The Creases - Everybody Knows

1.    Who are they?

The Creases are an indie rock band from Brisbane, Australia. They started playing in 2013. Everybody Knows (Jan’17) is the lead single from their debut album Tremelow (2017). 

2. What kind of song is Everybody Knows? 

Sunshiny, revivalist, pop-rock with a foot in both English pop from the sixties and English indie rock from the 80's and 90's. The chorus is sugar. 

3.  Who do The Creases sound like? 

Pop Cult, Primal Scream and The Happy Mondays. 

4. What is the good word from the press? 

“Incredibly infectious” – Mushroom.  

“An instant classic” – Liberation.

 “Contagious energy” – Best Before.

5. Which bands have inspired The Creases?

Some of The Creases' main influences are The Beatles, Pulp, Echo & Bunnymen, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Blur. 

6. Why should I give Everybody Knows a listen? 

Because you love English indie rock from the late 80's and 90's. 

7. What are The Creases best songs?

Impact is the best one; like Everybody Knows but with a killer choral chorus and some brass.

8. Any more words? 

The Creases are signed to Rough Trade and have supported Franz Ferdinand, The Preatures, PEACE, The Jungle Giants and Ball Park Music. 

“I’m getting out of this place”

The Cat Empire are an Australian ska, jazz, funk, rock fusion band with Latin influences. They are from Melbourne, Australia, and formed in 1999. The Cat Empire have six albums pinned on their battle honors. Bulls is the third single from their sixth album The Rising Sun (2016). The Rising Sun debuted at number one in the Australian charts and the critics favorite song was Bulls, a song Faster Louder described as “a super riffy festival number with a punk-hoe-down outro.”

A bedouin told me,

‘The Bomb is a rhythm’ ”

GHOSTS - Sky Polar

1.    Who is he? 

GHOSTS is Caleb Hoehner a multi-instrumentalist/producer making lo-fi garage rock in Richmond, Virginia, since 2012. Sky Polar (Oct'16) is a track off his fourth album i don't know what i'm doing (Oct'16). 

2. What kind of song is Sky Polar? 

Sky Polar is a bouncy garage rock song propelled forward by frenetic drums and led by gorgeous, melodic, lead lines. 

3. Who do GHOSTS sound like? 

Bass Drum of Death, Nai Harvest and The Orwells.

4. What have the press said about Sky Polar?

“An ass shaking pace” – YouTube Comments.

“Fuzz & din aesthetics” – RVA Magazine.

“A dance floor filler” – YouTube Comments.

 5. Which bands have influenced GHOSTS? 

The bands that have inspired GHOSTS are Nirvana, The Pixies, The Orwells, Bass Drum Of Death and Twin Peaks. 

6. Why should I give Sky Polar a listen? 

Because you like punk music from a basement and appreciate lead guitar. 

7. What are GHOSTS best songs?

Love/Hate is indispensable and I Wanna Die Happy is top notch. 

8. Any more words? 

Caleb Hoehner is the nicest guy in rock'n'roll.

“I got 100 bucks that says I end up alone”

King Tuff is a garage rock musician from Vermont. He has been making his own music since 2006 and has recorded four albums. King Tuff is similar to Jay Reatard, Ty Segall and together PANGEA. He is influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and John Lennon. Keep On Movin' is from King Tuff's second self-titled long player King Tuff (2012). Paste called Keep On Movin,' “nothing short of spectacular.”

“I sing a magic song”

Cloud Nothings - Modern Act

1.    Who are they? 

Cloud Nothings are a lo-fi indie rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. They have been making music since 2009. Modern Act (Oct'16) is the lead single from their fifth album Life Without Sound (Jan'16).

2. What kind of tune is Modern Act? 

Modern Act is a nondescript, lo-fi, basement, indie rock song. Good playlist filler that grows on you if you ignore it. 

3. Who do Cloud Nothings sound like? 

Japandroids, Wavves and Cymbals Eat Guitars.

4. What have the press said about Modern Act?

“Fierce and melodic” – Rolling Stone.

“A soaring, unifying cut” – DIY.

“Punk rock tradition” – CPR. 

5. Which bands have influenced Cloud Nothings? 

Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, The Wipers and Nina Hagen. 


6. Why should I listen to Cloud Nothings? 

Because you like low-key, noisy, lo-fi songs. 


7. What are Cloud Nothings best songs?

I'm Not Part Of Me is a grimey little punk anthem that found popular success. A nut cracker.


8. Any more words?

Life Without Sound is produced by John Goodmanson (Los Campesinos, Sleater-Kinney, Death Cab For Cutie).

                                                                                                                                    “Whose war is this?

Who’s god is that?”

Daniel Elsworth and The Great Lakes are an indie rock band from Nasheville, Tennessee. They started playing in 2010 and have recorded three albums. Daniel Elsworth and The Great Lakes main influences are Paul Simon, Wilco and Tom Petty. They sound like J Roddy Walston & The Business, The Black Keys and You Won't. Always/Never (Nov'15) was the lead single for their third album Bemidji (2016). Always/Never throbs with pent up energy and is a good times, piano-led, slice of quirky Americana.

“I’m gonna make you mine”

Circa Waves - Wake Up

1.    Who are they? 

Circa Waves are an indie rock band from Liverpool, England. They have a punk edge. Circa Waves have been making cunt punting rock since 2013 and have two albums on their resume.  Wake Up (Nov’16) is the lead single from their second album Different Creatures (March’17). 

2. What kind of song have they served up? 

Wake Up is motorway indie rock. It's got a dark edge to the heavy guitars but a lighter, lofty, chorus. Dense, but with gaps for the sun to shine through, and ultimately satisfying. 

3. Who do Circa Waves sound like? 

The Amazons, Sundara Karma and The Cribs.

4. What have the puppets in the press said about Wake Up? 

“Fierce, dark and sinister” – Clash Music.

“Frenzied” – DIY.

“Forceful” – Triple J.

5. Which bands influenced Circa Waves?

Their main influences are The Maccabees, Arcade Fire, The Buzzcocks, The Strokes and The Damned.

6. Why should I give Wake Up a spin on the turntable? 

For the hints of dour Northern honesty and the driving intensity. 

7. What are Circa Waves best songs? 

Get Away is the show stopper, an absolute belter. So Long and Young Chasers are lovely. 

8. Any more words? 

Different Creatures is produced by Alan Moulder (Twin Atlantic, Two Door Cinema Club and Bear Hands).

“Leaving, spitting sticks and stones”

Riot Kidz are a pop-punk band from Seoul, Korea. They have been together since 2011. They sing in English and sound like early Blink-182, Sum 41 or Good Charlotte. Stereotypes is a single from their debut mini-album My Last Holiday (Sept'16). Stereotypes is the sincerest form of flattery but unlike their predecessors they have something worthwhile to say.

Beng Beng Cocktail - Fucking Rudeboy

1.    Who are they?

Beng Beng Cocktail are an acoustic ska-punk band from France. They were formed in 2007 and Fucking Rudeboy (Jan’17) is the lead single from their third album Like A Brother (March’17).

2. What kind of tune are they rocking?

An acoustic ska-punk song with Eminem-speed delivery in the first verse, gang vocals in the chorus, and all underpinned by some insanely badass bass. Fucking Rudeboy is a perfect rabble-rouser for shouting along to at a concert.

3. Who do Beng Beng Cocktail sound like? 

The Stupid Stupid Henchmen and Violent Femmes. 

4. What have the press said about Fucking Rudeboy? 

“A fucking barn-burner” – YouTube Comments.

“Insanely badass bass” – The Best Indie Songs.

“Gets the blood pumping” – YouTube Comments.       

5. Which bands have influenced Beng Beng Cocktail?

Their main influences are Rancid, NOFX, The Toasters, Leftover Crack and Big D and the Kids Table.


6. Why should I listen to Fucking Rudeboy?

Because you love ska and a football chant. Because bass is your thing.


7. What are Beng Beng Cocktails best songs? 

Give Why Hip Hop Doesn't Rhyme With Hope a listen. 


8. Any more words? 

No, go get your skank on.  

“Where have you been, where are you going?”

Built To Spill are an indie rock band from Boise, Idaho. They have been together since 1992 and recorded eight albums. They sound similar to Pavement, Spoon and Modest Mouse. Built To Spill are influenced by Dinosaur Jr, Neil Young and Camper Van Beethoven. Never Be The Same was the second single from their eight album Untethered Moon (2015). Never Be The Same is a mellow, rock'n'roll song with a sticky bass note riff.

“I know you got something,

Everybody wants to know”

Bastille - Good Grief

1.    Who are they? 

Bastille are a popular, and commercially successful, indie electro-pop band from London, England. They have been playing together since 2010 and both of their albums have been U.K. number ones and sold more than six million worldwide. Good Grief (June'16) was the lead single from their second album Wild World (Sept'16). 

2. What kind of tune are they peddling? 

Good Grief is sweet, catchy-as-fuck, pop with backing falsetto vocals, a jaunty beat, and juxtaposed with maudlin lyrics. Hard to hate.

3. Who do Bastille sound like? 

Imagine Dragons, Two Door Cinema Club and Depeche Mode. 

4. What have the press said about Good Grief? 

“Catchy enough” – A Bit Of Pop Music.

“Bubbly tune” – AXS.

“One of the hits of the year” – DIY.

5. Which bands have influenced Bastille?

The Smiths, Regina Spektor, Simon and Garfunkel and Bat For Lashes.


6. Why should I give Good Grief a listen? 

Because you like well-crafted pop songs, choruses with more than one hook, and obvious contrasts. 


7. What are Bastille's best songs?

Good Grief and Pompeii.  


8. Any more words?

The singer Dan Smith is a big Twin Peaks fan. 

“Caught off guard by your favorite song”

The Great Communicators are an indie post-rock band from Amsterdam, Netherlands. They have been making music since 2012 and sound like Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, The Bombay Bicycle Club and Autolux. They are influenced by bands like The Mars Volta, Broken Social Scene and Blood Red Shoes. From their debut album Lucky Horse (Sept'16) came two phenomenal minutes of indie; Old Car. The song is like the title; it might not be love at first sight but you'll become slowly endeared with it until you never want to part. 

131's - Distorted Images

1.    Who are they? 

131's are a punk rock band from Melbourne, Australia. They have been together since 2016. Distorted Images (Dec'16) is a standalone single. 

2. What kind of tune are they peddling? 

A powerful punk song with a driving rhythm and some classic Aussie rock trimmings. Catches on after a few listens and becomes essential ammunition.

3. Who do 131's sound like? 

Rancid, The Clash and even The Choirboys.

4. What have the press said about Distorted Images? 

1.    “Displaying their signature guitar growl, impassioned vocals and kinetic drumming” - Around You. 

“Fucking great tune” – You Tube Comments.  

“Kick ass” – You Tube Comments.  

5. Which bands put the fire in 131's belly? 

The bands that influenced the 131's are Rancid, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Birthday Party and Rose Tattoo. 


6. Why should I give Distorted Images a fair crack of the whip? 

Distorted Images is the finest kind of punk rock; social commentary without a baseball bat to the head and ripping riffs. Killer key change in the last chorus too.


7. What are 131's best songs? 

This Ain't Culture is their debut tune and remains their finest. 


8. Any more words? 

Singer and guitarist Luke Yeoward fronted rock'n'reggae band King Cannons. 

“That don’t mean much to me”

.



Stacked Like Pancakes are a ska punk/brass rock band from Towson, Maryland. The band started in 2007 and six or seven of the band members got degrees at Towson University. Stacked Like Pancakes sound like Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake. They are influenced by Reel Big Fish, twenty one pilots and Cage The Elephant. Dangerous Beginnings is an album track from THIS IS US (2015). Dangerous Beginnings is the perfect ska song borrowing from familiar ska punk tropes and twisting them into inventive new shapes. An improbably inventive song. 

“If you choose me tonight,

You’re gonna like what I do to you”