Memento Vivere sees Social Youth Cult set out their stall with 14 minutes of distorted gothic post punk.
Across five tracks, the group impresses with tight and well-thought-out songs, which have allowed them to build their name within the North East music scene. Opener Temporary Love sets the scene nicely, highlighting vocalist Shaun Greer’s baritone vocals, which combine nicely with the chorus laden guitar lines. By the time the song hits the chorus, Greer’s vocals hit full croon over a bed of beautifully distorted guitars.
The amazing resonant vocal style is something that continues across the EP, with Greer’s vocals, sounding like a twisted mix of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis and Morrissey (without the problematic connotations). This helps immediately set the dark and moody tone of the record.
You Do It To You has an almost wall-of-sound approach at times with guitars, drums, and bass forming a dark, ominous wall in the chorus. Leaving no decibel untouched, the track shows the band’s diversity and ability to set various different atmospheres with their instrumentation. The guitar solo on the track had echos of Joy Division with its starkness within the mix.
This gives way to Moonlight’s driving bass and guitar lines with verses that feel inspired by groups such as The Killing Joke. The track also features a gorgeous guitar solo illustrating the playing abilities of guitarist Holly Moore and adding a beautiful touch to Moonlight.
The opening of Hollow sees the guitar crash in over the bass line like a wave against a pier upping the energy of the EP. As the chorus hits, Greer bellows, “hollow me vacant you,” continuing the melachonic, heavy tone of the song.
Gone With The Beast concludes the EP by reflecting upon toxic masculinity. Greer’s vocals are almost chant-like in the chorus and continue to gain intensity as the track continues, bringing the EP to a passionate conclusion.
Overall, this debut EP from Social Youth Cult shows promising signs for the future, giving the listener all they could possibly want from a goth group with some excellent post-punk tinged tracks. It is clear why the group is gaining attention in the North East music scene and are very much ones to watch as they continue their musical journey.
Newcastle’s Goodsprings return with ‘Horrors’, a track that fuses the raw energy of punk with the rhythmic soul of ska, delivering a powerful political message.
The track bubbles with anger, starting with an opening guitar line immediately hitting you with high energy. This raucous guitar line is over a bed of ska inspired organ reminiscent of bands like The Specials.
However, those expecting a traditional ska track in the style of Madness will be surprised. While the influence from ska bands is present, the group also draws from various other genres such as classic rock and punk, featuring complex, heavy guitar lines and political spoken lyrics, which see the band confronting apathy, racism and austerity and the impact it has had on Britain.
The driving drum beat powers the track, maintaining the punk energy and moving away from traditional ska beats, resulting in a song filled with power and intensity.
The track also features an excellent brass section with the group welcoming in new collaborators with Lucy McCartan on trumpet and Natalie Ziklova on keys which brings the traditional fun of a ska track.
Overall, the track injects a variety of different influences into the ska genre to good effect. You can check out Horrors on 8th June on SoundCloud and follow the band on Instagram here.
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.
Black Surf’s “Make Friends With Hell” is a fun, surf rock tinged EP. Taking influence from the likes of Weezer, this four track EP takes gorgeous melodies and drenches them in distortion to amazing results.
The EP explodes into life with “Lights Out” with its Weezeresic intro and power pop leanings. The riffs on the track rival the Burj Khalifa for size, towering over the track and leaving no decibel behind. This wall of sound approach is consistent throughout the EP, with the band wearing their 90’s rock influences as a badge of pride.
The vocals add a touch of emo angst to the opener, matching the emotive nature of the guitars which lay below them.
“Lights Out” gives away to “Vultures” with its heavily distorted intro. The track keeps the high energy up with its driving drum track, with them especially taking a beating on the chorus, creating a beautiful cacophony of noise.
“Oh, Poor Me” begins with a huge wall of guitars, very much reminiscent of bands such as Joyce Manor.
The track appears to take influence from various groups, with the quiet loud nature of the verses and choruses reminiscent of groups such as Nirvana and Pixies, and vocals on the chorus channelling Billy Corgan with their grungey quality.
The light sprinkling of Moog-esic synthesisers on the track adds to that 90s rock vibe and adds a nice contrast to the guitars in a similar fashion to early Rentals songs. As time passes, the track sinks further and further into its sludgey sound to excellent effect, submerging the listener in its crunch.
Closing with “Baby Blue Washburn”, Black Surf takes 60s surf rock and sends it over a wave of distortion. The sweet melodies and bass-led verses smash into massive crunching choruses, which are joyful to the ears and bring the EP to a satisfying conclusion.
Overall, I really enjoyed this EP. The group’s talent for songwriting shines through these four tracks, which are both sweet and sour at the same time. If you’re a fan of groups like Weezer and Joyce Manor, you’ll love this EP. You can hear it here.
Monte Grisa’s Resurrection EP showcases the Darlington based post punk band at their very best with four meticulously crafted tracks that encapsulate their dark and moody sound.
The EP opens with “A Confession” driven by dark ominous synths reminiscent of groups such as Joy Division during their darker moments. The lyrics repeat a self-deprecating mantra, acting as a nice metaphor for the struggles of having low self esteem and setting the brooding tone for the rest of the record.
Next “Deep” begins with a sharp drum machine section that builds anticipation. The synths enter as the song progresses, accompanied by an ethereal chorus of backing vocals, which act as unheavenly choir enhancing the gothic atmosphere. The track breaks down into an engaging guitar riff, which keeps the listener on the edge of their seat with it’s interesting structure.
The third track “Regression” discusses the declining standards of society, with frontman Josh Cowey expressing his shame and apathy towards it to excellent effect with an introspective set of lyrics.
The excellent “Shotgun” ends the EP with a driving rhythm section and Cowey’s passionate baritone vocals, which bring a beautifully dark energy to the song. The emotion in the vocal delivery, paired with the descending guitar line, creates a compelling finale.
Overall, this EP is an excellent offering and should not be missed if you’re a fan of dark and gothic post punk with deep meaningful lyrics and well thought out, clever song writing which makes the EP well worth a listen. You can check it out here.
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.
Humbug North East 