It’s a Saturday night nearing the end of March 2018. A crowd has gathered outside the Shepherd’s Bush Empire. The night’s star turn is Jim Bob, one time of Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine, here to play an acoustic solo set to a sell out crowd. Figures stroll up and down in the cold. A typical Saturday night pre-gig scene, you might think… It’s the norm on these occasions to wander past those with flyers and not make eye contact, but tonight, something is different. A flame haired woman is dishing out glossy pieces of paper and yelling “SALAD IS BACK ON THE MENU!” in a way that’s impossible to merely shrug off.
Tag Archives: indie
Listen to ‘Seven Years’, the new single from The Yada Yada Yadas
In April 2018, UK indie band The Yada Yada Yadas made underground waves with their second single ‘Woke Up Strange’. [Listen here]
The Steve Lamacq championed band have a few shows coming up over the next six weeks and they’ll also be promoting yet another single, ‘Seven Years’. The track has already been referred to as “nostalgic” and just one listen should tell you why. The three minute nugget is loaded with a world of guitar jangle that almost instantly transports the listener back to the mid 90s. It could be part of the soundtrack to your summer! Take a listen below…
SPIELBERGS – Distant Star EP
One of the best things to come out of 2018, Spielbergs are the best band from the 90s you’ve never heard. Their debut EP ‘Distant Star’ is also the first release on a small UK indie label, By The Time It Gets Dark, and between them, they have a potential classic on their hands. This EP is a real adrenalin hit for anyone who loved shoegaze and goth sounds in the 90s; a sharp reminder – if needed – that they do make them like they used to. It’s the kind of release that could make similar bands raise their eyebrows, give a collective shrug and throw in the towel. This might sound like mere hype, but frankly, ‘Distant Star’ really is that good.
Listen: The Yada Yada Yadas ‘Woke Up Strange’
Some things make you feel good instantly. The Mats Wawa EP released at the beginning of 2018 is such a thing. This second single by Durham’s Yada Yada Yadas is another. It’s probably no coincidence that both releases are brimming with a retro quality. Continue reading
REAL GONE GOES OUT: The Wonder Stuff – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London 31/3/2018
It’s sometime after 10.20pm and the downstairs of the Shepherd’s Bush Empire is completely rammed. There’s barely any room to move. It didn’t seem this busy when Carter USM‘s Jim Bob played his brilliant sold out show here just a week earlier, but that’s probably due to more people being in the balcony. The majority of people may be downstairs for this second London double headliner between The Wonder Stuff and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin tonight, but that has the effect of adding plenty of atmosphere. Whatever the crowd logistics, it’s impressive the Stourbridge lads can still pull such a huge crowd on their second night in such a large venue.