Superfood

Band Blues
(noun) / Ba:nd:blu:z / Definition:

The emotional after effects occurring as a result of attending a really good live performance / festival / gig / concert of a favorable band/performing artist. Symptoms include; feelings of melancholy within seven days of the event, sudden surges of nostalgia when hearing songs of the artist recently seen, uncontrollable urges to Google or YouTube videos of the performance and/or an overall "I wish I could relive that performance again" mentality.

Yes, I did just make up that definition. Well someone had to didn't they? No doubt I'll soon be writing a firm letter to the publishers of the Oxford Dictionary. The people need to know. The poor suffers of what I am currently going through must understand, they are not alone. Every woman, man, cat and fangirl - every gig goer must unite together to support each other in tackling the inevitable after effects of seeing your favorite band live and realizing you are no longer there anymore. Band Blues. Not to be confused with Blues Band. If you could just donate £3 a month...

Okay I'll stop now.

But in all seriousness it's been five days since I ventured round to Camden Town, London to see brummie band 'Superfood' headline as part of NME's 'New Breed Tour' and I still can't listen to a single track off their debut album 'Don't Say That' without mentally reliving that beautiful night. I can't listen to any of their tracks to be honest. You know a band has given a bloody good show when you find yourself regrettably skipping their tunes on your iPod as bobbing along to their music by yourself on the train is incomparable with the live show you've attended and you know it'll just leave a bittersweet taste in your mouth, unsatisfied and craving for more. So before I babble along any further, let me introduce you to what my I seem to be 'hyping' about.

'Superfood' are a Birmingham based indie alternative four-piece who have shared stages with personal faves Peace, Wolf Alice and TOY. Their infectious melodies somewhat resemble a britpop college rock band with a sprinkle of indie twangy riffs from the lead and rhythm guitars.

This band have a lot going for them and it's not just because of the unique vocals from Dom, contagiously bob along beats from drummer Carl, super cool swagga carried by afro baring lead guitarist Ryan, (Who totally didn't wink at me as I made heart shapes to him at the London gig last Tuesday) nor the Talent of insanely gorgeous crowd surfing bassist Emily. I believe it's the overall need for a band like 'Superfood' - that craving for a 90's indiepop revival that has not quite been fed in the current alternative rock scene. Have a listen to the song 'Melting' attached above -of which I obviously did not stand on stage and pour an entire bottle of water over my head at the approval of Dom for at their Camden show.

Speaking of their Camden performance, the band put on quite a show. Despite the unsettling dripping ceiling and stage invasion, the quartet rocked venue Dingwalls, London on 11/11/2014 as part of NME's introducing tour with fellow Scotsband 'Honeyblood' (Featured in part one of my two piece band review trilogy.)

Despite the celebrity appearances in the crowd,
Press were -of course- snapping me enjoying the show.
(Top Right, pink ponytail, arms in the air.)

The 500 capacity venue filled up shoulder to shoulder. Watching in the crowd with me where the likes of singer Chloe Howl, Peace frontman Harrison Koisser and Swim Deep lead singer Austin Williams - now if that doesn't anticipate this band making it big like other B-Town Bands; Swim Deep, Peace and Jaws, I don't know what does. The show -to be frank- was insane and I definitely will be seeing them again. Do have a scroll down and check the awesome foursome out.

Bassist Emily Baker at Dingwalls, Camden 11/11/2014

(Photo creds to Corrine - Talented band photographer, my local uni 'Kingston' photography graduate and all round lovely lass. check her out here. Music Videos courtesy of YouTube)

Remember, Remember the 5th of November

Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, Treason and Plot;
I see no reason,
Why the gunpowder treason,
Should ever be forgot.

Slightly disturbing annual re-creation of Guy Fawkes' execution. Family Fun!

And with that unnecessarily dramatic opening of a poem repetitively recited to me today, I wish all my fellow Brits a Merry Guy Fawkes night. To all who are unaware of this age old British event, Guy Fawkes Night (More commonly known as Bonfire Night) is an annual commemoration celebrating the failed attempted assassination of our past King James I.

Most countries when in the event of an attempted assassination of their ruler tend to -you know- arrest and trial the convicted . But not us Brits. No we don't just stop there, we then go and celebrate the failed attempt year after year - in fact, 409 times today to be precise- and of course it wouldn't be a proper celebration of Mr Guy Fawkes trying to blow up our king without burning a scarecrow-like model in Fawkes' image in a massive bonfire and lots and lots of fireworks.

So as I sit here behind my desk, waiting for my quiet Suburban London neighborhood to turn into a smokey battlefield bombarded with hipsters wielding sparklers -trying to capture slow shutter speed photos of them spelling things out in the dark to post on Instagram- and the never ending thundering of the night long fireworks display, I thought why not share a band with a very relevant title, and a just as rambunctious persona.


**Drinking Game: Take a shot (of caprisun if you're underage) every time I say Pop-Punk**

 Fireworks are a Pop Punk / Alt Rock band from Michigan, U.S.A. The band have been around since 2005 and have that strong 2000's pop punk feel that I've so dearly missed since last year's Vans Warped Tour. The sextet (simply a group of six musicians but I solemnly get to use the term that gave me many frowned upon giggles in year 8 -7th grade- music class) stay true to their name in that they're energetic and boisterous.

The song above is off their new album "Oh, Common Life," released earlier this year, and bares a strong Fall Out Boy resemblance which can be unnerving for some but alright if you just want to listen to some good ol' Pop Punk.

Actually that more or less sums up the band as a whole. An overall good pop punk band, but obviously following all the generic Pop Punk codes and conventions meaning you wont be expecting anything ground breaking from them soon.

There's nothing particularly wrong with being just a pop punk band though as, I quite like the genre. And even if you're not the pop-punk and pizza skate life 4eva type, Fireworks are pretty likeable so do have a listen to some tracks off their old album too (attached above and below) and check them out for yourself.