Liberating Vinyl Since 1995
Mod revival, power pop, garage and new wave from the 1970s right up to modern day. The definitive repository of mod revival writing on the internet. Most current articles are free for everybody, but, if you can afford it, a low cost paid subscription helps us to write full time. Alternatively, buy me a coffee! Every little helps to keep the writing going…
With obvious and self confessed influences from classic 60s bands like The Who, The Kinks and The Beatles, it is hard not to draw comparisons with mod revival bands of the 70s and 80s too, especially The Jam and The Chords
The Molotovs are another band of the new generation of mod revivalists in 2026 and, along with Sharp Class, are spearheading the movement, and turning heads!
I wonder if Eva and Grace Tedeschi, the sisters behind The Cords, thought that comparisons may be immediately drawn between their new band and a band with, almost, the same name, The Chords. Probably not. Either way it was that name that drew my attention
Faith In The Brakes immediately blends the best of Ocean Colour Scene, Ordinary Boys and Brit Pop with earlier mod revival bands such as The Chords and Purple Hearts, with the energy non stop for the entire 3 minutes. Chord progression and vocals are perfect – for music to be successful in a youth movement it needs to have identity, and this has it in bucketloads.
The 101 Club in Clapham, South London, was a hugely popular and influential venue for music in the 70s and 80s and a lot of up and coming bands found their way on to the stage here. Alas, as can be seen below, it has long since closed down.
The review discusses Pete Townshend’s Scoop, highlighting its acoustic and demo tracks that reveal his songwriting brilliance. Comparisons to Nick Drake and John Martyn reflect a preference for raw musical simplicity.
The author recalls discovering The Who’s albums “Who’s Missing” and “Two’s Missing” in 1987, appreciating the musical talent in “Who’s Missing,” which he sought for years before reacquiring.
The notes detail a mini album by The Ambassadors, a Mod Revival band, highlighting its indie origins, memorable tracks, and nostalgic charm, along with insights from lyricist Kurt Fricker about their journey.
In 1986, a chance encounter revived nostalgia for Mod music through The Gents’ album, which reflected a fading mod revival. Enjoyable, but maybe lacking originality and came too late to significantly resonate.
We discuss a re-released LP from 1981, highlighting its changed track listing, the historical context of the Mod Revival scene, and specific band contributions, notably of the Purple Hearts.
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