The debut LP from The Spy From Balzan sees the musical project finally complete its first chapter to wonderful effect.
Combining the dreamy and reverb-heavy production that has blessed their previous singles, The Spy From Balzan features seven excellent tracks influenced by various genres and moods.
Opener “This Way Up” begins with a Spanish-esque guitar opening that runs through the track like a scenic river through a gorgeous valley. These then collide into a trap-style beat, which opens up the track, allowing the vocals to take centre stage.
This is followed by the single “Without Warning” which I have previously reviewed (you can read here). In the context of the album, the track is only strengthened, adding to the LP’s sonic palette.
Next is “Cheese Dreams” which opens with a dreamy guitar line washed in reverb. The track allows you to sink into its production, especially when it reaches its chorus, which drags you further into its sonic landscape. The instrumental on the track shimmers and also features a lovely guitar solo that cuts through the dreamlike atmosphere to excellent effect.
“Guillotine” features a melodic chorus that adds a different element to the LP, with verses laden with guitar solos and intricate synth beds. This continues to build upon the consistent instrumentation and production that weaves the album together into its own unique world.
“Imagine That” adds to the sunny atmosphere. Opening with a catchy guitar line, the song revolves around this line, bringing a catchy indie vibe. The vocals reminded me a lot of The Voidz with their heavily autotuned and trippy effect, bringing that extra layer to the track.
This leads to the LP’s magnum opus, “Northern Rail,” which sounds like The Drums run through a psychedelic filter. The effect is excellent, showcasing the range of different influences injected into this project. The indie pop sensibilities are clear to see, with a gorgeous upbeat and catchy chorus, which I adored.
The LP ends with “Only Been Me” featuring Slobo, the track gently winds down the album with an RnB-influenced finale and gorgeous synth bass work. The chilled production naturally concludes the sonic journey which the LP takes you on.
Overall, The Spy From Balan has merged various influences together to excellent effect, producing a cohesive album with a thoughtfully curated sonic palette that takes the listener on a journey through its luscious instrumentation and personal lyrics.
Saturday, May 18th, 2024 saw Marrapalooza return to a sun drenched Ouseburn as five familiar haunts played host to a day of DIY music.
The festival, which started in 2023, is a celebration of DIY music, with a range of alternative bands from across the country descending on Ouseburn for a day of live music.
My day started at Cobalt Studios, where I saw Thursday Club, kicking off a great day of live music with a great performance. Combining post punk and hardcore influences, the group raced through an excellent set, which got people on side straight away, setting the tone for the day.
Thursday Club performing at Cobalt Studios
After taking some time out to enjoy the sunshine, I made my way up the hill to Little Buildings to catch local lads, The Hollows. Clad in immaculate suits, the group somehow managed to deliver an energetic punk set in the stifling heat.
The heavy distortion on the bass on some of the tracks was a nice change of pace, bringing a different flavour to the gig, which allowed them to stand out.
The Hollows performing at Little Buildings
Next to The Cluny, where Straight Girl provided another electrifying set of riotous dance music. I first saw Straight Girl when they supported Dream Wife on their 2022 tour and was treated to one of the best shows I’ve seen from a support artist. It meant that expectations were high and they did not disappoint, showing once again that they are a natural born performer, dragging the audience along with them.
Despite only having a laptop and a few vocal pedals, Straight Girl lit up the stage, bringing a chaotic and charming energy which was infectious. Their set, backed by dark and distorted dance beats, included a few new tracks that sounded great and illustrated that they have evolved even further during their time away. If you get the chance, make sure to check them out.
Next up were Mumbles from Manchester at Little Buildings again. Before seeing them, I didn’t know much about the band. However, they completely won me around with a sensational set of sprawling songs.
The amount of talent which the group possesses is scary, with colourful guitar parts which were absolutely ludicrous at times. These decorated lavish and grand arrangements, which demonstrated the group’s talent for songwriting.
They are very much Manchester’s answer to London’s Windmill scene with creativity oozing out of every line they write.
I then took a walk down the winding stream and under the bridge to Tyne Bar to catch Model Village which provided a completely different vibe in the cleared out beer garden of the famous pub.
With a set of infectious indie pop cuts, powered by synth lines, they got the crowd up and dancing, and provided a soundtrack to the hundred or so nights out, unfolding under the arch.
Other Half performing at The Cumberland Arms
I then took a hike up to The Cumberland Arms perched atop of Ouseburn’s highest reaches for Norwich’s Other Half. This is the second time I’ve caught the group at this venue with both occasions showing the group in fine form.
Fresh from flooding their Travelodge room, the group provided fun, laughs and most importantly an amazing performance with enough distortion to blow your eardrums back down the hill.
Marrapalooza and events like these are incredibly important, with a packed bill of DIY bands powering a DIY festival, which is run for a love of music, rather than a love of profit. They’re always well worth your time, and I had an amazing day out parading around Ouseburn in the sunshine, seeing amazing bands many of which I hadn’t heard before.
Whilst providing culture to the region, events like this are so important to providing a platform for up and coming musicians. The organisers of the event even took a hit to provide Ouseburn with a top class day of music, with the festival ending the day with a £2,000 deficit due to the organisers trying to keep costs down for festival goers.
That’s why it’s so important to support live music events such as this. There is currently a GoFundMe to try and make this a trilogy of events in 2025, which I will leave a link to here and if you get the chance to support an event such as this, make sure you do, you won’t regret it.
Freshly returned from their transatlantic odyssey, The Peevie Wonders are ready with new music and big plans for the future.
After a slew of shows in Austin, Texas, the group is back on home soil and ready to continue to build the hype, which has attracted the attention of the likes of BBC Radio One.
I caught up with frontman Mark Wilson to talk about their amazing experiences in the USA, as well as their exciting new track “Big Eczema Energy”, which features a solo from fellow North Shields resident Sam Fender, as well as production from Fender’s bandmates, Joe Atkinson and Dean Thompson.
The track showcases all that is good from the band, bringing big energy and unique lyrics. You can check it out here.
Bringing humour and terrific post punk energy, the track combines the wit and surrealism of bands such as FEET with the infectious energy of groups such as Shame. This addition to the growing catalogue of excellent singles released by the North Shields’ band so far further solidifies their status as ones to watch.
Sharing his thoughts about the new single Big Eczema Energy as well as working with Fender, Thompson and Atkinson, frontman Mark Wilson stated this: “This was the most fun I’ve ever had recording music. They are all good friends of mine, and it was class seeing professional musicians chipping in with writing and production on Big Eczema Energy.
They really brought it to life and helped us out beyond our expectations. It was a real North Shields collaboration. Sam’s solo was pretty much an improvisation, and if you haven’t heard it already, I would have a listen and prepare for a face melting rock n roll experience.”
The track builds upon the group’s influences, which can be heard throughout the group’s music, which mixes excellently crafted tunes with comedic lyrics often about the banality of everyday life. Past targets include the big shop at Morrisons, indie boys and gym lads, with the group delivering a unique twist on post punk.
I asked frontman Mark Wilson, about who and what inspired their uniquely brilliant music:
“Lyrically, artists like Johnny Cash, Tenacious D and John Cooper Clarke have been huge influences in the way they can add humour and make people laugh with the words they choose.
As a young boy, I was obsessed with Spike Milligan’s poetry, it’s so daft and surreal yet the stories spark something inside me that inspires me to this day to write something amusing. I love rough and raw music and The Fall are massively inspiring in how they break rules and the recordings can sound a bit shoddy and home made.
My music taste can only be described as Dad Rock, which isn’t really the sound that I have gone for, but if you break our music down the classical rock elements are all there, hidden beneath noisy guitar riffs and ranty vocals.”
These are all things which can be heard from what the group has put out so far. Since their formation in 2020, the band has gone from strength to strength. I asked Mark Wilson about what made them start The Peevie Wonders:
“I had COVID during the pandemic, and being locked in my room. I started messing around with some guitar ideas, which then progressed into songs. This was the first time I’d ever had vocals on a track, which was a weird experience whilst I was trying to find my voice. I’m still looking!
I asked Ben, who is my best pal, to get involved and help with some lead guitar. Before I knew it, we were in a rehearsal room playing these songs that were created during my self isolation.
To start with, we had my computer plugged into the PA, which had backing track drums and bass. The hardest part was having to play perfectly in time, and then pause the track at the end of the song.
The natural progression was to get some real humans to join the band. This is where Ollie and Joe were introduced. We practised quite regularly and I was adding new songs in for us to play. Our first gig was in Sunderland at The Independent, we played 5 songs and it was a lot of fun.
The band was started as a bit of a joke, the nature of the songs shows that. The first track I wrote was about people who don’t put butter on their bread when making a sandwich… The lyrical nature has only got more and more ridiculous as the band has aged and this won’t be changing anytime soon.
I have tried and failed to write about more traditional things such as love and relationships but that doesn’t ever come into fruition. I really struggle with that sort of stuff so I may as well write about the things that I have observed and find funny, it’s all I can do really.
I had never expected the music to take us to places such as Texas or BBC Maida Vale studios, and it still blows my mind as to how we have even been invited to have such amazing experiences. It hasn’t been easy and a lot of work has gone into this, but as long as it remains fun and exciting, I want to keep progressing and see what else us idiots can get up to.”
The Peevie Wonders’ unique approach led them this year to be invited to play SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. The group participated in the boycott due to the sponsorship of the festival, however still managed to play some unofficial shows in venues around the city, who supported bands participating in the protest:
“CoCoTexas is absolutely mental, everything is bigger and worse for your health, which for a week was very nice to indulge in. I was crying out for some broccoli by the end of the trip. The reception was great, and we decided to keep the set pretty much the same as our home shows.
We took the dad joke book and the shopping scanner, which both went down a storm. We were playing to a brand new audience every gig so it was integral that we showed off what we are all about and didn’t hold back on any of the performances.
My advice to anyone going over there and playing their music would be to stay true to yourself. People will either love it or hate it, that’s the nature of the game, so you may as well remain unchanged and have fun with it.
After playing Big Eczema Energy one day, I had a member of the audience pull me aside after the show. They explained that they had been a dermatologist for 20 years in Texas, and we had a lovely conversation about moisturiser and steroid creams. That was fun.”
The group is keen to take advantage of the momentum, they have gained from their US experience. Over the course of the past few years, the band has attracted the attention of BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music as well as a handful of prominent support slots, I wanted to know what the future held for the band:
“We have our debut EP titled “Big Eczema Energy”, which will be 4 and a half songs. I think… That will be a huge box ticked for me, as this was one of my goals at the start of The Peevie Wonders.
The EP has very similar sounding songs on it which I have been very keen to do with very rocky and energetic sounding music, which will hopefully make for a body of work that will soundtrack your morning runs or drive to McDonalds on a Sunday morning.
I also have a few unfinished tracks which I am working on. I really want to write a 7 minute ballad which I’m hoping to sit down and finish, which will probably never see the light of day and is more for my own entertainment. We will see what happens with that.”
In addition to an upcoming EP the group have some exciting gigs in the pipe line:
“We are playing A Stone’s Throw Festival on the 25th May in my hometown of North Shields, and have a few more gigs that we can’t talk about yet. With our debut EP planned for early summer, we will of course be gigging to celebrate that around the North East.”
With all that to look forward to, you can check out The Peevie Wonders’ Instagram here, as well as their new single “Big Eczema Energy” here.
On Saturday night, 15th March 2023, The Bunker in Sunderland played host to an exciting lineup of bands across various genres, treating the audience to a memorable night of local live music.
Headlined by post punk group The Black Rain, the night showcased just some of the great talent, that the region has to offer.
Adastra kicked off the night with a mix of originals and impressive covers, delivering them with high energy and confidence. From stellar covers of the likes of All Time Low and Foo Fighters to an incredible rocked up rendition of the Spice Girls’ Wannabe, the group brought electrifying grunge energy to the evening.
Their Spice Girls cover showcased the remarkable synergy within the band, bringing vibrant energy and personality to their set.
The stage chatter between band members highlighted their tight-knit camaraderie, enhancing the overall performance. You can catch them at the The Independent in Sunderland on May 4th at Roulette Fest or at Downcast Studios later that month.
Next on the bill were Breakaway-NE, an indie rock three-piece hailing from Newcastle, who delivered a set filled with bluesy originals.
Featuring stunning guitar work, their set featured recent singles “Whirlpools” and “Secrets” amongst other unreleased tunes such as “Beesting”. The aforementioned track illustrated the bands ability to construct a catchy melody. Having only heard the song once, the chorus is still going around my head days later, which is always a good sign.
The band’s versatility was evident as they seamlessly transitioned between songs, maintaining interest throughout. Notably, the intriguing guitar effects in “Secrets” added a unique touch, while other tracks evoked bands like The Police in their sparse soundscapes and more bass-driven moments. Overall, it was an enjoyable and diverse set from a group of phenomenal musicians.
Breakaway-NE in performance at The Bunker, Sunderland
Next up were Even The Tides, who delivered an amazing set of indie bangers drenched in heart, chorus and reverb. Their set fizzed with energy with incredible guitar lines and some really excellent tunes which came in quick succession.
The group’s sound is akin to a blend of Muse and Sam Fender, characterised by a reverb heavy melodic core complemented with intricate, crunchy riffs. The result was a truly excellent show, the only shame was it wasn’t longer.
The band’s new single No Regrets released the night before went down a treat with the audience adding to the group’s catchy catalogue.
Make sure to check out the band who are playing a number of North East dates over the next couple of months including a show with Dual Rouge on the 20th of April at The Globe in Newcastle.
Next up was the headliner The Black Rain, who were playing their first show at the rehearsal space, where they have honed their craft. The Bunker is a charming rehearsal space and venue in Sunderland, which is well worth checking out if you’re a local band from the area and haven’t somehow not already heard of it. The Black Rain are one of its numerous alumni so where better to get started.
The Black Rain in action live at The Bunker, Sunderland
To say this was their first gig is insane. The band seemed like a group who had gigged together for years delivering their set with energy and precision, which many groups take years to perfect.
The band’s post punk and goth sound is reminiscent of groups such as Joy Division, with baritone vocals and driving riffs. However, there is also a darker element to the group with a definite influence coming from the more heavier The Killing Joke creating a moody distorted atmosphere to the music.
Their set flew by with a whirlwind trip through the group’s excellent catalogue. Tracks, like “Dutch Dreams” highlighting the their ability to take their influences and make something new with them.
Make sure to check the band out on Instagram where they have some preview of some of their tracks.
Their set closed out an incredible night of live music, which traversed various genres, each delivered excellently. I look forward to seeing each one of these bands later down the line.
The North East is known for many things, from its renowned football teams to its rich industrial heritage yet, one aspect often overlooked is its breathtaking coastline. From the Northumberland Coast down to Victorian Pier at Saltburn, the region is home to spectacular beaches and picturesque towns. Nowhere perhaps captures this better than the winding coastline of which Tynemouth and Whitley Bay sits upon.
Where better a location then to set up a music festival which showcases a plethora of local talent as well as some stars from further afield. In 2022, A Stone’s Throw Festival did just that with a bill featuring the likes of Heidi Curtis, Sam Tompkins and Lauran Hibberd.
The festival, a travelling roadshow down the North Tyneside coastline, transformed coffee shops, CBD dispensaries, and warehouses into bustling arenas, transporting festival-goers by bus from venue to venue accompanied by a brass band to add to the merriment.
A Stone’s Throw is returning this May, headlined by the indie mainstays Sundara Karma, backed up by incredible acts such as Pip Blom, Bilk and Opus Kink, as well as an abundance of North East musical talent.
I caught up with festival founder Ant Thompson to discuss plans for this year’s event and what will be different with this year’s exciting lineup. “We were incredibly proud to deliver the event in 2022 but as you can imagine, we learned a lot of valuable lessons which have influenced us in curating a bigger line up and a refined experience!”
Part of this expansion includes an opening night headlined by indie legends White Lies, which Thompson promises will get the celebrations started early, adding to the scope of the ambition of this year’s event.
Part of the event’s unique nature is its travelling element, with a bus service allowing festival-goers to get from venue to venue at ease. But just how does the bus service work for festival-goers?
“We work closely with the local council to establish an appropriate route with perfectly placed bus stops near venues.
The bus is exclusively for wristband holders and it makes getting around the festival an absolute breeze!
Last time out we even surprised the local area by placing bands on top of the bus as it travelled through the villages. The FOMO was clear!”
This is far from the only interesting feature of the festival. The unique location of this event brings something different to the table, with a number of establishments opening their doors to live music for the first time, bringing a new fresh twist to the multi-venue festival idea.
“We use a lot of spaces which typically don’t operate as fully functioning music venues. For instance, Karma Coast is a CBD dispensary by day, Tynemouth CIU is a trusty social club for local workers and The Watch House Museum is a functioning museum dedicated to the history of the local life brigade. These 3 venues in particular add a special unique selling point to the event and we look forward to seeing people visiting them throughout the day,” states Thompson.
“We’re not claiming the multi-venue idea by any stretch! There’s plenty of amazing multi-venue festivals across the country who certainly inspired us. That said, the initial idea came when walking along the coast during Covid. I was reminded how many amazing venues there are that people might not be aware of. That paired with how idyllic the area is, we thought it made perfect sense to give it a go! “
With such a stunning back drop, all A Stone’s Throw needs is some incredible music to fill their quirky, unique venues and that the festival has in spades with a raft of local talent taking to the Newcastle coast.
“We’re incredibly lucky to have such a flourishing batch of local talent participating in this year’s event.” stated Ant Thompson highlighting the incredible Finn Forster, The Peevie Wonders, Frankie Archer and Vice Killer as his personal ones to watch.
But perhaps the most important thing for an event such as this is the incredible chance it gives up and coming local musicians to shine and participate in front of big crowds. This is something that festival founder Ant Thompson has worked hard to achieve: “We work closely with the likes of We Make Culture to ensure there’s opportunities for the young musicians to participate in the festival.
This is often the first large scale event the musicians have been a part of and it’s something we plan to continue year on year.”
This, along with the incredible location and quirky venues, certainly makes this event one to watch this festival season.
A Stone’s Throw Festival will take place on May 25th 2024 across various venues across the Newcastle Coast (Tynemouth and North Shields). Tickets are on sale now here.
Yard Act lit up Northumbria University on Sunday night (17/03/2024) with aperformance that showcased why they are one of the UK’s hottest bands.
Across a 16 track set, the group showed just why they are building a reputation as one of the UK’s best live bands.
But first was support from New York’s Gustaf, who delivered a riveting set infused with post punk energy whipping up the crowd perfectly.
Gustaf supporting Yard Act @ Northumbria SU
The group brought the crowd with them across their excellent set at one point, allowing a lucky audience member to surf across the first few rows of the crowd, demonstrating the amazing reception they got from the room. Their driving bass riffs brought the energy warming the crowd up nicely for Yard Act.
After that it was time for Yard Act. The Leeds based group have built up an impressive catalogue across their two albums with 2022’s post-punk leaning debut “The Overload” and their recently released new album “Where’s My Utopia” bringing them much acclaim.
The group opened their set with “An Illusion” which also opens their sophomore album. The song illustrates the band’s development over the years showing a different side to their debut.
This was followed by “Dead Horse” from their debut album with its pulsating baselines and riffs which powered the crowd all evening.
“When The Laughter Stops” and “We Make Hits” followed, which saw the band embrace a theatrical element to their show with dance routines from the amazing Lauren Fitzpatrick and Daisy Smith adding an excellent element to the rest of the evening.
Many bands are happy to just turn up and play the hits (no pun intended) and whilst there is nothing wrong with this, it’s nice to see a band embrace something which is not the norm especially in the post punk/indie scene, making a welcome change.
Adding to the fun was EP roulette, which mixed in some variety show fun to the mix with a huge spinning wheel arriving on stage to pick the next track.
It also introduced the world to Huey, who unfortunately missed out on his chosen track, “Dark Days”. Instead, we got a rip-roaring rendition of “Fixer Upper”, a personal favourite (sorry Huey).
This sort of thing is what makes Yard Act’s shows so special bringing the audience along for the ride and building a connection with them whilst putting on an exciting and unpredictable live show.
“Fixer Upper” was followed by the fast-paced “Witness (Can I Get A?)” and new track “Down By The Stream” which showcases Smith’s impressive lyricism and eye for storytelling.
This is something which shines through throughout the live show, with his highly impressive delivery which could almost certainly give some rappers a run for their money with his impressive flow and adaptability to the ebbs and flows of the live show, which was a joy to behold.
I also wanted to give a shout-out to the impressive guitar work of Sam Shipstone who once again illustrated what a fantastic player he is throughout the show.
As the show reached its crescendo, it became evidently clear that Yard Act truly do “make hits” (sorry). The band ripped through “Dream Job”, “Payday” and “The Overload” showing just how their catalogue is only strengthening with each release.
The band then finished with the closer from their sophomore “A Vineyard for the North” to much applause and love from the crowd, which was recuperated by the group.
The magnificent “100% Endurance” opened the encore before Gustaf joined the band for a dance to “The Trench Coat Museum” which ended the evening on a high.
Overall, this was an excellent show by one of the UK’s finest bands with an excellent support slot from Gustaf. I eagerly await both band’s return to the North East.
A really enjoyable track from producer Khabs blends a number of different ideas together to great results. The second single from the project takes you on a journey through an enchanting sonic landscape which unfurls as the track progresses.
Dreamy guitar riffs giveaway to a celestial chorus embellished with reverb heavy harmonies, which further allow you to sink back into the track.
All of this powered by a pulsating beat which pierce out from the rest of the song’s dreamy surroundings.
If you’re a fan of bands such as Gorillaz, this is definitely a track for you, bringing gorgeous dreamy production perfect for unwinding.
Overall, I really enjoyed the single and am looking forward to where this project goes in the future.
The big story from the Newcastle leg of The 1975’s UK tour was the appearance of Lewis Capaldi, but that was just the beginning of the fun in their most ambitious stage show yet.
The 1975 are the ultimate marmite band, to some a pretentious pop band, to others a groundbreaking pop machine.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but one thing that no one can doubt is the ambition of frontman Matty Healy and co. Gone is the big visual lights show, which formed the basis of their ‘A Brief Inquiry /Notes on a Conditional Form’ Tour instead replaced by a house set, forming the core of the first half of the performance.
This section of the show draws from songs from their recently released fifth album, ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’ with the band committing themselves to an ambitious theatrical show.
The band inhabit a fully furnished house for the entire show, unveiled to the audience by each member of the group switching lights on, revealing sections of the stage.
The whole thing is all very reminiscent of a sitcom or drama with title cards and loose storyline, which is brought to life by Healy who starts proceedings with ‘The 1975 (BFIAFL)’. Flying through the first seven songs of the album, the group delivered an enthralling welcome to the world, with singles ‘Happiness’ and ‘I’m In Love With You’ gaining the best reaction from the Geordie crowd.
A first surprise was delivered early on during a performance of ‘All I Need To Hear’. Introduced by Matty Healy, the stage was plunged into darkness, revealing when the lights came up, that Tim Healy had replaced his son. The former ‘Benidorm’ star then proceeded to belt out the track to the delight of the fans.
Matty then returned on the roof of the house to perform a stripped back version of 2018’s ‘I Like America and America Likes Me’ which remains a highlight of the set.
Matty Healy Ascends
The first half was concluded with fan favourites ‘About You’ and album finisher ‘When We Are Together’.
When the track had finished, the performance art began with Healy assuming the role of a single man going through a breakdown.
Healy strips down to his bare chest to eat a piece of meat, as well as pretending to masturbate on a leather chair. This all occurs whilst images of world leaders and media personalities appear on the set’s TV. Healy then completes this section by crawling through the TV, ending quite a baffling bit of theatre, which is either pretentious or interesting depending on your perspective.
This led to an interval where the show’s biggest moment occurred. A ring of the doorbell signalled the arrival of the special guest, leading to mania in the crowd when the monitors flashed the name of Harry Styles. However, instead of the One Direction star, out stumbled Lewis Capaldi, which prompted more screams from the crowd.
Capaldi, to his credit, did what he does best for the next ten minutes. He delivered laughs, in addition to a rendition of The 1975’s ‘Antichrist’, and a rousing version of Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story’, whilst he mocked Healy’s previous acting attempts on the big screen, completing an enjoyable interlude.
The band then began their ‘At Their Best’ section of the show, smashing through hit after hit after remerging to a sax rendition of ‘Local Hero’ complete with Newcastle shirts for the saxophonist and a Newcy Brown for Healy.
It’s at these moments, you realise that The 1975 are still amongst the finest in the pop world, delivering both excellent tunes and phenomenal show, which can rival any of their contemporaries.
Finishing on 2018’s ‘Give Yourself A Try,’ the group excelled themselves on this tour, producing one of the most ambitious shows I’ve ever seen. This makes the show well worth a watch if you get the chance.
Liverpool outfit Courting made a big splash as they celebrated the release of their new album “Guitar Music” at The Cluny 2 on Friday evening.
Performing songs from their new LP, as well as songs from the rest of the back catalogue, the band impressed fans with an energetic performance.
This is of course a trademark of the band who have gained a reputation for their exciting live shows. Courting have in the past launched tennis balls at their shows such as at the Reading Festival, and the chaotic nature of that show was replicated in this performance.
Throughout, there were multiple impromptu covers featuring such classics as “The Boys are Back in Town”, “Common People” and “Starships”.
The set begun however with their critically acclaimed single “Tennis”, which inspired said tennis ball incident warming up the crowd who quickly got on board with the band’s blend of electronic and guitar based music.
The group went through hits old and new with airings of recent single “Jumper” as well as performances of older songs such as “Grand National” and “Popshop!”
This was all intersected with enjoyable stage chat in addition to audience participation via the medium of a cowbell which was embraced fully by the audience to mixed results.
The evening ended with a stage invasion by adoring fans, rounding out an enjoyable night, watching one of the UK’s most exciting up and coming bands.
Make sure to check out Courting’s new album “Guitar Music” and follow them on Twitter at @courtingband to find their upcoming tour dates supporting the album.
At around quarter past 3 on Tuesday afternoon, the Sports Team bandwagon (in the form of a spray -painted Piaggio Porter) rolled into Newcastle to play an exclusive show at RPM Music.
The promo show forms part of their ongoing UK tour for their upcoming sophomore album GULP! which hits stores on Friday.
The venue of RPM Music made it an interesting evening, as around 40 spectators piled into the tight confines of the cosy record store.
To say that the venue was intimate would be an understatement however this only increased the special feel of the gig which brought a different vibe to the standard Academy fayre.
The band posed with fans for pictures before and after the gig adding to the friendly, intimate atmosphere which radiated around the Old George Yard throughout the evening.
The setlist was formed of songs from their new record, “GULP!” with new singles “The Drop” and “Dig” performed to an audience of those who had pre-ordered the LP and those lucky enough to squeeze in.
Throughout the performance, more and more latecomers arrived perhaps demonstrating the challenging nature of the start time of 17:30 which is perhaps more forgivable for a smaller record store date.
Those who did make it down in time were treated to an excellent show filled with the usual high energy antics expected from a Sports Team performance conducted within smaller confines.
The band began with their latest four singles, which open their new LP, before throwing themselves into a rendition of “Unstuck”, the first unheard of number of the evening which saw frontman Alex Rice take advantage of the novelty of a wireless mic seeing him serenade the streets of Newcastle and the punters of the nearby Old George pub.
Alex Rice unchained
The band’s trademark sound was not compromised even in the tight surroundings leading to a number of vinyl and eventually a shelf falling on drummer Alex Greenwood who managed to play on throughout the vicious attack by boxsets from The Doors and The Who.
New tracks “Getting Better” and “Light Industry” were firmly dispatched with songwriter Rob Knaggs taking vocal duties on the former following on from vocal performances on 2020’s “Long Hot Summer” and “Lander”.
The evening was rounded out by a rendition of “M5” from their 2019 EP “Keep Walking” which beat out “Here’s the Thing” in a fan vote.
Fans were then treated to an album signing session as well as a chance to chat with the band and buy merch from the “GULP!” branded van, which is transporting the band around the country. This rounded off a really fun night which highlighted what makes Sports Team so special in comparison to other artists around today.
Humbug North East 