You Me At Six - Night People

1. Who are they?

You Me At Six are a popular pop punk band from Weybridge, England. Their last three albums charted at number 5, 3 and 1 in the UK album charts in that order. Night People (Aug’16) is the lead single from You Me At Six’s fifth album Night People (Jan’17).  


2. What have the lads got on the go?

Night People is as deep as a puddle but it swaggers out with a grimey riff and pounding drums, layers on some "whoahs," and slaps down a head nodding chorus. A "Hey diddle, diddle, straight up the middle" rock anthem. 


3. Who do You Me At Six sound like?

Sounds like Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Royal Blood (at a bloody stretch). 


4. What have those lazy bastards in the press said about Night People? 

“The chorus and drums fire you up” – Red Brick.

“A dirty, heavily distorted blues rock earworm” – Inspired By Reviews. 

“A much cooler swagger” – Loose Cardigan Of Ideas.

5. Which bands influenced You Me At Six?

The main You Me At Six influences are Blink-182, Incubus, Thrice, Rage Against The Machine and The Foo Fighters. 


6. Why should I give Night People a lash?

Night People has a banging riff and a slathering of strut. Mindless fun. 


7. Do You Me At Six have any other barn burners?

Well Fresh Start Fever is alright.


8. Any more words? 

Night People is produced by Jacquire King (Switchfoot, Kings Of Leon and The Airborne Toxic Event).

“Raise a glass to tomorrow’s blues”

The Airborne Toxic Event are a superb indie rock band from Los Angeles, California. They formed in 2006 and have five long players in the bag. They have been compared to Cold War Kids, The Strokes and Arcade Fire and are influenced by bands like U2, David Bowie, The Clash and The Smiths. Does This Mean You're Moving On (2009) is the fourth single from their self-titled first album The Airborne Toxic Event (2008) and is a song that channels heartbreak into a whiskey drenched Irish gig and an indie rock anthem. 

“Oh Christ she’s not alone, alone, alone,

And my heart sinks like a stone, a stone, a stone,

And the tears won’t even come, I’m so numb”

Strangers You Know - Used

 

 

 

1.   Who are these chaps?

Strangers You Know are an indie folk pop band with some electric influences from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. They have been together since 2013 and have one long player in the bag. Used (Jan'16) comes off their second shorty Pre/Post (March'16).

2. What kind of tune does Used throw up?

Big bearded hipster chic comes to mind but that would be unfair. Used is a deep, rootsy, desert number with a gospel feel and sparsh accompaniment. Violins and layered vocals add some meat to the songs sun bleached bones. Used rolls with a suave folkiness that belies the bands years and with the kind of gravitas to make many a believer.

3. Who do Strangers You Know sound like?

Good golly miss Molly. Used sounds like The Score's Oh My Love or The Young Wild's Not A One. Coincidentally thats three bands in a row from L.A. There must be something in the weed out there. And, of course, The Avett Brothers.

Strangers You Know have been compared to The Beach Boys, Grizzly Bear, Band Of Horses and Cute Is What We Aim For.

4. What have the cut and paste brigade got to say about Strangers You Know?

Slim pickings compadre, slim pickings. The reviews are out on Used. About Strangers You Know's music in general Broadway World said it has a “thoughtful and poignant side, with intoxicating melodies and raw, heartfelt lyrics.” The Linfield Review highlighted the band's “ability to cross genres smoothly,” and Music Of My Mind praised the band's “solid pop-laced, indie-rock melodies and a confident swagger.” 

 

 

 

5. So which bands have influenced Strangers You Know's music?

The band get their bubble and pop from The Beatles, Beck, Kacey Musgraves and The Avett Brothers. Desert Sun intimated Strangers You Know are influenced by Coldplay, Willie Nelson, First Aid Kit and The Roots.

 

6. So why should I listen to Used?

As the immortal Stone Roses said This Is The One. Used is the game changer for Strangers You Know. Lightning has struck. Used is a fully fledged, soulful, pop folk masterpiece.

 

7. Do Strangers You Know have any more gems in the safe?

Is the Pope a Catholic? Attention will get yours. A very funky pop rock number with an assist from the sax. Be It wants to have fun and it is.

 

8. Are there any other pertinent facts to share?

There are my fine fellow and fellowettes. Strangers You Know have said the first two songs they released on Pre/Post, like Used from the new EP to be released in March, are a critical examination of Los Angeles harsh hookup culture and “follows drunken infatuation and the impact of sobering reality.” 
 
On the topic of their ability to effortlessly mix genres Adam Haagen revealed that “we are hoping to fully encapsulate the feelings you’d have at an Indie rock show, a Country hoe-down and a deep house club. From Banjos to Drum machines, we’re looking to blur the line.” 

In an interview with Crescentvale Adam tells an amusing tale of an FYF Festival after party and playing drums with the bass player from Guns'N'Roses and the keyboardist with Queen. He also gave it up on his compadre Grady singing in a trailer with Lorde and Fume. Way to represent Down Under.

Strangers You Know will be playing the Bottle Rocks and Coachella Festivals this year.

“I’m always straight with you

I wonder why you’re hiding from the truth”

 

 
 

Dessert is served today with the help of Strangers You Know’s musical inspiration The Avett Brothers. The American indie folk rock band hail from North Carolina and combine a raft of genres to make music described as having “the heavy sadness of Townes Van Zandt, the light pop precision of Buddy Holly, the tuneful jangle of The Beatles, the raw energy of The Ramones.”

The Avett Brothers have found critical acclaim and mainstream success, their last two studio albums featuring in the Top 5 of the US Billboard Charts.  Live and Let Die (2012) was one of three singles from their most successful album to date The Carpenter (2012).  Sit back and enjoy the magic.

“Left like a pharaoh,
sing like a sparrow anyway.
Even if there is no land or
love in sight”

 

 



Canvas - Gold

1.   Who are Canva?

Canvas are an indie rock band from Toronto who have been making music since 2013. They describe their music as Electro-Springsteen meets Grouplove. Gold comes strutting off their debut album sticktoitiveness (Dec'16). 

2. What kind of song is Gold?

It kicks open the door with a massive strutting riff. All classic rock stomp, black leather and smelling of last night's whiskey. It keeps sauntering along in the same fashion though the chorus soars up lightly like an autumn leaf on a strong breeze. The song structure is intricate, all middle eights and bridges and wafting off into places four to the floor rock'n'roll rarely strays. Tight lead in the coda too.

3. Who do Canvas sound like?

Gold's shit kicking verses throws up thoughts of Ray LaMontagne's Pt 1. Hey, No Pressure,  Spoon's Rent I Pay, Twin Atlantic's Heart and Soul even Weezer's El Scorcho. Going back in the day, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks or even Cheap Trick.

4. So what is the good word from our friends in the press?

Sonic Bids are the lone piper here on the topic of Gold, “A tune that combines both a classic Canadiana rock vibe, and new-wave pop,” they knocked off. “A rocking tune whose simple opening riff is undeniably powerful and catchy as it carries through to the climactic solos at the end,” they continued playing with a straight bat.

The album sticktoitiveness has “a very modern sound, but that being said, also have certain moments that remind me of classic rock,” say Canadian Beats. “Blends futuristic synths - sometimes dark, sometimes playful - danceable grooves, hooky melodies, shimmering guitars and anthemic choruses into a post-synth-rock collage,” detailed Flat Car Records. Plug In Records plumped for “a rock record you should hear” after some solid deliberation.

5. So who are Canvas influenced by?

Canvas are fet their influences from Grouplove, Depeche Mode, The Strokes, The Killers, My Morning Jacket, The Morning Benders, Land Of Talk and The Dears. 

 6. Why should I give Gold a listen? 

The crushing riff will chew your mind up and spit you back out like worthless shit juice. But seriously singer, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Chris Graham has said the song is a warning both to society and self about living to excess. When are we going to wake up to the mess we are headed for folks? Simple answer, never. We'll suck heartily from Earth's tit until it's a hollow husk and our children choke to death on their tears lamenting their brief and excruciatingly painful existence. Or not. Up to you. 

7. Do Canvas have any more of this rampant rock? 

Not at the moment.. 

8. Anything else I should know? 

Chris Graham let slip on how easy writing Gold was saying,“Sometimes you just pick up the guitar and the first thing you play is what you were looking for. That was the case with that tune.”  Chris Graham was formerly the lead singer and guitarist for indie rock band FIRExFIRE. He has written music for film and TV and produced and recorded the album Happy Times by Splash’N Boots.

“We treasure the treasure we found,
It’ll bury us under the ground.”

  

The daily double dip is pure sweet joy and happiness, the indie pop band Rabbit! Described as “sipping sunshine” and “a sonic celebration of love and life” the band hail from Mount Dora, Florida and have handed down a handful of stupidly brilliant albums for the people since 2007. Despite avoiding mainstream success; you can't google this band, find their music and they have next to no net presence; they put coin in pocket from some big advertising deals. No one has ever heard this band and not liked them. That comes with a money back guarantee. Be a better person. Listen to Rabbit! Magic (2011).

"Who's got he maps to the stars? 

Who can drive backwards in the car?

You say you're clever, well baby you are."

The Best Indie Songs of 2015 - King No-One

King No-One Constellations (Sept’15) has been called "upbeat and intoxicating" by Bitter Sweet Symphonies and "swimming in encapsulating bluesy bass, the track dives the ears into sweet indie-pop contagion..." Personally I like it a lot. King No-One are teenagers from York, England, who started playing in 2012 and It's All Indie said they are "suited to a stadium" and have "a belter of a tune."

 

 

King No-One are already have two short-players under their belt and Constellations is the title track of their second EP. They have been compared to Suede and Radiohead by Listen With Monger who went on to say Constellations has a "...sexy, snaking, slinky guitar riff and some indie-disco swagger."  The band are influenced by the likes of Swim Deep, The Killers and Vampire Weekend. Constellations is indie rock at it's best, mixing the finest traditions of both indie-pop and driving guitar rock. It's the kind of song that saunters into the bar wearing snake-skin boots and a shit-eating grin, and smelling of last night’s girl. I'd bet dimes to dollars that Constellations is one of the best indie songs of 2015.

“The abstract observaton

I never want to let it go”

 

 

Shit you need to know:

In 2013 King No-One won a Leed’s battle of the bands and went on to play the Leeds and Reading Festivals.

They have been described as "...Catfish & The Bottlemen meets Earth, Wind & Fire... as energetic guitar vitality meets a dancing groove." They have been compared to Radio Head who they are fans of.

Other influences are The Arctic Monkeys, Ian Brown, Shed Seven, The Strokes and Franz Ferdianand.

The BBC reviewer Alan Raw said King No-One are "...incredibly tight, really professional and a brilliant band."
King No-One toured supporting popular English indie rock band Embrace.

The band are well known for busking around their hometown York.

The band are tipped for big things but they will play house parties! For real.

If you need more scintillating indie rock from King No-One check out the live version of "Constellations" or this barn burner, "Millenium" (Mar'14).

Todays follow up is from “epic purveyors of melodically charged alternative pop” London indie pop rockers Longfellow. Influenced by Jeff Lyne, Tom Petty and Toto, they are one of the greatest, unheralded, bands I have ever heard.  This beautiful and emotive song, Siamese Lover, was released in January 2014 and was one of their earliest singles.

 

 

The Best Indie Songs of 2014 - Kasabian

Hard to pick a favourite off the new Kasabian album but Bumblebee (July'14) wins due to the immediacy and fervency of it’s chorus coupled with the slower shit kicking verses.

A dark, noisy, dance rock number with a cunt punting chorus for contrast.

 

Kasabian come rollin outta Leicester, England. They been banging tunes out since 1997. They have big five diamonds on their necklace, this off their fifth 48:13 (June’14).

Rage Against The Machine, Kanye West, Nivana and The Beastie Boys have been cited as part of the recipe for this album.

Wanna get on the good foot? Gobble down on some of Stevie, Eez Eh, Lost Souls Forever or Club Foot.

 

 

Something chill for a comedown moment? Like fuck. Get it up for Rage Against The Machine and Bulls On Parade (1996).