Crystal Seagulls

Following him (Jameson) was going to be a tough act whoever did it, even harder if you are a young band with only an EP to your name, but this too is Crystal Seagulls’ big chance and and they are here to take it. They bill themselves as being a London band, but singer John is a local lad and he and his bandmates attack the show as if their lives depend on it. The fact they play “Helter Skelter” by The Beatles fourth song in perhaps shows a lack of material, but there is certainly no confidence deficiency to go with it. Bouncier than puppies on vitamin tablets, Seagulls have a talent that needs to be slightly more harnessed, but it is talent on all the same. “The Stroke” is trashy fun, and ending song “Toetapper” lives up to its name. Crystal Seagulls are a young band to watch, because with a touch more focus they could do the indie-rock crossover thing quite nicely. -

Crystal Seagulls are a four-piece indie rock band based in London. Consisting of Jim (vox/rhythm guitar), John (vox/bass), Elz (backing vox/lead guitar) and Ben (drums), 2014 is the year when they plan on really making their mark on the music scene and what better way to start than with their fantastic debut EP which was released earlier this month.

Formed in 2012 their sound is a blend of elements of iconic sixties rock with the attitude, spirit and mood of 21st Century popular indie. Influences such as Bob Dylan, The Jam, and Oasis are felt in the music but the way everything is put together defines them as a unique band. The EP consists of four tracks which could easily form a huge part of your summer soundtrack. Full of quirky pop beats and sun-drenched guitars, each track is as catchy as the last and sticks in your head for hours. ‘Time’ is a particular favourite from the collection, which merges summery elements with a huge rock interlude midway through. For another dimension to Crystal Seagulls make sure you check out ‘Toetapper’ which is a rock n roll anthem in the making.

The band have performed a fair few gigs all over the country, including big named festivals. In 2013 they played The Big Top stage at the Isle of Wight Festival, where their music was used as the soundtrack for the entire weekend. 2014 so far will see them playing throughout London as well as playing this year’s Live at Leeds festival in May. We can’t wait to check them out! -

Write drunk; edit sober” are words attributed to Hemingway without credible source, but I’m more interested in the statement’s meaning than who actually wrote it. The notion of writing drunk and editing sober theorises that there are two sides to creativity – the optimistic trail full of colourful ideas and the cynical criticism that finds its flaws, mistakes and methods to improve them. Combining the two ought to create something impressive, right?

But there’s limits to every philosophy, and sometimes you’re just too drunk to write. This (may have) happened when I first saw Crystal Seagulls perform at the O2 Academy in Birmingham (10th June 2014) supporting Rival Sons. As luck would have it, the boys invited me to their Gloucester show the very next day, giving me the opportunity to see the boys again – this time with a clear head and open mind.

Before long I found myself at the venue, standing by the stage, eagerly awaiting songs from this London-based band. They started abruptly and loudly, waking the audience up and making sure everyone could feel the music as much as hear it.

Between every song lead singer John Armstrong and guitarist Jim Lawton thanked the crowd sincerely for being there; it was their night as much as it was ours. This was not some small, local venue, but a large hall filled with music fans wanting to hear something new – I think they liked what they heard.

Mixing up the set with old and new songs, the boys played with cheerful confidence to a welcoming crowd. You can tell that the Crystal Seagulls love doing the live shows as their dancing left little to be desired. Guitarist Elliot Whitty had the sassiest moves on stage whilst the others could be seen posing with their instruments and playing their hearts out. Even Ben Heliczer could be seen giving it his all on the drums.

Ending the set with “Toetapper” was an excellent decision, as that song captures the mood of the night with its ferocious sound and loud attitude. It’s a song that features on the Crystal Seagulls EP (creatively titled EP – 1, which I reviewed here) and it proves to be a hit with the party-goers and fans alike.

The Crystal Seagulls have refined their sound into something heavier, stronger, and more confident over this last year, improving their chances to make it to the top. Their charming good looks don’t hurt, either. With support from BBC Introducing, the Isle of Wight festival and many others, it’s surprising that this band don’t yet have a huge following, but give these boys a chance – they’re certainly loud enough.

Setlist at the Gloucester Guildhall, 11th June 2014:
Prize Baby Blues
Redlight
Talk Dirty to Me (Jason Derulo cover)
Sunkissed
Play Dead
The Stroke
Toetapper -