This is the sixteenth in our Mayhem Virgins series and it features Leeds band Astoria. The band is made up of Vinnie Smith on vox and lead guitar, Luke Etchells on rhythm guitar, Alex Mawson on bass, and sticksman George Grady. They released their first single “Where The Light Lives” in May 2021. It has been described as an alt.rock ballad and it certainly has those qualities. Above that, it is a very open, emotional, and soulful tune. There are not many rock songs that bring a tear to my eyes, but this one does. The band says that the song “was intended as a love letter to a friend, although written years too late“. It sounds like there is a whole gamut of emotions driving its creation. Follow up release, also from last year, was “The Snow”, coupled with what in the olden days would have been a b-side “(Don’t) Turn Around”. Astoria sound like a band that really knows where they are and where they want to go. “The Snow” is an anthemic rock track that is cinematic in scope Vinnie’s vocals are stunning here and the riffs are huge. Meanwhile, I think the rhythm section is on fire. This is probably my favourite Astoria track at the moment. “(Don’t) Turn Around” sounds rougher and harder than their other tunes, like Cast taking a shot at metal. This is a band for the 21st Century, one that may help to see us through troubled times. I can hear in them the potential to become one of Yorkshire’s finest rock bands, maybe even one of the UK’s greatest bands! You can catch them headlining live at the Lending Room in Leeds on Friday 15th July, click here for tickets.
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Regular readers might think a Mr. Astley gig is a strange choice for me, but I have never been averse to a blast of decent pop music as long as it is good. Was it good? Well, you will find out later in this review, but first I need to tell you about the wonderful stellar support act, KT Tunstall. Earlier this year KT cancelled her summer shows due to concerns about her hearing, but she is most definitely back now. Armed with a guitar, effects pedals, and supreme looping skills (her faithful loop pedal even has a name, “Wee Bastard”) she won the crowd over quickly and we stayed with her for her whole set, clapping, singing, and dancing throughout. All the hits were on show including two particular highlights for me in “Suddenly I See” and “Black Horse And The Cherry Tree”. She also stormed through a haunting and emotive cover of the late, great Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down”.
This gig has been a long time coming, thanks to Covid. I bought tickets as a Christmas present for my wife Catherine a.k.a. Catwoman for Christmas 2019. The show was, like many others, rescheduled, postponed and rescheduled a few times. Was it worth the wait? Absolutely, Rick is a perfect performer. He is comfortable with his pop past and his newer songs show the depth and real soulfulness of his voice. A huge shout out to his fabulous band and the amazing backing singers. Obviously all the early hits were there, including a double dose of “Never Gonna Give You Up”. He kicked off the show with a softer, jazzier excerpt from it and then, as expected, closed the encore with a full everybody on their feet and dancing version. “Keep Singing”, “Beautiful Life” and “Cry For Help” were highlights for me and really showcased what an incredibly talented vocalist Rick Astley is. Meanwhile his cover choices were inspired, “When I Fall In Love” (which was expected) and a superb and authentic rendition of the Temptations classic, “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”. But to top both of those Rick did a a gorgeous and at times ethereal cover of Harry Styles “Watermelon Sugar High”. Not only is Rick Astley a great singer and performer he also comes across as a really decent bloke. If the opportunity arises I will definitely see him again!
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Leeds pop-punk overlords Woke Up Dead recently exposed their debut album to the world, it is called ‘Blunt To Fakie’ and it is rather good! They are a three-piece band that plays in the classic format used by many of the most successful North American pop-punk bands like Green Day, Blink 182 and Sum 41. But they are more than just pop-punk, they appear to draw influence from old school punk, skate punk, and power pop. ‘Blunt To Fakie’ is like a greatest hits collection in terms of the power and quality of the songs. The music is full of happy vibes while the lyrics deal with much darker topics. On their FaceBook page, they state “We are a punk band from Leeds. We hate you.” Well maybe they do hate us, but after listening to this album I bloody love Woke Up Dead. The band says their main influences are the Ramones, Screeching Weasel, Teenage Bottlerocket, Mr. T Experience, and really really shitty videogames. More about the video games later! The boys got together as a band back in 2018 and since then they have shared a stage with some darned good bands, Bad Cop Bad Cop, H20, Death By Stereo and one of my favourites, Wonk Unit. They also played the Rebellion Festival last year and I reckon they would have been back this year had it not been for this bastard virus.
The album kicks off with perhaps the shortest song I have heard in ages, even by classic punk standards, “Loser Of The Year” it is a brilliant showcase of the band’s pop-punk prowess but just way too short at just 37 seconds. Incidentally, every one of the sixteen tracks clocks in at less than three minutes, just like the early Ramones stuff. The record really gets into gear with “Superman 64” a song about one of the really really shitty videogames mentioned earlier. In a parallel universe this tune, with its massive riffs, ace harmonies and huge production would be racing up the singles charts. I love some of the lyrics to “My Own Crack Lab” especially “this dedication to denigration is shining through”. The music here reminds me of early Blink 182 and once again Woke Up Dead excel in producing an incredible earworm of a tune. This is a band that is as tight as I have heard in a while, the playing on “Padded Cell” is perhaps the best on this collection; volcanic riffing from Pete, Seismic bass from Mark and drums that could move mountains from Si. There is a dialogue sample from the first Resident Evil game which opens “Spencer Mansion”, which gamers and film fans will recognise from the Resident Evil series. After listening to this album four or five times this is my second favourite track. The heaviest sounding track on the album is “Us Vs You” and the anger and venom in the lyrics is personified by describing the subject of the song, and I am glad it isn’t about me, as a “slimy fucking turd”. Maybe not a song to play to your Grandma, but I still find myself singing along on every play.
I can hear the ghost of the Ramones on “Skate”, the only thing missing is the 1,2,3,4 intro that da bruddas used to use. Another classy slab of fine punk music. Frustrated youth seems strong in “Kate”, where Dave sings of Kate being “so fucking cool” but also that Kate “don’t like boys”. The Kate in question gets mentioned in the lyrics too, it’s Kate McKinnon US comedian, actress, and star of the recent Ghostbusters reboot. I find myself providing backing vocals in harmony with bassist Mark on the glorious “I’m A Fucking Spy”. I can hear a hint of Ash in “Silly Girl” which wears its pop credentials on its sleeve and the syncopated clapping parts hark back to the early 60s girl groups. The Super Furry Animals would have been proud of a song title like “I Don’t Give A Fuck”, but it sounds nothing like them. I reckon this will sound spectacular in a live environment, although to be fair I believe the whole album will. “Nothing I Recall” made me think of the early Damned, particularly in the walking bass line which harks back to Captain Sensible’s bass playing, although much better. It is not after that a song about wishing your life would end sticks in your head, but “My Life Is A Write-Off” does just that. The closest Woke Up Dead sound to Blink 182 is on “Devil You Know” and it is a masterpiece of modern pop-punk. I am sure that this song was recorded before COVID-19 but the line “spent too long in isolation” is pertinent. My favourite track is definitely “You Don’t Know Shit”. Everything comes together perfectly on this one anger, venom, great vocals, and a stupendous performance from the lads. Album closer “Polybius” is an arcade game reference, a fictitious arcade game in fact. It comes from the urban legend from around 2000 that a supposedly fictitious game called Polybius which according to Wikipedia was said to be “part of a government-run crowdsourced psychology experiment based in Portland, Oregon, during 1981. Gameplay supposedly produced intense psychoactive and addictive effects in the player”. The song references the notorious Men In Black who allegedly visited these arcade games periodically for data mining purposes.
If I had set out to find negatives in this album I would have struggled it is an ace debut from a great band. Now I can hardly wait for some kind of normal when I can get to see them play live! Click here to listen to the album on Spotify, I will be very disappointed in you if I find that you don’t like it, in fact, I will arrange for the Men In Black to visit your home and “probe” you!
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Those delightful and extremely talented chaps known collectively as Apollo Junction released a new single a couple of weeks ago. It is called “Forever” and it is the first single to be taken from their yet to be released second album. It is close to being a perfect lockdown anthem. It is upbeat, has a happy vibe, and a great singalong hook. I dare you to listen to it and not end up with a smile or singing along. If you do manage to frown and not sing along with this fabulous tune then you probably need to seek help. “Forever” is another leap forward for the band after the success of their first album ‘Mystery’ released at the end of last year.
The song evokes the best of 80s and 90s pop-rock and the kind of songs that many of the best British bands used tow write with ease in their prime; the Kinks, Small Faces, Oasis, Blur, and many more. I love the jangly indie guitars and a bass line that James Jamerson would have been proud of. The song is accompanied by a great video filmed by videographers Yorkshire Folk prior to lockdown. The film features drone footage of many Leeds’ landmarks such as Kirkstall Abbey, Roundhay Park, Headingley Stadium, and obviously, Elland Road. Put Apollo Junction on your list of gigs to see post lockdown, you will not regret it, you may even see me there! Jamie, Matt, Ben, Jonathan and Sam, I will see you on the other side of this!
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This was a night to celebrate the launch of “Embers” the new single from InFade, click here for my review of that tune from last month. But before I tell you more about InFade there were three other bands bringing their music to the 360 Club at the Lending Room in Leeds, which is possibly one of the coolest and most intimate venues in Yorkshire. First up were We Make Waves, this Leeds five-piece rocked as though they were auditioning to be Asgard’s house band. They passed that audition with style and a bass that was as thunderous as Thor’s mighty hammer, Mjolnir! Bass player Olli Rawcliffe even sported hair and beard close to that of the Thunder God. Amy Kennedy’s vocals backed by such a strong band made me think of what perhaps the Foo Fighters might sound like if they had a female singer. It is also so refreshing to see another female fronted band. Apparently, We Make Waves are in the middle of recording a couple of songs, with which they closed their set. The last of these, apologies I didn’t get the title, was truly epic! Click here to check them out on SoundCloud.
We Make Waves
Next up were Lords Of Power, also from Leeds. Now I don’t believe that they are actual Lords, but fuck do they have some power! It struck me that this might be what Black Sabbath could have sounded like if Paul Rodgers replaced Ozzy Osbourne as lead vocalist, Dave Sowden’s singing is that good! Lords Of Power appear to have been carved from the great oak of British rock lineage; Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Bad Company and many more. Sowden even introduced a really amusing Yorkshire Freddie Mercury crowd chant; “ayup, aaayyyyuup”. Every one of the three band members plays a vital part in giving them their almost off the scale power. It was a shame to hear that bass player, Dan Sugden was playing his last gig with the band. The “Computer Game Loading” was very engaging too. The high point of their set, for me, was “The Devil Wears Shoes” which would fit rather nicely into an episode of Netflix’s “Lucifer”. Click here to check the Lords Of Power out on SoundCloud.
Lords Of Power
The penultimate band tonight was CPSD an eclectic, engaging and highly talented three-piece. If you like funk, punk, blues, electro, heavy metal, Prog Rock or even dubstep, these guys have it all. When they fire up their full sonic assault they don’t sound like a trio, they sound like a full orchestra. There is a sniff of Slaves and the WhiteStripes about them at times and I mean that in a good way. They sound great in recorded form but they take it to another level completely in the live setting. They smash their way into your brain with power that could split a planet in two, just like a rock version of Quake from “Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D”. Click here to check out one of their songs on SoundCloud, but also get yourself to one of their gigs. You will not regret it!
CPSD
After three immensely good bands could InFade raise the bar even further? Well, the answer to that question ladies, gentlemen, punks, goths, funkateers, and every other tribe is that yes they damned well can and they bloody well did! This was a mesmerising performance from a band that is fast shaping up to be one of Leeds finest. When I first met them they described themselves as some kind of a cross between Tool and Earth, Wind and Fire. That statement alone was enough to intrigue me and seeing them live proves that to be a true statement. They wear their funk hearts on their sleeves so proudly that their stage entry music was one of Nile Rodgers greatest songs; “Le Freak” by Chic. Interestingly Richard, the promoter for this gig does not announce the running order until late on, to ensure that the hardcore fan element for each band stick around longer. I never understood why people would come and see “their” band and then not bother to see the rest of the acts, but hey, to each their own right? It worked tonight as there was a pretty solid crowd throughout the night and for InFade. The boys hit the ground running with a punchy set that showcased their musical talents. Max’s vocals are emotional, soulful and show tones of an epic rock voice when belting out their anthemic tunes. Meanwhile, Carl and Jonny are a highly tuned Formula 1 engine that purrs loudly beneath some great tunes. The highlights for me were “Venom” and the aforementioned “Embers”. Like all the previous bands this evening InFade seemed to be having a lot of fun. Showcased brilliantly by Carl’s audience invasion towards the end of the set. This was a great night for all of those who took the stage, but I think InFade just about shaded it against some great competition. Click here to check out their stuff on Spotify and if you missed this gig they will be playing the 360 Club again on Friday 20th September!
InFade
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Carl from InFade contacted me to ask if I would be interested in reviewing their new single “Embers”. I was always going to do it, but I moved it much closer to the top of the pile when he described their sound as ‘Tool meets Earth Wind and Fire!’ That description sold it to me, but the question is can the track live up to it? Well, I reckon it can. It is a mountainous slab of hard rock, with a funk feel in the bass and drums. “Embers” has a great melodic feel and builds slowly, with an undercurrent of menace, to a crescendo that might register in the Richter scale at times. I have always believed that Yorkshire’s current generation of bands is strong, now that I have heard InFade from Leeds I am even more committed in that belief.
This track also carries the kind of soft-loud alternation that the Pixies mastered and Kurt Cobain was a fan of. In some of the softer moments singer, Max has a slight nod towards Peter Gabriel’s vocals. I can also detect a Biffy Clyro influence and let’s face it that is no bad thing. The lyrics have inherent power and appear to be about lost love and the grieving that loss in painful aftermath. I have listened to some of their other stuff and after that, I am definitely a fan. Click here to check out some earlier InFade releases on SoundCloud. The dictionary definition of embers is a small piece of burning or glowing coal or wood in a dying fire’. This song is much bigger than a small piece of glowing coal and InFade is more inferno than dying fire. The new single is officially launched with a gig at the 360 Club in Leeds on 28th June. In a live environment “Embers” will take on an anthemic life of its own. Be there or be square!
All photos provided by the artist.
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The Sheratons are shaping up to be one of the finest bands in Leeds and maybe even the UK right now. The evidence is clearly there in their piledriving power in a live setting. The argument is firmly supported by the band’s most recent single “Part Of A Picture” release back in April. It is a melodic, indie rock tour de force that is rooted in rock history. There are tones of everyone from early Radiohead to the more spaced-out Byrds period. This song sounds like the product of a much more experienced band, but it isn’t, the Sheratons average age is still 19 or 20. Given the radio-play they are picking up with “Part Of A Picture” (BBC Introducing, Steve Lamacq, etc.) and the strength of previous releases, notably “These Kids” I reckon their first album will be a real winner.
The Sheratons with Kane Bulleyment’s astonishingly sharp and powerful vocal delivery, Finley Ryan’s knowledge and performance of great riffs and Emma Liu (drums) and Caty Labbett (bass) providing a Rolls Royce of an engine to power the song are definitely a force to be reckoned with. They should be very proud of this release! If you want to catch them live soon they are a part of the Futuresound Emerging Competition and will be appearing in one of the heats at the Wardrobe in Leeds on 20th June as a part of that (see below). You really need to be there! In the meantime click here to listen to “Part Of A Picture” on Spotify.
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This was the second time that I had seen the headliners in just over twenty-four hours after their sneaky set at the Fulford Arms the previous day (click here for my review of that show). In fact this is probably the first time that I have seen any band or singer twice in two days in more than 46 years of going to gigs! This was a showcase gig for Skylights who are powering along the path of success and greatness, it’s a long road but they have the means and the fuel to finish the journey. But enough of Skylights for a moment, they were supported by a couple of excellent bands. Taking to the stage in the Brudenell Main Room first were Pool Sharks from Leeds. They were having a great week after being featured on BBC 6 Music and now on stage at the iconic Brudenell in only their second gig! They had clearly rehearsed incredibly well and played like veterans of shows like this. At times I was reminded of early Franz Ferdinand and maybe to a lesser degree Orange Juice and Edwyn Collins. Their songs have depth, clever lyrics and great pop hooks. “Thank You, Have a Nice Day” has the makings of a big hit.
Second on stage and second on the bill were the Sheratons, all the way from……. Leeds! This lot are well aware of what great rock music is and inject their sound with a full on punky attitude. The live performance of their new single “These Kids” was a sharp and jagged riff fest and even better than the rather spiffing recorded version. “Hacienda” their song about the famous, or maybe infamous, Manchester venue was a particular highlight. But their choice of a cover version medley to close their set was awe-inspiring and a challenge that many bands would not have been able to meet, but the Sheratons totally owned their take on two classic tunes. Firstly it was the Beatles’ “I Am The Walrus” (often used as an encore closer by Oasis) which they segued into a perfect run through the instrumental part of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain”. I bought the CD single of “These Kids” and I hope there is an album on the horizon soon!
Now for the nights main attraction, one of York’s best bands, Skylights. This showcase gig was a big deal for them and they were magnificent. Following a raucous crowd sing along to one of the few football songs that is quite good, “Leeds Leeds Leeds” (just in case you didn’t know, these boys are Leeds United supporters) they lit the fuse on an incendiary set with the opening bars of “Life Line”. The power, passion and pace did not let up once. Their biggest influences for me are some of the best bands from the Brit Pop era; Blur, Oasis and Primal Scream. Lead vocalist Rob had the audience eating out of his hands, even if by his own admission he is not a storyteller. Whilst Rob is a superb frontman and vocalist this is a great band because they are so much bigger than the sum of their parts. Turnbull’s guitar skills have future axe legend written over them, he makes smart use of his array of effects pedals to enhance his signature sound. Then in the engine room you have Jonny on bass with a sound that would have given John Entwistle of the Who a run for his money. Myles bashes those drums like the fate of the planet depends on it. “Britannia” is definitely becoming one of my favourite Skylights songs, but it still has a little way to go to usurp “What You Are” and the stone cold classic that is “YRA”. Skylights owned the Brudenell and if they are not taking this excellent sound to festivals before very long then I shall be forced to eat a Skylights T-Shirt. If you haven’t checked out Skylights yet then what in the damned world is holding you back? Trust me you really need some of these songs in your life. Get into them now before they start playing arenas!
Public Service Announcement: – All photographs (except the gig poster) were taken and edited by me using my cheap android phone from China. All videos were found on YouTube. If one of the videos is yours and you would like a credit or for it to be taken down please let me know.
Also very proud to see a quote from this blog on the poster!
Leeds/ York based Alleyways have released another exquisite slice of sublime pop rock with the sublime “TV”. Apparently the song is about living the moment and not immersing yourself in technology. I hope fans take heed at live shows and actually experience the gig through their human senses and not through a tiny phone screen. The song has echoes of some of the finest 80s pop music, I hear elements of Altered Images and Aztec camera here. It doesn’t take much more than the first listen for “TV” to take root in your brain and boost those endorphins off the scale! If you like this then you really need to check out Alleyways other stuff, including three other great songs; “Naked”, Â “Bubble Gum” and “Gucci”. They will be playing a number of headline shows in support of “TV” in the next few weeks. This follows some great support slots with Fickle Friends and Glass Caves to name just a couple. The band have begun working with Chalk Pit Records from Leeds and this I am sure will result in some great new things from Alleyways in 2019. Stay tuned people, this band has so much to offer!
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 