HAPPY NEW YEAR: SW LONDON TALENT TO TAKE 2015

Ah 2015. It sounds rather futuristic doesn't it? Makes me question where all the flying cars and hoverboards are at. Funny how with all the current technological development and medicinal progression, the only way we've figured to undertake the basic daily ritual of brushing our teeth is by repeatedly shoving a paste smothered plastic stick in and out of our mouths. You'd think the scientists of today would have by now gifted us with something a little less...primitive.

Speaking of gifts how was your Christmas? Whether you celebrate it or not, anyone living in the western world would have noticeably been bombarded with Christmas cheer over the past month or so. I suppose it's quite nice though. Despite all that corporate indulgence there's pretty lights and festive food. The likes of Mariah Carey, Wham! and Bobby Helms get their annual spotlight of being relevant -or at least played in the background of every store. Oh and of course the gift giving.

So what did you get? Go on tell me.

Well no, don't tell me. 

It's not that I don't care it's just that I can't actually hear you. Rhetorical questions are just a literary technique taught in year 10 GCSE to give the reader the illusion of involvement in the piece they're reading. I don't know what you got for Christmas. I don't know if you got anything at all.

But wait. Yes I do. Oh yes, as you dear lucky reader have been gifted by the young talent of South West London, England - pretentious plot twist, much?

As the Nativity story goes, Jesus was gifted with three presents (Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh) but Canadian based blog A Music Blog, Yea?  (AMBY) got to the Fighting Cocks, Kingston, SW London -courtesy of Gavin Watson- and gifted you with six brilliant acts for you to watch this 2015.

So who are they?





Sad Culture are a Lo-Fi indie rock band consisting of Harry Singh-Judd (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Alex Noble (Lead Guitar), Zachary Trevitt (Drums) and Connor Anderson (Bass)

The four piece opened the gig in awkwardly cute style from the vocalist "So Umm Yeah, We're Sad Culture" and off they went with their set playing infectiously bob-along riffs. The band led with this sort of adolescent effortlessness yet alluringly calm vibe as the quartet played upbeat melodic tunes in the most chilled way possible. 

That was until crowd favorite "Rad Culture" came on and stylish Drummer and Bassist Zach and Connor danced away to the catchy tune - The boys get five stars for their thrift store wielding aesthetic. Their set came to an end with a beautifully done dark grungy version of  "All I Want For Christmas" really depicting their distinct sound and wrapping up a swell set.  

Check their soundcloud out here.

Next in line was Litsoma, a Teddington based band consisting of Patrick Forde, Glenn Rawcliffe, Jake Hussey and Jordan Lewis. Their genre was hard to pinpoint at first, as their set ranged from sounding like a band coming out of the 90's Seattle grunge scene to having an influence from B-Town bands like Peace and Superfood. In fact one song sounded so much like Superfood's self titled song Superfood that various members of the crowd where actually singing Superfood lyrics to it.

However, there was something quite favorable about not being able label their sound into "ah this is what they are" it kept me guessing what their next song was to sound like and I loved it. Not forgetting their impeccable stage presence of which they got the whole crowd pumped. Overall they turned out to be simply a very good indie/alternative band with a well developed sound in each song which you could imagine much larger crowds singing along to.

Personal faves are songs Control and Wave which are crowd favs too as they sparked off a stage invasion. Do have a click through their soundcloud.

Consisting of Alex Somerville on Vocals and Rhythm Guitar, Harry Hoyle on Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals, Harrison Galliven on Bass and Nicholas Stamper on Drums, Tsar Bomba are indeed something special.

"They've known each other since they where very young" a man told me gripping a camcorder at the front of the stage.  "How do you know the band?" I asked.

"I'm the vocalists father."

"Wait how old are they?" 

"All around seventeen."

Now I added that little factual segment there to emphasize how lyrically and musically well produced this band is considering the fact they are a group of 17 year olds who go school in Epsom.

When you do check out their soundcloud you'll too question how a band that resembles great British indie rock bands like The Vaccines could be at such an early stage of their lives - when listening to their music it sounds like the creation of much older souls. In saying that you could see how the band members had known each other for years as they played comfortably in each others presence, which made the lack of contribution from the audience very disappointing. It is, however, very interesting to see them at the early stages of their musical journey and I'd like to see where 2015 takes them.

  

And finally the ones we'd been waiting for, the big boys, the one and only...

Scoundrel put an untouchable climax to the show. Strenuously taking the stage in their hometown of Kingston, the boys energized the crowd with their meaty riffs from guitarist Keeno and heavy bass lines from Peter Skert. You could see the anticipation in the crowd as they entered; the look of the fangirls in their band shirts, the "oi shutup they're coming on" all put to an end when front man Lloyd Macdonald stood at the front of the stage and directed the audience into circle pits, moshing and parting wall of deaths in his dressing gown and 5 panel cap almost resembling Moses parting the red sea.

Scoundrel get a 10/10 for stage presence, nothing fazed the band. Even when the bassist needed to stop to retune Lloyd without a moment of hesitation pulled up crowd members to rap freestyle with the band whilst they sorted the technical error. And of course the "banta" a clear bond between the members as they interacted with each other and with the crowd.

 "Put your hand up if you wear Thrasher but don't skate."

As if their post hardcore/ thrash infused sound wasn't beefy enough for you songs like 'Blind' have the same political outrage as personal favs Enter Shikari (of which Drummer Harry Parsons repped their band shirt beautifully.) The bands name couldn't represent their sound and style any better.

Scoundrel are definitely one to keep an eye out for and you'll be missing out if you don't seize all their cheap as chips shows while they're still underground.

 Overall the AMBYXMAS show was a perfect show case for some amazing upcoming talents, not forgetting the live DJ sets from Subusco and Stylish Rodent really showing that this 2015 South West London has invaded the music scene.

(photo's courtesy of Questionable Motive Skateboards)