Joyland brings the summer vibes with their slick new single, Leaving Tonight. Combining a number of different influences, the track’s shiny production hides a set of yearning lovesick lyrics.
Hailing from Newcastle, the five-piece has slowly gathered momentum over a number of years, something evident in their latest single.
Over three sun-kissed minutes, the group cultivates a catchy yet sophisticated vibe, drawing from various influences in the indie and pop genres.
The piano opening of the track echoes The 1975‘s If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know), with its stark, reverberated keyboard intro. This gives away to a guitar line washed in distortion and reverb straight out of the Sam Fender playbook.
The piano leads the track front and centre of the mix, alongside the amazing vocals, which are delivered with emotion and are well integrated into the track’s aesthetic.
As the buildup to the chorus begins, you can feel the band’s songwriting ability shining through as they expertly weave their way through the song, demonstrating their knack for producing a catchy indie pop melody.
The track’s strengths lie in its ebbs and flows, with various breakdowns building tension that is effortlessly released by the time of the chorus.
This gives way to a gorgeous guitar solo that sounds effortless. This is all enhanced by the excellent production, which boosts the track’s already strong songwriting.
This all leads to a really catchy, strong single from Joyland, perfect for the hazy weekends of festival season. The group are definitely ones to watch, and this is a bandwagon worth jumping on as they continue to head in one direction.
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.
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.
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.
Sports Team @ The Riverside – 25/11/2019 – Joseph Jordan
I’ve seen some gigs this year but Sports Team on Monday night was right up there maybe even the best I’ve seen over this long, long year.
It’s incredible to think that a band without an album out yet managed to sell out the Riverside, the third-largest music venue in the city, but that is a testament to the music that the London based band produce.
Since the release of their 2017 debut single Stanton the band has only grown in stature regularly being found on ones to watch lists.
The fast-paced indie tunes matched with the genius lyrics of which stick in your mind from the first listen does prove that you can go far as long as you have the music.
It is all this which makes their rising status so much more believable. However, Sports Team isn’t just a band which produces excellent music but can also bring it to their live shows as well.
The band got everything right on Wednesday night bringing their unique approach to indie to the Toon.
Alex Rice – Just Chilling – photo by Andrea Navarro as well as the featured image
Visually, the flower-laden set and lights show are welcome but nothing out of the ordinary, where the band excels is their own personal performance from Ben Mack masterclass on the keyboards which is as unique as anyone.
But where Sports Team really excels as a live band can be found in their frontman, Alex Rice.
Rice is perhaps the finest up and coming frontman I’ve seen delivering the energy needed to propel these amazing songs into the stratosphere.
Whether it climbing speaker stack, crowd surfing or good old incomprehensible gestures to those watching him. He truly is mesmerizing to watch.
Speaking to people outside the gig it’s clear that fans agree with many displaying their love with vivid sexual imagery.
Whilst the gig was amazing, there was some unsavoury scenes whilst the crowd, for the most part, were incredible, one punter failed to see the whole gig due to being hit by a flying glass (seen below).
No one wants to see it and similar events are becoming a growing problem at indie gigs with a girl being burnt by a flare at Liam Gallagher and the various complaints about flares which have been made during the latest run of Catfish and the Bottlemen gigs.
Whilst different dickish behaviour was seen at Sports Team last night, it is part of a bigger problem currently facing this genre’s fans.
However, this is not the problem of the bands, who have responded brilliantly to it but more to do with educating the toxic set of fans which feel like this is acceptable.
Despite this Sports Team hit a home run on Monday night and I can’t wait to see what their new album will sound like especially after seeing a preview of some of the new songs last night.
Heidi Curtis is ambitious for success and there’s no reason why her aims couldn’t become a reality.
The band after the Sophie and the Giants show – @heidicurtismusic
The singer songwriter has already supported Sophie and the Giants and appeared on Sam Fender’s amazing single, ‘Hypersonic Missiles’.
However, there is no standing still for Newcastle based artist. She has already begun to implement her manifesto for success with her band, who are currently rehearsing and writing with her.
‘My guitarist Josh is a massive Toon fan so I would just like to headline the arena so he could shout a chant and the crowd could shout it back.’
On her Career Ambition
Curtis has highlighted the importance of being prepared for anything and whilst no gigs are currently planned, she understands the need to be prepared for anything which transpire.
‘The past few gigs have been amazing and we’ve got a promoter involved but we know we have to wait for good support slots’
Her main aim is to build a passionate following, something she is currently well in process of achieving with over a thousand followers on Instagram as well as a growing YouTube community in which she highlights her work.
The singer songwriter is first concentrating on this rather than releasing music. However, she was quick to tease what it will sound like with demos described as if Blondie hit Fleetwood Mac.
The huge range of influences are already demonstrated on her YouTube channel in which she has reinvented popular favourites from acts such as Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and New Order, transforming them into her own unique style.
It is this and her sensational singing voice which has led to big things for her so far, supporting Sophie and the Giants at the Northumbria Institute last month.
‘It was a great experience, the whole thing was amazing and to play on a proper stage was great… They were super lovely’
However, this is just the start for Heidi who wishes to go all the way to the summit of music with ambitions to top the bill at Boardmasters as well as to have her own headline tour.
This may well become a reality for her with the excellent acoustic version of ‘AGAIN’ on her Instagram demonstrating her supreme talent for songwriting.
Describing herself as a ‘methodwriter’, Heidi often writes from her own experiences dreaming up melodies whilst painting, molding the impressive lyrics around them.
Her songwriting journey began as a way of trying to work her way into her brother’s inner circle, something which clearly worked with her sibling now managing the singer songwriter.
It is also through this that Heidi has formed a friendship with her brother’s best mate and inspiration Sam Fender.
‘He’s always been massively supportive, he’s like an older brother.’
The North Shields based artist has always helped Heidi, having a huge influence on her music as well as helping her to write her first song.
He also provided a memorable moment for the singer songwriter, with Heidi appearing on the spectacular ‘Hypersonic Missiles’, providing backing vocals on the track.
The singer songwriter also has ambitions to headline Mouth of the Tyne Festival like Fender did earlier in the year.
However, top of the to do list for Heidi Curtis is to eventually headline the Ultita Arena in Newcastle if only to provide a special moment for her guitarist Josh.
‘My guitarist Josh is a massive Toon fan so I would just like to headline the arena so he could shout a chant and the crowd could shout it back.’
With her immense talent there’s no reason why the dream couldn’t become a reality.
Humbug North East 