Unusually this gig featured three bands where I’ve previously reviewed recorded songs – Apollo Junction’s single ‘Begin’, Backspace’s EP ‘Boys’ and The Greedy Souls’ single ‘We Will Rule’. And I really liked all three of these so it was a good opportunity to check out whether I liked the bands as much live.

The Wardrobe was really buzzing that night, whether it was just because of Apollo Junction or that all three bands had got their fans and followers in I don’t know but there was a great vibe going for all the bands.

As a relatively new band opening a night The Greedy Souls seemed at first to be just a little nervy. But as their set went on they seemed to get better and better. For me the thing that really grabbed my attention was Jamie’s guitar. His playing isn’t all guitar pyrotechnics but it’s classy and solid. Aaron’s vocals have that slight Manchester vocal thing going and he, at times, hits a more rocky vocal style – it’s actually really compelling.

Songwise the songs seemed to get that more complex and better the later in the set they came. They hover somewhere between heavy alternative rock and heavy rock in sound. But the songs have one thing in common, they have positively ear-wormy tunes. The band really hit it with their final track – the current single ‘We Will Rule’ – this rocked. My notes say ‘Jamie’s guitar is positively yummy’ during this, and indeed it was.

If my review of their set sounds a little on the fence, it isn’t I really enjoyed their set and hope to see the band play again. I’d recommend catching them.

There seem to be a lot of Backspace, the stage is really quite crowded, granted The Wardrobe’s stage isn’t huge but they filled it.

I was really impressed by Backspace’s EP ‘Boys’ but it’s perhaps predictable that the thought that floated around my head before their set started was could this young band – and by this I mean the age of the members – ‘do it’ live? After all recording in a studio is a completely different kettle of fish to playing a live set in front of an audience primed for the arrival of Apollo Junction. The answer to this is very definitely yes. And actually after one or two songs I actually forgot that I was watching a band whose oldest member is 15.

What struck me in those couple of songs was that the band seem to have an ‘Orielles thing’ going on. Even though the sound is fuller Rosie has that casual couldn’t give a damn vocal thing. Rosie, by the way, seems to be a natural front-person, she really has a presence. The difference between Backspace and The Oreilles (who I actually really like) is that Backspace have a wider range of sounds and styles in their songs.

And perhaps now is the time to take a slight detour and say that this is a band who can really play, quite honestly the quality of the playing is fantastic, it’s scarily good. Their lead guitarist is really great.

Soundwise this band just seem to pick and chose – there’s indie, there’s 80s pop-rock, there’s 80s pop and that’s just for starters. And this could be just in the one song. I like a band who do that – who just don’t really care about being in one particular genre.

One of the set highlights was a keyboard led slower number that unfortunately had Rosie’s vocals not quite as upfront as they needed to be. I’m going to put this down to sound issues because when they came through they shone. ‘Sick And Tired’ is another keyboard led song that features the drummer playing trumpet. I really liked this track on the EP and I wasn’t at all disappointed, in fact it had something more going for it than the recorded version. The EP title track ‘Boys’ is this mutant 80s’ rock and indie rock thing but it rocks, it’s a lovely thing. Rosie’s vocals during this song really were brilliant. And strangely I really focussed down on the lyrics to this song during the performance and realised quite how good they are.

The thing about Baclspace is that while you are kinda forced into acknowledging that they are a ‘young band’ when it comes down to it that matters not one jot. What matters is that their songs are great and the playing fantastic and that is very very definitely the case. So go see them, try not to focus on their age – the band help with this, they are great not in spite of their age but because they are just fantastic as a band full stop. I was hugely impressed, if they can this now, the future holds something quite quite huge.

I had what might be called ‘conversion’ during Apollo Junction’s set, actually almost right from the start. I’ve never been a big indie pop fan, sure I was taken by their single ‘Begin’ but I had that pegged as a kind of one-off, I had almost convinced myself before the gig that I wouldn’t like what they do and they’d have to try really hard to get me slightly on their side. As it was the opening bars of their first track basically swept all that away, I was basically hooked and all I could do was to look and listen and be hugely impressed.

So what, I hear you ask, did the band do to do this to you. Well, lets start with the songs, huge ear-wormy tune follows huge ear-wormy tune. The performance is scarily casual – they just seem to have huge fun on stage – and this is compelling. It’s a ‘devil may care’ seemingly effortless performance. Their rapport with the crowd was great, it felt like a ‘we’re all in this together’ thing.

And what else, you ask. The playing was great, no the playing was utterly fantastic, and the vocals were just incredible. The stand out playing performance came, for me during this small acoustic interlude. And this interlude really indicated that their songs are written on acoustics, and that’s what makes them so damn good.

You could accuse them I guess, as I did in my review of their single ‘Begin’, of pulling out all those indie pop tricks, of making every song huge, of throwing in big big choruses into every song, of making every song uplifting. But during their set I started actually trying to listen to song lyrics and noticed from the ones I got that actually there’s a depth to their songs that I hadn’t expected.

All of this made it an utterly glorious performance that was hugely compelling and incredibly entertaining (and sometimes I’m guilty of forgetting that music can be entertaining, as absorbed as I am in music that is clever, emotional and beautiful). Look if you’re not a big indie-pop fan, Apollo Junction will change your mind.

All photos © Frank Roper Photography

The first time I heard this song I fell head over heels in love with it in the first few seconds. ‘Princess Blues’ is beautiful, it’s moving, it’s so damn good. It actually leaves me feeling quite overwhelmed, to a point where I’m so emotional that writing the review is difficult, no, damn near impossible. I loved the first single by Everyday People I reviewed – ‘New Beginnings’ – but this is on another level. And, and here I’m going to let you on a secret thing, sometimes I find a song so wonderful that I feel moved to want to thank the band or artist for writing and playing it, it doesn’t happen often, but this is one of those songs.

Musically it’s a soulful slow slightly country tinged in places ballad but it’s the way it’s played and put together that makes it perfect. It starts with sparse piano, it’s that simple, then Maeve just sings over that in a wistful quiet way that is just so so lovely. She sings of someone who has everything they could want – in material terms – but realises that this isn’t enough. And then, in that classic ballad way, the drums and guitar come in, the song swells in a way that brings a lump to the throat and a tear to the eye. And then, there is the sweetest guitar solo, oh man is that guitar sweet. And then it fades to voice and piano and then shimmering cymbal.

But what that description doesn’t do is to say how this tugs at your heartstrings and takes you places that are just so wonderful. It is smoochy, it’s way way smoochy. I see a big dance-floor, I see those shards of light reflected from the disco ball, I see couples… you get the picture right?

It almost goes without saying that the playing on this is absolutely fantastic, but if you need me to say it I will. The playing on this track is fantastic. The feel in the song is just incredible. The vocals are just right for the song and sung so well. The lyrics are great. And it rewards closer listening – the bass on this is great, the drums are just oh so right.

It’s earned a place in my list of perfect slow dance songs (and yes I have a playlist of those – a list that includes ‘Rainy Night In Georgia’). And look this song is one of those ‘instant classics’, radio stations ought to playing it, it’s going to appeal to everyone and anyone.

‘Princess Blues’ is, and I’m repeating myself because I really want you to hear it, beautiful. It’s wonderful. It’s perfect. So get yourself a rather good glass of wine, turn the lights down low (use candles if you have them), and – if you have one – hold your partner tight, play this and just let in wash over you, let it take you to your own wonderful place. You may feel moved to dance, do that, definitely do that.

The info

The band say “As a band who formed only 9 months ago, the last year has been crazy! Cramming in gigs including: Leeds Varsity 2018, headlining at Wharf Chambers and featuring on BBC Introducing with our first ever single release. That’s not all! We have lots more instore this year: supporting Red Rum Club at Brudenell Social Club on 16/03/2019, and our upcoming single release of ‘King of Soul’ on 15/03/2019. Stay tuned and follow our social media to keep updated!”

Facebook: @everydaypeopleleeds – https://www.facebook.com/EverydayPeopleLeeds/
Instagram: @everydaypeopleleeds – https://www.instagram.com/everydaypeopleleeds/
Twitter: @EverydayPplBand – https://www.twitter.com/EverydayPplBand/

I reviewed Yellow Cafe’s EP ‘Soap Bubble’ a while back and the easiest way of reviewing this would be to say ‘Yellow Cafe do it again this is just beautiful and wonderful’. But that’s a lazy reviewer’s approach (Too true, we’ll have none of that – Ed) so let’s do something more than that.

Although, having said that, reviewing ‘Flight’ that way would make some sort of sense, a minimalistic review for what is about the sparsest thing I’ve heard in a long time. At first listen it seems to be just voice and, a rhythm track, a keyboard line, doing that slow dubby thing that Yellow Cafe do. But listen again, and then again and you start to hear these extra things – a lovely backing vocal, this clicking sound that sometimes happens. Yellow Cafe do minimal in the most beautiful way

And what this doesn’t do is to tell you that that voice, Bella’s voice, is just the loveliest thing. She sings in this simple, completely non-flashy way but it conveys emotion and meaning. Her voice is intimate, that’s the only way I can think of describing it. The sounds, the music, just complement that, they just reinforce that intimacy.

And I just have to tell you that I listened to this just before I headed out to review some bands in Leeds and it stayed with me, in the brief moments of quiet at the gig and periods where I was travelling to and from the venue I heard it in my head. Not in an ear-wormy kind of way, but almost as a calmness. It does that to you, it kind of invades your head.

And for those people who read my review of ‘Soap Bubble’ I still have no idea what alt-pop is. But when something is as wonderful and beautiful as this that seems to be unimportant.

I had what I call a strange experience with the last single I reviewed from Fudge – ‘Walrus’ – it took going back and taking a second listen before suddenly it clicked. This I can report is a much more immediate listening experience, at least for me.

This is old-school punk, it reminds me of all sorts of stuff – it has this sound that immediately said ‘Hmmmm, nice, it’s all Vice Squad’ and then ‘Oh wow, New Model Army’ and then this kind of hardcore rap thing. It’s a riot. I love a riot. It’s all shouted lyrics and hard guitar. But it has this strangely almost angelic female backing vocal, quite what are Fudge up to?

I can only assume that what Fudge are up to is treading their own path, without caring a flying fuck what people think of it. I applaud that, I stand and up and scream in support.

And it sounds like it has a message, the lyrics to this thing are important. Luckily we have some messages from the band that sum up the message of the song

CAM – vocals: “Not A Threat Just a Warning sends a message to the individuals that do not understand the outlook that Fudge. possess; it credits those on board and articulates frustration with passers by being little pussy bois. It’s for them mother fucking Gs who wanna feel like they’re going somewhere whatever’s going down with the shitty world.”

OTTO – guitar: “We wrote this song to have the kind of vibe that would rile someone up and put them in the mood to take on the world. To do something with their lives. It’s a little dig at people who don’t think for themselves; the people who are drip-fed content by mainstream media and seldom choose to look beyond that. It’s a nod to the fact that the entire world is fucking bored of people reproducing the same bullshit that they have been for years and it’s time to change that.”

ANGUS – drums: “Not A Threat Just a Warning has much more to it than the initial punch in the face. It’s more sophisticated in the way it delivers its energy, addressing a familiar feeling of vexation and instantly providing a way of releasing pent-up anger. Calling out the ‘half-arsers’ and the ‘lacklustres’, this song takes no shit from anyone and gives us three minutes of freedom from the constraints of everyday frustrations. I see this song as more of an outlet than something to be consumed; an outlet of emotion and passion that everyone possesses.”

So there it is, that’s pretty clear isn’t it.

This thing is going to leave you ready to take on the world and win people. It’s dangerous, and it’s a long time since I’ve heard anything close to that. The last time a song left me feeling ready to start a revolution was a lifetime ago, there needs to be more music that does that. And look, if you don’t care what the song says, how it says it is enough, the music, the music is hard, it rocks in a way I haven’t heard for a long time.

This is music with heart, music that comes from the gut, music that provokes a physical reaction in you, and makes you think. Go listen now.

The single will be available to buy from 22nd February 2019, in the meantime the band have made a Soundcloud stream available to whet your appetite!

The band are playing a launch gig for the single

FUDGE. / The Varletts / We’ll Be Detectives / Nervous Pills
Friday, 22 February 2019 from 20:00-23:30
360 Club, 229 Woodhouse Lane, LS2 3AP Leeds
Tickets: www.crashrecords.co.uk

The info

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/fudgebandofficial/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/fudgebandofficial/
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/fudgeband/
WEBSITE: https://www.musicglue.com/fudgebandofficial/

The Greedy Souls’ debut single ‘We Will Rule’ is what we might call a statement of intent, a setting out of their stall, it let’s us know what to expect from them. This thing rocks, it rocks in a kinda alternative rock, heavy rock way. But it is loud, the guitars growl, it has riffs to die for and the louder you play it the better it sounds.

It has in its heavy rock sound, the sound of several NWOBHM bands of the 80s that sorta peek out behind that alternative rock thing. The vocals are way cool, they remind me vaguely of somebody but only vaguely and certainly not enough to identify exactly who.

The element of the track that had me hooked is the bass playing, this is powerful stuff, you’re really going to notice this in what we might refer to as ‘the dropout section’ in which vaguely tribal drumming, bass and vocals combine to form something hypnotic. And then after the bass the guitar, the guitar majors on being really bass heavy and growl-y except for the guitar break which is almost subtle, it’s not a huge guitar freakout but it’s all the more effective for it.

OK so the band might be criticised for the subject of this song, it’s basically about them I assume, but hey why in the hell not, they aren’t the first band to do this, and they certainly wouldn’t be the last. The quality of the music is the thing here, and that’s way way up there. Nows the time to board The Greedy Souls’ train, it’s going to be a wild ride.

Oh I love it when bands throw me a curve ball, and Purple Thread have with this release. There I was expecting something all funky punky and then I hear this, the dirtiest piece of swampy mutant blues-rock I’ve heard in a long time. And, I have fallen hook, line and sinker for this track, it sits there daring me to play it again and again, louder and louder, louder so those guitars rip into my ears. Oh fuck this thing is so so good.

But over those growling roaring guitars Liz sings in the most compelling way, she employs that New York punk thing, she has the sweetest blues holler, and there are touches of that oh so bloody pure voice we all know she can pull out of the bag. And although it’s not funky punky, it is funky, boost the bass way up on this thing and there is just the grooviest bass-line going on.

But it’s the guitar on this that’s going to melt your head people, this builds and builds into a maelstrom of noise that is just so addictive. It builds with a slight detour into something that’s not swampy, it’s nearly vaguely poppy, but that’s just something that relieves the pressure before it launches back.

And there is this what I can only describe a breathy interlude that is frankly dirty, which has started me thinking… nope won’t go there, you’ll have to see what you think when you listen to it, which you will, that’s kind of an order.

It has, if I really have to pull out a sounds-like here, the slightest touch of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. But a sounds-like list here just isn’t going to be useful because all I can think of is this punky swampy blues-rock band I used to go see in Camden back, oh way too many years ago to say (wonder what happened to them, it’s so long ago I can’t even remember their name). I don’t know, think early ZZ Top played by a band of desperadoes hyped up on bad drugs and Jack.

This is just… it’s so good that… Words fail me. Do I recommend it, hell yeah people, listen to this now.

The track is available on all major digital platforms including Spotify, iTunes, Amazon and Google Play.