On The Up: // Skaters

After being named 'Everything we wished The Strokes still sounded like', It's impossible to not be at least interested in hearing New York's finest recent export Skaters. After forming in early 2012 when they swapped early demos and song ideas between eachother, the band consisting of three original members:Michael Ian Cummings (Singer/Songwriter),  Noah Rubin (Drums) and Joshua Hubbard (Guitar) released their debut EP 'Schemers' , which was composed of five tracks including fan favourite title track 'Schemers'.

After establishing themselves as 'ones to watch' by NME in late 2012, the trio have spent most of 2013 playing as many shows as possible, and amping up hype for their debut album 'Manhattan', which is due out late February 2014 on Warner Bros. Throughout the past year they've played support slots with a host of acts ranging from Swim Deep to Deap Vally, and also a variety of festivals, including spots on the Festival Republic Stage at Reading and Leeds festivals. Their live shows are fantastic, they generate a real energy that I don't see many bands doing nowadays. They also get 'lad points' for smuggling me into one of their 18+ shows by claiming I was their brother.

Their soundcloud is host to a selection of their songs, the first of which is their debut single on Warner Bros, entitled I Wanna Dance (But I Don't Know How). The song kicks off with a hooky bassline before drummer Rubin smacks the snare and the track launches into a behemoth of jagged guitars as frontman Cummings screams the title of the track. The song (I presume) is about attempting to woo a female via some slick dance moves, but unfortunately lacking in the slick dance moves department. B-Side Armed is also available, it provides a much slower, angrier rant about Americans showing off their guns.

Also on their soundcloud is their most recent single Deadbolt. Kicking off with slower, sneery vocals and fast strumming by guitarist Hubbard, it is the chorus that makes this song so great. Frontman Cummings pleads 'Won't you give me one more tryyyyyyyyyy?' as the track behind his voice explodes into a colossal mix of angry percussion and frantic riffs. The track is awesome and certainly got me and a lot of others very excited for debut album Manhattan.

Listen to their (brilliant) tracks below
Written by @charliepizza x x

Find them here:
Facebook: /skatersnyc
Twitter: @skatersnyc
Preorder Manhattan (c'mon) HERE

On The Up: // Superfood

If you're an avid follower of the 'West Madlands' music scene (formally known as B-Town), then I imagine there's no way you haven't heard out about Brummie band Superfood. Formally named Junnk, the band has been trailing in the footsteps of other bands like Peace but are poised to firmly establish themselves as Birmingham's best new band.

After secretly signing a record deal with Infectious Records (Alt-J, Drenge, Temper Trap), the band finally announced their love affair with the label via twitter, which was to be met with praise and congratulations from all.  The band, consisting of frontman Dom Ganderton (Vocals, Guitar), Ryan Malcolm (Guitar), Emily Baker (Bass) and Carl Griffin (Drums) secured multiple support slots with fellow Brummies Peace, as well as garage-psychers Splashh, before embarking on their first headline UK, which spanned a mighty 22 dates across the country. Since then they have impressively headlined a sold out show at Camden's 200/220 capacity Barfly, capping off a successful year for the band.

They racked up a large number of support slots during the period in which they had absolutely 0 material online, and their reputation was built solely on their energetic live shows. They debuted self-entitled track 'Superfood' back in April, and have snowballed since then. Superfood have a physical 4 track EP entitled 'MAM EP' planned for release on 3rd March 2014 on Infectious Records, which will be available both digitally and on vinyl. Two of the tracks featured on the EP can be streamed through their soundcloud page, or bought on iTunes if you feel like supporting the artist.

Currently, their soundcloud is home to three songs. The first of which is debut track 'Superfood', which has racked up 55,000 plays in its 8 months online. The track leads with fidgety guitars before frontman Dom makes claims about the colours of the fridge being oh so bland, and due to his lack of friends, has resulted to talking to leaves. But it's when the chorus kicks in, the guitars transform, and Ganderton snarls 'You're always hungry' the song really reaches it's pinnacle in quality.

Apart from demo TV that was been put up, and then recently taken down from their soundcloud (which will now feature on their MAM EP), there was no activity till late September, when they posted debut single Bubbles as part of a double AA single. The song kicks off with jagged guitars and progressive percussion before the band collectively sing 'You always get away with words' as the track cartwheels into a swirling pit of riffs and furious drumming.

Finally is the other half of the AA single, Melting. This is personally my favourite Superfood song and probably one of my favourite songs of the year. The bouncy 'probably-shouldn't-work-but-it-does' drumming and higher pitched vocals set this apart from Superfood's other tracks. The song is all about taking some time off your deadend job and and getting away from it all. Chorus 'You're melting away' repeated somehow hooks in your mind, you'll be unable to dislodge it for days.

Listen to/find Superfood below.
Written by @charliepizza x x 

Find them here:
Facebook: /superfoodjunk
Twitter: @superfoodjunk
Pre-order Bubbles/Melting single (out tomorrow) HERE
Pre-order MAM EP (out 3rd March) HERE

On The Up: // Circa Waves

When you have to use a fake alias on your debut gig to keep pestering record labels away, you know you're doing something right. This was the case for Liverpool based indie-rock quartet Circa Waves, who were forced to perform under the name Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet to keep keen talent scouts at bay. The infectious feel-good tunes Circa Waves are currently banging out are very reminiscent of early The Vaccines (think Wreckin' Bar and If You Wanna), and as such have already signed a record deal with Transgressive Records (home to Foals and a host of other acts).

When member Kieran Shuddall wrote debut demo 'Young Chasers' alone in his bedroom and uploaded it to his unknown Soundcloud, he never knew what was coming. The catchy psych-pop banger stood at only two minutes seven seconds, but it was enough for Liverpool to go crazy over. The song exploded in popularity, even apparently gaining endorsement from Elton John. Shuddall then scavenged for local musicians who would go on to form the current lineup of Circa Waves, now consisting of Shuddall on vocals, Sam Rourke (bass), Sian Plummer (drums) and Joe Falconer (guitar). Securing support slots on Swim Deep's recent tour, and a crazy spot on Two Door Cinema Club's Blackpool Empress Ballroom show's lineup in December, it's clear these boys are pretty much the definition of 'On The Up'.

Their Soundcloud currently holds two gems. The first of which is Get Away, their debut single on Transgressive. Having been online for just over three months they've racked up a mighty 20,000 plays and regular airtime on Zane Lowe's show on Radio 1. The song begins with jagged electric guitars and furious percussion before the song trips into it's chorus. 'I can't get away if I wanted to' jeers the frontman,  perhaps referencing the alleged 'endless' pestering from over-keen record labels. 

Second and unfortunately last is Good For Me, which forms the second half of their double AA side debut 7" single (out tomorrow on Trangressive, pre-order link below, go buy it!). This is where The Vaccines resemblance really shows. Much like The Vaccines, Circa Waves seem to have perfected the 'two minutes of breakneck-pace jumpy indie rock' vibe, with two minutes twenty seconds of snarling guitar hooks and cheery vocals providing a solid second half to their debut release. Listen to their two songs below.

Written by @charliepizza x x

Find 'em here:
Twitter: @CircaWaves
Facebook: /CircaWaves
BUY THE DEBUT 7" VINYL HERE

On The Up: // Childhood

Out to prove London is capable of putting out good new music, come hot boyband Childhood, best known for 'making tunes and/or making moves'. Recently signing a record deal with House Anxiety (the label with which they have released their two singles to date: Blue Velvet and Solemn Skies) and also covering the front of the NME with their cheeky chappy faces, it's clear these boys mean business.

When they aren't busy drinking in the pub I work in, or busy living round the corner from me, Childhood, consisting of Leo Dobson (vocals, guitar), Ben Romans-Hopcraft (vocals, guitar), Daniel Salamons (bass) and Chris O'Driscoll (drums) enjoying touring with close friends and fellow Londoners Palma Violets. Currently embarking on their second tour supporting PVs will see Childhood play to the 2,000+ capacity London Coronet.

Debut single 'Blue Velvet' dropped nearly a year ago on limited 7" vinyl and digital download, with the original release date of the single on 28th November 2012. The track is a beautiful swirling 4 minutes of ticklish guitars and playful percussion as Romans-Hopcraft wails 'I feel for you son', the icing on the cake as the songs tumbles into another one of the several hundred different choruses throughout this mighty debut release. 

Childhood's second single came in the form of Solemn Skies, released as an EP on 10" vinyl and digital download. The song starts with marching band-esque drumming and layered prickly guitars before the frontman gets intimate with lyrics such as 'Take me higher girl' and 'Does it hit your heart when I touch you that way?'. After this brief seduction we're launched into a psych trip as Ben cries the title of the track, before coming to a climax of swirling synths.

The London group are currently working towards a debut album due for release sometime in 2014, and if every track feels and sounds as good as what we've heard so far, then we're in for a treat.

Listen to their two singles below!

Written by @charliepizza x x

On The Up: // CURB

Where to begin with CURB, eh? The fact that they were greeted on their debut live show with masses of applause? The fact that their demo 'How are you now?' is the most played song in my iTunes library? Or the fact that those glasses look totally killer with that shirt. You can probably guess where these lads are from...obviously Birmingham. Where else could you find a band so small yet so good? Plus of course don't forget that charity shop look that seems to be working for everyone nowadays.

CURB comprises of Tom O Ryan (vocals and guitar), Lee Booker (bass), Sam Hunt (drums) and Joe Booth (guitar). When they aren't busy fucking up people's houses when they play house party gigs, or singing happy birthday to Georgie onstage, they'd reportedly love to fuck with the tv on. This of course being a line from an untitled song, which has become a sort of catch phrase between CURB fans.

Their only online material comes in the form of demo 'How Are You Now?', and what a good song this is. So good in fact, as mentioned before it is the most played song in my iTunes library. The tune kicks off with a pounding bassline, before O'Ryan asks; 'How are you now?'. The song then jolts into a brilliant swirling mess of fuzzy guitars, as the frontman sneers 'I wanna waste your time, just like you wasted mine'. Towards the end of the track, the saying is repeated over and over, like a revenging mantra, all the while it is also screamed in the background by another member.

                                   (I wasn't lying when I said it was my most played song)

So if you haven't already, stick some CURB on. Turn it up loud. Fuck with the TV on. Waste somebodies time. I don't care what you do as long as you're listening to this bloody song (which can be played just below here).

https://soundcloud.com/curbsaysmile/how-are-you-now-demo

Find CURB here:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurbBand
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Curbtheband?fref=ts

Written by Charlie (@charliepizza) x x

On The Up: // Babypink

Oh what's that? You thought B-Town was over? You couldn't be more wrong.

The 'first generation' of the B-Town bands may have passed (Swim Deep, Peace etc) but the streets of Birmingham are evidently still littered with talent. Take newly renamed Babypink for example (formally Sugar) who have taken the twitter world by storm. With snarling hooks and passion dripping riffs already present in their very first demos, you know these lads are brewing up something special.

Following in the footsteps of their predecessors, Babypink perfectly encapsulate the 'been-put-through-a-washing-machine-then-stumbled-through-a-charity-shop' look, which has evidently proved especially popular with the ladies beforehand (see @fuckmecavan if you needed further evidence). Babypink have also embarked on recent shows with Jaws and Spector, solidifying claims of a crazy live presence, though what else could be expected of a band with just energizing and chaotic songs?

First of their two demos is Feeble, a slowly building triumph.  An eerie, slow start to the track slowly mounts to a sudden outburst of heavy guitars and sneering vocals.  The track reaches a climax of swirling riffs and the chorus almost being shouted by this point. A brilliant track throughout, utterly jaw-dropping to think this is their debut recording.

Second, and last (at the moment) of their demos is Petrichor. This track is amazing, the lead guitar rips it's way through the opening of the song like a lightning bolt. The frontman yelps 'We don't need your conversations', the conversations which they certainly have attained by this point, because honestly how can you not be talking about these lads right now?

Listen to their demos right here

Written by Charlie (@charliepizza)
#FuckItBlogLifesARisk x x