Well 2026 continues to be a royal treat for my ears! Another essential album has arrived in the form of the much-anticipated debut long player from super-trio The Sideshows. The Sideshows are Rich Ragany and Simon Maxwell (The Loyalties, Role Models, Rich Ragany & The Digressions) teaming up with the beyond-legendary Sami Yaffa (Hanoi Rocks, Michael Monroe, Demolition 23, Jetboy, Jerusalem Slim, New York Dolls, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, etc.) to play real-deal rock 'n' roll for diehard romantics, beautiful losers, and true believers.
This 10-track album, recorded at Yaffa's home studio in Mallorca, Spain, is yet another brilliant set of tunes in Rags' remarkable run of songwriting now stretching over the past decade and change. And to have these three individuals — whose talents and styles could not be more perfectly in sync — creating music together is something quite special to behold. The band was kind enough to preview four of these tracks in advance of the album release, and I must say that the remaining six numbers are every bit as good. The album is exactly what you'd be hope it would be: a filler-free parade of heartfelt, anthemic rockers with a singer/songwriter's soul and an arena band's energy. You can hear the influences of punk, glam, power pop, Americana, and hard rock, but ultimately this is rock 'n' roll that will make you still believe in rock 'n' roll. The album sounds fantastic, and these three form a tight power trio in the classic sense. It's hard to imagine me having much more room to be amazed by Rag's songs after all these years of spreading his gospel, but some of these tunes have absolutely floored me. Of course "Brand New" is a total anthem and a perfect album-opener. But then you have "Say Goodbye On A Night Like This," "This Could Be Everything," and "Rock and Roll Owes Me An Apology" — three of the best songs Rags has ever put his name on. "Smoke Show" has been stuck in my head for a week, and no medical remedy could change that. "Not Sorry," a powerful tribute to Rags' dear friend Scott Sorry, concludes the album in properly epic fashion.
Sometimes, a lot of talent in a band doesn't quite produce the results you'd hope for. But in the case of The Sideshows, everything has clicked. Certainly it all starts with the songwriting. I wasn't sure Rags could ever produce another batch of songs to rival You Can Get Dark With Me, but he has done just that. Whatever fire has been lit in him these last few years is burning stronger than ever. And what songwriter and guitarist wouldn't dream of a Sami Yaffa/Simon Maxwell rhythm section? These three found magic in the Spanish countryside, and this album captures it in full. My friends and Europe can order the pink vinyl from Finland. Additional physical releases are coming soon!
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