Pinstripe

Review: Critic Killer by Pinstripe
Jonathan Bennett
Pinstripe, from Shepton Mallet, released their Critic Killer EP in February 2006. BBC Somerset's Jonathan Bennett checks it out.


I'm guessing by the name of this EP that I had better be pretty careful over what I write in this review.

Thankfully for me, reviewing this record has given me as much pleasure as I had listening to it.

Critic Killer
Pinstripe
Louis from Pinstripe

I have heard quite a bit about Pinstripe before, and always compared them with the likes of Coldplay in their style of music.

However, I was in for a shock from the start of this CD, with the title song Critic Killer bursting into my ears.

The energy of this track, and the very clever control through lyrics and musical ability, immediately sets this band apart from many others breaking through in Somerset at the moment.

The Only One

The energy continues through track two, The Only One, where you are dragged into the more personal side of Pinstripe.

It is a side, though, which has the successful balance of finding yourself recognising the emotions, as well as appreciating the feelings that went into forming it.

The Only One is a great song, with some addictive riffs. If I'd had a few drinks before listening to it, I could have easily played along on my air guitar.

This Feeling Inside

The final track, This Feeling Inside, is the style of music I most associate this band with.
Liam from Pinstripe (Brad Wakefield)
Liam from Pinstripe on stage in Wells

It's a lot slower, a lot more melodic, and has the same kind of unique finesse about it which classic tracks from bands like Keane and Coldplay have.

I could quite easily see myself standing in a huge crowd of people singing along to this one.

One of the many good things that come from this EP is the style and diversity that Pinstripe show - and that is only from three songs!

I eagerly await any album they may record, and if the rest of the tracks are anywhere near as good as this EP, then all I can say is: "Watch out Arctic Monkeys - there is another band breaking through."

I conclude this review with some of the lyrics from the title song Critic Killer, which I really think sums up just where Pinstripe are at the moment: "Be yourself, it's who you are. Be yourself, yeah you'll go far."

And they certainly will!

To find out more about Pinstripe, listen to an interview with the band, and listen to live tracks, click on this link: - Somerset Sounds

Pinstripe played their debut gig in April 2005 and all live within four miles of the Glastonbury Festival site in the heart of the West Country.

The three sixteen-year-old musicians played more than 30 gigs in 2005 to over 6000 people. In August 2005 the band played a live acoustic session and took part in an interview on BBC local radio.

In the Autumn of 2005, aged just 15, Pinstripe came joint second in the Mid-Somerset Battle of the bands, the final was held at Kudos nightclub in the city of Wells in front of 600 people. Pinstripe received praise from the former manager of A-ha John Ratcliff and Julian Deene the original guitarist and songwriter with Toploader.

Pinstripe have now developed their own website with information on the band, photos and gig listings. 2006 has started well with Pinstripe winning the Crispin and Strode College Battle of the Bands in front of an audience of 350 people.

The judges who were Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis, BBC radio DJ Jo Phillips and top record producer James Winchester, awarded "This Feeling Inside" best original song and Pinstripe as the best overall band.

In February 2006 the band released their 'Critic Killer' CD single which features their self penned songs, Critic Killer, The Only One and This Feeling Inside. The self produced CD has sold over 400 copies to date.

Pinstripe have played more than 25 gigs in 2006 at venues such as The Bristol Carling Academy and Moles club Bath. The band recently made their Channel 4 TV debut in "On the road with Powder" which is part of the "Transmission with T-Mobile" music show. - Channel 4

Over 100 musicians entered, 10 bands made it through to the final, but only one of them could win the Somerset Battle of the Bands for a slot at Glastonbury 2007.

Shepton Mallet's Pinstripe triumphed in the competition which took place in Glastonbury on Saturday, 20 January, 2007.
Michael Eavis
Michael Eavis announces the winning band

Speaking to bbc.co.uk/somerset contributor Jo Cooksley just after they found out they had won, Pinstripe said: "It feels really good - we're just lost for words at the moment."

The band competed for a gig at this year's Glastonbury Festival in front of a panel of judges, which included none other than the festival founder himself, Michael Eavis.

"Pinstripe are the best band in the district," said Michael.

"I thought The Locarnos were absolutely brilliant too and also CarlRosa - they gave Pinstripe a really good run for their money - but I'm without a shadow of a doubt that Pinstripe were the best band of the evening."

To listen to the interviews, click on these audio links:
audio Interview: Pinstripe >
audio Interview: Michael Eavis >
Audio and Video links on this page require Realplayer

Organised by the Somerset County Youth Service, area heats took place at the end of 2006 and beginning of 2007.
The Locarnos
The Locarnos came close to winning

The 10 bands that got through to the final were:

* CarlRosa - South
* Headshot - South
* Joe Public - Mendip
* Pinstripe - Mendip
* Demo - Sedgemoor
* Jack Kade - Sedgemoor
* The Locarnos - Taunton and West
* The Luscious Rickys - Taunton and West

As well as the band competition, 25 young fashion designers, who created items from recycled materials, put on a fashion show.

Many of the finalists are featured in our Somerset Sounds section. To find out more about them, click on the links below. - BBC