Category Archives: Indie

Alt Rock, Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, Live Music, Live Music Review, New Music

modernlove. At The Sound house Dublin With Support From TOYGIRL and BRIDGES

Indie pop quartet modernlove. had their first headline show with Aiken Promotions last Friday with support from TOY GIRL and BRIDGES.The band presented a firecracker of a show filled with synth pop anthems, R&B elements and jazz flavourings. 

Dublin based alternative band TOY GIRL kick start the night.Wholly mesmerising this band provides a sound filled with delicate intricacies and rich rhythms that submerge the listener in an endless pool of psychedelic hues and rippling undercurrents.With fragmented guitar pines that venture between crashing moments and funk elements to sweet lush indie tones the band layer their set meticulously, gradually bringing you further into a lulled stage of trance.These guys are fine musicians, the gentle and harsh biting elements are perfectly blended to drift and elegantly slip into each other with a majestic tonality that is utterly compelling. Exuding oodles of passion in each track, Hannah Worrall’s emotive crisp vocals are perhaps the most fascinating constant throughout the set. She lulls and broods with soulful tones as the wispy soundscapes caress and flutter around her immaculate voice. With their extremely tight sound, fine musicianship and calming stage presence TOY GIRL are a must see. 

Bridgwater / London band BRIDGES follow. I have a lot of respect for these guys. They provided warm powerful tunes with vigor while battling some frustrating sound issues and rude feedback interruptions coming through the speakers on the night. A set brimming with earnestness and passion the band flood the room with warmth. Ethan Proctor’s vocals glide effortlessly over cosy melodies with a soft rasp and powerful drive as the band flesh out rich bass lines, sweet guitar twinkles and chiming keys between the meaty drum foundation.Members of the crowd dance and request songs as the band play their hearty tunes with charming smiles and a cheerful radiance.With ebullient sing along ready choruses and pretty slick guitar work BRIDGES put on one dynamic and enthusiastic set.

As the crowd rush forward modernlove. take to the stage.This young band is becoming known for their infectious mature indie pop and catchy songs. I wondered how they would hold up in the live setting. As it turns out … pretty damn well. Barry Lally’s vocals never falter through their longest set so far, his vocals manage to become stronger and more potent as the set progresses. The four piece feed off the crowds enthusiasm delivering a vibrant show of bubbling tunes, massive sing along moments and a little banter. ‘Us’ and ‘Bop’ have the audience dancing as the bands illustrious indie pop shimmers and sparkles into the crowd, igniting them almost instantly.The bands sound is at its best live- more edgy and punchy the music surges into the body compelling you to bop along. Cian McCluskey deftly belts those drums like his life depends on it and perhaps he is the puppeteer making us all dance. The wonderful contrast between the fruity sweet guitar jingles and brawny pull on drums creates the perfect fluctuant soundscape to pull anyone up to dance. Their fans are perhaps just as jubilant as the band’s songs pulling strangers from the side of the stage to dance with them as the venue’s floor becomes buoyant and spongy from all the jumping and dancing. The band glance at each other with cheeky smiles confirming the night’s success as Graham Fagan executes glossy guitar riffs and licks with ease while nodding in acknowledgement to members of the crowd shouting his name. Half-way through the set the dancing hasn’t faulted one iota and neither has the singing along. The crowd knew every word, even the rapid tongue twister in ‘Liquorice’ was shouted back to the band with such passion and excitement. Bassist Daniel Rooney lays down that all important fluid elasticity that truly moves the soul with the body. He injects funky elements into their tracks with fruity stings on guitar as the synth elements and honeyed melodies create a candy-floss sweetness that wisps the venue into an ethereal cloud of delight. With each chorus there is an eruption from the audience as their eyes glisten through the glitzy indie pop atmosphere. modernlove. end their set with new single ‘Hard to Tell You’ leaving the crowd shouting for one more tune to which due to curfew the band could not oblige but hey it left us all craving to see another modernlove. show.

For a young band, moderlove. have a compelling stage presence. Their heartfelt, infectious tunes exceed all expectations within the live setting. The Sound House witnessed something special last Friday. These guys have a bright future ahead.   


Author ; Danu

Check Out Some More Images From The Show Below

A Chat With, Alt Rock, Indie, indie rock, Interviews, New Music, Video Interviews

A Chat With : Greywind

We sat down to have a chat with Steph and Paul O’Sullivan from Greywind after their set supporting Palaye Royale at The Button Factory Dublin. We talked about how they craft their songs, living in Killarney  and the buzz the live setting provides.

Watch the interview below


Author : Danu

Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music

Lavengro ‘I want your Girl’

Northern Irish Band Lavengro have just released their new single ‘I want your Girl’. The track has already been gaining momentum, becoming a fan favourite on the band’s current UK tour which has seen the lad’s play cities across the UK including Manchester, Glasgow and Newcastle.’‘I want your Girl’ has already been chosen by “BBC Across The Line” (Northern Ireland’s BBC introducing Show) to be their “Best Song in the World” with the Radio show giving the track an exclusive sneak play on their show on Monday 20th February. It bodes well for the boys who have also been chosen to represent ATL on their stage at this year’s Output Belfast Music Industry.

‘I want your Girl’ is an upbeat cheeky number that pulses with rich groove-filled rhythms and swirling soundscapes as Lavengro creates a lavish, pop-saturated gem. With zesty sting on guitar flickering through the refreshing electronics, it’s a charming infectious slice of indie pop. Smooth vocals glide effortlessly on a velvety melody as the track flows liquidly through the effervescent biting backdrop. The bubbling beat, fizzing atmosphere and sweet falsetto elements interplay with an electronic dance hued chorus beautifully. Lavengro have created a sun-kissed, radio friendly track that is a joy to listen too.

Stream ‘I want your Girl’ below


Author : Danu

Alt Rock, Indie, indie rock, New Music, Rock

The Rezner Wouldn’t You Like To Know’

Four piece The Rezner have released their new single ‘Wouldn’t You Like To Know’ which has already received radio support from the mighty Rodney Bingenheimer at Sirius XM. He joins the likes of Alan McGee (Creation Records),This Feeling and BBC Introducing to give the band a thumbs up.  

‘Wouldn’t You Like To Know’ is a fiery ballsy alternative rock number brimming with mighty punk hype and oodles of adrenaline. With shredding guitars crashing and wiggling through a grooving shimmy bass and punchy drums the track explodes with kinetic vigor. It’s a speedball ablaze with sleek mighty musicianship. With snappy vocals spitting and bellowing over the rock smudged soundscape – ‘Wouldn’t You Like To Know’ is a catchy, powerful anthem and a musical slap in the face of what The Renzer do superbly.

Stream ‘Wouldn’t You Like To Know’ below 


Author : Danu

Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen – Bad Love

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Bad Love

Stoke On Trent, Alt-Pop band Bad Love have released their debut single ‘More Than Friends’ which has already got support from BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 1. This fizzy guzzle of indie pop saturates zesty guitar jingles in effervescent swirls of synths while a spongy beat caresses the background in a buoyant bubble of jubilation. With a nostalgic sweet melody, shimmering indie pop soundscapes this passionate youthful track showcases Bad Love’s honest musicianship. The sun kissed, vibrant yet chilled soundscape as well as the bands meticulously layered arrangement makes for a satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.

About the track Frontman Andy Gannon says : “It’s a story a lot of people connect with I guess . After a break-up it all feels very melodramatic. Every nuance of your relationship gets analysed while you try and piece together what happened. Especially with socials the way they are ; nowadays you ’ re unfortunate enough to see every sun-kissed, party-going, ‘night with the girls’ moment of your ex getting over you.”

Stream ‘More Than Friends’ below 

https://soundcloud.com/thisisbadlove/bad-love-more-than-friends/s-8iIk1


Author : Danu

Alt Rock, Indie, indie rock, New Music

The Pretty Visitors ‘Mystery Woman’

Portsmouth band The Pretty Visitors have released their new single ‘Mystery Woman’. 2019 saw the release of four demos, features on BBC Introducing, and huge headline shows at The Wedgewood Rooms (Portsmouth), The Joiners (Southampton) and Heartbreakers (Southampton).The band kick off 2020 with a live performance on BBC Radio Kent, showcasing six tracks on air, alongside a headline slot at Ice Breaker Festival (Portsmouth), a headline show at Heartbreakers for Independent Venue Week, and shows in London and Manchester.

With delicate guitar work entwining intricate bass lines ‘Mystery Woman’ continues The Pretty Visitors run of rich, mature and compact musicianship. The tense verses chill with a sense of mystery as the band surge the track with moody, luring qualities while the catchy chorus erupts against a vibrant indie soundscape. With punchy drums creating a foot tapping tempo the track coils and twists with a rumbling dark undertone. The band top all this fine musicianship off with a steamy guitar solo soaring above a wonderful meandering bass line before the crescendo. ‘Mystery Woman’ is a sublime, well crafted track from The Pretty Visitors. 

Stream ‘Mystery Woman’ below 

https://soundcloud.com/theprettyvisitorsuk/mystery-woman/s-YqIrr


Author : Danu

Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music

Dark Tropics ‘Badlands’

Belfast noir-pop duo Dark Tropics have released their new single ‘Badlands’ taken from their upcoming debut album, due out later this year.The formation of Dark Tropics was inevitable. Drawn together by a bond that stretched from Ireland to Morocco, musicians Rio and Gerard found common ground in the form of Radiohead, Aretha Franklin and The Velvet Underground.Their creative vision has bore fruit with timeless, cinematic, pop-noir powered by analogue instruments and retro recording techniques.

‘Badlands’ is a melancholic drift of noir pop as Dark Tropics present emotive melodies with twinkling elegant accompaniment and rich moving songwriting. Rio’s clear immaculate vocals lull over a sombre melody as she creates the goosebump-inducing atmosphere that could stop time in an instant. The meandering piano ventures between deep surges to soft crystal twinkles of elegance as the band build and cultivate a mysterious yet moody song with a dreamy dark undertone. With tense strings adding a lamenting and warm nostalgia to the track Dark Tropics have created a moving and utterly mesmerising number that submerges you in a rich delicately swirling soundscape. 

Watch the video for ‘Badlands’ below 


Author : Danu

Alt Rock, Indie, Indie Punk, indie rock, New Music, Punk Rock

Bullet Girl ‘Whacked’

Alternative four piece band Bullet Girl have released their new single ‘Whacked’ produced and mixed by Daniel Fox. Late 2019 saw Bullet Girl refine their live sound with gigs such as co-headlining the first ever TILT at the Button Factory in October, hosted by John Barker of Totally Irish 98fm. They’ve also seen success in supporting bands such as FEET at the Sound House in November. On February 16th they played The Workman’s Club in aid of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. ‘Whacked’ is the first of four songs recorded with Daniel Fox of Girl Band, all of which centre around modern Dublin culture. 

‘Whacked’ is a berserker of mania slapped into a fury of punk as Bullet Girl flesh out their raw unadulterated musicianship in all its blood thirsty glory. Sharp guitars lacerate and swivel through the track in a swarm of turmoil as they shrill and soar through the crashing soundscapes. The bruising drum pummels and batters with relentless stamina while the majestic bass rumbles throughout. There is a masterful balance between utter anarchy and tense suspense as Bullet Girl bubble and simmer for the verses before erupting into the battering assault that is the sublime chorus.

Like burning acid the track fizzes and seethes behind the bristled vocal yelps and exclaims. ‘Whacked’ is a well crafted, precise yet messy conundrum ready to blast from the speakers. This track is going to be epic live. 

Stream ‘Whacked’ below 


Author : Danu

A Chat With, Acoustic Set, Indie, Interviews, Live Music, New Music, Singer/Songwriter, Video Interviews

A Chat With : Isaac Butler

We sat down to have a chat with Isaac Butler in The Library Bar at Central Hotel Dublin. We talked about how he crafts his songs and his inspirations as well as how he likes to conduct his shows. Isaac also performed two acoustic tracks for us ‘Young Forever’ and ‘Good Enough’ check them out below.

Watch the interview below

Watch ‘Young Forever’ Acoustic below

Watch ‘Good Enough’ Acoustic below


Author : Danu

Alt Rock, EP Review, Indie, indie rock, New Music

Palava ‘Singles’ EP

East Manchester indie band Palava are set to release their new EP ‘Singles’. The new singles EP will be available on Spotify and Apple Music on February 21st followed by a huge show with RGM Live at The Castle, Manchester.

‘Singles’ is a blistering collection of Palava’s energetic alternative rock. With ‘Blow Us Away’ taking a strong lead into the EP the band waste no time providing raw guitar strides and punchy drum progressions to create a crashing wall of sound sure to be superb live. Peppering their slick soundscapes with striking bass lines and shredding solos the band build each track meticulously to create blazing crescendos and fist pump power throughout. The sweeter more brooding side to Palava comes in the form of the lamentful ‘Believe’ as the band coat tender lyrics in chiming guitars that twinkle through a sulken backdrop while ‘Next Room’ glimmers with dark undertones and nostalgia.‘Under The Waves’ is a sparkling gem within this EP. The vibrant guitar sparkles through a subtle punchy backdrop as the track flows with a majestic and beautiful arrangement that is charming and well presented. 

Palava provide a tight EP laced in spirited musicianship with dynamic melodies and soundscapes. With wonderful guitar work and emotive moments between the crashing instrumentation its a well rounded EP. Palava are creating and developing their sound beautifully. 

 ‘Singles’ is released on February 21st for more you can follow Palava on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/palavauk/


Author : Danu