Here’s a treat for us all. Boston Massachusetts’ troubadour of trouble, Lenny Lashley recorded this little live session before lockdown kicked in, and Pirates Press Records have now made it available for your delectation. Lenny’s journey has been one of personal highs and lows, and he has converted some of those experiences into songs on his two solo albums. Prior to that he was the driving force behind the hugely underrated Darkbuster as well as doing time in recent years with Street Dogs. As you can tell, he has a wealth of stories to tell, and they convert very well to the acoustic punk rock format.

A man with fire in his belly and a guitar tucked under his arm has long been a winning recipe, from folk and protest songs to ditties sung around the campfire, and Lenny warmly embraces that tradition. I don’t think he is out to change the world, but he wears his heart on his sleeve, sending a message of hope – if he can make it, then you can too. My inner nerd notes that this recording was made in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which also happens to be home to the mighty Bruisers and that feels like the ideal setting for this live set. The inclusion of one of my favourite Darkbuster tunes Try To Make It Right makes me very happy indeed. The world may be in a difficult place right now, but releases like this help restore some faith in humanity and our own little punk rock family. Tom Chapman