FloodHounds

Floodhounds have recently been a permanent fixture on my playlists and rightly so! The Sheffield trio are knocking out complex and heavy guitar tunes for fun and their most recent offering is no exception! "A&E" has been well received in recent weeks from the audio, the band have thrown the video over to us for an exclusive peek.
"A&E" sees the band up close and personal executing a wonderfully layered rock feeling which includes a solo that any band would be proud of. Floodhounds are busy bee's over the coming months and be sure to keep up with what they're up to over on FACEBOOK - LIKE - Its All Indie

Now here’s a corker of a track. FloodHounds got in touch with us recently after reading a piece we wrote two years ago about the excellent Band Of Skulls, and asked what we thought of this latest song of theirs. It’s one of six that the Yorkshire-based trio have just completed with early Arctic Monkeys producer Alan Smyth at 2Fly Studios in Sheffield and we love the freshness of it. They formed in October 2014 after London lad Jack Flynn and bassist Rhys Owens hooked up with drummer Lauren Greaves, and were picked out of 1200 emerging unsigned acts that applied for a handful of slots supporting Fat White Family and Hooton Tennis Club at the iconic Leadmill venue. BBC Introducing presenter Christian Carlisle at BBC Radio Sheffield is a key supporter and has already premiered three songs from them in session. Tonight (March 30) London gets a taste of the band as they perform live at Hoxton’s Underbelly. Influenced by Black Keys, Blur and The White Stripes, this track is raw, plucky, spirited and confident - basically everything you’d ever want from a young UK breakthrough group. - Record of the Day

Review of Floodhounds at Leadmill at Tramlines.
Jack Flynn’s off-hand ‘we’re from Sheffield, by the way’ needn’t have been uttered; Floodhounds’ rock-n-roll flawlessness, accompanied by a cheeky enticing-ness in lyrics such as “heaven won’t help you now, but I know I could” is a perfect addition to the South Yorkshire sound. And it seems as if the meek three-piece have already gained a local following, if the queue out the door of Frog & Parrot is anything to go by.

The frontman’s riffing mastery of a single guitar introduces hints of genius, whilst tracks such as ‘Cold Air’ and ‘The Fear’ possess basslines that Nick O’Malley would pay bottom dollar for. And it’s about time we had another female drummer on the scene. ‘Wolf At The Door’ is instantly likeable, and stands out as being made for mainstream.

What’s next for Floodhounds, I hear you ask? Whatever it is, they seem on the cusp of finding their niche; lucky for you, you can see them again at 7.05pm tonight at the Leadmill. With a sound that is destined for longevity, you too can get your pals’ backs up by joining in the chorus of ‘I heard them before they were famous’.

Words: Samantha Fielding - Exposed Magazine

'Look what you’ve started' is now available, and includes the current single A&E, “a corker of a track!” plus 'Soulmates to Cellmates', and 'End of the Road' and three new tracks, highlights of their live set, including 'The Fear', the soulful 'Greatest Mistake' and the upbeat 'State of Mind'.
By Frank Roper - 18 Sep 2016025
With a BBC Introducing Live in Session, plus a fresh batch of new music ready to record this Autumn, FloodHounds have been roaming London and the North, including; Manchester, Leeds, Derby and York, and playing the kind of music that prompted It’s All Indie blog to say “it might be 10 am on a Sunday morning… but FloodHounds are making me feel like it’s 10pm on a Friday night.”

The trio were picked, out of 1,200 unsigned bands applying for official emerging slots, to play at Sheffield’s iconic Leadmill for Tramlines 2015, to rave reviews from Sheffield’s own Exposed Magazine; “FloodHounds’ rock n roll flawlessness, accompanied by a cheeky enticingness in lyrics, is a perfect addition to the South Yorkshire Sound.

The band’s new 3-piece incarnation emerged late 2014, when founder members Jack Flynn – the vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of the band – and bass player Rhys Owens, were joined by drummer Lauren Greaves.

Jack tells us about the tracks on the EP
Our single ‘A & E’ is one of my favourites. It’s a buoyant optimist “indie” track – but it packs a punch. There’s never a storyline as such in our lyrics, but A&E highlights how some people can fill you with the confidence to “take on the world” but there’s a finite sadness to it too, you know that “wave is going to break,” but you let it “wash over” you anyway because you know it’s inevitable. There’s a certain roadtrippyness about it, particularly with the instrumentals at the end.

‘Soulmates to Cellmates’ is one of our favourites to play live, its punchy and hard hitting. Lauren’s drums and Rhy’s bass lines are just spot on. The video we did for 2weeks2makeit competition – of two orange clad inmates slugging it out in a love/hate “prison” of their own making, pretty much highlights the theme we were going for



‘The Fear’ – Born at Boomtown – when we were drinking in all those brilliant “Reggae” beats, and there’s a definite back beat of that in it, but we also mixed in with a modern indie feel.

‘End of the Road’, is the track we took the EP title “Look what you’ve started” from, and again it’s very satisfying to play live, with sharply defined drums and I really enjoy the definitive ending “ so forgive me when I tell you that you won’t get no more blood from this stone.”

‘State of Mind’, dives into a retro pared-down Kinkish feel, it’s based on a strong bass rhythm line that circles back to the start, like thoughts.

‘Greatest Mistake’ is a departure from our fast and furious rock pace – it’s bigger, slower, more reflective and thoughtful, but still with trademark guitar instrumentals at the end.

Getting the EP
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/look-what-youve-started-ep/id1150453108
Spotify: http://spoti.fi/2cEdQmp
Physical CD from the website: www.floodhounds.com

Upcoming live dates
23rd September – Sheffield, Yellow Arch for SOTN Records
7th October – Sheffield, Haggler’s Corner – The Broken Saints
22nd October – Oxjam Leeds venue tbc

Watch the band’s social media for other gigs

Floodhounds website: http://www.floodhounds.com
Floodhounds on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloodHounds
Floodhounds on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSM-ai1jHFdkNpe8TrDHW6g - Local Sound Focus

A&E was recently released and proved what a proposition FloodHounds are. Another terrific Sheffield band- Steel City has plenty of them- the three-piece have a glorious, guitar-heavy sound- one that has impressed critics around the country.
Their D.N.A. encompasses American Blues-Rock bands like The White Stripes and The Black Keys; some Royal Blood and Drench- a drizzling of Band of Skulls. If you are inclined to any of these bands/this type of music; then why not dig the epic sounds of FloodHounds?
Ther kinship and connection of the guys- Jack Flynn, Rhys Owen and Lauren Greaves- goes into their hook-driven and crowd-pleasing tracks. Competition will be fierce and endless- new bands wanting to get their market-share- but this trio are not going to surrender without a fight.
I know they have their local crowds hooked and on-board- they have much more to them than home-town pride and ambition. In a city that has produced Pulp and Artic Monkeys: we could well see these chaps ascending the rigmarole of modern music to claim their sceptre and throne- making their way onto the festival circuit.
A&E is still garnering views and reviews: that impetus and momentum must give the band food for thought. They can take time to plan their next moves and think about things- whether an album or single will come next. Whatever they choose, eyes will be upon them. - Music Musings and Such

VIDEO REVIEW: Floodhounds – ‘A&E’
'Flynn’s floaty guitar lines snake around the busy rhythm section of Greaves and Owens like a warm cloud of reverb-laced fuzz'

By Martin Higgins - 22 Apr 2016084
Sheffield trio Floodhounds are releasing a new single, ‘A&E’, on 30th April a few weeks ahead of an EP of the same name. The band, comprised of singer/guitarist Jack Flynn, bassist Rhys Owens and drummer Lauren Greaves, formed only two years ago but have already gained pivotal support from the likes of BBC Introducing presenter Christian Carlisle from BBC Radio Sheffield. He had had the band on to record a three song session including this song.

The single is a rollicking slice of classic indie, with hints of influence from The Arctic Monkeys and mid-90’s Charlatans both in the music and also the hazy, laid back vocals of Jack Flynn. A nice, solid beat propels the whole thing along at a good head nodding pace whilst Flynn’s floaty guitar lines snake around the busy rhythm section of Greaves and Owens like a warm cloud of reverb-laced fuzz. The chorus is punchy and attention grabbing and the guitar solo is just long enough to make an impression without overstaying it’s welcome, which is what you want in a solo really.

The video for the song finds the band being filmed both indoors, in what looks like rehearsal space complete with a big old fancy rug on the wall behind Jack’s head, and in the great outdoors of a hillside overlooking Sheffield on what looks like a beautiful summer’s day. In fact, the band inform us, it was freezing winter sunshine and not to be trusted. It’s an ideal video to accompany a sunny, fresh blast of indie rock.

Website: http://www.FloodHounds.com - Local Sound Focus

TRACK REVIEW: FloodHounds- A&E
Posted on April 9, 2016 by musicmusingsandsuch
TRACK REVIEW:

FloodHounds
A&E
9.4/10
A&E is available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pgnI0RSWZ8
RELEASED:
3rd April 2016
GENRES:
Indie; Blues-Rock; Alternative
ORIGIN:
Sheffield, U.K.
____________________________________
I always like a rarity in music as it gives the listener something…

new and unexpected. There are very few trios in modern music- compared with bands and solo artists- and for that reason, my featured act is fascinating. I shall come to them soon, but for now, I will look at trios- and boy-girl combinations in bands- in addition to Yorkshire-based bands and the changing face of Rock. I love looking at band dynamics and seeing which combination makes the best sounds. The four/five-piece band is always going to interest me: if anything; having more members can be quite unwieldy and excessive. The same could be said for the solo artist: perhaps there is not quite enough- when it comes to players- to truly hold attention- it depends on the talent of the individual. The band commodity is still the most bankable and in-demand in all of music- the duos and trios are starting to make a charge. I find the traditional quartet is not quite as dominant as before. We all look to bands like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles as the ultimate line-ups: where each member was crucial and unreplaceable; without them, the music would not be as electric. Led Zeppelin can be added to that list: the epitome of the golden four-piece: a group that would have been inferior with fewer members; if any player was replaced. Over the last few years; I have encountered some truly special duos: from Folk and Indie two-pieces; across to Electro.-Pop and Soul. Royal Blood has shown just how effective a well-groomed and slick duo can be- with some cracking facial hair into the bargain! The likes of Royal Blood are not only compelling waves of followers- the male two-piece keen to do likewise- and proving what scope music has. Apply that logical in a wider sense and you it seems the trio is the perfect combination. More depth and possibility (than a duo); not as packed and cramped as a fully-stocked band: it is something I want to see more of. If you look at the best trios from music- Nirvana, Cream; Muse, Green Day; Beastie Boys too. As they have shown: if you have some incredible musicians in the line-up; you can have the same effect as a full band. Whilst the aforementioned play the harder, grittier side of music: there are ample supplies of softer, deeper trios. FloodHounds are not just an incredible three-piece- that can Rock as hard as any- but have a great chemistry in the ranks. The boy-girl, three-piece formation is quite a rare one in the current scene.

A power trio with a sturdy reputation: they are a British combination of The White Stripes; throw in a little bit of Band of Skulls and you are half-way there. Before I continue, let me introduce FloodHounds to you:
“FloodHounds are a fast-paced 3-piece British indie-rock band from Sheffield. Their “gloriously guitar-heavy rock,” takes you from British Indie/Rock to raw American Blues and hits you like a British Black Keys, crossed with The Rolling Stones, fed on a diet rich in Band of Skulls, The White Stripes, Blur and Kasabian.
Floodhounds were picked, out of 1,200 unsigned bands who applied, to play at Sheffield’s iconic Leadmill for Tramlines 2015 with rave reviews,see www.exposedmagazine.co.uk/music/tramli…floodhounds
A video of the band recording of “Bare Bones” at Sheffield’s iconic 2FlyStudios is atyoutu.be/24xT906F1kU.
Storming local gigs at the Rocking Chair and Plug Sheffield supporting October Drift, saw FloodHounds playing further afield this year, at Live in Barnsley’s 126-band Festival in June, and 3 successful London gigs in Camden and Shoreditch in April and supporting DJ sets by the likes of Gus from alt-J at 229 The Venue’s Mayday Festival.
The band’s new 3-piece incarnation emerged in late 2014, when founder members Jack Flynn – the vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of the band – and bass player Rhys Owens, were joined by drummer Lauren Greaves”.

There are not many bands that pack quite the same punch and drama- with only three people in their line-up. I think Rock/Blues needs to evolve and take a leap. There is that over-dependence (for bands coming through) to rigidly stick to four or five-piece line-ups; the music is similarly uninspired and predictable- the overall effect is quite disappointing and leaden. Many critics have asked that controversial question: Is Rock dead? If you compare (Rock music) of today with the golden years: you can probably agree with that sentiment. There is not the same quality, consistency and shock: it is hard to really reinvent the wheel and compete with the all-time greats. Whilst Rock is not as monumental and inspiring as once was: there are some great bands keeping the spirit alive and burning.

The artists that break away from the mould- the same, arena-primed sing-along ‘epics’- are always going to impress me most. FloodHounds mix the traditional with forward-thinking. At their heart, they have that love of classic Rock and Blues- they wear influences on their sleeves- but have huge originality and personality. The trio unites U.S. Blues-Rock with something very much them. The stories they tell- and the way they play- could only come from an act that does not want to be compared with anyone else. FloodHounds are one of those bands putting the spark and promise into Rock music. Not only do the guys keep it expansive- Blues and U.S. strands alongside British ‘70s Rock- but they are focused, tight and singular. The music they play lodges itself in the brain and is perfect for the hungry crowds- plenty of memorability and tasty riffs. I know the guys are planning an E.P. at the moment- the track-listing and inclusions are being debated and decided- which will be exciting to see. When that arrives; it will afford people the chance to discover a hungry young band in full flight. A&E is a teasing taste of what we can expect: a stunning track that is slinky, sexy and pummeling; filled with explosive highs and catchiness. The Sheffield-based trio is yet another Yorkshire act that keeps the county fully in focus. I have been looking at London and L.A. musician the last couple of weeks: seeing what those twin pillars can offer modern music. It is nice to be something more ‘real’ and relatable: a city that has been in my sights for a while now. Whether assessing Leeds-based bands- there have been many over the years- or Bradford duos (Issimo): I always love coming to Yorkshire and seeing what is on offer. With every town and city, there is newness and surprise: artists that vary greatly but have that exceptional quality. I know FloodHounds are going to keep growing and getting stronger by the year. They have gone through line-up change and challenges: with each obstacle, they have overcome it and built in confidence. The current material is their best to date. Committed to touring for the next couple of months: plenty of chances to see this wonderful young band in the flesh.

When I was listening to A&E; I had to look back at FloodHounds’ past work to see how far they have come. A lot of bands tend not to improve and change over time: doggedly sticking to their sound and not straying far from the familiar. FloodHounds came out of the blocks fresh and eager several years ago. Their debut, three-track, E.P. showed plenty of promise and quality. Songs such as Moving Pictures and The Fall packed plenty of punch and charm. Moving Pictures was a cool and swagger song that reminded me of early-career Oasis. You got little recollections of Liam Gallagher in our lead’s vocal: the song had that Definitely Maybe-esque sound to it. The Fall was more of a direct and attacking number. A song that drew ‘70s British Rock with U.S. Blues-Rock: a locomotive steamer that certainly got inside the head.

Bare Bones came out last year and showed development and changes. That central FloodHounds dynamic was in place but the trio introduced new elements. The production values were more raw and bare (than the predecessor) which gave the E.P. a grittier sound. FloodHounds moved away from the Oasis-esque, ‘90s Rock and towards something more individual and unique. The songwriting was stronger and the performances tighter. Twisting and Turning– the closer from the E.P.- best represented that growth and change. There are bits of past bands in the song; what you get is more depth and colour in the music; greater industriousness and nuance. With each passing year; FloodHounds grow in stature and become more confident. Their current line-up has been in place since late-2014 and the bond they have now is unbreakable and stunning. A&E draws together their older sounds and themes- a song that is definitely from FloodHounds- but they have taken another step. The trio does not want to come across stagnant: they are mobile and looking for fresh inspiration. I am not sure what influenced the song but the guys are in top form. Whenever their new E.P. is out- it should not be too long- it will be met with huge acclaim and attention. The three-piece has a solid fan-base and that does not surprise me- one of the most impressive and original bands we have right now.

A&E’s video has been on YouTube for six days but already accrued 356 views- at the time of this review going out. Flourishing, trickling strings bond with galloping beats: the guys get out of the traps with plenty of intent and focus. A&E never comes across too strong in the opening phases. The percussion is compellingly tight and powerful yet the guitar-and-bass combination remains restrained and disciplined. That combination- between instant and slow-burning- opens the track with fascination and potential. Soon enough; the trio whips up a catchy, head-bobbing coda that has that blend of familiarity and unexpectedness. You get essences of classic Blues-Rock riffs but through the funnel of FloodHounds. The trio put their own stamp on the genre and infuse their influences with personality: a stunning blend of evocative and brand-new. You get caught in the rollicking, driving force the trio summons. Not only does your feet move and head nod: you start to hum along with the composition and get lost in its charm and grip. When our hero comes to the microphone; those early words are spoken: “All the people look so tall…”. Delivered with consideration and pace: you wonder what the lyrics relate to. Maybe a commentary on anxiety and not fitting in; feeling smothered by the modern world and it changes- you start to speculate and delve inside those words. Before you can become comfortable in your assessments: more pieces of the puzzle of slotted. When you are down- it is sung and declared- other people look taller. A&E is a song that instantly struck a chord with me. When life gets you down- and you struggle with darker times- it is hard to relate to other people and their lives. Maybe our man is struggling against the tide and looking for salvation. Given the song’s title- and the images it provokes- perhaps an event has unfolded; something violent and dangerous. The song goes on to introduce a central figure- someone who is on their way (they say). With an impressive amount of calm in the voice- not too rushed and emotional- that mystery and intrigue builds. Every new revelation pushes the interpretation to the former assumption. If it is a former love or a friend: there is this person that is battling some hard times.

Whatever is thrown their way: they can “take it on the chin” and overcome anything. Our hero will be there for them- and able to meet them halfway- and is offering a semblance of support and comfort. Looking at the hero/heroine- knowing they will always be there- you wonder what has compelled the story and song. Our man does not want to take them for granted: you feel like there is mutual respect and sense of support. Maybe I am misinterpreting but we are looking at something other than love: more geared towards a friendship and important bond. FloodHounds have managed to keep their central sound form but bring in new elements. Previous numbers have leaned heavily on ‘90s Rock bands. On A&E, you get touches from ‘60s and ‘70s groups: a little bit of Hard-Rock with some Power-Pop. Toss in some modern-day examples- the likes of Royal Blood- and there is that blend of raw 2016 and vintage melody- a little classic riffage into the mix. The band sounds at their most compelling and unique, here. Less reliant on idols and tribute: their current offering is their most original to date. Innocence and emotion emerge when our hero and heroine (it is a girl being ascribed) sit by the sea. You picture them say side-by-side as she asks: “Is there a better place to be?”. Maybe both have faced tribulations and challenging times: they have gotten away from the hurly-burly and somewhere more tranquil and peaceful. With so much fraught existence plaguing them: you feel like this nirvana is a red herring. When the waves crash- rising high above them- the heroine will let them wash over her. Whether this is a cleansing ritual- she can take the wave; is indestructible- or something submissive- you are caught between romance and heartache.

Each emerging line sparks contradictions and fascination. The story progresses beautifully and there is a definite sense of movement and change. If the “cold is closing in”: our heroine can take it all in her stride. It feels a relief to know that: here is someone not looking at the end; she is a strong character that is going through something rough. Our hero is there to lend support and always by her side. That bond and link at the song’s heart appeal in many ways. The vocal has a cool calm to it. Jack Flynn is a singer that has a lot of respect for the gods past but never replicates them. Coming into his own as a singer: it is here we get his most impressive performance ever. Changing pace and direction: the words are given full consideration; he is a master when it comes to giving emotion and power to the lyrics. Letting his guitar cut and swing with abandon: when teamed with his band-mates you are helpless to resist the power of the composition. There is such an anthemic sound to A&E. The percussion is constantly forceful and impressive; the bass guides the song and is imbued with rhythm, power and melody. When all three come together, you get a tight and impactful sound: the band has such an intuition and affection; that explodes into life, here. Towards the final stages; Flynn gets the chance to do some solo-ing. Not just a chance to show his chops: it acts as the next step in the story. Adding new dimension and flesh to the song- without a word being sung- you get pictures of waves crashing and storms lashing. An exhilarating and racing solo: it lifts A&E to new heights and keeps the fascination-o-meter right up to 11. Riding that cool-as-Hell riff- with some solid bass and percussion support- you start to nod the head again and get caught in the momentum. Right from the off; the trio ensures your attention is grabbed and you are hooked. Never letting the energy and pace drop: you are invested and alert right until the final note. A&E is a song that could easily have arrived during the classic days of ‘Britpop’. It has that quality and tone to it: a track that looks to positivity and redemption. Unlike a lot of modern acts: FloodHounds have crafted something rather singular and beyond compare.

Rhys Owen and Lauren Greaves ensure A&E gets plenty of pummel and power. Jack Flynn gives a typically understated- but immensely focused- vocal that gives the song such a nuance and weight. Lesser singers would throw too much into the song: emote too much or fill their voice with needless scream and histrionics. Not only do you get control and layers to the vocal: Flynn keeps his accent firm and unchanged. The likes of Alex Turner- another Sheffield lad- made Arctic Monkeys songs synonymous with genuine vocals and homegrown pronunciation. Maybe Turner’s current work is more Americanised and changed: I always love hearing singers that do not kowtow to U.S. audiences. With that Yorkshire accent riding over the mix: it gives A&E gravitas, genuine spirit and rare distinction. As a guitar player: Flynn is able to shred with the best of them. When stepping into the light- his solo towards the end- you get embers of Hendrix and Eddie Hazel (Funkadelic). Rhys Owen is one of the most naturally assured bass players in new music. He manages to tie all the instrumentation and sounds together: acting as the song’s bouncer: keeping the song disciplined and not letting any stray elements get into the fold.

That said; he shows plenty of passion and rhythm, too. His bass lines go from fluid and sexy to firm and edgy; without losing a step along the way. Owen bonds beautifully with his bandmates and drives their performances forward. Lauren Greaves is one of the most inventive and powerful drummers- a natural rival and equal to her male counterparts. Acts like Rews (a London-Belfast duo) have a stunning drummer at their core- the wonderful, Collette Williams. Greaves ensures A&E is a powerhouse smash from its beginning to end. Seemingly multi-limped and octopus-like: her performance remains stunning and avalanche-like throughout. She is not just a one-trick cat that slams with animal abandon. Capable of intricate fills and under-the-radar calm; catchy bounce and infantile energy- a rounded, multi-layered performance that gives the song immense personality and depth. Congratulations to a trio that have unveiled their strongest work (in my humble view) so far. There will be many eyes and ears hungry for an E.P. The guys are taking their time and ensuring they are not rushed- too many bands are hasty and do not consider quality, production and track-listing. A&E is a mouth-watering offering that has already resonated with hundreds- a stunning song from one of Britain’s most essential bands.

FloodHounds have played all around the country the last few months. Not only stopping off at B.B.C. Introducing: they have rocked Manchester and Huddersfield. The trio comes down to London in a couple of weeks- Spice of Life in Soho- and are going to be very busy indeed. Not only will new audiences have a chance to discover sparkling-new material: it gives the band a chance to strength and hone their craft. I guess they don’t really need to: they have been playing for a long time and seem flawless. That said; with each month, they seem to become more electric and assured: touring is clearly galvanising their music and giving them impetus and inspiration. Sheffield is a city that gets overlooked with regards new musicians emerging. Perhaps London will always be at the forefront of media attention: that is not to say we should ignore a growing, developing area. In the past; Sheffield was renowned for its steel production and industrial prowess. Over the decades; it has emerged into one of the most stunning areas of the U.K. Vast redevelopment has seen Sheffield become one of the cultural hubs of Britain. In 1999, the National Centre for Popular Music was opened. Leadmill, the Boardwalk and New Barrack Tavern are hosting the city’s musicians: giving them a platform and chance to thrill the local crowds. With Yorkshire creating a music revolution- THE place for great new music- Sheffield is leading the vanguard. The Long Blondes, Arctic Monkeys and Pulp call Sheffield home: Slow Club and Richard Hawley can be added to that list. So many musicians are relocating and moving to larger cities.

I see so many bands head to London or L.A.; bereft at the lack of chances and platforms. From south coast-born bands to suburb-dwelling solo artists: there is that lure and bright lights-lust of the big cities. I hope FloodHounds do not uproot and stay put in Sheffield. It seems like the Yorkshire gem is growing and providing plenty of exposure for its native musicians. Whatever they have in mind; you cannot deny how direct and stunning their new song is. You might be hard-pressed to name too many legendary three-piece acts: the mind might struggle to name that many current-day ones. I am always keen to break-away from the tried-and-tested four-piece: embrace something fresh and new. Band music will always be the most popular and yearned-for in music. With this demand, comes a lot of risks. Young acts are jumping into the scene with optimism: eager to show their material and stake their claim at the biggest festivals. I feel too many artists rush in and do not put proper thought into their music. What we are finding is a lot of bands that are rather so-so: few that stick in the mind; many melts away and struggle to meet public expectations. FloodHounds are savvy enough to realise the pitfalls that are in front of them. They adapt and keep their music nimble: having that core sound but ensuring their songs are not repetitive and recycled.

With every new venture, you get something genuinely exceptional and unexpected. A&Eis a guitar-heavy smash that has already garnered a lot of praise and respect. I know an E.P. is mooted- not sure when at present- and that will be exciting indeed. Whatever form that takes- with regards number of tracks and sounds- it will be an opportunity for the Sheffield trio to get some critical attention. They are one of these bands you know will ‘make it’ one day: ascend through the ranks and become one of this country’s best artists. It is great to see the stunning trio come through with new material. I have seen (the trio) progress and evolve as the years have passed. Their earliest songs were assured and confident: they have become stronger and more solid with each new song. I just know 2017 will be their year. This year, they are going to be unveiling the E.P. and touring: getting more acclaim and building their fan-base. Next year, that will be when they can expand and progress. I can see the big festivals calling and the spotlight shone their way. A&E is a bold and brassy deceleration from a fearless, impossible-not-to-love band. The social media numbers are climbing and the fan numbers are rising exponentially: one of the most consistent and loveable groups we have right now. Take a chance to discover a hot trio that is going to be a fixture for years to come. A&E might have that emergency urgency to it. Trust me on this one: their success and continued popularity is…CERTAINLY no accident.

__________________________________
Follow FloodHounds

Official:
http://www.floodhounds.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FloodHounds
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FloodHounds
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/floodhounds/
______________________________
Music
https://soundcloud.com/floodhounds
Track Review: FloodHounds- Twisting and Turning
E.P. REVIEW: FloodHounds - Look What You've Started - MusicMusings and Such

Timing is everything. Sometimes you are just in the right place at the right time.

Sheffield rockers FloodHounds can attest to that. A chance meeting at a party set plans in motion to put FloodHounds on the path they are on today.

Band members Jack Flynn, on guitar and vocals; Rhys Owen, on bass and vocals; and Lauren Greaves on drums have recently released their new EP, “Look What You’ve Started,” filled with 6 high quality bluesy hard-rocking tunes.

“A&E” has a great rollicking sound with fast, trippy drum work and a jumpy tempo.

“Soulmates to Cellmates” is bright and bouncy and just good old fun.

“End of the Road” has kind of a western, syncopated sound and heavy bass.

After a busy festival-filled summer, they are also one of the featured bands playing on Oct. 22 at the Oxjam Leeds Takeover Festival (http://oxjamleeds.co.uk/).

I had a great chat the other day with Jack as he spent an afternoon wandering around Sheffield looking in vintage shops.

Here is our conversation:

Tell me about the FloodHounds … When did the band start?

Well, I’ve known Rhys for ages. Me and Rhys were in a band before, and then two of the other guys left to go traveling, and we were frantically cobbling together acoustic sets to fulfill our remaining booked gigs, and then by sheer coincidence Lauren moved into a house with some good friends of mine, and we were on a night out and people were asking me about the band, I said “not good, we haven’t got a drummer” and someone goes “Liz plays drums!” and a light bulb went off and since then it’s been brilliant. Everyone clicked pretty quick.

How long ago was that?

This was about November 2014. We practiced and went straight into a studio to record our second EP, and we did a couple rough and ready gigs, but our first proper gig as a three-piece was February-ish 2015 I think.

Wow … Straight to the studio … Was everyone comfortable?

I know, haha! It was a bit of a gamble, but all the songs were all 100 percent written and me and Rhys know them backwards and Lauren is an amazing drummer so it wasn’t too hard. Actually yeah, I think we originally just had Lauren in to record with us, but then it extended to a couple of gigs and turns out she’s never left.

She’s a very good drummer from what I hear — you are lucky to have her. I see there is a new drum stick sponsorship too!

Yeah that’s awesome, they just came out of nowhere and handed her a big bag of free sticks, which is so helpful, cause little things like sticks add up and get expensive over time. It’s so expensive these days, running a band without help from like a label or anything like that.

If you aren’t in a band you don’t think about all those things, like sticks and strings … How is the music scene there? I hear a lot of quality bands coming from Sheffield lately …

Yeah, it’s really good. There’s not a shortage of places to play. If you want a gig, you can get one! And practice rooms are all really cheap and there’s loads which is really helpful. That’s probably why there is so many bands. I don’t know how we would’ve got started if we didn’t have cheap rooms to play in. You can only do so much in a bedroom.

They’re all in old steelworks buildings too which is cool.



floodhounds2aimeecatt
Aimee Catt Photography


Sounds like there is great opportunity for growth there. Did you get to play many summer festivals? Tramlines was pretty big …

We managed a few, we were all over the place. Rhys was in Vietnam and Lauren was in India for summer so we couldn’t get as many we’d have liked, but we did do a few! Tramlines was sooooo good! The city just goes crazy. Every single bar/venue is full to the brim, so the gigs are just awesome. Last year we did the Leadmill with Fat White Family which was definitely a band highlight.

Did you play Tramlines?

Yep, we’ve done it every year in one band or another for the last three to four years.

That’s great. I may add that to my wish list of festivals to attend in the future. Is this your first Oxjam festival coming up?

You definitely should!

We did one in Sheffield last year, but the Leeds one looks even bigger! And we’re doing Derby the night before Leeds which should be good. Can’t wait!

Back-to-back shows … You should well be warmed up and ready then …

Haha, I hope so!

When did you start playing? What made you want to be a musician?

I first started guitar at about age 11 or 12. Got really into Jimi Hendrix and The White Stripes and just set about learning every great guitar lick there ever was! Pretty much once I started playing I was thinking, “Well … now I want a band!” And then I was in bands ever since about 14. Mostly terrible, but it meant I could learn how to make it work and get all the bad songs out of my system early.

That’s the benefit of starting young! You’ve got some fantastic tracks here, really! Bluesy, funky, rocky … what all influences do you have?

Thank you!

Well, for me it’s all classic stuff like The Beatles/Rolling Stones and other bluesy punk stuff like White Stripes. Rhys is a proper British Indie kid with Libertines, The Smiths, Oasis, Blur and Arctic Monkeys and Lauren has a crazy mix of everything from heavy bluesy rock to reggae and drum and bass and all sorts of crazy rhythmic DJ music that I know nothing about.

All of those shine through in your music … Is songwriting a group effort then?

I think it will be eventually, but at the moment I’ve got so many already written in the bank it’s really easy to just knock a new one out every other practice. So I bring in the chords/riffs and lyrics and a basic structure and then as a band we will fine tune which bit could go where or change a rhythm or a style of a section and then we have a song. It’s pretty quick most of the time.

Fair enough … How many tunes are banked up then?

We’ve finished as a band about 25 including the 12 we’ve recorded, and then I have another 10 to 15 that I’ve done on my own that the band can flesh out soon, and then about 20 more that are half-finished that hopefully I can get something out of eventually.

Wow, that could keep you in business for a good while! What’s your set going to be like for Oxjam Leeds?

Probably about two-thirds stuff people have heard and the rest new songs!

Sounds great! I am looking forward to seeing you play! So what goals do you have — short-term and/or long-term?

Awesome, thanks!

Well, we’re releasing the next set of songs as singles with a small label sort of thing, instead of doing an EP by ourselves, so we’re hoping they’ll get a bit more attention and maybe get us onto the next level. But basically short-term, we just want to play as many gigs as possible and have as many people up for coming and enjoying it as possible.

Long-term just depends on how well the short-term goes, haha. It would be amazing to quit the day job and do this full-time and get to play gigs in other countries and travel!

Everything after that is just a massive bonus.



floodhoundsasherkhan
Asher Khan Photography


You can find FloodHounds on Twitter at @FloodHounds, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FloodHounds/?fref=ts, on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/floodhounds, on the web at http://www.floodhounds.com/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/FloodHounds.












About these ads

SHARE THIS:
TwitterFacebook42Google

RELATED
The Barmines Shine with Big Sounds & Brilliant Guitars @TheBarmines
In "English"
The Phantoms Work Hard to Put Up Walls - of Brilliant Sound @Phantoms_The
In "Alternative"
Single By Sunday: Scottish Band Writing Its Own Success Story @SingleBySunday
In "Indie"
Posted in Alternative, English, Indie, NEW ARTISTS, Pop, Rock
Tagged "A&E", "End of the Road", "Soulmates to Cellmates", FloodHounds
1 Comment
ONE THOUGHT ON “FLOODHOUNDS ON A ROLL WITH NEW EP “LOOK WHAT YOU’VE STARTED” @FLOODHOUNDS”

Pingback: FloodHounds on a Roll with New EP “Look What You’ve Started” @FloodHounds – SteelerJAXX
LEAVE A REPLY - Read Between The Lines

Flood Hounds

Here’s something a little different to the previous three bands, FloodHounds aren’t your typical indie rock band that H2N normally cover. Last month though we took a stab at reviewing their new EP and although it took us a bit of time to come round to the sound, it made our top ten EP’s of quarter one, a feature we ran at the start of April. The band have a really distinct sound different to many in the industry today which makes them one of the most exciting band on the Blackthorn lineup in 2017. Consisting of dizzy guitars, smooth clean vocals and baselines to die for, make sure this band are on your list of bands to see this July. - Halfway to Nowhere

FloodHounds
JOE FOOD on 26th January 2017 at 2:53 pm
One of the most consistent bands on the Sheffield scene, indie trio FloodHounds recently released their third studio EP Look What You’ve Started – adding another six tracks of infectious blues rock to their already impressive repertoire. After giving the record numerous spins in the Exposed office, we were keen to get band in for a live session at Kelham Island Museum and grabbed Jack (vocals/guitar), Rhys (bass) and Lauren (drums) for a chat before the cameras started rolling.

The new EP’s a belter. How was putting it together?
Jack: Pretty stressful. We recorded six tracks in two days at 2Fly Studios, which I wouldn’t really recommend doing. Luckily, Alan [Smyth, 2Fly producer] knew what he was doing and it all came together well.
Rhys: Yeah, we’d originally gone in with the plan of recording four, but Alan persuaded us to take it up to six. It makes it our biggest EP to date.
Are there any particular themes which run through the record and tie the tracks together?
Jack: I guess so, although I’m really conscious that I’m being recorded and I’m really bad at articulating stuff like this.
Rhys: A lot of reviews went really deep into your lyrics and the meanings of the tracks.
Jack: I know, and it’s funny as they tend to find things that I didn’t know were there! But yeah, I guess that there’s a bit of a conflict in the themes at times: the slowed down, more intense stuff like ‘Great Mistakes’ which is about the breakdown of the relationship; then there’s ‘A&E’ and ‘State of Mind’ which are more “chin up, son”, feel-good rock songs.

And for the Exposed readers out there who don’t know much about The Floodhounds, give us a brief history lesson.
Jack: I met Rhys through a friend of a friend; he actually learned the bass just to be in this band. Not long after our old drummer left, I was in Leeds visiting some friends from uni and one asked how the band was going. I mentioned how it wasn’t looking good as we were without a drummer and Lauren was literally stood next to us. My friend just pointed and said, “She plays drums.” - Exposed Magazine

VIBE CAUGHT UP WITH ONE OF SHEFFIELD’S LOUDEST, AND MOST PROMISING BANDS.

Fresh from volunteering at Glastonbury, a brand new single release and with a busy summer ahead, we caught up with Jack Flynn, frontman from Sheffield band FloodHounds to discuss their heavy sound, leading a double life in reggae band Rogue Siesta and what the future holds…

First things first, how was Glastonbury?
It was incredible! It’s like being outside of normal life for a while, and being in the depths of such different strands of music is just inspirational and eye opening. I’m gutted that it’s not on next year - not sure I can handle the break! I go with a group of friends and we all work for our tickets, so I don’t get to see or do everything I want to, but it’s still a great way to be at Glastonbury.

Who was the best act you saw?
Best act for me was Royal Blood, they were outstanding. An insane set with just relentlessly huge riffs pounding into the crowd out of that massive stage! I’ve seen them before, but there’s something about watching them in that responsive Glastonbury crowd that steps up the whole experience. Closely followed by The Moonlandingz. The musicianship on Sweet Saturn was phenomenal. We saw Cabbage right after that - also excellent.

Can you tell us the story of the band?
Me and Rhys had been in a four-piece band (which started out as the Hounds) for about a year. Our other guitarist and drummer left, so we kept going with an acoustic set, which turned out to be quite a good experience.
Luckily, I met Lauren on a night out in Leeds, who just happened to be a drummer moving to Sheffield and needed a band! Once we started jamming everything fell into place. We were delighted when she decided to stay on and FloodHounds (there were a LOT of Floods that year) was reborn as a trio.

What do you think of the guitar scene in Sheffield at the moment? Some great talent out there…
Right now, it’s the best it’s been since I’ve lived here! There’s a lot of collaboration and support going on. Bands seem so much more interested in going to each other’s shows because they know the favour will be returned. Have you seen the battle for the Crookes lamp post? For some reason all the bands in Sheffield have descended on this one lamp post to cover it in band stickers. It’s a right turf war, but all in good spirits!

Let’s talk about your tunes…the video for new single Wide Awake, where did the idea come from?
Our friends tend to be more into their raves than the rock gigs, and never doing anything by halves, they’d started a weird little trend of going to festivals with these mad, home-made, glow in the dark box-heads, which looked amazing. We had about a week and a shoestring budget, so I forced all my housemates to help us construct a bunch of these crazy heads. My brother Tom, borrowed some film equipment and wrote a backstory to explain the heads!

Will Wide Awake be part of a future EP, or just a stand-alone single for now?
I think after the last recording session, both I Wanna Know and Wide Awake felt more like stand-alone singles, and we wanted to mix it up as previously we’ve only ever released EPs. I reckon we’ll do an EP next though as we have quite a few unrecorded songs that I’m dying to work on at the moment.

It might be the heaviest Floodhounds track yet, but what is it about?
I’d been listening to heavier music lately and it’s really fun to hammer out big riffs like that with the band live onstage. As for the lyrics, I guess they’re really just relating to that restless, insomniac rage that you feel when things aren’t right, somethings bothering you and you can’t sleep, so you need to hype yourself up, to go and sort it.

The sound seems very clear and direct, where did that come from?
Thanks! It’s probably comes from being a three piece. You have to be tight, and in sync, as there’s not much margin for error. It’s very pared down. That’s why I really admire bands like The White Stripes and The Black Keys or Drenge.


Working with Alan Smyth (music producer, Pulp, Arctic Monkeys), how was that?
He’s great - we’ve recorded with him four times now. He seems to get what we’re about and what sort of sound we’re after and now we just roll up, hit record and play!

The Look What You’ve Started EP was released last year. Why did you decide to have a slightly longer EP than usual?
That was down to Alan really. We sent him about 10 practice room recordings of all our unrecorded songs, and he seemed to like them. He basically said: “Let’s just cram as many in as we can!”
We ended up with six favourite and quite diverse tracks like Greatest Mistakes – a real change of pace, compared to the fast and furious Soulmates to Cellmates. I felt they all fitted together somehow and wouldn’t be the same if we’d left one out.

Tramlines, how are you feeling ahead of playing that?
We literally cannot wait. We’re doing two headline Tramlines Fringe gigs, on the Friday at Record Junkee, which is being put on by Double Denim Live, and with great support bands like Late Night Legacy from Leeds- one of our favourites. Sunday night is at The Old House, we did that last year too, enjoyed it so much as a great ending to the festival. We’re heading off to Manchester for Blackthorn Festival on the Saturday too!

What do you get up to normally at Tramlines?
Depends how many gigs we’re playing. I can’t relax until after the gig. But usually, as soon as we’re not playing, it’s going out drinking and wall-to-wall bands. The highlight last year was jumping the fence at The Uni Arms to squeeze into the Deap Vally gig! They were unbelievably good!

Have you got much planned for beyond the summer? Winter tour?
Yep we’ll be gigging like mad up until Christmas. We sold out a gig at London’s Troubadour in February, which went so well they offered us a headline a month from June to September with different special guests. I’m loving it. It’s such an iconic music venue. Last time, we had The Cuckoos, all the way from Texas on their first UK tour, they were brilliant. We’ve got some good headline Sheffield gigs coming up between now and December. There’s a backlog of music to record, so we’ll hopefully release some new music in the autumn.

Catch FloodHounds at Tramlines, on Friday at Record Junkee and at The Old House on Sunday. - VIBE RMC Media

From British Indie to raw American Blues, "gloriously guitar-heavy," and rumbling with subterranean rock; FloodHounds are a swirling explosion of bluesy fire, tearing its way through the UK’s packed and sweaty music venues.

Sheffield 3-piece FloodHounds’ hits you like a British Black Keys or White Stripes, inspired by the likes of Band of Skulls, or Drenge with just a hint of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. They're high on Ralph's 'ones to watch' list. - Ralph's Life

Bass player returns to home town
By Sue Austin | Shrewsbury | Music | Published: Jun 27, 2017

Indie/rock trio FloodHounds makes its Shrewsbury debut next month as one of its members returning to his home town.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

Email address:
Sign Up

Rhys Owen(left), Lauren Greaves and Jack Flynn of Floodhounds

Floodhounds in action

Rhys Owen(left), Lauren Greaves and Jack Flynn of Floodhounds

Floodhounds in action
prevnext
Fresh from being awarded a four-night summer residency at the famous Troubadour club in London, not to mention a host of festival appearances up and down the country, the band is heading to the county town to play at Albert's Shed on July 15.

It co-incides with the release of the new single/video Wide Awake

"We can't wait to play in Shrewsbury," said bassist Rhys Owen as he prepares to take to the stage in his home town for the first time.

ADVERTISING

Rhys, who performs alongside lead singer and guitarist Jack Flynn and drummer Lauren Greaves in the Sheffield-based band, is a former pupil of St Giles, St Georges and Priory schools in Shrewsbury, as well as Shrewsbury Sixth Form College.

He played football locally for SAHA Juniors - in the same team as England goalkeeper Joe Hart - and later for Cruckton Rovers in the Shrewsbury Sunday League.

"We've heard great things about the music nights at Albert's Shed and I'm hoping to see a few old faces there," he said.

He said it was exciting times for FloodHounds, whose summer residency at London's Troubadour is underway following a hugely successful first show at the venue in February.

"It's quite amazing to be asked to return to such a historic venue which has hosted the likes of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Adele and Ed Sheeran," says Rhys.

The band is hitting the festival trail this summer, appearing at the Front Row Festival in Oxfordshire on July 1, the Blackthorn Festival near Manchester July 21-23, Tramlines in Sheffield that same weekend and the English Rain Takeover event, also in Sheffield, in August.

"Our new single and video is getting lots of great reviews too, which we're so grateful for, and we're looking forward hugely to our first Shrewsbury show," adds Rhys.

For more FloodHounds information, music, videos and reviews, go to www.floodhounds.com. - Shrewsbury Star

Sheffield three-piece, Floodhounds, provided some sizzling blues rock from the Paddock Stage, with some proper hard hitting, stomping tracks complete with gloriously shredding guitars. - Sonic Bandwagon

What started out as a small festival with local acts, is now one of the finest inner city music festivals in the UK. The Libertines, the Pharcyde and Primal Scream will join Sister Sledge, Public Enemy and Jurassic 5 in the proverbial crypts of legendary Tramlines acts.

Despite the international artists and legendary UK bands, the weekend is still all about discovering the local artists that make Sheffield one of the most creative cities in the land. Tramlines is all about catching these local bands in the tiny venues, leaving footprints on the wall at the Gatsby and jumping the fence at the University Arms. Read some of our local picks for the weekend below…
Floodhounds – Record Junkee – Free
The Sheffield based band told us recently that they cannot wait for this year’s Tramlines. They’re headlining Record Junkee on the Friday night at 22:15pm – get in early and claim your place – this’ll be one of *the* sets of the weekend. - Vibe Sheffield

[LISTEN] Floodhounds - Wide Awake
I don't really know how or why the concept for this video came about but I'm glad it did. Waking up this morning with a poor mood and slight real-ale hangover, I thought it was going to take a cold shower and some aspirin to cheer me up. Wrong! All it takes is one of my favourite bands being attacked by robots who have, I think, fidget spinners for eyes! I'm definitely wide awake now (that joke will make sense in a second).



Floodhounds, if you aren't already aware, are a 3 piece from the Sheffield area who have featured on IAI heavily in the past due to a corking back catalogue. Their new single "Wide Awake" is out this Friday (17/6/17) but how does it compare to their other work I hear you ask. Well, in terms of video production they're getting stronger and stronger. The song itself I think adds excellent diversity to their repertoire and in parts sounds slightly heavier than some previous efforts. Not a bad thing for me at all.

I can see that when it comes to a live show, "Wide Awake" will probably become a fan favourite. With a harmonica break session in the middle, what's not to love.

Within the video, shown below, there are shameless plugs to their previous single "I Wanna Know" and their side project band "Rogue Siesta", both of which are well worth a few minutes of your time to check out. - It's All Indie

SINGLE & GIG NEWS: Floodhounds release ‘Wide Awake’
By LSF Staff Writers - 17 Jun 2017060
There’s a lot going for Floodhounds at the moment. A new single. Gigs coming up include a residency at London’s The Troubadour with a gig a month from June to September – so if you’re down south why not go see them. These nights will feature Floodhounds and special guests – The Cuckoos for one.

But first we have a new single from the band. ‘Wide Awake’ is a stonking heavy bluesy fast stomp. We asked our writer Frank what he thought:

“I love this thing. You’ve got that heavy sound sprinkled with all sorts of stuff. I especially like the backing vocals that just add that sparkle. And as for the break – where did they get the idea that a grungy harmonica would work that well. It’s fast, it’s furious and it’s raw.”

The sound of the track was influenced by what the band have been listening to.

“We’ve been listening to lots of really fast raw punk music lately like Yak, Drenge and The Moonlandingz, and just wanted to write something fast, heavy and furious but still with our trademark bluesy feel to it” – Jack Flynn

‘Wake Awake’ is released on the 17th June and will be available on iTunes, Spotify and Bandcamp.



Upcoming gigs
Saturday 17th June – Live in Barnsley Festival – Barnsley
Saturday 1st July – Front Row Festival – Fritwell, Oxfordshire
Saturday 8th July – The Troubadour – London
Saturday 15th July – Alberts Shed – Shrewsbury
Saturday 22nd July – Blackthorn Festival – Stockport nr Manchester
Sunday 23rd July – Tramlines Festival – Sheffield
Thursday 17th August – The Troubadour – London
Friday 18th August – English Rain Takeover Festival – Sheffield
Saturday 2nd September – The Troubadour – London - Local Sound Focus

Record Junkee has a Successful Night Celebrating Independent Venue Week!
Sheffield’s Record Junkee was one of the 189 small music venues across the country celebrating Independent Venue Week (28th January – 3rd February). Various one-off gigs were held here; with the likes of Lady Bird, Nervous Pills and Estrons. All contributing to the wonderful week-long appreciation of quality artists who were playing each night.

FloodHounds
I knew Saturday’s sold-out gig was set to be a good’un the minute I entered the venue. Greeted by Idles’ ‘Colossus’ echoing from the speakers behind the chatter of the crowd forming. All this before Sheffield-based trio FloodHounds kicked off the night. Think bluesy rock and roll carried through by solid, rocky, crowd-pleasing riffs. They immediately enraptured the venue with the first track ‘Wide Awake’. Followed by their latest, punchy single, ‘Take it Too Far’, delivered effortlessly by Jack (lead vocals, guitar), Lauren (drums) and Joel (bass).

FloodHounds’ eclectic set featured the well-established ‘I Wanna Know’ and ‘The Fear’. This evoked a good old sing-along on behalf of their loyal fan-base. Many of whom were down at the front and responsible for radiating the band’s pure energy. Some riveting debuts of recent and potentially upcoming material including ‘Stepping Stone’ and ‘Something Primeval’. Both of which appeared to go down well with the old (and new) fans; all lucky enough to witness this brilliant show from a great up-and-coming band. Closing track ‘Soulmates’ inevitably got everyone hyped for a night of great music.

Avalanche Party
Next up were North Yorkshire garage rockers Avalanche Party; bottles of Buckfast in hand, and renowned for their euphoric live performances. The band did not disappoint, with frontman Jordan Bell standing shirtless on-stage, a brooding atmosphere descended for their intro; the words ‘I’m so wet’ repeated rhythmically, before eventually building into a beautiful chaos.

Jordan’s intense stare into the crowd as he delivered lyrics made him stand-out as a frontman. Managing to somehow connect with everyone in the room while simultaneously isolating himself as some sort of mesmerising spectacle. To complement vocals reminiscent of Mark E Smith (The Fall), this intensity was carried through Avalanche Party’s entire set. Each member gave it their all for the duration of the high-octane tunes, all delivered with an untamed and fierce attitude towards their performance.


Photo by Model D Photography
BlackWaters
Finally, after assembling a very necessary BlackWaters backdrop. Guilford-born and Sheffield-bred ‘punks’ finally made it up on stage to a highly excitable audience. Despite being a band somewhat reminiscent of a Southern, early Arctic Monkeys with fast-paced, adrenaline-fuelled lyrics. It was hard not to see a look of Ian Curtis in lead-singer Max; however, this show definitely screamed more of The Clash and John Cooper Clarke as opposed to Joy Division.

Unapologetic and reflective of the punk movement, the impulsive ‘Fuck Yeah’ evoked unfathomable energy from the crowd who chanted fervently with the band. A particular highlight was a lively rendition of their penultimate song ‘People Street.’ Which saw the appearance of a saxophone to compliment one of their classic tunes. An acoustic encore of the mellow track ‘Love is a Future Computer’ saw the band enter the crowd and subsequently elicit a heart-warming chorus of ‘why not try another way…’ echoing throughout the venue to bring their frenzied set to a beautiful yet melancholic close.

It is independent venues such as Record Junkee that are the backbone of the live music scene. They are vital for us to fully appreciate the inevitable upcoming talent that Sheffield and elsewhere has to offer. This week in particular really showcases the wonder of these underground bands and venues. Something really valuable to get behind every week of the year!

Check out the bands below!

FloodHounds– @FloodHounds

Avalanche Party– @avalanche_party

BlackWaters– @BlackWaters_UK - Words For Music