bangers wasn’t on my list today’. But what better than a surprise on a release day Friday? The summer has been quiet for new releases, more so than usual. So something this exciting popping up was very welcome, and I was immediately sold. ‘Catching Feelings’ is the standout, and the summer trans disco anthem you didn’t know you needed. You may have to ‘take a chance’ for Chris to be your man, but there’s to risk you won’t be dancing around to the song.
Two more quick picks for you. First ‘The Glass’ from Billie Marten‘s new album Dog Eared, an album that should rightly be causing more of a fuss amongst us PBs. Second is, Evidence, formerly of Dilated Peoples, with ‘Outta Bounds’. No shock that for me new hip-hop that harks back to the 90s glory days is hitting the spot where most current artists in the genre don’t.
Tom Burrows – I said last month that there’s a new U.S. Girls album out, so I started listening to some of the previous ones that I’d liked. Case closed. But no. I then gave a first-ever listen to Meg Remy’s 2015 album, Half Free. Oh boy. What a blistering record. More edgier and fuzzier than her subsequent stuff, it’s made of wall-to-wall bangers. It begins with tales of selfish men destroying sisterly bonds and the US military turning women into widows, and maintains that furious (yet incredibly infectious) energy from there. Sometimes, with so much new music to consume, I feel like I should constantly be striving to find something to love among new releases. Half Free is a reminder that sometimes the best new discoveries were always out there, waiting to be discovered.
In terms of new releases and experiences, I’ve enjoyed the new Alex G album, Headlights, which has some lovely guitar-led compositions on there. And then, in July I went to see Jessica Pratt’s rescheduled show at Manchester’s New Century Hall which was a wonderfully hypnotic event. Her voice and band sounded so good in that space. Definitely recommend seeing her play when you can.
Picky Bastards 