RATS and reality bite on new single ‘Section 60’

November 28, 2024
UK Music News, UK Music Videos
by Desh Kapur UK-Editor/Photographer

Liverpool’s RATS bring focused political fury to a bounce-along beat with…

SECTION 60

The brutal reality of the UK’s stop and search policing powers told with no pulled punches in two-minute ska blast

Five-piece upfront documentarians of street life continue their current UK Tour into December

RATS – Section 60
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Both RATS and reality bite and the Liverpool genre-spanning, goodtime five piece with socio-political teeth, named after the former, depict a harrowing picture of the latter with their new single, Section 60. RATS’ first new music since 2022 arrives as they hit the halfway point of their current UK Tour and fuses stories of dignity lost at the hands of brutal, British stop and search laws with bubbly ska bass and beats.

Active since the latter stages of the last decade, the band, led by singer and lyricist, Joe Maddocks, have developed no small reputation for uncompromising social statements coupled with no little humour. Debuted live as long ago as 2021, Section 60 was quickly established as a firm fan favourite, offering multiple clues why Maddocks has garnered comparisons to Jamie T and The Streets’ Mike Skinner, while the band’s funk and fury veers from reggae and R’n’B to smooth, soulful 80’s yacht rock.

Having returned to London just two weeks ago to take on a capacity crowd at The Lower Third, RATS have taken Section 60 and other new tracks on the road with them throughout November. Prior to more December dates, kicking off at Audio in Glasgow on Tue 17 December 2024, and exciting plans for 2025 being revealed, the band sets Section 60’s powerful message loose.

Maddocks says of the single:”Section 60 means a form of policing where a whole neighborhood is persecuted because of the actions of a few. I was riding home from the studio one night and was stopped by the police, leading to my anatomy being violated for no reason other than riding a bicycle. In the cycle lane too. This song isn’t having a go at the police, but the legislation.

“Liverpool has more stop and searches, in an area that covers less than 550k people, than Greater Manchester, which is upwards of five million people. It’s a nationwide issue but has more of an impact on Liverpool youth than anywhere else and is set to one side as being ‘just part of growing up’. The song highlights what’s happening nationwide, especially to minority communities.”

Rushing out of their home city to multiple early-career successes, not least supporting Liam Gallagher at his 2022 Teenage Cancer Trust show at The Royal Albert Hall, RATS maintain equal enthusiasm for writing and the studio as their vibrant live shows. With an intense period of recording behind them, the band – formed of Maddocks with Mikey Duncalf (guitar), Chris Carragher (guitar), Lowell Carragher (bass), Alan Phillips (drums) – continue on the road next month.

All confirmed, remaining 2024 live dates for RATS are as follows:

Tue 17 Dec – Glasgow, Audio

Thu 19 Dec – Newcastle, Zerox

Fri 20 Dec – Grimsby, Docks Academy

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Desh Kapur UK-Editor/Photographer

My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago

RATS and reality bite on new single ‘Section 60’

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