SHAWNIS AND THE SHIMMERS.

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Every once in a while I find a band that makes me want to pack up everything I own (including my cat but she probably owns me) and move to the place where a band I’ve fallen in love with are. One listen of Shawnis And The Shimmers and I am hooked and mentally escaping to Richmond, Virginia to follow them around and become their biggest fan. However, I can’t do it so I’ll do it from afar and from my mind.

Shawnis And The Shimmers make the kind of DIY style music that makes you disregard everything you’ve ever heard. There’s this beautiful basement band feel to their sound- this infectious raw style that will just stay with you on a loop for hours on end. I’ve definitely fallen in love here. There’s also the side that makes me wish I had an ounce of musical talent so I could make songs like they do. Instead, I just write about what I love instead because I can just about do that! There’s this slight Rockabilly sound going on, but for me it’s the muffled vocals and that fuzzy sound of theirs that I just adore.

They’ve got a couple of releases up on their Bandcamp page, and of course they leave you wanting more. Every strong band does that. If I was someone who couldn’t get to sleep at night (for the most part I can) I’d be blasting their sounds out through my headphones every night around 2am until my body finally felt like all energy had been zapped out of me, and my brain had calmed down a bit. This band make the kind of music that you just want to have constantly playing- treat ’em like your own personal soundtrack to your daily life- even if you’re doing mundane tasks.

They released the Wasteland Demo a year ago and a few months later in October, they released the Shimmer Shake EP. I love both records, and they both sum up their sound perfectly. Unapologetically loud and the kind of Queer Punk band I can’t get enough of. They make you want to trash your room, trash someone else’s room even! Their sound is so liberating, and in a way reminds me of New York Dolls and how they weren’t afraid to really push themselves with their sound. But there’s also hints of Riot Grrrrl flowing through. In short, this band are where its at! Imagine growing up in a town in the middle of nowhere then all of a sudden you hear this band! It’d change your life wouldn’t it! You’d finally believe there was a way out.

Wasteland Demo record is ridiculous. It’s so good it should be a crime. It’s got a gnarly sound to it that makes you feel like you’re hearing the future of something that’s yet to be named yet. What I love about this record in particular is that they make you fee as if you’re watching them in a garage or basement rehearsing these songs but at the same time- having this unfiltered sound that is so raw that it is already perfect this way. A chaotic noise-fest which is just a delight to the ears. You’ve got songs like Beer Jacket and Don’t Wait Up are underground classics. You can easily imagine every single one of their songs being played in queer dive bars that exude freedom in all ways possible, and everyone just screaming the songs back at the band- covered in sweat and beer. Maybe not even your own but who cares!

There’s hints of bands like Dead Boys in some of their songs like Wasteland, and that’s all you could ever want from your new favourite Punk band, right?! I don’t know if Shawnis And The Shimmers may ever make it to the UK to tour, but in my mind when I listen to them- I am front row singing the songs right back at them. Their sound is pure magic and you just can’t get enough of it.

CROCODILES: Degeneration.

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It has finally happened! Crocodiles have FINALLY dropped some new material which means- a new record is coming! 7th April to be precise kids! It’ll be released via Lolipop records, and the first single from the record- Degeneration is a perfect introduction to their new record.

If you’ve ever read anything I’ve written, you’ll know just how much I love and adore this band. They are a band that have been there for all the good and bad. A band that just know how to constantly create masterpieces. Underrated and exceptional. I just love love them.

Degeneration picks up where 2019’s Love Is Here left off (not including the covers record they put out in 2021!) Their new record will be their 8th full length record (again, not including the covers record but you can if you want!) Even though it picks up from Love Is Here, I can hear some of their early sound in this song- that rugged and distorted sound; the sound that I fell in love with many, many years ago. They have such a distinctive sound and style, and that applies vocally too. They’re a band that just make everything alright. Their poetic lyrics are timeless and their sound is how you’d want your dream band to sound.

The video to Degeneration is simple but you’ll also see Brandon and Charlie’s faces melt. I reckon that’s a strong sign for how great the new record will be- it’ll melt our faces off. I cannot wait! It’s only 2 months to go, but in the meantime- I’ll be keeping Degeneration on repeat.

Check out the video below:

Upside Down In Heaven will be released on the 7th April via Lolipop Records.

WORMBOYS: Smalltime.

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The North of England is home to some wonderful bands and musicians. Too many to mention, but today I’m going to focus on Leeds based Wormboys.

How do you describe their sound? Can you pick up any influences? What makes them standout? There aren’t enough hours in the day to describe them, but I’m on my lunch break at work so I have limited time but I’ll do my best to make this make sense!

Smalltime only has 3 songs on it, but don’t let that small detail put you off. There are hints of 90s Grunge on this record (the song Worm reminds me a little bit of Something In The Way by Nirvana in some parts) but Wormboys are a band that are confident in their sound and know exactly how they want to sound. There are 4 of them in the band, and each of them are just remarkable at what they do. It may only be a 3 track EP but those 3 tracks show you exactly what this band are made of.

There also elements of the Riot Grrrl movement on this record, and I think it’s most apparent on the euphoric Tree, which closes the record. I don’t feel like I’m listening to a band from 2023 when I listen to this record. I feel like I’ve been thrown back to the early 90s in the midst of all the greats such as Garbage (best band of all time), Bikini Kill, Hole, Babes In Toyland. Wormboys have such a solid sound and with one listen of this record I can confirm that the chorus of Tree will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day.

Wormboys are the noisy Queer band I’ve been looking for; there’s no other band out there that sounds like them. Now, I know this contradicts what I’ve said above about the 90s sound but there’s no current band around that has this sound like this. I just love how care free the sound is and you really pick up on this on Something Pretty. They make the kind of music I wish I had when I was in college and secondary school- trying to find my way. I made to adulthood but god knows how! You’d definitely expect to hear their music in a Student Union bar that has a questionable sticky floor along with questionable drinks on offer. There’s a lot of fun in their sound and a lot of depth. You can’t help but be in awe of Jake and Ruth compliment each other on the drums and bass. You’ve got Sop and Harry on vocals/guitar, and their vocals together are nothing short of heavenly and again, you really feel this on the song Worm.

This is only their second EP but it sounds like a band who have been at this for decades. Everything about this EP is worthy of your time and attention- the songs are just effortlessly slick, and that lo-fi sound, and that DIY ethic attached to it really comes across. If this record moves you, then go back and listen to their other stuff- it’s as equally mind-blowing. When you play the songs through headphones, you can really hear the sound fully and truly appreciate the lyrics and songs in general. I highly recommend playing Tree as loud as your ears can stand through headphones; just so you can really pick everything that’s going on in this song. There’s a lot but by no means is it overwhelming. If anything, it’s comforting. The loudness and the tender moments on the record are exactly why I love this band, and why I’ll probably be obsessed with this EP. The shifts in moods on the songs and the way the band just compliment each other with their own styles and sounds is just an absolute joy to listen to.

The band are heading out on a small tour starting this Friday: (please come to Manchester!)

Jan 27 Wharf Chambers Cooperative Club, Leeds
Jan 29 The New Adelphi Club, Hull
Feb 06 Little Buildings, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Feb 07 The Hug and Pint, Glasgow
Feb 10 Rad Apples, Dundee
Feb 11 Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh

The EP also comes out this Friday, and I’ll end this with a gorgeous quite from Ruth about touring, which I think is so important: “It’s been life-affirming to headline shows around the country, consistently warmly received by crowds of queers and weirdos who are angry and upset about all the same shit as us.”

GHUM: The Deaf Institute, Manchester 17th January 2023.

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I’ve been lucky enough to see GHUM three times now, and I can 100% confirm and swear on my cat’s life that they just get better every single time. Their debut record is one I religiously play every single day. The atmosphere, the sound, the emotion- everything on this record is divine. So of course, they are going to channel this perfectly live, right? Of course!

On Tuesday night they supported Big Joanie at the Deaf Institute- a venue perfect for their sound. The first time they played Manchester was at the hottest venue in the history of venues- The Castle Hotel. How no one passed out from heat stroke that night I don’t understand. They played Fac251 last month and that too was exceptional. The Manchester show was something else. With it being a support slot, the setlist wasn’t as long as you’d hope for but what they gave us perfectly showed us why they are one of the best bands around- on record and live.

This was the last night of the tour and to make it even tougher- it was Vicki’s last show with the band. Whether you’ve seen them live or listened to the record- you will know just how an incredible drummer Vicki is. She is going to be missed a hell of a lot, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Whoever they have next on drums will be so lucky to play alongside such incredible musicians and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

As I’ve said many times before when writing about GHUM- they just have this sound that blows you away. For so many on Tuesday evening, this may have been their first time seeing the band and judging by how the crowd reacted to the songs- I think they have definitely got a new bunch of fans behind them. They are the kind of band that make you wish you were in a band but at the same time- you just want to spend your days constantly at their shows. They have this magical sound that truly comes alive when you’re at their show. The songs take on a more powerful meaning and start to mean more to you with every listen, and every performance. They put so much of themselves into their shows, and it’s just an honor to watch them and see them grow and grow.

Songs like Perro, Rivers and Some People are blasted out and are performed in a way that makes you feel like this is life or death- you feel on edge in the most wonderful way possible. GHUM have this way of taking you into this strange, dark and gorgeous world where no other band has ever dared to. You can’t help but let them suck you in. Over and over. The sheer intensity in every song is just divine. Laura has this gravelly tone in her voice and this strength (and it’s apparent in certain songs) and you feel that she belts out every single word the way she NEEDS you to hear them. Backed up by Vicki beating the shit out of the drums, MJ being the slickest bassist you’ll ever see and Jojo being the best guitarist in this country- it is obvious that GHUM are the most thrilling band around and you can see why a band like Big Joanie took them on for the ride during this tour. The power both bands have is insane and something that doesn’t happen all too often. These bands are rare. They are important and will take you off into their own world where whatever you see outside of your window doesn’t matter in those moments.

For me, GHUM have that Seventeen Seconds (The Cure) energy in every single song- the hypnotic sounds and eerie vocals, and the poetic lyrics. I honestly don’t think really small venues are going to be able to contain them for much longer and the show on Tuesday captured that perfectly. Nobody stood still and all was okay in the world during those 30/40 minutes.

NoSo: Stay Proud Of Me.

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Last summer a gorgeous debut record was released. I’m late in writing about it, but I have been listening to the record almost religiously for a few months now. Every listen just brings me such joy and even though my heart is probably with loud and rowdy sounds- NoSo’s voice is that necessary calm I need.

Representation matters and to have a non-binary singer echo the thoughts you can sometimes carry is such a relief. It’s more than a relief- it just eases the weirdness you can sometimes feel. That’s just my own personal experience, and a difficult journey I was on but I’ve reached a place of certainty now. These songs will take the doubts and fears you have and ease them in ways you didn’t think music could. In ways you didn’t expect a stranger could.

The record opens with the angelic Parasites and goes gently into the heartbreaking but beautiful Suburbia. This is one song I constantly have swimming in my head- the amount of times I’ve sang this in my flat when no one is around and usually when my cat is trying to sleep is ridiculous. I think Mary enjoys it. The line, “stay the same without me” is so haunting. The way in which they sing this is so delicate and you can hear the nostalgia and hope there. It’s just such a mesmerising song that’ll stay with you.

The next one up is David. Again, this is another that I’m constantly singing. NoSo wrote this song after they had a dream that they were a white man in a church pew. You can hear the longing in their voice of wanting to do the things that someone else does, and to be a mystery and serene. NoSo- if you by chance see this, you are divine the way you are but you probably know this.

I love and cherish the honesty on this record. I love how open NoSo is about their sexuality, their gender and who they are. This is the kind of record I’d want to have heard when I was growing up. That wish to be someone else so someone of your own gender would want you, to work out the feelings you had and what they meant, to let go of shame sooner rather than later. There’s a connection I feel to the songs that I absolutely cannot put into words. Not because it’s personal but because I simply do not have them. I’m just so grateful a record like this exists. I am so grateful that someone like NoSo exists and makes the kind of music that I can fully relate to.

To pick a favourite song off this record would be entirely foolish of me but at the moment my obsession is with Honey Understand. There’s something about this song that sounds like it would be perfect for a film. The chorus is beautiful, and throughout the whole song NoSo’s vocals sound darker than on other songs- not in a morbid way, but in a heavier way. I just think it’s a masterpiece. It reminds me a little (musically) of Sutphin Boulevard by Blood Orange. Which as we as we know, is one of the greatest songs ever made. It’s the bass. That bass and dreamy guitar just takes me right back to that song. You get hazy sunset colours in your head when you listen to this one. There’s no way I could get tired of NoSo’s voice, and this song fully justifies why.

The openness on this record is something that just needs to be treasured. The way they are so honest on Feeling Like A Woman Lately is beautiful. I’ll leave it at that because anything I write about this one will not do it justice. Just take in the honesty, take it all in. Man Who Loves You represents hearing someone you are fond of being spoken to badly by someone who apparently loves them. I think there’s an element to this where NoSo is a superhero and takes the person away from the ill-treatment and gives the person the love and respect they deserve.

The record ends with the gentle Everything I’ve Got, and the way they sing the chorus will just melt you. There’s this innocence to the chorus], but also a curse at the universe. Listen to it closely. It’s just a beautiful song that will break your heart in the most gentle way possible.

For me, this record is everything a Queer kid needs. It’s got the comfort, honesty and reassurance. These are NoSo’s words right from the heart and you cannot help but feel them right in yours. The instant connection and love I have for this record blew me away when I first heard it, and now I can’t go a day without playing the whole record in full. It is just a gorgeous work of art and I’m so glad that this record exists. We grow up in our own ways and we become the person we deserve to be in our own time- this record really expresses this. NoSo’s truth can be anyone else’s truth, and that’s why I have so much love and respect for this record.

NoSo will be playing two UK dates in March. 9th at The Lexington, London and 10th at YES (Basement) here in Manchester.

THE BATTERY FARM: Flies.

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I’ve been listening to The Battery Farm’s debut record for well over a month. I had something written, but I kept going back to it. Over and over. Then I decided to delete it and start again. Everything I wrote was done in haste and a record like Flies deserves so much more.

The record has been years in the making. It is a labour of love. It is blood, sweat, tears and fears. It’s brutal and gentle. It is vital. It’s the heartbeat of society. It’s one of the most important records of the year. Bands like this are rare and when you find them, my god you love them. Everything they release will always leave you in awe. You’ll feel every emotion possible when you listen to this record. There is hope on this record and there’s also despair. There’s fear and uncertainty but there’s also fight and determination.

From the title track/intro through to In The Belly Of The Beast and right into Everything Will Be Okay. The whole record is just a firepit of hard work and passion. There are zero compromises on this record; it’ll make you feel less alone. It’ll make you take every ugly feeling you own and make into something worth feeling and carrying around. That weight on your back will feel lighter once you’ve played this record. It truly hits you on the opener FLIES. The way in which Ben’s vocals sound possessed is just out of this world. That fury and passion is throughout the whole record from all of them.

The more I play this record, the more I’m in awe of the band. There is no bad song on this record but I wouldn’t go looking for that anyway. Every single song has the potential to be screamed loud in stadiums but screaming the songs back in small sweaty venues holds the same amount of power- if not more! It’s a proper Northern record. A band from anywhere else could not make a record like this- this record is Manchester and it makes me proud to call this city home. Wooden Spoon Number is euphoric. I mean the whole record is, but this one stands out at the moment for me.

Everything Will Be Okay will rip you apart. I struggle to listen to this one just because of how close to the bone it is. It’s so beautiful and vulnerable. If you’ve made it this far in the record without crying- this will be the one that breaks you. I’ve had to stop writing a few times to pull myself together listening to this, but it’s fine to not have it all together isn’t it. Why does it matter if you do or don’t? It’s such a reassuring song and the way you feel like the band are singing this to you and only you is so powerful. I wonder if they know how influential they are? Honestly, this is the kind of record I hope some lost kid in school finds and finds the band that speak to them, and they find their way. Maybe they’ll be a writer, maybe they’ll form a band- but this band will be the root of their influence. You can’t listen to this record and not be moved to do something. Anything.

The second half of the record (Poet Boy onwards) is loud. Unapologetically loud. The whole record is but it goes up a level on the second half. You can’t help but be stopped in your tracks like, “okay this is serious now. Really serious.” Honestly, they just know how to make songs that steal a part of your soul and become like the blood in your veins. I’m basically giving you all the descriptions of how important the band are and how their words are just so vital. I can’t think of another band who are creating music like this.

DisdainGain is a proper teeth kicker. Don’t play this if you’re scared of every losing your hearing. Bloody hell! The way this goes right into it is just insane. INSANE. It’s one of my favourites. I change my mind with every listen but this one is constant. I love the rage in the song. The rage in every element of the song- not just the vocals. Everything feels like a protest on this song and it’s unreal. I adore it. I love the unfiltered rage on this song. If any song sums up what the band are about- it might just be this one. I Am A Man shows vulnerability and stigma around men talking about their mental health. No one should ever (regardless of gender) feel like they can’t talk about how they feel. But unfortunately, it happens. I hope someone hears this and it gives them what they need to find the strength to just speak out and speak up about what’s going on.

Flies is a poetic Punk record from the gutter and poured into the universe for everyone to listen to. Everyone to pay attention to. To feel something, to stand for something and to not give up. This band are what we need. They just have something that stops you in your tracks, and before you know it- you’ve become obsessed. Nothing wrong with that.

I feel like there is more I could write about this record, but the main point is- this record is a lifeline. It’s urgent. It’s important. It’s what is needed right now. It’s what we’ve always needed. It goes beyond being a debut record. Way, way beyond.

SLANT.

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Whilst at work today, I accidentally found the loudest band from South Korea. That band is SLANT. They are proper rowdy. A real hardcore Punk band with a lot of bite and a lot of energy. Short punchy songs that make you feel like you’ve discovered Minor Threat or Bad Brains for the first time.

Now, I know next to nothing about the Punk scene in South Korea but if we are going by how SLANT sound- then it’s pretty safe to say that it’s a decent scene. A scene that you want to completely immerse yourself in. Except, I’m in Manchester and they’re in South Korea so I’ll have to mentally transport myself there. It’s a good job that SLANT make you feel like you’re right there in Seoul with them. They have got this ferocious sound that I’ve not heard in any other band before.

See, with bands like SLANT- you feel like you’ve heard a proper loud band before. But once you hear SLANT everything will completely change. You’ll think everything you heard before them sounds like ambient background noise. SLANT is something else. I have no idea how they do it, I don’t know who they are or their story but I know this- they are incredible.

When I was listening to them at work today (no one was around so I was playing them pretty loud) I felt like I was in some basement Punk venue in Seoul watching them. I totally felt I was right there with the band. They’ve got 3 releases on their Bandcamp page, and I think their latest record came out in 2021 and it’s called 1집 and it’s a record that is not for the faint hearted at all. It’s for those who crave the loud, the out there and the unheard of. Their sound is hard to pin-point and that’s just another part of the charm.

There’s 5 of them in the band, but you feel like there’s a huge gang of them. Their sound is like a secret weapon. You don’t mess with this band at all. Will they ever tour the UK? Who knows. But if they ever do, I’ll make sure I’m at the front taking it all in. A band like this and with this energy don’t come around often. They are made up of members from other South Korean Punk/Hardcore bands, so knowing they have created music similar to this before makes you quickly realise how powerful the Punk scene is there. They’ve released a couple of EPs/demos prior to last year’s debut, and the stuff they’ve put out leading up to their debut is ridiculous. You’ll be hard pressed to find anything else like it.

Take some time out and watch this live set from 2019. It’s mind-blowing!

If like me you can’t stand Christmas songs, then do yourself a favour and check out SLANT. Play them as loud as you physically can- and maybe push yourself to go louder. Scream along and become immediately obsessed with one of the most exciting bands around.

THE VACANT LOTS: SOUP, Manchester 3rd December 2022.

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Finally going back to SOUP to see a band I absolutely adore after a tiring week was just what I needed. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen The Vacant Lots live or how many times I’ve written about them. They are a band that I hold very dear to me- they’ve got me through hell and back. They just have something about them that makes you feel like you’ve escaped to another world. Music is there to be relatable and to give us some escapism.

The Vacant Lots open their set with the euphoric Departure.  This makes you feel like the band are about to guide you into their world with this one- the perfect way to open their set. Departure has such a soothing energy to it; it does make you feel like you’re ready for takeoff.

The set is a blissful mix of old and new- showing us exactly why they are one of the best bands you’ll ever see live. The set has all the greats; Mad Mary Jones, Fracture and 6AM, and the thing that just leaves you in awe is how talented Jared and Brian are. Brian is like s Scientist on stage and Jared is the Punk who holds the guitar like a weapon. No blood was shed this time (if you’ve seen them play live before, you’ll know what I mean!) The only downside was that the venue wasn’t packed. It rightfully should have been packed. It should have been a sweatbox, but those who were there evidently loved what they were witnessing.

I’ve got a handful of bands I could happily watch play live forever and not get bored of them- The Vacant Lots are one of them for sure. Every single time I’ve seen them play I’ve just been left in awe of what I’ve witnessed.

The way 6AM goes right into Mad Mary Jones was ridiculous. The whole set is slick, but this transition was something else. Noise after noise. My hearing right now isn’t great but I’m not bothered about it- you expect it from their shows. Especially if you stand by the speaker!

Never Satisfied is a prime example of Jared and Brian’s songs are sheer poetry with a bite. There’s parts of the set where Brian unleashes hell on the cymbal and drum, and Jared styles out annihilating the guitar in a way that you rarely witness. They take their turn in vocally delivering the songs, and the chemistry they have is evident on record and it’s truly something else when you see it live.

For me, The Vacant Lots are just exceptional live and the show tonight fully showed that. There may have been less than 20 of us in the room but they played their hearts out, and as if they were playing to a stadium full of people. That’s when you know a band truly have it. They’re just a pleasure to see live and if are ever given the chance to see them- take it.

GHUM: Fac251, Manchester 18th November 2022.

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There are bands that you could watch live countless times, and you’ll never ever get sick of seeing them. Last night was only my second time seeing GHUM, and I think it was their second time playing Manchester (I might be wrong there, sorry if I am!) They played the legendary venue that is FAC251, and I can safely say that no other venue in town could have suited them more (maybe Soup Kitchen.)

GHUM’s debut record, Bitter came out in June this year and not a day goes by where I’m not playing it. It’s a perfect record, and a stunning debut. How does their live show favour? Exactly the same! GHUM are a band that you just have to see live. Their music was made to be witnessed in a live setting; especially in dark basement venues.

Although their set was cut short slightly- it did not change how amazing the gig was. Every single song was performed in a way that made to be heard in this setting. A small, intimate venue. Even if someone was being a bit overzealous with the smoke machine with the first few songs! Honestly, GHUM are a band that you know will keep getting better and better with whatever they do and whatever sound they have. Songs like California and Some People rip right through, Perro is electrifying live. Deceiver and Bitter was out of this world. Bad Brain is played with this fire and urgency that sticks with you well after the show is over. The whole set is an exploration of how and why they are one of the most exciting bands around. You cannot compare their live shows to anything else- it goes way beyond anything else you may feel from hearing them on record. They create this world that you just want to live in. This dark yet comforting world.

There’s this energy they all have that just lures you in, and every song they hit you with makes you feel like you are listening to them for the first time. For me they have got that same presence as the likes of TwoFiftyFour, Crows, L.A. Witch and Warpaint (basically just named bands I love and adore but y’know!) They make you wish you had even a tiny fraction of musical talent. GHUM are the best at what they do, and if you ever get the chance to see them live- you have GOT to take it. They make it seem so effortless. I mean Jojo is one of the greatest guitarists I’ve ever seen, Vicki is one of those drummers that just leave you in awe and Marina is such a slick bassist. Laura’s vocals will stay with you- she’s got this gentle tone but when she delivers songs like 1000 Men; there’s this beautiful growl to it that just stuns you.

Like I said, this band are the best at what they do. Nothing and no one comes close. The venue may not have been totally sold out but that didn’t matter at all- they made you feel like it was just you and them. Nothing around you mattered. There was an older couple near me, and they were dancing and moving in ways that most of us could dream of. For me, they summed up the euphoria that live music gives you and that GHUM gives you.

There are bands that you discover over time that become a massive part of you. You look at your record collection, and you wonder what it’d be like if you never heard them. There’d be a gap for this band, but you’ve yet to find them. I hope that anyone who ever listens to GHUM or discovers them for the first time feels like they’ve found the missing piece to their music jigsaw. I’ve not been to many gigs this year, but I can definitely place last night’s show up there with one of the best. Compared to their show in Manchester from 2019, you can definitely see and hear the growth in confidence.

GHUM are an absolute joy to listen to and when you see them live, that joy quickly turns to euphoria. The kind of band that makes you want to disregard your daily responsibilities and just follow them on tour. Hopefully it won’t be 3 years before they next come back to Manchester, but it was most certainly worth the wait!

GRAVE GOODS: Tuesday. Nothing Exists.

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This record came out just over a month ago, and I had something written in my drafts. Looked over it, and deleted it. How I felt about the record then and how I feel about it now is different. Not by much, but there’s a difference. This isn’t a bad thing; I’ve had the record on repeat and can safely say that it’s up there as being one of the most flawless and interesting records of the year. It’s everything you love about music, and more.

If you’ve never listened to Grave Goods before, then you are in for a treat with this record. Grave Goods are made up of members from three bands that I’m a huge fan of: PINS, Girls Names and September Girls. If you mix up their sound and influences, and style- then you’ve clearly got a perfect band haven’t you. This is such a fantastic record from that slick sounds to the way the vocals are delivered. It’s got so much excitement to it; there’s this pure thrill you get from every listen because every single listen feels like you are being exposed to something new every single time. I reckon the ideal setting to listen to this record is on the top deck of a double decker bus, in the pissing rain and watching the world go by.

These seven songs are powerful, and songs like Story are a perfect listen on a grey and rainy day in Manchester. The whole record is a huge comfort, and with just seven songs the band completely and utterly show you what they are made of. The songs are digs are what society expects, thoughts, feelings and unspoken narratives. It’s just a phenomenal record, and I honestly feel like it’s a record that just needs to be heard. There’s an urgency to this record that just gives you a kick up the arse.

Listening to this record full whack through headphones or in your room is such a great sensation. You can’t help but take in the lyrics- Miles is a perfect example of this. The storytelling on this is just divine; it’s dark and humorous. The whole record has a dark sound but the lyrics/vocals add this gentleness. It works so well. It’s a heavy record, but it’s done in such a way that leaves you in awe. That’s all there is to it really.

The record ends with Die, and although it’s probably a morbid title for some- it’s a bloody lively song. The last minute of this song is euphoric and it just makes you start the record all over again. That’s when you know you’ve found a record that’ll you keep going back to over and over. You’ll use it as a reference. You’ll compare everything you now hear to this. Every song on the record fits perfectly. They sound as if they are made for this moment and whatever Grave Goods create next will be another masterpiece like this. You just know don’t you, when you listen to a band, and you know that regardless of how much music they put out, it’ll always be mind-blowing. They evidently a band that could never ever make a shit record. They’ve got this ideal sound that I just want to constantly hear. I bloody love this record.

Tuesday. Nothing Exists. Not only is the title of the record great, but you know how Tuesdays are probably the most boring day of the week? This record adds excitement. Play this record every Tuesday on repeat to add some spice to your life. It’ll make waking up less exhausting.