Chasing Cadence - The Black Heart, Camden 29/09/2016 - REVIEW

Chasing Cadence

The Black Heart, Camden

29/09/2016

Photo Credit: Lauren-Alice Golding

London’s Camden has a big reputation for being the home of alternative creativity and, as such, it proved to be the perfect setting for Hertfordshire’s autonomously-creative Chasing Cadence to celebrate the release of their new EP, Destroy Something Beautiful.

Named for the band’s perception of the music industry as one that “shuts out the beauty of creativity, innovation and most of all, diversity” Destroy Something Beautiful, released on September 16^th, is another step in Chasing Cadence’s ambitious plan to lead the UK rock world.

As ambitious as that plan may be it is well within their reach and what’s remarkable is that so far they’ve done it with one foot firmly grounded by their roots. The result is an unpretentious, inventive, hook-heavy rock EP which plays gloriously live.  

Jack Harris, Vocals

The Black Heart, Camden

29/09/2016

Photo Credit: Lauren-Alice Golding

The Black Heart, in Camden’s back streets was the packed venue for this celebratory show, which the Chasing Cadence boys put on, promoted and sold out themselves before taking full advantage of the opportunity to unleash mayhem.

Undeterred by various technical issues, the five-piece gave this set everything they had which happens to be razor sharp guitar riffs, a whole lot of sweaty energy and the ability to command a proud and admiring crowd.

Explosive single Everyone Relax was a certain highlight (and has an intense video to match that you can see here) but new track Watching The World, the second instalment in the video trilogy) is a chugging masterpiece that has literally been on repeat in the Louder Now car ever since September 29^th (honestly, it has).

One poignant characteristic of both the EP and their live show is just how relatable Chasing Cadence are. These are songs about perseverance and the determination to not waste life or time and they are coming from a down-to-earth, hard-working band that can see their goal and are running towards it at full throttle. It’s inspiring.

As if covering Sia’s Chandelier wasn’t distinct enough, vocalist Jack Harris chose to scale the venue during the track, continuing to lead his troops whilst clinging to the back wall by his finger nails.

Those same troops soon dutifully carried Harris around the venue in a victory crowd surf before, of

Rob Barlow, Guitar

The Black Heart, Camden

29/09/2016

Photo Credit: Lauren-Alice Golding

course, extending the same courtesy to guitarist Rob Barlow.

Every member of the audience was visibly proud of all that Chasing Cadence have achieved, a fact that seems to humble and stun all five of the band’s members. But between performing at Download festival, playing Wembley Arena and now releasing a personal, relatable, explosion of an EP there is certainly a lot to be proud of.

Boys, you best start getting use to that love! 

SWMRS, Dead! and Brawlers at Bristol's Thekla 07/09/2016 - REVIEW

Cole Becker - SWMRS

Thekla, Bristol

07/09/2016

With wallets getting emptier and pay packs getting smaller our industry is constantly coming up with new ways of making live music more accessible to more people and recently co-headline deals and multi-name line-ups have proved to be a pretty genius way of doing it.

As those line-ups go, it doesn’t get more exciting than Brawlers, Dead! and SWMRS, on a boat no less, and that’s exactly what happened at Bristol’s Thekla on September 7^th.

If the crowd thought that they were in for an easy ride with Brawlers, well that would make them wrong. Their set was a montage of everything a band could possibly get a crowd to do.

Harry Johns - Brawlers

Thekla, Bristol

07/09/2016

• ·         Wall of death under strict instructions NOT to mosh or “any of that shit”? Yep.
• ·         Crowd running rings around a horizontal Harry Johns? That too.
• ·         Trust-falling from the balcony? You bet.
• ·         Having everybody run from one side of the boat to the other in an attempt to literally rock it. Of course that happened.

The recklessness in the pit was well and truly matched on stage with an emblematic energy that lastedDay Job, from this year’s The Black EP, is a solid choice. Coincidentally that track really touches a nerve at Louder Now HQ right now.

all night long. If you’re looking for a place to start with these guys,

It’s safe to say that few have had a better year than Dead! Arguably the best young band on the planet, and without a doubt the most hyped, the London four-piece can’t seem to put a foot wrong. But guys, the hype is real, Dead! ARE unbelievably exciting.

Alex Mountford -Dead!

Thekla, Bristol

07/09/2016

After smashing their way through a fair few festivals this summer (a couple of which we caught)

Dead! were ready to bring their assured aesthetic back indoors. From the lamps and flower bunches on stage to the unabashed nature of their raucous tunes, I can get on board with every aspect of this band.

You’re So Cheap, released earlier this year, has quickly and justly become a firm crowd-pleaser but latest track Something More Original confirmed that Dead! are only getting better and at this rate it won’t be long until they run this scene. You can watch the new video for Something More Original right here. 

But the celebration of sheer young talent did not end there. SWMRS vocalist and guitarist, Cole Becker turned 21 just yesterday (Happy Birthday Cole!) but the bands list of achievements looks more like that of an act 21-years into their career.

SWMRS have also hit up their fair share of festivals this summer as well as recording a live session for Annie Mac’s Radio One Show, performing live for Zane Lowe’s Beat 1 show in LA and releasing their debut album Drive North in February on their very own label, Uncool Records.

SWMRS

Thekla, Bristol

07/09/2016

Their whole set screamed California punk, a distinctiveness that SWMRS have whole heartedly embraced bringing all of the verve and raw edge that comes with it through to their set. Debut single Miley is as punk-rock-anthem as they come and newly released track Figuring It Out has had crowds woah-oh-ing their hearts out on both sides of the Atlantic.

For a line-up of bands that are still in the early stages of their anticipative careers there was a remarkable amount of talent on the stage. The night felt like one that this crowd will be bringing up for years to come, when these bands are heading up main stages and touring arena’s we’ll always remember the night we saw them on a boat in Bristol.

All images taken by Lauren-Alice Photography - thank you Lauren! 

SWMRS, Dead! and Brawlers at Bristol's Thekla 07/09/2016 - REVIEW

Cole Becker - SWMRS

Thekla, Bristol

07/09/2016

With wallets getting emptier and pay packs getting smaller our industry is constantly coming up with new ways of making live music more accessible to more people and recently co-headline deals and multi-name line-ups have proved to be a pretty genius way of doing it.

As those line-ups go, it doesn’t get more exciting than Brawlers, Dead! and SWMRS, on a boat no less, and that’s exactly what happened at Bristol’s Thekla on September 7^th.

If the crowd thought that they were in for an easy ride with Brawlers, well that would make them wrong. Their set was a montage of everything a band could possibly get a crowd to do.

Harry Johns - Brawlers

Thekla, Bristol

07/09/2016

• ·         Wall of death under strict instructions NOT to mosh or “any of that shit”? Yep.
• ·         Crowd running rings around a horizontal Harry Johns? That too.
• ·         Trust-falling from the balcony? You bet.
• ·         Having everybody run from one side of the boat to the other in an attempt to literally rock it. Of course that happened.

The recklessness in the pit was well and truly matched on stage with an emblematic energy that lastedDay Job, from this year’s The Black EP, is a solid choice. Coincidentally that track really touches a nerve at Louder Now HQ right now.

all night long. If you’re looking for a place to start with these guys,

It’s safe to say that few have had a better year than Dead! Arguably the best young band on the planet, and without a doubt the most hyped, the London four-piece can’t seem to put a foot wrong. But guys, the hype is real, Dead! ARE unbelievably exciting.

Alex Mountford -Dead!

Thekla, Bristol

07/09/2016

After smashing their way through a fair few festivals this summer (a couple of which we caught)

Dead! were ready to bring their assured aesthetic back indoors. From the lamps and flower bunches on stage to the unabashed nature of their raucous tunes, I can get on board with every aspect of this band.

You’re So Cheap, released earlier this year, has quickly and justly become a firm crowd-pleaser but latest track Something More Original confirmed that Dead! are only getting better and at this rate it won’t be long until they run this scene. You can watch the new video for Something More Original right here. 

But the celebration of sheer young talent did not end there. SWMRS vocalist and guitarist, Cole Becker turned 21 just yesterday (Happy Birthday Cole!) but the bands list of achievements looks more like that of an act 21-years into their career.

SWMRS have also hit up their fair share of festivals this summer as well as recording a live session for Annie Mac’s Radio One Show, performing live for Zane Lowe’s Beat 1 show in LA and releasing their debut album Drive North in February on their very own label, Uncool Records.

SWMRS

Thekla, Bristol

07/09/2016

Their whole set screamed California punk, a distinctiveness that SWMRS have whole heartedly embraced bringing all of the verve and raw edge that comes with it through to their set. Debut single Miley is as punk-rock-anthem as they come and newly released track Figuring It Out has had crowds woah-oh-ing their hearts out on both sides of the Atlantic.

For a line-up of bands that are still in the early stages of their anticipative careers there was a remarkable amount of talent on the stage. The night felt like one that this crowd will be bringing up for years to come, when these bands are heading up main stages and touring arena’s we’ll always remember the night we saw them on a boat in Bristol.

All images taken by Lauren-Alice Photography - thank you Lauren! 

5 REASONS WE'RE EXCITED FOR 2000 TREES - #3

Now that we have officially landed at the site of 2000 Trees Festival 2016 it is safe to say that were 100% correct to be excited about the week ahead. This place is amazing. This team is sensational. The list of reasons to be excited truly is never ending.

But in the interests of adhering to the countdown target we set ourselves:

#3 - FANCY DRESS.

In honour of the festival’s tenth birthday (something we will be honouring in our own way over the course of next weekend) the Fancy Dress theme is What you wanted to be when you were 10.

I feel like this is going to end in certain hilarity. I cannot wait to see the hordes of disappointed people dressed as various wild animals. I will ask every single one of them, in turn, at what age it was that they discovered it was impossible to switch species as you progressed through life. I for one still believe.

It’s also worth anticipating that this will inevitably lead to a lot of men in uniform, although I’m not sure if it’s permissible to find that interesting given that we’re talking about childhood dreams.

Anyway, I for one find the theme perfectly fitting because when I was ten I wanted to be a writer and preferably one that attends the coolest music events on the calendar.

Oh. Would you look at that.

Ladies and gents, prepare for some epic pictures evidence. 

5 REASONS WE'RE EXCITED FOR 2000 TREES FESTIVAL - #4

So I think we’ve made it perfectly clear that we are pretty darn excited for eating more good food then we have ever eaten before at 2000 Trees Festival next weekend. But believe it or not we don’t plan on spending the entire time stuffing our faces (it’s pretty tempting though).

After all of that glorious festival food we’ll need something to wash it all down with. Seen as it’s a festival, it’s probably best that something has a percentage.

#4 - Booze.

First of all, Fireball will be the official shot of 2000 Trees Festival. Yeah you read that right, this festival has an official shot. The smooth liqueur with a natural cinnamon flavour and pure Canadian whisky will be available at all of the festival’s bars, and we’ve heard that this stuff is gloriously deadly.

I’d say that we’re off to an amazing start but for the lager devotees among you, you have nothing to fear.

Cotswold Lager will be on tap throughout the festival and both Pistonhead and Pistonhead Full amber will be sold in cans at the Forest bar.

Just the fact that 2000 Trees has a ‘Forest’ Bar is enough to make me cry with excitement. But if you think that sounds wonderful you wait until you hear about the most exciting booze concept I have ever heard of.

The Rumbrella.

Yeah. That’s right. 2000 Trees Festival will have it’s own dedicated Rum Bar and, if you wanted to find me, that’s where I’ll be.

An all new addition to the festival, The Rumbrella will be serving a full selection of rum varieties as well as some other specially selected spirits. So far we know that El Ritual will be served and Idle Saint Mint Moonshine.

Would you really be able to live with yourself if you missed out on all of that?  

  

5 REASONS WE'RE EXCITED FOR 2000 TREES FESTIVAL - #5

So far this summer we have been delighted to bring you coverage from both Slam Dunk South and Download Festival. We have had the time of our lives and seen some amazing bands that have blown us away. But, we’re not finished yet. Three is the magic number after all.

We are extremely proud to say that on Saturday morning we will be throwing on our wellies, rolling up our sleeves and driving to Upcote Farm in Gloucester, Cheltenham to give a helping hand setting up 2000 Trees Festival.

It is a huge honour to have the chance to do this and we can’t wait to give you all a sneak peek into what it really takes to set up such a momentous music event such as 2000 Trees.

There are an unlimited amount of reasons to get excited for 2000 Trees, especially since it’s bound to be extra spectacular on this, it’s tenth anniversary year!

But we’ve mulled it over and managed (with difficulty) to put together the top five reasons why we can’t wait.

#5 - Food

Food is a contentious issue in Louder Now HQ purely because I’ve been on a diet (successfully I might add) since September. It’s not awfully rock ‘n’ roll of me but a lot of planning and effort went into making sure that I was as good as I could possibly be both at Slam Dunk and Download.

It has become apparent that this will not be possible at 2000 Trees.

So far we have been teased with this mouth-watering selection:

Smokin’ Hot Tamales: We’ve heard rumours that these guys have completely sold out of Tamales before and I cannot see that happen. Will be heading for Smokin’ hot Tamales just as soon as we can for that Authentic Mexican goodness!

BangWok: Street food and festivals go hand in hand and Thai Street food is the stuff that dreams of made of. Chicken and Tofu are on the menu so they’ll be seeing a lot of us considering they cater to our incredibly varied dietary requirements. We’re just too cool.

Chicken Shack: Chicken marinated in buttermilk for 24hours before being deep fried? Just the sound of it is enough to make you crave it but wait until you see the pictures. Oh my word. I want one of the chicken sandwiches as soon as physically possible.

The Cheese Truck: This is the main attraction as far as I’m concerned (food wise of course). When I first saw this it was the deal breaker diet-wise. Grilled cheese toasties are one of the main things I miss and it’s incredibly likely I’m going to be eating them for breakfast, lunch and dinner on at least one day.

Since I originally wrote this I’ve been scrolling through pictures of the goodies that The Cheese Truck has to offer and I’ve just seen spinach involved. I could not be more excited about this situation if I tried.

There are links to these guys included above and I’ll be sharing much more over on our Instagram and Twitter (follow us if you haven’t already!)

Get prepared for food Instagram posts over the course of the coming fortnight. It’s gonna get messy (seriously I should consider packing a bib.)

      

The Mirror Trap bring their addictive melodies to London

Gary Moore - Vocals

The Garage, London

29/05/2016

Most bands can only dream of the opportunities that have landed at the feet of Dundee’s The Mirror Trap since they formed just two years ago. After meeting at Music College the five-piece quickly got to work on their debut album Stay Young and it wasn’t long before they were spotted by a music legend and whisked off to the other side of the world. As you do.

That legend was no other than Placebo’s Brian Molko who, after catching them in their home town, offered The Mirror Trap a support slot on their Trans-Siberian train tour to Russia.

Ben Doherty - Bass

The Garage, London

29/05/2016

It’s the stuff that dreams are made of but, when you see how talented The Mirror Trap are it stops being surprising that for them it was real life. That’s what we learnt when we caught the band at Islington’s Garage in May at the end of their latest UK tour.

A mix of modern indie-rock and its 90s counterpart, The Mirror Trap have an exciting rock ‘n’ roll sound but dressed up to the nines, inciting disco dancing both in the crowd and on the stage.

Vocals from Gary Moore gave an intensely catchy vibe to the performance, delivering the ultimate in brain-worm lyrics with American Dreams and Toys, both from that debut album. When not charming with his vocal prowess he’s doing it with his whippy stage banter.

Paul Markie - Guitar

The Garage, London

29/05/2016

But new track Piranhas took pride and place in the set list, from the new album Simulations. Recorded at the infamous Karma Studios in Thailand, this track stays true to the powerful style that The Mirror Trap have carved for themselves but with an even more forceful vibe to it. It’s performed with all of the steaminess that it deserves and that melody stays with you for long after the set is finished.

To see The Mirror Trap on a small stage like this one feels like a blessing. It doesn’t take too much imagination to envisage them on a much bigger platform with much more production. When that inevitably happens, count us in.

Lonely The Brave Play a Magical Set in a Beautiful Church

Sometimes, when a tour gets announced I can spend days on end agonising over what venue to get tickets for. I analyse the pros and cons of the acoustics, the location, the date and the capacity. Every detail falls under scrutiny.

This was not one of those times.

Lonely the Brave are one of the most magical sounding bands in the top 40 at the moment, not to mention the most intense performers around.

So when you see them billed to play a church – you go.

All Saints Church in Kingston is a beautiful place filled with architectural marvel and steeped in history (the first King of England – Athelstan – was crowned there in 925 AD.)

It continues to be at the centre of Kingston’s community, regularly using music as part of its day-to-day operations and playing host to some pretty special shows.

Lonely the Brave released their second album, Things Will Matter, earlier this month and have embarked on what appears to be a non-stop tour embellished with festival appearances.

The Cambridge quintet’s hypnotic melodies reverberated through the church and filled the otherwise

calm and tranquil venue.

The crowd were respectfully hushed, presumably breathless, only applauding at the end of every perfectly executed track.

That being said, grown men were heard to squeal in excitement as each song started.

Backroads, from the debut EP The Day’s War continues to carry incredibly well on stage, only getting stronger each time I hear it live.

As performer’s Lonely The Brave are exceptionally intense. Vocalist David Jakes tends to linger towards the back of the stage allowing his powerful voice to do the work for him.

Lonely The Brave are not the types for stage shenanigans. They don’t need to be. The stunning nature of their sound ticks all the boxes on its own.

Besides, how much performance do you need when the back drop is a giant stain-glass window lit up in pink glory?

Tonight Lonely The Brave also showcased their second album, Things Will Matter, in fervid style. As a band they are moving from strength to strength only becoming more entrancing as they do it.

This leg of the UK tour continues and a whole bunch of new UK dates have been announced for October too: 

New October UK tour dates:

03/10/16 - Brighton – The Haunt*

04/10/16 - Southend – Chinnerys*

06/10/16 - London – Camden Electric Ballroom*

07/10/16 - Bristol – Marble Factory*

10/10/16 - Nottingham – Rescue Rooms*

11/10/16 - Glasgow – King Tuts*

14/10/16 - Leicester – 02 Academy*

15/10/16 - Leeds – The Key Club*

18/10/16 - Oxford – 02 Academy*

19/10/16 - Hull – Welly*

21/10/16 - Birmingham – 02 Academy*

22/10/16 - Cardiff – SWN Festival. The Tramshed

*w/special guests Tall Ships

Please note: Tickets for the October tour will be available on Tuesday 31st May at: www.lonelythebrave.com

Yes! I got through the whole of this review without mentioning The Hydro show last May!

Oh wait. DAMNIT! 

Monster Treasure land in UK ahead of debut album release

Briana Granados- Guitars/Vocals

The Lexington, London

23/05/2016

For the first time ever, Monster Treasure have touched down in the UK. Landing earlier this month the Californian trio have already played a string of notable British venues to prepare us all for Friday’s release of their hypnotically bittersweet self-titled debut album.

Monster Treasure have made no qualms about the record’s meaning, stating that it’s inspired by heartbreak, mortality and financial struggle. With that being the case you could expect a pretty melancholy result, and in many ways you wouldn’t be wrong.

But there’s another dimension to Monster Treasure, bordering on ‘sweet’, which also shined bright from the stage of London’s The Lexington on Monday night.

RJ Mar - Drums

The Lexington, London

23/05/2016

Monster Treasure’s layered vocal work, shared between Briana Granados (guitar) and Rachel Orimo (Bass), is engrossing to see live. Their harmonies give an almost psychedelic feel to the live performance, perhaps nowhere better then in Weird, the last track of the new release.

Catching up with the band ahead of their set drummer RJ said: “People that haven’t seen us physically think that we’re just an all-girl band…really there is a male drummer.”

That would be a male drummer that is infinitely present. A huge part of the perfect ying-yang that is Monster Treasure comes from the contrast between those psych vocals and the ferocious and fast paced nature of that rhythm section.

Rachel Orimo- Bass/Vocals

The Lexington, London

23/05/2016

The latest single from the album, Wake Up, is just one example of how that dimension works and also has a perfectly eclectic video to match.     

Using a healthy dose of distortion to nudge it all on its side, Monster Treasure perform live with just the right amount of personal reserve. The crowd could not take their eyes off the stage.

Utterly mesmerising soundtrack feels.    

 You can listen to Monster Treasure's The Salt for free, courtesy of Leisure & District, right HERE. 

Summer City impressed at London's Nambucca

Benji Adams - Guitars/Vocals
Nambucca, London
02/05/2016

As is the case for a lot of bands world over, several other artists have been used to describe Summer City but never has a “for fans of” tag line had the potential to be so long. These guys have taken inspiration from a huge range of genres and seamlessly fused them altogether to make something just a little bit different.

After just dropping their electrifying new EP Reprobates (April 22^nd, 2016) it was only right that Summer City took it out for a spin on a 6-date UK tour winding up in London’s famous Nambucca,  where they ran into us!   

Reprobates is a vigorously animated record which left a lot for Summer City to live up to on stage but they brought all the spirit, energy and attitude that these tracks demanded and more.

Kit Parker - Bass/Vocals
Nambucca, London
02/05/2016

First single, I’m A Wreck, was a definite highlight with one of the most engrossing electro-riffs I have ever heard (warning: will make you want to rave immediately) teamed with an unyielding drum section and a practically classic rock guitar solo which comes out of absolutely nowhere.    

But the pureness of Summer City’s punk-rock roots shine brightly in Burn It Down, a more stripped

back track with less electronic influence which really gives you a chance to appreciate the natural value of Benji Adams vocals.

Don’t worry, Summer City have got the all important acoustic track nailed as well. Sound of the Crowd is a really moving track heaped with emotion and really quite intense to watch on stage (even if we do phase into Hot Line Bling at some point, why not?!)

But title track from the EP, Reprobates completely stole the show. The perfect showcase of electro-pop-punk-british-hard-rock (yep, it’s a thing, see above) but with added sing-a-long lyrics. I call that perfection.

Reprobates is a fantastic second EP, an actual breath of fresh air, and it’s incredible to see that Summer City can more than pull off these tracks live. As they head off to film a new music video you can’t help to see what they come up with! Keep your eyes peeled!   

And obviously there was no way that we were letting Summer City go all the way back to York without facing the Grab Bag so if you're wondering which member once pissed himself on stage...well then this one is for you!: 

Benji Adams - Guitars/Vocals
Nambucca, London
02/05/2016

Eliza and The Bear performed a magical set at Bristol's Thekla

Eliza and the Bear
Thekla, Bristol
14/04/2016
Photo Credit: Lauren-Alice Golding

Seeing Eliza and the Bear has been on my “INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO DO LIST” since we criminally missed their set at Glasgow’s Hydro Arena last year. Since the London quintet just released their debut, self-titled, album I decided enough was enough, the time had come. I would see Eliza and The Bear at Bristol’s Thekla on April 14^th 2016.  The timing, as it turned out, was perfect.

At Louder Now we are no strangers to impromptu and slightly lengthy (yet never excessive) road trips. Whilst our jaunt to Bristol was by no means the most extravagant of these journey’s it might just have been the most bizarre.

Somewhere between castles that were actually train stations, closed roads that were actually open and boats that were actually gig venues I lost my mind and fell in love with the place.

Chris Brand - Bass
Thekla, Bristol
14/04/2016
Photo Credit: Lauren-Alice Golding

One of my favourite things about Bristol is that my very talented friend, Miss Lauren-Alice Golding,

lives just up the road, a situation that I took full advantage of. Lauren grabbed her 3-tonne camera and met me at the castle/train station for our first ever (and first of many please) collaboration!

And it’s just as well she did because the emotional rollercoaster that Eliza and the Bear were about to take me on was definitely not a ride to take solo.

My new favourite song, “Light It Up”, originally released on the 2014 EP of the same name and now sitting mid-way through the new album, kicked off the party. It’s the most upbeat, positive and encouraging track I have heard in a long time, the ultimate summer anthem and the perfect opener.

I adore that optimistic inclination that saturates everything that Eliza and the Bear do but it’s how they twist, variate and distort (key) which makes them special. “Make It On My Own” is a paramount example of this, a backdrop teetering on the verge of morose but still maintaining an affirmative energy and tempo to reduce you to tears. If you’re crying by song number two then you know the set’s magic.

Martin Dukelow - Guitar
Thekla, Bristol
14/04/2016
Photo Credit: Lauren-Alice Golding

Crowd participation is what takes a show from being great to being absolutely unbelievable, and we weren’t short of it tonight. Nevertheless the band challenged the audience with song “Where Have You Been” instructing them that it was their chance to prove that they had the album. It’s fair to say the audience passed the test.

Aside from the fact that it’s a blinding song with a parade-esque marching band beat, I have a huge appreciation for “Brother’s Boat” because live it was dynamite and also…we were on a mother flipping boat!

And just in case you doubted the bands determination (which I don’t think a single member of the crowd did for one second of this entire set) it’s worth remembering that vocalist James Kellegher asked his doting audience if they were “going to sink this ship or what?”

Whilst the tempo setting drum track from Paul Jackson maintains that addictive energy and Callie Noake’s keys add the optimistic tingles it’s the scratching guitars from Martin Dukelow that adds depth and sets Eliza and the Bear apart from the indie crowd.

James Kellegher - Guitar/Vocals
Thekla, Bristol
14/04/2016
Photo Credit: Lauren-Alice Golding

Live “Oxygen” was the best display of all of those attributes as well as a relentlessness where you could be sure that you’re being set up for a tempo drop that never, ever, comes.

Just as I was ready to declare that this performance could not possible get any more emotionally

charged Eliza and the Bear went and nailed a spine-tingling, tear-inducing, mobiles-and-lighters-up acoustic track that near enough broke my heart. For me, “Cruel” has been filed away in the playlist entitled “Beautiful songs that I must never listen to”.

After an equally beautiful chant of “YOU DIRTY SOUTHERN BASTARDS” the boys came back to play their defining tracks “It Gets Cold” and “Friends” to all the love, support and participation that a crowd can possibly give.

It was a remarkable set that, despite my months of waiting, really took me by surprise. If I ever get a chance to see Eliza and the Bear at a summer festival I will grab it with both hands because I honestly cannot think of anything that would be better.

But they are not just that summer band that you adore for festival season and then forget about. Eliza and the Bear are producing deeply meaningful and inspirational work and their live shows are nothing short of electric.

Martin Dukelow - Guitars
Thekla, Bristol
14/04/2016
Photo Credit: Lauren-Alice Golding

Eliza and the Bear are a band that you need in your life. When the stresses of work, dreams, friends, family and life have dimmed your internal lights you’ll be thankful that Eliza and the Bear are there to do what they do best and light it up.

Thankfully I can tell you that Eliza and the Bear did not sink Bristol’s Thekla. But my word did they try.

Huge thanks to Lauren-Alice Photography who took all of the stunning photos shown as well as shooting and editing this weeks Grab Bag video! She can be contacted HERE!

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus tear up London's Borderline

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus have had me hooked since the first time I saw them live in London, in 2008. Having had a rough relationship with their record label, who failed to produce on various promises, the band flew themselves to the UK and decided to remain independent “for as long as possible.”

I remember thinking, and still think to this day, that was the most impressive damn thing I had ever heard.

So when we heard that The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus were coming back to the UK it took us all of five seconds to decide we had to be there.

We were extremely lucky to catch them at London’s Borderline and from the minute that they launched into Damn Regret we knew that this was going to be a night to remember.

And that was just the first of many nostalgic gems from the 2006 album Don’t You Fake It.

Randy Winter - Guitar

What’s that? You didn’t realise that album was released nearly 10 years ago? Yeah me either. We sat down with guitarist Randy Winter before the set and he pointed it out to us.

“We’re going to be doing an anniversary tour for our debutrecord Don’t You Fake It. Next yearit will be exactly 10 years since it came out. So we’ll probably stretch out to some spots we haven’t been to, intentionally.”

And just three tracks into this set and we know why that anniversary tour will be a huge deal. In Fate’s Hand and Justify, both from Don’t You Fake It are, in a word, amazing. Those screeching guitars and aggressive drum tracks bring back the exact same attitude as when they were released.

It’s that attitude and forcefulness that made this band a driving force in the scene a decade ago and it’s what has made them legends now.

John Hartman - Drums

And with Choke from the 2011 album Am I The Enemy standing defiant in between those 2006 belters, it’s easy to see how this band managed to do so well even without a label. This track was the first of four singles to reach number 1 in the US after The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus left their record label, Virgin, in 2010.  

That’s not surprising. There’s something ultimately satisfying about screaming along the words “I hope you choke!” If you don’t believe me, ask the crowd at the Borderline that night. They did it remarkably well.

As we reached the half way point of the set vocalist Ronnie Winter grabs an acoustic guitar and everything gets a bit serious and wonderful. Cat and Mouse and Your Guardian Angel were pillars of my adolescence and it was a pleasure to hear them both played live, as beautiful as ever. When the packed in crowd chimed in to the latter with “Please don’t walk away, please tell me you’ll stay” you couldn’t hide from the spine tingles.

But they didn’t miss a beat launching back into the hardcore swirl of it all with False Pretense and You Better Pray. The former was definitely a highlight of the night, with the crowd jumping up and down and completely losing the plot as they were launched into that banging and infectious chorus.

Ronnie Winter - Vocals

The latter was a spectacular surprise. Ronnie points out on stage that You Better Pray, from the 2009 album Lonely Road, didn’t do extremely well in the UK charts “because you don’t have red necks here. But unlucky for you we ARE red necks and we’re going to play it anyway. So if you like southern rock, sing along.” Turns out we really like Southern Rock and we screamed that opening scream like we were Kid Rock, in a vest, wielding a gun and wearing cowboy boots. None of which The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus did, in case you were wondering.  

Matt Hunter - Guitar 

The set closed up, of course, with Face Down. THE song to define this band for many people because it is the prime example of hardcore sentimentality that The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus have had nailed for a decade.   

This set was everything I wanted it to be and more. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus played tracks that are iconic in this scene and they did it with all of the boldness and tenacity that you would want them too.

So tenacious in fact that more than one member of the band wore sunglasses on stage. In a basement venue. At night. It was perfect.

Unfortunately, the rest of the UK tour was cut short due to 'a family crisis'. We wish all the best to the whole band and hope that the situation has improved. If you missed out then do make sure that you get yourself to see these guys as soon as possible. You will not regret it, I promise! 

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Facebook

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Twitter 

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Website 

Buy '4' Here