Photo: Cody Pulliam

Having already racked Spotify streams in their millions, pop troubadour vaultboy has been steadily building a name for himself over recent months. Today sees him return with the new video to his latest single Rocket Science. Sharing a little more about rocket science, he explained: "I was in the “talking stage” with this girl who I really liked but it felt extremely difficult to shoot my shot: a feeling most people have felt. I wrote “rocket science” to tell that story, my story, about knowing you both have feelings for each other, and saying “what the hell, let’s do this!” After all, it’s not rocket science. " Take a watch for yourselves below.  

 f: https://www.facebook.com/vaultboysongs/

With the crowd suitably warmed up following Happy Monday's taking to the stage, timely marking 33 years since the two Factory label mates toured together back in 1988, Tim Booth, donned in a cosy jacket and oversized beanie hat shuffled out in his usual unassuming manner. For some, it was presumable their first show back post-lockdown, so it was understandable the atmosphere inside was already teetering towards its limit.

"We’re all going to die, that's the truth, quit measuring time by money and youth." cried booth to quickly set the mood bringing home the sobering message on new album track Zero. It's a typical stance from the Manchester based outfit to toy with their tongue-in-cheek lyricism and it's one they achieve to great effect. 

With a career now spanning 16 albums it's safe to say the setlist was packed with track's across the decades with the bulk in support of their recently released record 'All The Colours Of You'.

From Miss America's soft intimacy, played behind a giant white sheet that was draped in front of the band, to Beautiful Beaches and its rush of energy that filled the echoing hall, the band's dynamic sound and rich history truly come to life in a live setting. 

For anyone who's been fortunate enough to see James before will know all too well no performance would be complete without booth's convulsive dancing and tonight the crowd got plenty to feast their eyes upon as he jolted around with arms and hands flailing.

Eternally grateful for the crowds adoration, Tim's reaction throughout is earnest. It's clear to see the appreciation the band have for their fans, reciprocated in huge cheers and smiles throughout as they churned out 2 hours of live music.

Saving the classics to last, the band rounded up the main event with Getting Away With It (All Messed Up), before returning for an encore with Seven, Laid and Sit Down. Sadly my favourite song Sometimes was omitted from the setlist but who can blame them with so many profound and poignant track's to choose from - I'd rather not be in charge of curation. 

With the band's new music fitting so seamlessly amongst the tried and tested back catalogue, it's safe to say, as long as James keep rolling out the euphoria and adrenalin rising anthems, they'll long be playing to packed out arena shows.

*****

Back with their first brand new single in five years, last night saw Bloc Party return to their post-punk roots with their stunning new single Traps. Built upon it's driving basslines and charged up percussion comes a brilliant re-emergence for the band as they let out their pent up energy to great effect in an outburst of nostalgia that meets their forward thinking logic. Speaking of the new single, Bloc Party singer, songwriter and guitarist Kele Okereke says: “From the moment we wrote ‘Traps’, we knew it had to be the first thing people heard from this album; playing it in soundchecks on our last tour before it was finished and hearing how it sounded in those big rooms and outdoors.” Take a listen below for yourselves.

Alpha Games tracklisting

1. Day Drinker

2. Traps

3. You Should Know the Truth

4. Callum Is a Snake

5. Rough Justice

6. The Girls Are Fighting

7. Of Things Yet to Come

8. Sex Magik

9. By Any Means Necessary

10. In Situ

11. If We Get Caught

12. The Peace Offering

To celebrate the release of Alpha Games, Bloc Party will be touring the UK and Europe in May and June 2022, including a homecoming show at London’s Alexandra Palace. It will be their first tour since their huge 2019 shows, where they performed their seminal debut album Silent Alarm in full across the UK, Europe and North America.

Tickets for the tour are available to pre-sale customers at 9am on 1 December, before going on general sale at 9am on 3 December via http://gigst.rs/BPa.

Bloc Party 2022 UK/EU Tour Dates
Tuesday 10 May - La Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
Wednesday 11 May - L'Aéronef, Lille, France
Thursday 12 May - Cirque Royal, Brussels, Belgium
Saturday 14 May - Store Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
Sunday 15 May - Tempodrom, Berlin, Germany
Monday 16 May - E-Werk, Cologne, Germany
Tuesday 17 May - TivoliVredenburg Ronda, Utrecht, Netherlands
Thursday 26 May - O2 Academy 1, Birmingham, UK
Friday 27 May - Rock City, Nottingham, UK
Saturday 28 May - Alexandra Palace, London, UK
Monday 30 May - O2 Academy, Bristol, UK
Tuesday 31 May - O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, UK
Thursday 2 June - O2 City Hall, Newcastle, UK
Friday 3 June - The Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK
Saturday 4 June - O2 Academy, Leeds, UK

f: https://www.facebook.com/blocpartyofficial

Having quickly become a band that I can so readily post about without having to hear beforehand, purveyors of the finest guitar music we've had the pleasure of listening in recent times, Leif Erikson, have today returned with their brand new single 200 Times. With their natural ability in churning blissfully layered pop music, the band once more deliver another elongated head nodder that's packed in rich melodies and personal lyrics. And frontman and songwriter, Sam Johnston, considers the lyrics to be some of his most personal yet: “They hark back to when I was working as a chef, at the same time as avidly making music, and in true culinary fashion probably burning a little too much of that midnight oil… I was pretty physically and emotionally drained at times but had to really push through. That said it was a period of tremendous fun, friendship and creativity. They also have a mystical quality which I like to think has become part of my lyrical style. I was inspired by Yoko Ono’s fluxus score concept which is a really interesting artistic tool. The line “a thousand suns setting in the sky” is a nod to Yoko.” Take a listen for yourselves below. ‘200 Times’ comes ahead of the band's sold-out show at London’s Electrowerkz this evening and upcoming tour dates.

 

Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach | 26 November

Southampton, The Joiners | 28 November

Brighton, Hope & Ruin | 29 November

Glasgow, King Tut’s | 1 December

Huddersfield, The Parish | 2 December

f: www.facebook.com/leiferiksonband

photo credit: Julian Burgueño

Announcing their debut album 'Letters To Nobody', due out January 28th 2022, Scruffpuppie return with another stunning effort in the monstrous Wondering How. With its unassuming intro that quickly dissipates in to a roaring, percussive heavy chorus, the track once again serves as a longing cathartic release that comes rich in hope and optimism. About the new song JJ says,“‘wondering how’ has a combination of both elements from all of the songs on this record, switching from being soft and pretty, like “paint,” and then going towards more of a rock ballad, like “assignment song.” This song talks a lot about the aftermath of my addiction, and the awe-like state that getting clean put me in. How did I get this far? A year ago I was nodding off sitting at my guitar trying to tune it correctly, and now I'm in Los Angeles recording some of the most amazing art I've ever created. “wondering how” is a perfect example of the hope I have begun to incorporate in my writing.” Take a listen for yourselves below.

Letters to nobody Tracklist:

1. the morning where i woke and rode again (intro)

2. assignment song 

3. october 14 

4. wondering how 

5. feel better (ft. stagehoax)

6. the distance 

7. we miss you even though you're here

8. paint 

9. a lesson from the moon 

10. silly ideologies 

11. lost and found 

12. carelessness 

13. sometimes (ft. Phoebe Bridgers)

f: https://www.facebook.com/grimtweakr

Photo Credit: Blackksocks

Taken from their highly-anticipated new album Homesick - out 14th January 2022 on Polydor, Sea Girls made their very welcomed return with new single Hometown ahead of the weekend. With its rapturous choruses and infectious melodies it adds another mighty fine bow to their well endowed selection, effortlessly reaching anthemic levels of euphoria.“‘Hometown’ is one of the most important songs I've written. It defines my philosophy.” says Henry. “While writing songs for the new album, I had this intense love for life. Hometown is about people I knew growing up that aren't around anymore. I'm saying ‘I see you’ - it’s a nod to them. I'm grateful for life and I am not going to jeopardise it in any way.” Take a listen for yourselves below.

f: www.facebook.com/sonicseagirls

Girl in red returned over the weekend to unveil her stunning new video to recent single I'll Call You Mine, taken from her critically acclaimed debut album if i could make it go quiet. Take a watch for yourselves below.

f: https://www.facebook.com/girlinred

Photo: Nick Grennon

New Zealand alt-pop outfit Yumi Zouma have recently returned with their brand new single Mona Lisa, the second single to be lifted from their as yet untitled forthcoming new album due next year. "Mona Lisa’ came to us gradually over a long period of time –so it's story has changed and shifted, developing new relevance with each new phase of our lives", guitarist/vocalist Josh Burgess explained. “It's a song that ruminates on conflicting, shifting uncertainty –of wanting someone that maybe you can’t have –of uncertain boundaries, of confusing interactions, misunderstanding, yearning. Trying to forget an obsession –or shifting between losing all hope and giving in to the obsession –lured back by the excitement and promise –the moments of feeling so alive. The terror and joy of a big crush” Take a listen for yourselves below.

f: www.facebook.com/YumiZouma