The (un)Official Band Break Up Week.

So last week wasn't great, at all really. There's still no sign of warmer weather, my pay packet was minuscule and left right and center bands were deciding to call it a day. If someone would like to explain to me what the hell happened that would be great. I know most people are devastated about the end to emo heartthrobs My Chemical Romance, though there seems to be a lot of conspiracy theories about the split and possible reform? Honestly though, I'm not too fussed, it's always a shame when a group decide to call it quits, MCR just don't really do anything for me anymore.

There's two in particular that I really am feeling pretty glum about however.

I Dream In Colour - Some of you may remember me featuring these guys in a previous Sunday Sound. I discovered them well over a year ago now and have been pushing them ever since, so I really am sad to see they've gone their separate ways. Though, vocalist Richard Judge is working away on his own projects, so keep an eye out for those in the next few months. Read the full statement from the band here.

HARBOUR - Now, it pains me to even write about this split. Many of you will know how much I adored these guys, featuring them in various posts on here. As soon as I heard their single Colder I was completely sold and I've dedicated a lot of time to them. I drove two and a half hours to see them live and frequently played them on my radio show etc. and over the past few months have, on some level become friends with them. I completely understand why they've decided to call it a day, but I am well and truly gutted. I respect them all as musicians and as friends, so hopefully this won't be the last we see of any of them. In the meantime I urge you to go support Chris as he tours around with Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun, maybe purchase a little something from Mike's clothing line Cub Clothing and head down to one of Andy Oliveri's shows.

Aside from these two; Attack Attack (welsh), Tigers Jaw, Our Time Down Here and of course My Chemical Romance have all decided to discontinue. Seriously, WHAT THE HELL GUYS?!

If anymore bands decide to break up in the next few weeks I am going to be one unhappy munchkin.

Any band break-ups you're particularly saddened about? 

Top 5 EP's of 2012!

Okay, I know I did a very similar post on my top 5 albums from 2012, however this year has also seen EP's making an bigger appearance. For bands and artists that are possibly a bit too busy touring, but want to give their music and outlet and keep the nagging fans at bay, EP's are a little teaser for a band's new direction and what to expect from their next full length record. So here it is; my Top 5 EP's of 2012.

1. Ben Howard - Burgh Island EP

Come on, a post like this wouldn't be fit without an appearance from my beloved! I've been a huge fan of Mr Howard since before his debut Every Kingdom was released and along with the rest of the country / world I have fallen completely in love with his smooth vocals that literally make my heart rate beat at an inappropriate level. The Burgh Island EP sees Ben experimenting more with his electric guitar, creating a more haunting and deep vibe throughout. Without sounding to 'emo' stick this on, switch the lights off and lie back on your bed, it's worth it.
Favourite Track: Burgh Island

2. HARBOUR - Morning

I promise I'll stop going on about these guys soon, (I probably won't) but this EP is really, really good. Five tracks, each beautifully crafted with strong lyrical stature and vocal harmonies powerful enough to whip you into an emotional rollercoaster. I recently sent the EP over to a good friend of mine, who messaged me simply saying "it's made me excited about music again", which is just incredible to hear. They're nice lads, who put on a bloody good live performance and are working hard to produce the best music possible. Keep an eye out for these guys in 2013, you won't be disappointed.
Favourite Track: Dear God

3. Alexisonfire - Death Letter EP

The only band ever, of course. 2012 saw us say the real goodbye to a band that soundtracked so many people's lives. I managed to catch them at Brixton Academy for one of their farewell shows and I can safely say no gig has ever made me so emotional. Then this came along, the Death Letter EP, a handful of tracks completely stripped back to piano's and acoustic melodies. Utterly beautiful, it only enhances the question of WHY? WHY DID YOU HAVE TO BREAK UP? Though we shall probably never get the chance of hearing or seeing them again, this EP is a magnificent goodbye. Thank you Alexis, thank you.
Favourite Track: Happiness By The Kilowatt 

4. Morain - Are We Lost

Morain are a fairly new discovery of mine, after catching them on tour with HARBOUR, I got home, checked out their music and was very impressed. Plus the EP is free to download, it can't get much better? If you like bands such as Futures, Kids In Glasshouses and Young Kato, these guys will be right up your street. With their upbeat, catchy guitar rhythms, you'll have the tracks bopping around your head for some time. Go on, take a listen, they could be your new favourite band.
Favourite Track: Animals  

5. Young Kato - Self-titled EP

Cheltenham did well in 2012, not only are my favourite boys HARBOUR from there, but so are Young Kato, a group of lads who's average age is 18. Don't be put off by their age though, (or their hair cuts), the music they make is a perfect blend of indie pop-rock. Signed to LAB Records, these young adults are producing music far beyond their age and it looks like they have a strong career ahead of them. Already creating a buzz around themselves and about to set out on a small UK tour, go catch them live and switch this EP on to brighten up your mornings.
Favourite Track: Drink, Dance, Play

There we have it, my top 5 EP's, does anyone else have some suggestions that I may have missed out? Let me know!

Sunday Sound #5

What day is it? Sunday? Really? I don't even know anymore, working in the wonderful world of retail seems to have completely bemused me and my knowledge of the days of the week has completely disappeared from my brain. The only way I seem to know today is Sunday is from the X Factor and Roast tweets, how horrific? I've had a very busy week, filled with lots of travelling, radio and meeting new people. Of course with a superb soundtrack along the way & this is the band I'm loving right now.

Sons & Lovers

As they embark on a UK tour supporting the magnificent Ellie Goulding, I think it's safe to say this london based band are fully in their element. Though difficult to actually find any information on them, no matter what you Google, this doesn't hinder the fact they are really quite good at making music. I caught them on the BBC introducing stage at Underground Festival in Gloucester this year and after being utterly disappointed by PEACE, these guys definitely lifted my mood. 

Currently they only have a few tracks available for you all to listen to but I can assure you that they are brilliantly crafted works of pop-rock. With pulsating drum patterns and catchy guitar melodies, you'll find yourself hitting the repeat button continuously. Earlier this week they also posted a link on their Facebook to a new track they had recorded called Golden, which is available to download for FREE. Golden is definitely my favourite song by Sons & Lovers, give me a song using the ocean as a metaphor and you have me in the palm of your hand. With lyrics such as "...and I know you love the ocean, where the light is golden, that's where we'll be, where the city meets the sea" you can understand my love for it, seeing as it has an uncanny resemblance to the name of this blog! 

So if you do have tickets to see the lovely Ellie Goulding, then please make sure you catch Sons & Lovers beforehand, they're also playing a bunch of shows at Club NME in London in January so head there for a bloody good evening! 

For Fans Of: Futures, One Night Only, Harbour

Find Them: http://www.facebook.com/sonsandlovers

https://soundcloud.com/sonsandlovers

SPOTLIGHT: HARBOUR

For a band that are on the up, you're certainly not ones to give your life stories away on network sites. So what or rather, who is Harbour?

HARBOUR is a group of five; Chris, Mike, Andy, Charlie and Adam. We started the band about a year ago now. We just got fed up with the musical projects we were involved with at the time and came together to try and build something we could actually be proud of. 

Why Harbour? Is it just a name or are you actually massive lovers of boats?

We named ourself HARBOUR for a few reasons. The first being that it's the British spelling of the word which we liked. (Americans spell it Harbor.) The second reason was it's primary definition which is a safe haven for boats and ships from stormy seas. We see this band as a safe place for our thoughts, ideas and feelings to exist so that made sense. The final reason was it's meaning of hiding things, like, 'to harbour a grudge'. It seemed to fit what our band was to us. 

These days it seems that bands are all popping up from the same locations, however not many reign from the West, coming from Cheltenham do you reckon you could be the leaders in alternative music for the old West Country folks?

haha! There's actually a massively vibrant local music scene in Cheltenham. We're really proud to be from the group of bands, promoters and music fans that we come from. 

You've already had the chance to play shows with FUTURES and The Xcerts, is there a particular show you've played that's really stood out to you guys? Or one that you're particularly hyped about for the future?

Playing with both Futures and The Xcerts was amazing for us. We're fans of both of those bands so we were honoured to be on those shows. I think our favourite show as of yet would have to be 2000 Trees Festival this year. Our tent was pretty much full up and the amount of people who knew our songs and were there to support us was incredible. 

Is there anything, or anyone, that inspires you as a band? 

Loads of things inspire us in different ways. In terms of song writing it's usually inspired by really personal things. I think that's what makes the best kind of songs. We're massively inspired by the bands around us that work so hard to achieve their goals and undoubtedly the people who support what we do. 

What can we expect from Harbour in the near future? Anything exciting you can tell us about?

We're working really hard at the moment on writing and demoing some new stuff. We're excited to be playing Underground Festival in September in Gloucester but right now we're really getting our heads down with writing.

The songs we're working on are the bravest yet and we're really keen to make everything as perfect as we can before sharing it with everyone.

Where can people hear your music and get in touch with you?

Everything we've been able to record so far is available for free from our website which is www.WeAreHarbour.co.uk  and of course we're really active on facebook as well which is www.facebook.com/harbourband

We've just got instagram as well for everyone who's on that. Our username is HarbourBand.