The Milk Men's new single Cheap Seats is released on Friday August 5th. One of the most talked-about bands on the UK's live circuit, the single is taken from their much-anticipated fourth album, Spin The Bottle, released on September 9th via www.themilkmenmusic.com
Cheap Seats is the second song to be released as single from Spin The Bottle, following the R'n'B stylings of the previous single Go Go Baby. Cheap Seats is a classic example of The Milk Men's ability to combine hooks, guitar riffs, and an irresistible groove.
As guitarist Adam Norsworthy says: "I had a couple of riffs knocking about for a while and thought they might make two decent songs, but when I sat down with Jamie Smy (The Milk Men’s lead singer) to write it, it was obvious that they should go together in the same song. We started piecing it together and Jamie already seemed to have a title, and a lyrical idea in his head. With Cheap Seats, he was singing all sorts of great ideas, and, once we had the structure, he just took it away and wrote some great lyrics."
Jamie explains: "I had the title knocking around for quite a while and Adam and I started writing the song around the it which isn't usually how we work. It's got a very ZZ Top feel to it but with a good dollop of Neil Young in there too. The subject matter is pure blues. A man feeling very sorry for himself, bemoaning his bad luck and the fact that he was born with a plastic spoon in his mouth. However, as hard as he tries, he can't get a break and he's stuck in a rut. Despite all the doom and gloom, he's optimistic about the future. He's got a friend who will sort him out. The sun will come out tomorrow."
Adam continues: "Once we got in the studio and started playing it as a band it was so much fun - Mike and Lloyd got the idea and the feel immediately and it really grooves! We all love Stevie Wonder so I couldn't resist sticking a clavinet over some sections as a nod to Superstition. I think it's a tricky song to listen to without tapping a toe!"
The Milk Men, who have made three previous, highly acclaimed albums recorded in the picturesque Surrey countryside at Masterlink Studio. The band enlisted the talents of blues rock production legend Wayne Proctor, who has worked with a dazzling array of well-known names from the UK’s music scene, including King King, Ben Poole, and British rock legend Ray Davies from The Kinks.
Proctor co-produced the album with Adam Norsworthy. This team was a match made in heaven, and one that has made a number of critically acclaimed albums together.
The band’s previous album, Deliverance, was released just as the COVID lockdown was enforced, so the band was unable to tour the songs as planned. Instead, they set about building their fan base with videos and single releases that saw their online following increase ten-fold. As a result, Spin The Bottle is now one of the most eagerly anticipated blues rock releases of the year.
“We wanted to really get this one right,” says Adam. We know a lot of people are keen to hear it, so for it we have used a number of great studios and production talents to help us put it together.”
The album was recorded by James Welch at Masterlink Studios in Surrey, and then the tracks were handed over to Adam and Wayne who set about creating a tight, exciting live sound that reflected the band’s incredibly dynamic and popular live shows.
“It was important it sounded like us – no frills and tricks,” adds singer Jamie Smy. “Our live shows are so well received that we wanted to capture all the things we do best on this album. We have a real momentum behind us. It’s important that we capitalise on that with Spin The Bottle.”
Jamie and Adam are best friends who met at school when they were eleven. They have been in many bands together over the years, but it wasn’t until they both developed a deep love of the blues in their late teens, the idea for a powerful, dynamic blues band playing catchy songs took shape.
Although Adam formed The Mustangs – four-time British Blues award nominees and UK music scene veterans, he and Jamie eventually formed The Milk Men and were joined by Mike Roberts, who drummed with the legendary Pirates, and Lloyd Green on bass – son of British R’n’B guitar legend Mick Green.
This mix of talents and personalities has proved irresistible to the band’s ever-growing following. Jamie’s husky blues voice is reminiscent of Rod Stewart in his prime, he prances and preens about the stage like a man born to it. Shades of Freddie Mercury, Bon Scott, Lee Brilleaux and Fish all come into his performance, but with Jamie’s extra spoonful of humour and wit, there is no one quite like him.
Mike’s powerful drumming comes from a jazz background, and he brings with it a loveable, playful personality that comes out in his stage presence. He is also fast-becoming known as the best-dressed player on the circuit – always immaculately dressed from head to toe in fine suits. An homage to Charlie Watts perhaps?
With a music legend as a father, it would be easy for Lloyd Green to shy away from the stage, but with his beautiful bass playing – eloquent, lyrical, funky, and powerful, quite the opposite is true. He is the band’s secret weapon – crafting beautiful bass lines and performing them with an imposing, impressive stage presence that perfectly balances out Adam on the other side of Jamie.
A well-known veteran of the UK blues rock scene, guitarist Adam is the perfect foil to singer Jamie. The pair’s stage dynamic is electric, with Adam firing of live-wire solos you can sing along to, whilst his smooth tenor backing vocals blend perfectly with Jamie’s husky voice to create big harmonies in even bigger choruses.
And now, on Spin The Bottle, all the band’s talents come together to create their finest album yet. That’s a big statement, especially as their second album Gold Top hailed by many as a blues rock classic, and Deliverance reached the national Top 40 and got to number #9 on the UK Blues Chart. The band are confident that Spin The Bottle will eclipse the reputations of their previous three albums.
“This is a blues rock Thriller, or Rumours,” says Lloyd. “There’s no filler on here – the quality is there from the first note to the last. We felt we could have released any number of tracks as singles. It’s great to know that people will be humming along to every track, because the album is just full of hooks.”
The band’s philosophy is to deliver quality music, on stage and off, whilst letting people know you are having fun. That infectious attitude is all over Spin The Bottle from the big beats of first single Go Go Baby, to the bouncy groove and Elvis-inspired hooks of Fabulous. The band wears their influences on their sleeve, then rolls them up and gets on with delivering an album and live show that is somehow completely unique and unforgettable. “The best band we have ever had here” or “The most fun night we’ve had in ages” are becoming familiar end-of-the-night tributes at Milk Men gigs.
Why not Spin The Bottle yourself, and put some milk in your music? The best blues rock album of 2022 is on its way! Get ready for the Milk Men’s full-phat, gold-topped music delivered in style!
TRACK LIST
1. Driving It (3.47)
2. Cheap Seats (3.48)
3. Go Go Baby (2.47)
4. Adelaide (4.43)
5. How Do You Think I Feel? (4.02)
6. Sing The Blues (4.31)
7. Gabba Gabba Hey (3.28)
8. Fabulous (3.51)
9. Highway Woman (3.57)
10. Bad Seed (3.08)
PRODUCTION CREDITS
All songs written by Jamie Smy & Adam Norsworthy
Except Tracks 7 & 10 written by Lloyd Green & David Coleman
Track 8 written by Lloyd Green
Recorded at Masterlink Studios, Surrey
Savannah Studios, Park Hall Studios, London
Recorded by James Welch
Produced by Adam Norsworthy & Wayne Proctor
LINE-UP
Jamie Smy – Lead & backing vocals
Adam Norsworthy – Guitars, Piano, Backing Vocals, Percussion
Lloyd Green – Bass Guitar
Mike Roberts - Drums
ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS
James Welch – Hammond organ
ALBUM TRACK BY TRACK
DRIVING IT
Rev the engine! Pure foot-down, top-back rock’n’roll and a perfect opener to the album. The band plays at 100 mph through killer riffs and hooks.
CHEAP SEATS
An infectious rock song that grooves like a Stevie Wonder classic, one to sing while you are tapping your toe.
GO GO BABY
Full of energy and fun, Go Go Baby builds and builds to a dynamic crescendo, with hooks a-plenty along the way.
ADELAIDE
An acoustic epic that motors along on an enormous chorus, with an almost spiritual middle section. An instant classic!
HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEL?
The band’s ability to shift styles yet always sound like themselves is second to none. An insanely catchy indie rock song with an affecting lyric about losing your girl to your best mate.
SING THE BLUES
Harking back to the band’s blues beginnings, this is a sublime slice of original blues with a twist, with Adam’s clever guitar arrangements taking centre stage at the song’s climax.
GABBA GABBA HEY
A brilliant earworm of a tribute to the Ramones. Sleazy, catchy, and full of fun.
FABULOUS
Is it Elvis? Is it ZZ Top? All the band’s influences blend in yet another earworm of a track. Lloyd’s intricate, tight bass work dives the song brilliantly.
HIGHWAY WOMAN
A grinding Hendrix-like riff gives way to a trippy late-60s style rock number, featuring blistering guitar work from Adam.
BAD SEED
The album closes with a dark rock epic with shades of Pink Floyd and Queen. A huge riff drives the song over a dark lyric and epic guitar solo.
THE MILK MEN
2022 UK TOUR DATES
TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM:
www.milkmenmusic.com
Sunday 21 August
Old Bush Blues Festival, Worcester
Saturday 10 September
SX Centre, Brentwood CM15 9NN
Thursday 15 September
Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington
Saturday 17 September at 6pm
Cider Festival, Brasenose Arms, Cropredy
Friday 7 October
Swanage Blues Festival
Friday 11 November
Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre, Lancashire
Saturday 12 November
Hallelujah Festival, Hartlepool
Sunday 13 November
The Flying Circus, Newark (afternoon show)
Thursday 8 December
Half Moon, Putney (w/ Dr. Feelgood)
Saturday 17 December
The Musician, Leicester (Supporting Dr. Feelgood)
The Milk Men – Biography
The Milk Men is comprised from the cream of British R’n’B talent and pedigree. Bringing together members of the legendary Pirates, and British Blues Award-nominated the Mustangs, The Milk Men have been tearing up venues and festivals all over the UK with their dynamic, versions of classic blues tunes, and unforgettable foot-stomping originals.
With former Pirate Mike Roberts on drums, Lloyd Green (son of guitar legend Mick Green) on bass, husky blues singer Jamie Smy on vocals, the band is rounded off on guitar by Adam Norsworthy, singer and guitarist in the Mustangs.
Based in South London, the band was formed by school friend Smy and Norsworthy in 2015, and in 2016, the band released its critically acclaimed debut album Full Phat. Their second album Gold Top was released in March 2018, and raced to Number 2 on the iTunes Blues Chart, charting in the Top 10 on various online blues charts. One magazine review said “Gold Top is magnificent, and perfect if you are a fan of English Blues. There’s not one track on here that’s not single-worthy.”
The band draws its influences from a wide range of classic bands from Dr Feelgood and the Rolling Stones to Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan. Their original music is classic blues rock, played with attack, energy, melody, and a sense of fun.
Now their latest album Spin The Bottle is sure to see the band cement their reputation as one of the UK’s premier keepers of the British Blues Rock flame. The band’s dynamic live shows have won them fans all over the UK at blues festivals from Swanage to Skegness, and they will be appearing at further festivals and venues in in 2022 and 2023.
Photography by Blackham Images