The Sideshows | The Sideshows | Album review

The Sideshows: The Sideshows

(Boom Bird | Via European Phonographic)

LP | DL | Stream

Out 10th April 2026

BUYHERE

Following on from the explosive single Brand New released back in November 2025 which heralded the birth of The Sideshows, rock’n’roll royalty Sami Yaffa and Rich Ragany release their self-titled debut album. This is a collaboration which is set to illuminate the world of rock’n’roll as they infuse it with their own brand of raw energy, carefree spirit and passionate delivery which has fuelled so much of their work to date.

There are some things in the world of music that were always meant to happen for the greater good of us all – think Lennon and McCartney, Jagger and Richards, Morrissey and Marr, Elton John and Bernie Taupin to name but a few. Of course, these are all partnerships which are already deeply entrenched in the rich musical legacy that carries on through to the present day. But fast forward right through to more recent times and there is undoubtedly still the opportunity for unforeseen collaborations to create vibrant and exciting new musical outputs, which is exactly what we got when rock’n’roll royalty Sami Yaffa and Rich Ragany reignited a friendship to find a very deep connection which now results in the self-titled debut album by their new project, The Sideshows.

Both Sami and Rich have long and distinguished careers behind them in the world of rock’n’roll, with Sami having worked with Hanoi Rocks, New York Dolls, Jesse Malin, and most recently being an integral part of Michael Monroe’s band, whilst Rich has worked with Role Models, The Loyalties and most recently Rich Ragany & The Digressions. But alongside all of this, Sami has already released two highly acclaimed solo albums in his own right and Rich has more recently taken the bold step to focus primarily on his solo work. However, whilst their paths have been quite distinct over the years, there was always an inherent bond in their influences, musical connections and outlooks on life which grew stronger over time.

An initial friendship was born back in the early 2000s when Sami and Rich met briefly down in the Lower East Side of Manhattan at the time when Rich was working in Jesse Malin’s Niagara Bar. Whilst their paths crossed occasionally over subsequent years, a stronger bond started to form once their mutual friend and bandmate Rich Jones joined Michael Monroe’s band for whom Sami was already playing bass, and this resulted in Rich proving support for Monroe’s band on some of their UK shows. Fast forward to 2024, a year in which both Sami and Rich had both released solo albums, and Rich met up with Sami again when Michael Monroe was in Wolverhampton. This time Rich had a batch of songs he had written and he was searching for an outlet to get them recorded…..and that is when plans started forming.

Sami picks up the story as follows, “I told him I’d been building a small recording studio in my backyard in Mallorca, Spain and said, ‘Why don’t you come down and we knock a few out and see how the studio sounds?’ We made a plan, and Rags (Rich Ragany) came over with his anchor, a superb drummer, Simon Maxwell, who had played on pretty much every recording Rich had done in the UK. We proceeded to record. Windows and doors wide open with a view of the Spanish countryside, all silent except for some roosters and lamb bells. Simon said it was a bit different than their usual recording spot, a room with no windows in Croydon. The studio ended up sounding pretty good. We knocked these two songs out in a couple of days, each session followed by a long dinner…and lots of stories.”

Thankfully the collaboration didn’t just end there, as the momentum took over during the sessions in Mallorca and they ended up recording a whole batch of songs which is now released as the debut album by The Sideshows.

Opening songBrand New explodes in a vibrant blast of energy as the guitar roars, the bass rumbles and the drums pound as this new epic glam-punk infused rock’n’roll adventure unfolds. With huge melodies and anthemic chorus lines, it’s a song that bristles with an uplifting sense of euphoria as the courage to make this bold move to collaborate in this way really kicks in. But aside from this, the song was written as an un-apologetically positive message as Rich explains, “I wanted to share that in the darkest moments of loss, there is the hope another day brings. There is a chance to stand up straight with all you’ve learned and make this place a little better than you found it.”

With a similar vein of positivity illuminated by uplifting melodic chorus lines and radiant guitars, We’re Such A Shame rides a more power-pop inspired wave of sound. It’s a narrative which takes on board some fatherly advice to overcome a crisis of faith and carry on doing what we love regardless of our fears and uncertainties, challenging us to consider if it’s “in your blood and worth fighting for?” Meanwhile I Feel It completely turns the album on its head with its more Motorhead inspired fusion of high energy punk and heavy metal, infused with raw scuzzy guitars, aggressive bass lines and fast-paced drumming. Considering a core part of this song was recorded in one take this is an impressive achievement, but in the same token aligns very much with its core theme focused on the magic of creating.

Say Goodbye On A Night Like This has a more sombre and melancholier feel with its rich melodic overtones serving well as a heartfelt paean for those we have loved and lost whilst the catchy and uplifting chorus lines also convey a more triumphant feel to celebrate those who have made it through. As Rich explains, “This song goes out to some wonderful people we no longer have with us… People who struggled with addiction and depression. It equally is a love song to the people I know who made it through the other side.”

This Could Be Everything is a song which really feels like the beating heart of the album with its beautiful heartfelt melody and anthemic chorus lines radiating both positivity and an uplifting spirit for the lives we lead, encouraging us all to believe in ourselves and what we are doing to exceed perhaps even our own expectations. And this is a message which very much mirrors what both Rich and Sami were doing when they both ventured headlong into this wonderful creative partnership. Meanwhile Rock And Roll Owes Me An Apology finds the band in a much more self-reflective mood with the hard driving beat taking us on a somewhat tongue in cheek journey through the world of a rock’n’roll artist with the closing phrase “Stay true” once again encouraging us all to respect the belief in ourselves.

The Start has a much slower, darker and moodier vibe, reminding me very much of the distinctive blend of gothic punk and anthemic rock’n’roll pioneered in such a theatrical way by Lords Of The New Church back in the 80s. In this case it’s another song promoting strength to rise up against adversity and move forward with positivity. Smoke Show has a stronger rock’n’roll heart, but this belies its somewhat cautionary message that there is always a need to stay close with our loved ones when all may not be as it seems in their world.

The album closes with two songs which clearly harbour strong personal feelings by Rich. The first of these, Our Love In The Shadows, bristles with punk-infused power-pop vibes as Rich opens up about the love he has for his wife, with the lines “I cast my shadow with you across the shine of the moon, our love in the shadows shines so bright” conveying his thoughts and feelings in such a beautiful way.

Not Sorry is equally upbeat with its Buddy Holly style beat and strong rock’n’roll vibe as Rich pays tribute to his dearly departed friend and musical collaborator Scott Sorry who was taken from us all far too early in life. Scott certainly left his mark on the world through his time in Amen, The Wildhearts and Sorry and The Sinatras alongside his own solo work and this is undoubtedly a song whose message will be echoed by all those who crossed paths with him throughout his life, both personally and professionally. Also worth noting is the fact that on the 30th October, which would have been Scott Sorry’s 48th birthday, a memorial concert is being held at KKs Steel Mill in Wolverhampton as a celebration of his life and legacy, with tickets available here.

For a project conceived in England and born in Spain, this debut album by The Sideshows will stand as a bastion of positivity and self-belief in a world of great uncertainty and increasing danger. It’s an uplifting collection of songs which have a strong beating heart and deep-rooted soul all of which are soundscaped with a vibrant brand of rock’n’roll forged from the raw energy, carefree spirit and passionate delivery which have shaped the music created by both Sami Yaffa and Rich Ragany throughout their careers to date. And all of this and more will be celebrated on the release day of 10th April when The Sideshows play a sold out gig at Water Rats in London with support from Marc Valentine.

You can buy the albumhere or stream it here.

You can find The Sideshows onFacebook and Instagram.

~

All words by Ian Corbridge. You can find more of his writing at his author profile here.