THE LIKE

Finding an exquisite balance between the 60’s girl group and British Invasion sounds they adore, and a lyrical point of view that can only be described as impossibly modern, LA based quartet The Like have come into their own.

Their long awaited new album Release Me is the product of hard work, fortuitous new partnerships and great songs that reflect a long and winding period where the band has collectively been through it all and come out on the other side far stronger for the experience.

Produced by Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Robbie Williams) with additional production by Thomas Brenneck and Homer Steinweiss (of The Dap Kings), and Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet), Release Me crackles and pops with girlgroup sass. Tracks like He’s Not A Boy – released as the first single on 31st May - and Don't Make a Sound somehow find the place where the edge of the Animals and the heartbreak of the Shangri-Las meet and are infused with an edgy, clear-eyed romanticism that are irresistible.

At the band’s core is the partnership between founding members Z Berg (lead vocals, guitar and main songwriting duties) and Tennessee Thomas (drums) who formed the all-girl band when they were 15. While Z and Tennessee are understandably thrilled with Release Me, they’re also ecstatic about the two newest members of the band, Laena Geronimo (bass) and Annie Monroe (organ). “We never intended to be a girl band,” says Tennessee. “But we became rather pleased about it eventually,” she says with a laugh.

Releasing three EP’s, which they sold at shows and on their website, the band quickly formed a rabid fan base and garnered immediate media coverage, which got them a record deal at Geffen Records. In 2006, they released their debut album Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking to critical acclaim, and toured worldwide, playing Coachella, the Wireless Festival, and opening for bands such as Muse and Kings of Leon.

Following up their debut album is where things got a bit mad. The band recorded a follow up in 2007, but it was clear that something wasn’t working, and shelved it. It was in that space of uncertainty that the band found some much needed good fortune. Tennessee recalls, “When things were crazy with the band, I ran away to England for a week, and the first night I was there I ran into (producer) Mark Ronson.” This run in led to Mark offering to record The Like’s album, which transformed the band. Z explains, “What Mark did was systematically take the songs right back to their original form. We spent almost 48 hours straight with Mark arranging the songs properly before we went into the studio, and then we recorded them live to half-inch tape with one mic on the drums - which is terrifying, but after recording that way, I truly believe there’s no other way to record.” Tennessee adds, “Before Mark, we recorded everything nitpicky and perfect, track by track. But on those great 60’s records, the mistakes were some of the best parts of it. It was chaos most of the time - but it absolutely brought us together as a band. We recorded for six days with Mark - and we got nine songs. Then we did four days with Alex Greenwald and the Dap-Kings. It was miraculous and we became far more confident as a band.”

You can hear that confidence in seemingly every note of Release Me. The album’s title track, Release Me, shimmers with a melody that’s like a glorious summer day, but the yearning of the lyric and the minor chords in the bridge create a mood of frustrated romanticism that, well, can’t help but remind one of the way John Lennon’s edge curbed Paul McCartney’s sunniness to make both far more resonant. Narcissus In A Red Dress throbs with a sense of warning and betrayal in the arena of love, a topic that Release Me deals with in full. “We all had our hearts broken while we were making this record,” says Tennessee, but somehow that heartbreak shimmers, as in the gorgeous In The End, where Tennessee’ s driving and propulsive beat and Z’s commanding yet elegant lead vocals (and gorgeous “oohs” and background vocals) create a three-minute slice of pop nirvana.

Fresh off their US tour with the Arctic Monkeys the band returned to the UK in May for a storming string of London dates and will return to the UK in September for a full UK tour. “We were home a lot the past few years,” says Z, “and I’m excited to get out there.” She continues with a grin, “We’re a very different kind of band now, and it’s a very different kind of show. One with infinitely more energy!” Indeed, Release Me heralds the arrival of a stronger, tighter, and more enthused band, one with a stronger and deeper sense of who they are, all of which comes out in their undeniable new music.

SUNDAY GIRL

Like many pop stars, Jade Williams, who will soon become very well known as Sunday Girl, started out singing along to the radio in her bedroom. Unlike most pop stars, though, it was because she was too scared to do anything else. "I was terrified of singing in front of anyone. My mum used to listen to me through the door, and when I was 17 she took me to a hypnotist to cure my fear. I had to do it because I'd always had a weird feeling that I needed to do something with singing and I felt guilty that I wasn't doing it."

She made up that lost time, finding genres from ska to the doomy end of synth pop and performing with jazz covers bands around her home town of Broxbourne in Hertfordshire. Now, aged 21, the covers are behind her. As Sunday Girl, Williams has found her own melancholic yet uplifting sound, honed with producers such as Diplo and Jim Elliot (a favourite of Kylie and Ladyhawke). She is a strong addition to the wave of synth-friendly feisty female artists such as Alison Goldfrapp and Bat for Lashes. She has also created the artwork for her forthcoming single and styled her publicity photos. "I like things to be simple," she explains. "My look is 'scruffy Chanel' because I love Coco Chanel's style, plain and masculine. It's a nice contrast to my music, which I want to feel like a wall of beautiful sound."

The name's not a reference to the Blondie song, by the way. It's a nickname earned by working at a pet shop before she left school to study set design at Wimbledon College of Art. "I worked every Sunday but nobody knew my name so they just called me Sunday Girl. I loved that job and was devastated when I had to leave to go to university. The best thing about the job was cuddling puppies and I fostered so many animals – kittens, guinea pigs, rabbits. Once I brought home a mastiff puppy and told my mum it was a small breed dog. She still didn't let me keep it."

Williams says her family is a bit bemused by her imminent pop stardom. "My dad was in the British judo team when he was younger and my mum's an estate agent. Music isn't their thing so they don't really know what I'm up to. When my dad sees this article, I hope it will sink in." "Four Floors" is available on iTunes now. "Stop Hey" will be released in June

STORNOWAY

The folky indie pop band Stornoway takes its name from a town in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, but the group hails from Oxford, England. Singer/guitarist Brian Briggs, keyboardist/string player Jonathan Ouin, bassist Ollie Steadman, and drummer Rob Steadman (a pair of brothers from South Africa) formed the band while they were attending Oxford University; the well-studied band includes an ornithologist and a Russian translator among its ranks. The band debuted its jangly, largely acoustic sound — which has drawn comparisons to James, Belle & Sebastian and XTC — with a self-titled EP that included the song “Zorbing,” which was inspired by and named after the sport of rolling down a hill in a transparent sphere. Another early single was 2007’s “The Good Fish Guide,” a musical list of which fish are plentiful to eat and which are endangered; its profits went to the Marine Conservation Society. Stornoway continued to refine their sound and had a breakthrough 2009: they headlined the BBC Introducing stage at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend that May and officially released "Zorbing," which included Briggs’ brother Adam on trumpet, as a single that July. That summer, they also played festivals including Glastonbury, and wrote a tour journal for the Daily Telegraph. Their second single, "Unfaithful," which featured violin courtesy of touring member Rahul Satija, arrived that September, a month before Stornoway’s first headlining tour of the U.K. The band closed out the year by making the longlist for the BBC’s Sounds of 2010 poll.

WE ARE THE OCEAN

LIVE IN CAMBRIDGE.

2ND OCTOBER

AT ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY

We Are The Ocean is an English post-hardcore band based in Loughton, Essex.

The band consists of five members: Dan Brown (Vocals), Liam Cromby (Guitar/Vocals), Alfie Scully (Guitar), Jack Spence (Bass) and Tom Whittaker (Drums).

The band formed in 2007 and have since toured with such bands as The Used, Lostprophets, Underoath, Thrice, Funeral For A Friend, Fightstar and You Me At Six.

They released their debut self-titled EP on 4 August 2008. Only 1000 copies were pressed and it is now highly sought-after.

On 16 November 2009 they released their sophomore effort, “Look Alive EP”. This featured two tracks from their upcoming album, as well as two tracks exclusive to the EP.

Their debut full-length album “Cutting Our Teeth” was released in the UK and Europe on 1 February 2010, through Hassle Records. It has also seen an Australian release through Shock Records.

We are giving you the chance to WIN a FREE copy of WE ARE THE OCEAN's brand new album "Cutting Our Teeth"

To get yours simply upload a photo of you holding your WE ARE THE OCEAN Ticket to their gig in Cambridge in October.

Email your picture to streetteam@spclive.co.uk

FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.

Good Luck

SPC Live

I AM ARROWS

...start their residency at East London's Old Blue Last on 17th May... followed by two more shows on the 8th May and 8th June.

Already previewed as one of NME’s Albums of 2010, I Am Arrows’ debut is chock-full of tunes. Beautiful pop songs that suggest Seventies soul, modern ‘beats and bleeps’, and timeless melodies. Heartfelt songs about love, doubt, confusion, romance and, here and there, the mercurial ‘bromance’ he had with his former bandmates. The songs are small but huge, warmly fuzzy but perfectly formed, instantly appealing and naggingly unforgettable.

A skilled multi-instrumentalist - he played every instrument on the album - and an extraordinarily talented songwriter, in Razorlight, Burrows was an intrinsic part of the success of that band’s multi-million selling eponymous second album before his departure in 2008. Burrows made the forthcoming album with producer Eliot James (Noah and The Whale, Bloc Party) at Eastcote studios in West London. After a long time (literally) taking a backseat, Andy Burrows and his songs are front and centre. Ideas, for so long stoppered up, are flooding out of him. You can hear this – the relief, the fun, the ambition, the talent – in the songs bursting all over the album.

In addition to his solo work, Andy Burrows has been enjoying getting back behind the drumkit once more in sessions with We Are Scientists for their new album, set for release this spring.

For I Am Arrows’ live shows, Andy Burrows is joined by bandmates including his brother, Ben. The full band comprises Burrows (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Adam Chetwood (guitar), Nick Hill (guitar), Ben Burrows (bass) and Ben Chetwood (drums).

Get your Free I AM ARROWS download here:
http://www.iamarrows.com/

PETE LAWRIE

Is headlining The Old Queens Head in Islington on 24th May.

Pete Lawrie is going to be Massive. But don't just take our word for it...

This is what the experts have to say....

"proper melodies and Pete has an amazing voice made to make grown Da Banks quiver" 

Rob Da Bank (BBC Radio 1 / Sunday Best)

"Pete Lawrie has a voice that cuts you to the quick...This is the sound of artists waking up. I love it." 

Hamish (Breaks Co-op)

"beautifully crafted, emotionally resonant songs with melodies so beguiling you can hang your heartbreaks on them. An exceptional talent." 

Adam Walton (BBC Radio Wales)

"Beautiful songs, emotional melodies laced with a voice that hurts you and then makes it all better" 

(Out of Hand magazine)

"He growls like a murderous truck driver, his voice all burnt ochre and autumn leaves. He songs are relentless and intense, bruising cameos of bluesy rock that leave you exhausted and grimacing – but totally in a good way."

Some of it was true! (music blog)

FENECH SOLER

Fenech-Soler is a band from Kings Cliffe, United Kingdom, playing electronic music. The band consists of Ross Duffy, Ben Duffy, Daniel Soler & Andrew Lindsay. Apart from recording their own tunes, they are known for their remixing work, most notably and recently the song ‘Hollywood’ by Marina & the Diamonds. They have been gaining much attention on both sides of the Atlantic, not to mention a lot of critics’ appraisal.

To date, they have released two singles: The Cult Of Romance and Lies, both available on iTunes.

Recently, the band’s vocalist Ben Duffy was featured on the track Paper Romance by Groove Armada taken from their latest album Black Light.

CHIDDY BANG

Chiddy Bang

O2 Academy Oxford 2. 14th May.

Tickets only £8 in advance from http://www.crowdsurge.com

Chiddy Bang are;
Chiddy (Proto,19, MC)
Xaphoon Jones (Noah, 19, DJ/producer)

Chiddy Bang, the duo from Philly who have won plaudits for their art of mixing fresh hip hop lyrics with samples from indie and electronica favourites return to the UK this week to support the release of their debut single, ‘Opposite of Adults’, which samples the MGMT track, ‘Kids’.

In the last few weeks the track has been number 1 on the Hype Machine chart, number 3 on the Shazam chart and has received nearly 800,000 plays on the band’s myspace page, receiving 5000 plays per day.

The hilarious fun filled videos for the track has just been uploaded on to youtube and have received over 250,000 views in a week. Watch the video here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McRgkE_vgjU

Chiddy Bang have produced an unofficial remix of Gorillaz single, ‘Stylo’ which has been getting an amazing reaction. Listen here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9AC7AAB0RU

Having received praise from Kanye on his blog, see here; www.kanyeuniversecity.com, and after playing a show with Wale in Los Angeles, the band return to the UK to play dates in May.

As the confinements of urban music become looser and looser Chiddy Bang are out to prove Hip Hop aint dead...it just ain't the same – this is the new skool. And maybe that's a good thing.

GOOD SHOES

Good Shoes Headline Southend's infamous Chinnerys on 20th April.

Tickets only only £8 in advance from www.crowdsurge.com

Check the Facebook event here:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=288505048708&index=1

Click "Attending" to be entered in to a draw for the chance to win Good Shoes; Goodies, Tickets and CD's

Much loved Morden natives Good Shoes are back and embarking on a mammoth UK and European tour through out Jan Feb and April. On the road Promoting their amazing brand new album "No Hope, No Future"

Good Shoes have announced details of the release of a new single. Released on April 19 through Brille, 'The Way My Heart Beats' is taken from the Morden group's second album 'No Hope, No Future', which was released earlier this year.

Featuring new songs, 'Easier Easier', 'Run Away With Me' and 'Stand By', the release will coincide with their upcoming 12-date tour of the UK.

Beginning with a show at Norwich Arts Centre on April 19, the four-piece will end the gig-run at Derby's Royal on May 1.

THE EIGHTIES MATCHBOX B LINE DISASTER

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN!!

The wait is finally over...Essex, get ready for night you wont forget. Eighties Matchbox are back on the road, and coming to The Square in Harlow on Saturday 1st May. Tickets only £9 in advance from www.crowdsurge.com / £10 on the door.

Originally formed in 1999, the band comprised Guy McKnight (vocals), Andy Huxley (lead guitarist), Marc R. Norris (rhythm guitarist), Symren 'Sym' Gharial (bassist), and Tom Diamantopoulo (drummer). The band are renowned for their intense live shows, where McKnight regularly leaves the stage during numbers to mingle with the crowd.

The band have played at both The Glastonbury Festival and The Reading and Leeds Festivals for several years running. They have also toured and supported many mainstream bands, including; System of a Down, Placebo, Klaxons, Murderdolls, Queens of the Stone Age and Scars on Broadway.