NEWTOWN ACES

Newtown Aces are:
Barny Smyth: Industry veteran, roadie, manager & music video producer, bass player, anarcho-poet.
Dist: Go-to guitarist, producer and main protagonist of Elephant Assault Course.

Our band is born out of our of love of bands like early Killing Joke, Crass, Gang of Four, The Slits, Budgies drumming, Simon Raymondes, Dave Allen and Hooks bass playing, Magazine, Joy Division, Birthday Party and that era of great musicianship and bands that had ideas, had a message.

“We love that late 70’s/early 80’s punk/new wave musicianship and power”. says Barny. “So we thought we had better make some new stuff, but with proper guitars, monster drums and all the toys available now – so we have”.

“I think the ethic of that era is more relevant now than ever. The idea that: “You Have No Authority But Yourself”. Everyones using hate to gain an advantage and people are forgetting to be decent people before they follow a cause - and in a world of social media where every crazy can find every other crazy – bad people prosper. I really believe art is the first line of defense.

We love the new bands like Slaves, Bob Vylan and Shame, but our thing is a different proposition: 1st generation punk ideals, musicianship, great drummers and power. We are bored to death of ‘beats’, style over substance, proficiency as a substitute for art.

This music is not nostalgia. It is a love letter to a music that gave us a compass and enriched out lives.