There has always been a mystique surrounding Slipknot, from their early days as unknown masked maniacs through to present dayâs constant speculation on their future. The latter was fuelled further by the title of their seventh album, âThe End, So Farâ.
This album signals the end of their working relationship with Roadrunner which started way back in 1998. The purposefully triggering title however will leave fans wondering what the future holds. Promotional tactic, genuine end in sight, or just fun and games, perhaps not even the band themselves know.
What we do know however is that we have just shy of an hour of new Slipknot music to sink our teeth into, and as demonstrated by interesting album opener, âAdderallâ, we also know this will be another divisive album for fans old and new.
Bands the size of Slipknot almost always become a victim of their own success. For some they can do no wrong, for others they can do no right. The reality, as is usually the case in life, is often somewhere in the middle.
âThe End, So Farâ is one of those albums. There are some stunning moments, some weaker moments, some songs built for their old school fans and some material so far removed from the realms of Slipknot that it may alienate portions of their fanbase.
Ultimately Slipknot have always been anti-establishment in terms of the music industry, and they remain so now even if theyâve become that establishment! Slipknot are going to do whatever they want to do and theyâve earned that right.
The question to ask here is perhaps if this (which is very unlikely) is the final stand of Slipknot, does this album do them justice. The answer is yes, there is more than enough quality on this record to ensure this isnât in the bottom few of any âAll Slipknot albums rankedâ lists.
Almost predictably at this point in their career, itâs also not going to trouble the top of that list; which brings us back around to that point of the truth often being in the middle! Fans just need to enjoy this album for what it is, and make the most of the band whilst they are still around.
2021 saw The Snuts snag a surprise number one album with their debut, âW.Lâ. Since then the band has hit the road hard, touring all over and gracing plenty of festival main stages. If world domination isnât their aim, then they may want to slow down!
That however is very unlikely to happen as the band return with sophomore album, âBurn The Empireâ. This is a naturally important release for the band, and not just because of good old fashioned second album syndrome.
No, âW.Lâ, whilst a huge hit for the band was a collection of tracks from the bands career thus far, honed and crafted on the road. This is the bandâs debut album in terms of writing and recording in a short period of time. This may then be the first true snapshot of the groupâs talent and potential longevity.
Starting with the politically charged duo âBurn The Empireâ and âZuckerpunchâ, itâs clear that this also signifies a shackles off moment for the band. Having recently also called out their own record label, clearly The Snuts have no fear, and thatâs refreshing considering the often maligned, play it safe culture in music these days.
The themes that run through the album feel particularly relevant right now and the band certainly get credit for their open and direct dialect. They also deserve credit for their musical bravery, showing a willingness to experiment away from the lad rock that has got them this far.
For a band to grow and evolve they need that willingness to experiment and can be forgiven for the odd misstep, such as âCosmic Electronicaâ, which doesnât quite hit the spot that they were no doubt aiming for.
All too often when bands have a highly successful debut, subsequent albums only require a hit or two to add to the bands legacy with the rest of the album often instantly forgettable. âBurn The Empireâ definitely provides a handful of hits to bolster the setlist, but whilst there is the odd tedious moment the rest of the album also holds up well.
This album will do exactly what it needs to do for The Snuts, as they continue their momentum towards world domination. Weâve needed a new breakout indie band for a while now, and donât put it beyond this band to be the one to do it!
Iron Maiden announce new Triple Vinyl to commemorate 40th Anniversary of ‘The Number of the Beast’
The legendary Iron Maiden have announced the release of a commemorative triple black vinyl album in honour of the 40th Anniversary of seminal third album, ‘The Number Of The Beast’, which was also the first to feature Bruce Dickinson on vocals and was to become the record which catapulted the band to international stardom.
Included in the new vinyl package is ‘Beast Over Hammersmith’ – available now officially for the very first time on vinyl – featuring the live concert from March 1982âs now legendary Hammersmith Odeon London show from the ‘Beast On The Road’ World Tour.
Recorded only days before the release of ‘The Number Of The Beast’ album, itâs remarkable to think these now classic songs at that time were still brand new, unfamiliar and being heard live by fans for the very first time. A real piece of history in the making.
Steve Harris comments, âOn this vinyl release we get the chance to put âTotal Eclipse’ in its rightful spot on the album for the first time. The reason it didnât make it in the first place was that it was all a mad rush when we were finishing the record and we had to get the âRun To The Hillsâ single out before the tour and we basically had to pick a B-side and it was between âGanglandâ and âTotal Eclipseâ and we just picked the wrong one, really! I think âTotal Eclipseâ is a stronger song and the album would have been stronger if it had been on there.â
With new album, ‘The Calton Songs’, out soon on October 14th, Gun have shared the new reinvigorated version of firm fan favourite ‘Inside Out’, which you can listen to above.
As Jools Gizzi says: âWhen the pandemic hit we realised that it was the perfect time to try and counteract the bleakness that was all around. It felt like we couldnât write anything, or of course tour. Out of that darkness came a desire to completely rework these songs that we know the fans love, and bring a different, stripped down vibeâ.
Dante Gizzi added: âItâs ironic that those feelings of negativity led to something so positive, a celebration of our career up to nowâ.
VUKOVI will be releasing their new album, ‘NULA’, on October 7th. This week saw the band share the latest single, ‘QUENCH’, which you can listen to above.
Willie J Healey has announced that his new album, ‘Bunny’, will be out March 24th. Healey, who support Florance + The Machine on tour this November, also debuted new track, ‘Dreams’ which you can listen to above.
Willie says, ââDreamsâ is a song I wrote when thinking about the cost of an ambition. The idea behind the video is, what would life be like if you had to carry all of the money you made on your back, and that if you did have to carry it you probably wouldnât want as much.ââ
Asylums have this week debuted their new single, ‘Instant Coffee’, which you can check out above.
The track comes from upcoming album, ‘Signs of Life’, which is out on October 28th.
Producer Dave Eringa says of âInstant Coffeeâ:âItâs like all of Lukeâs songwriting to date has been leading up to Instant Coffee, a beautifully melancholic perfect pop song with real depth! Late 90âs Albarn meets the great bits of American indie at a classical concert & they all get together for a party!â
Incredibly talented youngster Nandi Bushell took the next step in her musical evolution this week but debuted her first single, ‘The Shadows’, which you can listen to above.
“Early in 2022 my Dad fell into a depression as his autoimmune disease worsened. It was a difficult time for our family. I wanted to help cheer my Dad up by writing a song for him. He would describe his feelings to me and I would put them into lyrics letting him know, I would be there for him.
My Dad is now doing much better, he is on medication that is helping with his autoimmune disease and has recovered from his depression.
If you are suffering from mental health issues, please reach out for help. If you know of any good charities, groups or organisation in your area please share them in the comments for others.
Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell this week debuted his new musical project, Jealous Nostril. The trio also includes Mystery Jets Jack Flanagan and drummer ELLiS D.
You can watch the video for their debut single, ‘Phase 6’, above.
The group also announced their first live dates in St. Albans and London, with tickets available here.
After a successful debut event this year, Firestorm Festival will return to Manchester in August 2023 for a second edition.
The first waves of acts include Kris Barras Band, When Rivers Meet, Hollowstar, Jack J Hutchinson and former ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast guests Scruffy Bear.
Desertfest returns to London in May and this week revealed the first acts for the festival including Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Graveyard, Kadavar and more.
We bring our News Report towards a close now with the best tour announcements from the past week and start with Tom Grennan.
Grennan revealed an Arena Tour set for March next year which concludes at the O2 Arena in London.
The news follows new single, ‘All These Nights’ and comes ahead of new album ‘What Ifs and Maybes’.
Speaking about the new album, Tom said:Â âI’ve called my new album What Ifs & Maybes. It’s about going with your gut, not your head, because you never know what’s going to happen. I’m not afraid to jump into the unknown – because it’s exciting! It’s about rolling the dice and living your best life with nothing to lose. I’m in a new creative space, and I know I’m finally the artist I want to be. I’m so buzzing for these shows, my biggest gigs to date. I can’t wait to get out and play these new songs to everyone. Let’s go!”
The tour announcements keep coming in our News Report this week, and next up is Elles Bailey. Bailey will be playing a lengthy run of dates early next year including a date at Lafayette in London.
Von Hertzen Brothers are in the UK for Planet Rock Winter’s End Festival in February. Fans will now have additional chances to catch the band with headline shows now added in Manchester and London.
Our final tour announcement in our News Report this week comes from Sleep Token and it’s a massive tour for the band as they step into venues such as Brixton Academy.
TikTok star and queen of angsty pop/rock, Charlotte Sands, has released her hard-hitting, fan favourite single âTantrumâ.
On the track, she said, ââTantrumâ is so special to me because since the first time I played it live, people immediately latched onto it and have been fighting for its release ever since. This song not only represents experiences of anxiety, panic, and rebellion throughout my life and career but also the journey and relationship between me and the people who have made my career possible. Iâve been playing it live for over a year now and Iâm thankful for the people who have pushed me out of my comfort zone to release a song that without them would still be sitting in a folder somewhere on my phone. I am overwhelmed with excitement for this song to finally be out in the world, itâs been a year in the making (almost to the exact day) and I canât wait to finally be able to throw a tantrum together.â
As Sirens Fall – ‘heaven (spat us back out)’
As Sirens Fall share their new single, ‘heaven (spat us back out)’.
âi started writing heaven (spat us back out) just as our last ep âlâappel du vide (part 1)â was releasing. that ep was a project about grief, and âheavenâ very much comes from that same place. itâs about giving up on the hopeful delusions that often come packaged with grief. itâs about realising youâre coming of age in a dark world and choosing to face it all and grow up anyway – choosing to live.â Mikey Lord, Vocals
Arliston – ‘Hold My Wine’
Arliston return with the stirring and spirited new single, ‘Hold My Wine’, taken from forthcoming EP âEven In The Shadeâ.Â
Vocalist Jack Ratcliffe says, âWeâve been wanting to make something a bit more playful for a while, so when we first hit on that chorus idea and made a silly middle-class pun on âhold my beerâ, everything just fell into place around it. This one was a lot of fun to make.â
Jack adds,âThe song is about that occasional moment of recognition when you look up from the narrow corridor of your own thoughts and are seized by the idea that everyone else has progressed and developed, while you are stuck in an unchanged rut. The protagonist attempts to do something about it in the chorus â but inevitably, he gets it wrong.âÂ
You know that gig season is in full effect when you head along to a Frank Turner show. Yes, the man that is always on tour is on his rearranged âNever Ending Tour of Everywhereâ. Tonight that means the Junction in Cambridge and another sold out show.
Itâs almost a guarantee at a Turner show that youâll be greeted by some fantastic support acts and this tour is certainly no different. Up first are Truckstop Honeymoon who serenade the crowd with their entertaining bluegrass folk sound, and their whimsical quips! The duo will be picking up many new fans on this tour as they introduce themselves properly to the UK.
The main support act on this tour is non-other than Pet Needs, who have featured on both our âDiscoverâ New Music and Full Pelt Music Podcasts. The band are intrinsically linked to Mr. Turner at the moment. He has produced both their albums and taken them on tour around the world. That said, it really feels like the band are breaking out and solidifying their own name.
Shows like tonight will go a long way towards that and itâs telling the amount of Pet Needs merchandise on display in the audience. Early fan favourites such as âTracey Eminâs Bedâ and âKayakâ intermix with new songs âIbiza In Winterâ and âFear for the Whole Damn Worldâ as the band showcase their enormous potential.
Closing their generous time on stage with âOvercompensatingâ, âToothpasteâ and âGet On the Roofâ, anybody not yet alert to Pet Needs now surely are. The crowd give the band a huge ovation as they depart ready to continue to plot for world domination.
The audience is hot tonight and as Frank Turner takes to the stage the atmosphere is palpable. Imagine then the reaction as Turner bursts straight into a run of âFour Simple Wordsâ, âThe Gatheringâ, âPhotosynthesisâ, âPunchesâ and â1933â â hardly time for band or audience to breathe!
Turnerâs latest album, âFTHCâ, is a punk record and that ethos is certainly captured on this tour. Thankfully for Turner his audience are open to this change in pace and band and crowd are one tonight making this a great Friday night out.
Frank Turner is known to take particular care over his setlists and tonight is a typical career spanning affair with fan favourites, deep cuts and new tracks all on offer. Highlights tonight include âA Wave Across A Bayâ, âBe More Kindâ and âNon Serviamâ.
At this point you know what you are going to get from a Turner show, and thatâs an amazing time. Realistically that makes him a very difficult person to review, his consistency and endurance are unrivalled and you never really get a misstep.
Tonight the show climaxes with an encore of âI Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famousâ, âRecoveryâ, âTry This At Homeâ and âI Still Believeâ, which drains every remaining drop of energy out of the venue. Donât take Turner for granted, get down to a show and have a great night!
Tonight is a hot ticket, with venue staff stating that they couldâve sold the venue out four times over, and that people had been inquiring about just listening from outside the venue.
The reason for the excitement is that tonight indie rock standouts Hard-Fi will be playing their first show in eight years. Not just that but it takes place in the intimate surrounds of one of the UKâs premier independent music venues â the Craufurd Arms in Milton Keynes (or Wolverton as singer Richard Archer points out).
Yes, the return of Hard-Fi is very welcome and given the lyrical content of some of their early material, itâs somewhat apt that the band responsible for âCash Machineâ return during one of the most tumultuous weeks of the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Tonight serves as a warm up for their big return shows in Manchester and London, but before Hard-Fi arrive on stage we have the warm up for tonight. Eddz channels his inner Ian Brown, performing solo to a backing track. In front of a baying crowd, Eddz styles out the performance well and certainly leaves the stage with more fans than we he arrived.
The venue is rammed tight by the time the returning heroes arrive on stage and opener âMiddle Eastern Holidayâ instantly engages the crowd. The atmosphere is electric as the band find their feet through the likes of âCanât Get Along (Without You)â and âI Shall Overcomeâ.
There is a slightly misguided rendition of The White Stripes classic âSeven Nation Armyâ early in the show which feels oddly placed and generally unnecessary, however the next tracks âTied Up Too Tightâ and âGood For Nothingâ ensure that the crowd remains firmly onboard.
A run of âBetter Do Betterâ, âBring It Onâ, âFire In The Houseâ and âCash Machineâ is fantastic, and just shows the depth of the bands back catalogue. Despite only having 3 studio albums to their name, Hard-Fi certainly have the proverbial bangers for days!
Whilst there are times that itâs clear this is their first show in a very long time, the band shake off any gremlins to deliver a memorable night for their fans. âSuburban Knightsâ and âHard To Beatâ close out the main set for a three song encore which ends of âLiving For The Weekendâ.
The band are living for this weekend and their big return shows, but after this performance, fans will be hoping that Hard-Fi stick around for a while longer!
The evolution of Oakman in recent years has culminated with the release of their third EP, ‘SCP’. The French pop-punk trio have given deeper exploration of the pop element of the genre and the outcome is majestic.
Opening with the statement dancefloor filler ‘Night’, the six track record is an uplifting yet brutally honest and personal collection.
‘Murder’ and ‘Fantasy’ knuckle down on this formula and exude vulnerability and strength in equal measure.
Oakman sound natural on this EP and are able to showcase their superb songwriting skills with freedom. Their pop-punk roots remain, but the band appear ready to elevate themselves both artistically and professionally with their new sound.
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We start this week with the latest live announcements and they didn’t come any bigger than the revelation that Arctic Monkeys will be performing a huge UK Stadium Tour next Summer.
The band will perform 13 dates in May and June 2023 including double dates in London and hometown Sheffield.
Making the events even more unmissable will be special guests The Hives and The Mysterines!
Roger Waters reveals UK ‘This Is Not A Drill’ dates
The legendary Roger Waters also had UK Tour news on offer this week as he revealed three dates for next Summer on his ‘This Is Not A Drill’ Tour.
âThis Is Not A Drill is a groundbreaking new rock and roll/cinematic extravaganza, performed in the round, it is a stunning indictment of the corporate dystopia in which we all struggle to survive, and a call to action to Love, Protect and Share our precious and precarious planet home. The show includes a dozen great songs from Pink Floydâs Golden Era alongside several new ones, words and music, same writer, same heart, same soul, the same man. Could be his last hurrah. Wow! My first farewell tour! Donât miss itâ. Love R.
Fontaines D.C. share video for ‘The Couple Across The Way’
Fontaines D.C. – ‘The Couple Across The Way’
Fontaines D.C. shared the video for their single, ‘The Couple Across The Way’, this week and you can check it out above.
Speaking on the track and video, frontman Grian Chatten says, âI was living in a tiny little flat in North London with my girlfriend and there was this Hitchcock – esque view of an elderly couple across from us. They had these blazing arguments that sent pigeons flying around, and after each one the man in the couple would come out onto this little balcony he had and just breathe for about 10 minutes. I couldn’t help but imagine it as a reflection of myself and my girlfriend in years to come, and ourselves as a reflection of a younger, happier version of themâ
The mighty Saxon have released a new single to preview their upcoming tour. You can watch the video for ‘Black Is The Night’ above.
Frontman Biff Byford comments: âLooking forward to the Seize The Day Tour. See you all on the road and enjoy the new video for Black Is The Night!â
Skid Row also had a new single to share this week, and you can check out, ‘Time Bomb’, above.
The track comes from new album, ‘The Gang’s All Here’ which is available October 14th.
The video for âTime Bombâ was helmed by director Dale âRageâ Resteghini who Rachel Bolan sought out to realize his artistic vision for the song about humanityâs continuing struggles with self-indulgence and monotony.
âWhat would it be like to be in that position?â Rachel asks. âJust be completely going about life, your normal everyday thing, but youâre thiiiiis close to just completely losing your shit?â
AWOLNATION have debuted their new single, ‘Freaking Me Out’, which you can watch the video for above.
Aaron Bruno shared his inspiration behind the song: âI had a sense of a hopeful paranoia of sorts in creating this song, plus you can disco dance to it, or bang your head. Or both. Itâs up to you.â
The Murder Capital share new single ‘A Thousand Lives’
The Murder Capital – ‘A Thousand Lives’
We continue our News Report with The Murder Capital. The band this week debuted new single, ‘A Thousand Lives’, which you can check out above.
The band also revealed that their second album, ‘Gigi’s Recovery’ will be out January 20th.
Front man James McGovern had the following to say about the themes behind the new single:
“Knowing that the day is only X-hours long, alongside my understanding of how love can be the true restorative seed, means that if and when you are so lucky to find it (and it is true) the seemingly small glance that is our lifetime could never contain enough of those days or those hours. Even a thousand of those lifetimes would never be enough.”
The band had the following to say about the new album and next year’s tour:
âFor us, having worked on Gigiâs Recovery over the past two-plus years, now knowing every detail of every room in this house that we have built together, all we want to do is invite everybody in. We canât wait to reveal more and more of what weâve been creating with this record, and eventually in the new year, to reveal the full story.
The greatest thing about making a record is touring a record. The connection we make and the energy created at our live shows is the highest point for us. We canât wait to meet new faces in the crowds, and to see this record under the new light that each and every one of you will shine on it. No better place to be than in the centre of it all.â
Following the release of their latest album, ‘North East Coastal Town’, last month, LIFE have shared the video for, ‘Shipping Forecast’, which you can watch above.
Speaking on the single, singer Mez Green:
“The ‘Shipping Forecast’ is a track that is awash with Hull’s nautical heritage. The music channels the power of the waves somewhere between Dogger and Humber.
It’s an urgent and powerful track that grapples with the need to get home and pins themes of toxic social media and control to its mast.
The track was one of the first to be written from North East Coastal Town and its energy and mood very much set the scene of our recording process.â
October Drift will soon release their second album, ‘I Don’t Belong Anywhere’, with the record available on October 14th.
This week the band revealed the video for their single, ‘Waltzer’, which you can watch above.
Regarding the video the band say, âWe wanted to make a video which visually encapsulated what the song was about. We knew we wanted to film it at an empty seaside location, so we got up at 3am and drove to a beach in Dorset to shoot at sunrise. Somehow we roped a friend into getting up that early to pour the water over Kiran, but managed to misjudge the sunrise so ended up standing around in the dark for two hours before it was light enough to film anything. Not sure how many takes we did in the end, but it was enough to give Kiran mild hypothermia.â
Courting have just released their debut album, ‘Guitar Music’, and this week shared the video for new single, ‘Famous’, which you can check out above.
Speaking on the new song, frontman Murphy-OâNeill says, âFamous is about growing up, finding comfort in smaller things, It is a song about nights forgotten and days of just watching sitcoms with your friends. Musically, we wanted to create something truly euphoric, something we could cry to. We intended for this song to be the centerpiece of the record, a bit like a carousel.”
Our News Report turns now to PVA who this week share the video for their recent single, ‘Bad Dad’, which you can watch above. The track comes from new album, ‘Blush’, which is out October 14th.
Speaking on the themes of the single, Ella Harris says âBad Dad explores the internal world of a new father checking in on his son at night, afraid of the lineage of masculinity and how it might impact someone so untainted.â
Closing out this section of our News Report are The Hot Damn!. This week saw the rockers share their latest single, ‘Live Laugh Love’, which you can check out above.
Set to support Incubus on their UK Tour, Softcult this week shared their new track, ‘One Of A Million’.
On the track Mercedes says, âOriginally, I was writing from a frustrating perspective, expressing my feelings about the people in our society who think they are the exception and can justify repeating selfish actions, no matter who they harm in the process.
As the song began to take shape, it also became about my own personal insecurities and fear of being ordinary and unexceptional, but the more I thought about it and wrote about it, I realized that accepting how similar we all are as human beings is a comforting sentiment, if not a vital one.
The more we relate to each other and acknowledge our similarities, the more empathy and compassion we will have for one another. The more divided we are, the longer these issues get drawn out instead of solved. Itâs important to not only celebrate our diversity and unique-ness, but also to remember that at a very basic level we are all more the same than different.â
No Windows – ‘Shout (Red Song)’
Edinburgh duo No Windows share their new single, ‘Shout (Red Song)’, from newly announced debut EP ‘Fishboy’.
Morgan had the following to say about the themes behind the track:
“Shout (Red Song) felt loud, thrashy and noisy – which to me felt most like the colour red. Red reminds me of things that are intense like anger or love which, and while neither of those things are explored directly, they feel present as an undercurrent in the melody and sonic set-up of the final recording.”
noyou – ‘Love is Enough’
Synthetic Pop-Rock band noyou have dropped just dropped their debut EP âThis Game We Startedâ amd alongside the EP comes new single âLove Is Enoughâ.
â’Love is Enough’ explores the challenges often faced in the world of an independent artist. Whether it be battles with egos, gigs to no one or overwhelming self-doubt, the song is a reminder to ourselves and to anyone who can relate to soldier on and keep doing what it is you enjoy, for as long as you continue to enjoy it.â – Connor Jobes
Editors debuted the single, âHeart Attackâ, back in April with the announcement of Benjamin John Power joining the band. New album, âEBMâ was set for release and a number of subsequent singles have hinted that Powerâs arrival on keys, synths and electronics coincides with a focus on such from the band.
Born in the indie landfill mid-noughties, Editors always stood apart and above from their contemporaries by infusing an electronic element into their dark guitar-centric sound. Throughout the next decade or so theyâve continually evolved with the times and that has seen guitars and synths swap places in the mix.
What has helped Editors both grow their audience and retain their core following is that theyâve done so well with quality music at the forefront. Theyâve never abandoned their beliefs for the glory of chart success, but have found chart success nevertheless.
The shift of focus almost fully into the world of electronics hinted at in the pre-album singles is fully borne out on âEBMâ. This is now far removed from the all out indie rock of debut album, âThe Back Roomâ. It helps that the transition has been gradual and not the instant transformation that many bands have tried and often failed to enact.
âEBMâ feels like an honest record from the band, in that this is clearly what the band want to be doing. Sonically this is Editors being themselves, after all theyâve never been the pandering type of band. For some of those indie rock fans that bought into the band early doors this may prove to be a step too far, but for those that have enjoyed the journey this is another collection of solid tracks.
Whilst some fans may be turned off, this isnât a bad album. This also isnât a great album. When youâre consistently unique, you eventually are bound to become generic. You either die a hero or see yourself become the villain. The tests of time will ultimately judge âEBMâ on Editorsâ behalf, and I feel they are unlikely to be either cruel or kind. Again, when all your work is memorable, eventually parts of it become forgettable.
It feels like an eternity ago that Lonely The Brave burst onto the scene with their incredible early EP, âBackroadsâ. Thatâs probably because that actually was almost a decade ago, and wow has the world been through some tough times since then.
It hasnât all been smooth sailing for the band either, with the switch of vocalist in 2018 a major hurdle. Thankfully the band secured the talented Jack Bennett to fill the very big shoes of David Jakes.
The problem for the band now is that just when they would need momentum the most, the world stopped moving. The pandemic disrupted all people in all walks of life with the music industry hit very hard. Imagine then the impact on Lonely The Brave as they looked to move seamlessly into their new era.
New album, âThe Hope Listâ, was released in the midst of lockdown in January 2021 and plans to tour in support were naturally delayed. That time has belatedly arrived now and tonight they play a special hometown show at the Junction in Cambridge.
There are two support acts on tap with VLMV up first, captivating the early audience with a sonic smorgasbord of guitars, synths and vocals. Cult icon Jamie Lenman then blasts though a short set of new material which ramps up the intensity in the venue. Both acts have done a good job warming up a slightly lethargic crowd ready for the hometown heroes to arrive.
Welcomed warmly onstage Lonely The Brave instantly mix new tracks such as âKeeperâ and âDistant Lightâ with old favourites like âBlack Mireâ and âTrick of the Lightâ. This is a theme that continues throughout the evening.
Bennett as we say has had big shoes to fill vocally and he manages to do those old favourites justice tonight whilst also adding new layers both sonically and corporeally.
There is an unusual tense atmosphere in the venue tonight, which feels highlighted by this being a hometown show. Itâs only really when the likes of âThe Blue, The Greenâ, âBackroadsâ and âBlack Saucersâ appear towards the end of the show that the audience relaxes a bit.
Performance wise the venue witnesses three strong sets tonight from three acts at varying stages of their careers. The industry is in a tough spot right now, but youâd hope there is enough talent on show here that these acts can kick on from here.
The cost of living crisis currently strangling the UK has become the latest threat to the future of our independent grassroots music venues. The Music Venue Trust had already engaged with The National Lottery for the #ReviveLive campaign in answer to the pandemic, but now it takes on even greater meaning.
Itâs venues such as the Portland Arms in Cambridge where we are tonight that are vital to the music ecosystem. No introductory venues – no cultivating superstars. No regional venues â unsustainable travel to gigs for fans. No new superstars and unaffordable costs for fans â the collapse of the music industry! That may seem dramatic, but itâs the short, sharp and real threat that we are facing.
Tonights #ReviveLive show features Scottish rock band The Xcerts and has been pushed back a day to avoid the Queenâs funeral. Despite the change and the lack of a support act, the venue is suitably stocked with audience members come the time for the band to hit the stage.
The setlist tonight comprises tracks from all four of the bands studio albums but focuses heavily on latest effort, 2018âs âHold On To Your Heartâ. âDrive Me Wildâ and âDaydreamâ from that album start us off and ease the audience into the show, before âShaking in the Waterâ really gets things moving.
That album is a masterpiece so fans are more than happy to hear multiple tracks from it. There is an audible delight however at the presence of two brand new songs in the set tonight. Both âEverything I Cannot Live Withoutâ and âJealousyâ sound promising for more stunning work to come from the band.
The Xcerts deserve all the success in the world and the final run of âShow Me Beautifulâ, âThere Is Only Youâ, âCrazyâ, âHold On To Your Heartâ, âAberdeen 1987â and âFeels Like Falling In Loveâ is a real testament to their quality.
There are great nights like this happening in every major city and town in the UK every night of the week. The venues these are happening in and the bands killing it onstage need your support now. If you are able to, get yourself to a show and ensure that when all our problems hopefully dissipate, we still have venues and bands to enjoy!
