Showing posts with label Thumpers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thumpers. Show all posts

Thursday, 31 July 2014

Villiers



Ralph's been keeping an eye on Lancashire lads Villiers for a bit now and, with the imminent release of a Double A Side single (You're Not Alone/Nowhere Left To Run) as a follow up to the excellent 'Dancer', this seemed as good a time as any to spread the good musical word. They're very much in the same mould as London electro boys Thumpers or Resonate from Sheffield, but with a bit of a mean and moodier edge as shown on 'Dancer'.







With thanks to Andy Parsons - Photographer
The new tracks continue with that edgier feel and 'You're Not Alone' has an almost 80's anthemic feel to it, probably my favourite of the double A-sider. 'Nowhere Left To Run' is a touch softer and reflective but none the less listenable. The band seem to be getting much more comfortable in their own electro-plated skin.







Last summer saw Villiers break onto the UK festival scene with a slot at BeatHerder alongside Clean Bandit, TOY, Temples, Chic ft Nile Rodgers and Groove Armada. This year they played their first headline show at Manchester’s Night and Day, lauded as - 'sealing their reputation as one of the region’s most exciting and innovative new bands'. 










Villiers are...brothers Ben and Daniel Earnshaw plus long time friend Daniel Buckle. The new single 'The Dancer' is out now on...

Itunes/Spotify/Amazon. 

Upcoming gigwise, you can catch them headlining in The Castle Hotel on September 27th alongside Jade Ann, Tigers of Pluto and President Ray-Gun. Don't miss it!












Saturday, 31 May 2014

Ralph's Top 10 Blogged Band Chart - 31.5.14

Visit Ralph's profile on Pinterest.

Ralph's Pinterest
                                                

                                                    OK bands you know the score.....

the more hits your blog gets by the fans..... 

the higher you go.....

So Tweet it, Facebook it.....

and generally expose yourself.....






Now Mr Snuggles and me have been sitting with our heads down counting the hits on each bands blog to see who's got which place.  

So here it is.....

The Top Ten Blogged Band Chart .....










No 1..... Thumpers 



Ralph normally concentrates on unsigned UK Indie however when he heard London Alt Pop Duo Thumpers (Marcus Pepperell on vocal, guitar, keyboards and John Hamson Jr. on vocal, bass, drums) are going to be playing just round the corner from the kennel at Central Library, St Helens in May it was time to take a look and a listen. They announced the release of their debut album 'Galore' on Sub Pop records and it's been receiving no small amount of critical acclaim and heavy airplay (yes Ralph's given them a spin on Radio KC) including on Radio 1's Huw Stephens show.






No 2.....Book Group



It's been a hectic time in the kennel for new tunes and it was with great interest that news of the new EP by Book Group (due for release may 17th) appeared in the inbox. Ralph took a look last year when they released the 








No 3... The Backhanders




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It's always nice when a hard copy of someones latest release drops through the letterbox, as is the case when; courtesy of the enigmatic Mr Peeps, the niftily designed CD just out by The Backhanders in the style of a vinyl 7" single arrived and its look fits in with the two tracks contained within.









No 4....The Actions



Normally Ralph only blogs unsigned UK Indie, but now and again some mainstream goodness drops in the kennel that peaks his interest and when 'Indefensible', the new EP by London based Alt/Rockers The Actions arrived it was time for some rule bending (Their first album 'Real' was licensed to Nikita Music, a Brazilian record label and released in Latin America).







No 5..... United Fruit





The four piece Alt Rockers United Fruit, who formed in 2009 describe their style as - 'fusing noisy, fast-paced, discordant, post-punk with catchy melodies and crunching riffs'.






No 6.....Cormac O'Caoimh


cormacocaoimhIt's second time round for Ralph having a listen to Irish singer/songwriter Cormac O'Caoimh. A year ago he'd released his second solo album since leaving The Citadels called 'A New Season For Love' and this time round it's 'The Moon Looses It's Memory' and he's bringing us 14 tracks of love and regret, hopes and dreams, cars and girls, (OK, OK,  I've run out of descriptive song titles).






No 7.....KynchinLay


The new KynchinLay EP (launch night May 9th) has just dropped into the kennel, giving Ralph the chance to have a listen in advance. The Liverpool trio have been working hard to provide a bigger sound and with this excellently produced EP ('Dogfathers' and 'Leave Me Alone' were mixed at Motor Museum)








No 8.....The Phantoms 




The Phantoms are Colin Simpson on Vocals and Rhythm Guitar, Colin McKillop on Lead Guitar, Peter Stewart on Bass and Backing Vocals with Brad Young on Drums. They began with local gigs in their home town of Broxburn, and have since branched out into Edinburgh and Glasgow, landing gigs at venues such as Cab Vol, The Electric Circus, The Liquid Rooms, Maggie Mays, Sneaky Petes and Pivo Pivo, getting them noticed on the way by Jim Gellatly et al








No 9....Wullae Wright




Wullae Wright is capturing the same raw intensity of vocals that an early Robert Plant did.  Not only that his almost psychadelic guitar on the track also has the same haunting tones found on early Zep tracks.  An old rock soul in a young body.









No 10.....The Darlingtons


THE DARLINGTONS - Rotations
Now it's no secret that Ralph's a fan of Sheffield band The Darlingtons so it's with no small amount of glee that I heard they've just released their second single as an autonomous unit and it's another gem. 'Rotations' bursts into guitar driven loveliness as they bring us more of their well conceived, lyrically strong, Indie music.












Tuesday, 15 April 2014

Thumpers



Ralph normally concentrates on unsigned UK Indie however when he heard London Alt Pop Duo Thumpers (Marcus Pepperell on vocal, guitar, keyboards and John Hamson Jr. on vocal, bass, drums) are going to be playing just round the corner from the kennel at Central Library, St Helens in May it was time to take a look and a listen. They announced the release of their debut album 'Galore' on Sub Pop records and it's been receiving no small amount of critical acclaim and heavy airplay (yes Ralph's given them a spin on Radio KC) including on Radio 1's Huw Stephens show.



 GALORE by THUMPERS




The harshest criticism I can throw at the album is that it's 'celebratory' - none of your mean, moody Alt Rock here - but if you're looking for an anthem for summer in Ibiza then 'Galore' is for you with its infectious drums and catchy vocals. If you're a Bat For Lashes, CHVRCHES or especially a Friendly Fires fan then you're in for a treat. 









They're embarking on a mini UK tour (having just completed a string of dates throughout the US and Europe) from May 1st which includes the aforementioned and forward thinking Central Library in St Helens so Ralph'll be nipping along to see what all the Thumpers fuss is about! Support on the night is the most excellent Manchester band The Lottery Winners.





  • 01 MAY 2014 Sound City Liverpool, UK 
  • 21 MAY 2014 Green Door Store Brighton, UK 
  • 22 MAY 2014 Scala London, UK 
  • 23 MAY 2014 Hare & Hounds Birmingham, UK 
  • 24 MAY 2014 Leadmill Sheffield, UK 
  • 28 MAY 2014 Cluny Newcastle, UK 
  • 29 MAY 2014 King Tuts Glasgow, UK 
  • 30 MAY 2014 St Helen's Library St Helen's, UK 
  • 31 MAY 2014 Epic Studios Norwich, UK