Circa Waves - We Made It

 

1. Who are Circa Waves? 

Circa Waves are an indie pop rock band from Liverpool, England. They have been making music since 2013 and We Made It (October, 2024) is the lead single from their third album Death & Love Pt.1 (January, 2024).  

2. What kind of song is We Made It? 

We Made It is a perfectly serviceable radio friendly pop song that will make a welcome addition to anyone's playlist. It will never be anyone's favorite song but it did remind me of why Circa Waves were an exciting young band ten years ago although the excitement has faded like a street walkers smile.

3. Which band do Circa Waves sound like? 

Circa Waves are similar to Amazons, Sundara Karma, The Courteeners, and The Cribs.

4. Which bands influenced Circa Waves music? 

Some of  Circa Waves' influences include David Bowie, The Strokes, The Vaccines, and The Libertines.

5. What have the cut and paste bandits said about We Made It?

"Captures the vital optimism of their sound" -  When The Horn Blows.

"Oozes with Shudall's hope and optimism" - MNPR.

"A punchy pop rock anthem" - NME.

"Lost your mother,

Don't know if you'll recover,

Found the bottle,

Like so many others"

The Clause - Weekend Millionaire

 

1. Who are The Clause?

The Clause are an indie pop rock band from Birmingham, England. They have been playing together for over five years and Weekend Millionaire (Sept, 2024) is the lead single from their third E.P of the same name Weekend Millionaire (Oct, 2024).

 

2. What kind of song is Weekend Millionaire? 

Weekend Millionaire is a instantly catchy, radio-friendly indie-pop song that steadily builds up to a ever so slightly rowdy crescendo. Weekend Millionaire also capture that wistful, maudlin, slice-of-life tone captured by indie rock bands like The Courteeners, James or even The Smiths that get juxtaposed with bright and bubbly choruses. I love it.

3. Who do The Clause sound like?

James, The Reytons, The Courteeners.  

4. Which bands have influenced The Clause?

The Clause's main influences are The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Kasabian, and ABBA. 

5. What have the press said about The Clause?

"Effortlessly combine huge hooks with gritty choruses" - Norwich Box Office.

"Limitless amounts of swagger and the seal of approval from Jane's Addiciton frontman Perry Ferrell" - Totalntertainment.

"Among the most exciting up-and-coming indie bands in the U.K." - Northern Exposure.

Heart Beach - Best

1.    Who? 

Best Beach are a scuzzy pop band from Hobart, Australia, who play out of Montreal, Canada, at the moment. Best (April’18) is a track from their second album Haircut (Nov’17).

2. What?

Best is an indie pop song that opens with a lone bubbling bass intro, then supported with choral voices and backed up with some excoriating guitar.  The guitar provides a thrilling counterpoint to the sunshine and beach vibe, adding depth and excitement. A layered cake of aural textures, sweet and sour.


3. Who do Heart Beach sound like?

Tunabunny. They have been compared to Galaxie 500 and Echo and the Bunnymen.

4. What words have been written about Heart Beach?

“Oddly and often wonderfully uplifting” – The Guardian.

“A simple aesthetic” – Rolling Stone. 

“Possesses a down-hearted grandeur” – The Guardian. 

5. Which bands have influenced Heart Beach?

East Brunswick All Girls Choir, The Native Cats, Drunk Elk, The Bad Luck Charms, and Batrider.

6. Why should I listen to Best?

Because you have a love for Antipodean indie pop. Because you like your music off-centre. 

7. Do Heart Beach have anymore good'uns?

Perfect. 

8. Anything extra?

The band have a Manchester/Joy Division vibe on the bass at times.

Radkey are a classic rock/punk rock band from St. Joseph, Missouri. The three brothers have been playing together since 2010 and have one album to their name. Radkey are influenced by bands like Wolfmother, Misfits, and Jimi Hendrix. Not Smart (Dec'17) is a stand alone single and Yesterdaze News called it,  “…a power-riffing rock’n’roll phenomenon.” It's like Joan Jett meets Weezer.

Misfires - Come On Over

1.    Who are the Misfires? 

Misfires are an indie rock band from Swindon, England. Playing together for only a year, Come On Over (Feb'17) is their second single release. 

2. What's the tune like? 

English indie-pop for the masses. Jaunty. 

3. Who do Misfires sound like?

Catfish and the Bottlemen, The Spitfires and Viola Beach. 

4. Whats the word from the press about Come On Over? 

“A commanding track that bursts with festival vibes” – Spilt Milk.

“A snappy, spirited, insanely infectious indie track” – Indie Buddie.

“Sun-soaked riffs, catchy chorus and obvious attitude” – Let It Happen.

5. Which bands influenced the Misfires? 

Some of their main influences are The Stone Roses, The 1975, Peace, Foals and RATBOY. 

6. Why should I give Come On Over a listen? 

Because you're a populist at heart. Because you like jangley English indie bands. 


7. What are Misfires best songs? 

Look no further. 


8. Any more words? 

     The video has been taken down so I'll share a different one ... "22"

“I know we could change the world,

If you really wanted to tonight”

Findlay is an English bluesy indie rock musician from Manchester, England, whose debut album Forgotten Pleasures was just released (Feb'17). She is similar to Amy Winehouse and The Family Rain. She is influenced by bands like The Velvet Undergound, The White Stripes and Captain Beefheart. Electric Bones is from her second E.P. Electric Bones (2015) and is a song The End Records called “unbridled badassery.”

“I fight with these thoughts every night,

If I’m a still a good love after the rush”

Generationals - Keep It Low

1.    Who are Generationals? 

Generationals are an indie pop rock band from New Orleans, Louisiana. They started in 2008 and have recorded four albums. Generationals marry a fifties and sixties sound with 80's New Wave. Keep It Low (Feb'17) is a stand alone single. 

2. What kind of tune is Keep It Low?

Keep It Low is an atmospheric, mid-tempo, number. Sweet vocals and gruff strokes of guitar and synth in a low-key song that grows on you. 

3. Who do Generationals sound like? 

STRFKR, Ra Ra Riot and JR JR. 

4. What have the press said about Keep It Low? 

“Fuzzy, catchy” – Amawaster.

“Darker” – KCOU FM.

“Thick, fuzzy” – Spin.

5. Which bands influenced Generationals? 

Some of their main influences are The Kinks, Spoon, The Supremes, Phil Spector and Fleetwood Mac. 

6. Why should I listen to Keep It Low? 

Because it encapsulates melancholic and nostalgia with an ever so slight edge. 

7. What are Generationals best songs? 

I Never Know and Ten-Twenty-Ten are laid-back, quirky rock'n'roll songs. When They Fight They Fight is all early Motown. Fucking gems the lot of them. 

8. Any more words? 

Get on with ya. 

“I got tortured for what I done”

The Orwells are the greatest garage rock band to walk God's green earth. Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, they have been kicking arse and taking no names since 2009. The Orwells sound like Twin Peaks and The Stooges and are influenced by The Pixies and The White Stripes. Their third album Terrible Human Beings (Feb'17) is a mature effort. The third single Black Francis (Jan'17) brings a slice of 60's garage to the table and then lets the punk rip. Slant Magazine said the album has “an unhinged sense of mayhem” and Line Of Best Fit described Black Francis as “incendiary.”

“And where they from,

It ain’t that rough”

The Magic Gang - How Can I Compete

1.    Who are The Magic Gang? 

The Magic Gang are an indie pop rock band from Brighton, England. They have been playing together since 2013 and have recorded two E.P's. How Can I Compete (Feb'17) is a stand alone single for now but a third E.P. is promised for April. 

2. What kind of song is How Can I Compete? 

How Can I Compete is bouncy, bubbly and juvenile pop rock. Sticky as a plumbers crack in summer though. Breezy, feel good, nonsense. 

3. Who do The Magic Gang sound like? 

Weezer-lite, Wolf Alice and The Big Moon. 

4. What have the puppets in the press said about How Can I Compete?

“A big ol’ arms-round-yer-mate moment” – DIY.

“Bouncy, infectious” – The Edge. 

“Jagged college-rock guitars and pounding drums” – Redbrick. 

5. Which bands put the bang in The Magic Gang? 

Some of their main influences are The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Oasis, Queen and Joy Division. 

6. Why should I listen to How Can I Compete? 

Because you like old time rock'n'roll. 


7. What are the best The Magic Gang songs?

All This Way is sweet whimsy with a killer chorus. Jasmine is all shuffling melody and handclaps. Check out the singalong of the chorus in the breakdown. No Fun is a grungy rocker. Pixies meets Weezer by way of Nirvana. 

8. Any more words muppet?

Hugo White of The Maccabees produced How Can I Compete. 

“Exit out the same way you came”

The Smith Street Band are an iconic punk band from Melbourne, Australia. They have been playing together since 2010 and have recorded four albums. They sound similar to PUP, The Drones, Against Me! and The Hard Aches. The Smith Street Band are influenced by Bruce Springsteen, Paul Kelly and Billy Bragg. They recorded a song in 2015 called Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face protesting the Australian Prime Minister and his policies to asylum seekers. Proceeds went to asylum seekers. The Smith Street Band's fourth album More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me (April'17) has spawned two great singles already, Death To The Lads (Nov'16) and Birthdays (Feb'17). Both songs feature the exceptionally honest story-telling qualities of the songwriting, and attention to detail, that set The Smith Street Band's music apart from the others. 2017 will bring better songs than Birthdays but none that are better written, that's for fucking sure.

“Spent the morning cleaning my room”

The Lulu Raes - Change My Tune

1.    Who are these heroes? 

Gaze on the majesty of The Lulu Raes, an indie pop rock band from Sydney, Australia. Change My Tune is a release from their debut E.P. All Our Parents Are Divorced (Aug'16). 

2. What kind of gas are they burning? 

Change My Tune is a busy little tune that bustles along bursting with energy. With a surf lick and a sunny vibe, and chaneling some Strokes garage slash 60's pop vibe, the tune will get you hot stepping. 

3. Who do The Lulu Raes sound like? 

The Strokes, Animal House and Foster The People.

4. What have the pillocks in the press said about Change My Tune?

“Shifts the band’s bubbly pop-nerd energy to the garage” – Rolling Stone Australia.

“Fucking unique and incomparable” – Wickedd Childd.

“Indie head banger” – AAA Backstage.

5. Whcih bands have influenced The Lulu Raes? 

Some of the main influences are The Strokes, The Pixies, Oasis, The Beatles and Macy Gray.

6. Why should I give Change My Tune a lash?

Change My Tune throws you off your guard, zigging when you think it will zag. That and the 60's surf pop sensibility married to new century garage makes for a trippy little tune with a bit of fire up it's arse.

7. Do The Lulu Raes have any more bangers?

Burnout is another interesting effort.

8. Any more words dude?

Not a dilly. 

“Damned if I do and damned if I don’t”

Two Gallants are an punk and blues-infused folk rock duo from San Francisco, California. They started on their musical odyssey in 2002 and have five long players on their battle honors. Two Gallants are influenced by the blues and bands like Nirvana, Pavement and Operation Ivy. The second album What The Toll Tells (2006) has the bands best two singles on it, Steady Rollin' and Las Cruces Jail. Las Cruces Jail is a romping tune Pitchfork called “a yowling cow-punk stomper.”

“I shot one man on the county line,

Took his dime and I blew his mind”