Musicians Worth Checking Out As 2012 Gets Into Full Swing
As January comes to a near end (thank god for that I hear you say), we can now gauge roughly (thereabouts…) some new talent that is thawing through the cool exterior of the critics. Also interesting to note that this year ‘old’ is the ‘new fad’. From Lana Del Ray to Alabama Shakes, it’s all about the right ingredients of either vintage rock n’ roll mixed with a Motown style or a take back at 90’s Britpop and some well decent guitar riffs.
Below we take a look at some Irish and International bands on the rise and mention some reasons why:
Alabama Shakes
Taking a step back to the original r’n’b soundings of Motown mixed with proper funk, here is a band that as first glance, you would pass them by and drop a quick dime. But this Alabama-based roots-rock quartet is set to release their debut album, ‘Boys & Girls’, on April 10 via ATO Records.
What’s so special about this band? Singer-guitarist Brittany Howard’s deeply emotive vocals are part of what has helped this band turn so many heads in late 2011. Think iconic soul singers from the 30’s right up to the 60’s and Brittany embodies parts of them all, not to mention her kick ass more than capable of rocking out band.
Check out the video, ‘I found you’ live from WNRN radio – if this is the band live from a radio studio can you just imagine a live show: Awesome!
Then we have the ever-pouting Lana Del Ray, with her seriously oversized lips, luscious vocals and overhyped controversial stories. Is she authentic or is she a by-product of millions of dollars of investment in producing the perfect damsel act? Despite her obvious ‘unnatural stage presence’ and awful live performances, her recordings are actually quite cool. For reasons other than the fact that everyone else thinks so… you should just check her out and make up your own mind. But either way, whether she was ‘born to die’, or born to ‘sing’, she can certainly get peoples attention.
And if all else fails she just signed a modelling contract.
So the never-ending pout has paid off.
Other bands worth mentioning from this sie of the pond include The Wonder Villains who are a quirky mainstream pop outfit who have been on the scene in Belfast for some time, but of late have began cropping up here and there around Ireland and the UK.
Radio in Ireland seems to be backing them at the minute and across the pond on BBC Radio 1 certain dj’s, that have been known to break new acts, are showing the band a-whole-lotta-love on daytime radio! (Which is, lets face, a massive achievement for any new band).
From the feisty ‘Zola’ (yes, its about the footballer and yes they performed in on ESPN), to the current Single ‘Ferrari’ doing the rounds in radio, these guys are surely on the cusp of something similar to them Two Door Cinema Club lads.
They certainly have the look, the sounds and the personalities. You can ‘Like’ them here, but we are sure you will ‘Love’ them in time.
VerseChorusVerse
If you recall the tumultuous instrumental outfit ‘And So I Watch You From Afar’ and their gradual progression onto the Irish Music scene, we think one of its founding members ‘Tony Wright aka VerseChorusVerse’, (who has decided to go it alone and venture into the big bad world of errrr… folk), will be propelled into the spotlight of adult contemporary at some stage this year. With track ‘One Fine Day’ gathering up airtime on the likes of Phantom FM and Today Fm already.
February ’12 sees the release of EP VCV via Third Bar Records.
With a slew of critically acclaimed live shows over him in late ’11, Tony seems ever ready with guitar in hand and a story or two to tell. This time he has a voice and what a voice at that.
A Plastic Rose
Fresh from supporting Snow Patrol in Belfast and London, they are about to release their first single ‘Build from the ground up’ of 2012 from their brand new album, title yet to be announced. Their nu-wave-disco-grunge-old-skool-emo intensity lands them as one of Irelands best up and coming band at the moment.
Tieranniesaur’s self titled, Choice Music Prize nominated debut album was written and recorded DIY style at home by husband and wife Annie and Padraig. It has since received much praise and has topped critics’ and readers’ end of year poles alike. Tieranniesaur despite it originally being a duo has now evolved into a fearsome live band of seven. The extra hands have helped suddenly made this duo a reputable exciting live stage act.
We think 2012 can only get better for these.
Lastly we have Window Seats, again a Northern Irish act who released EP ‘Frozen Bones’ late last year in the true DIY sense of the word; giving it away for free on their bandcamp page in the hope of gathering up some fans. It seemed to work because after posting up the official music video for Local Superhero, a track from the EP, MTV Rocks and Kerrang decided to use the video on their day time and night time playlists, which means the band are currently getting broadcasted out to the masses on some of the coolest Music TV outlets. A mix of Smashing Pumpkins meets Foo Fighters. We think 2012 will be a good year for these guys.
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