IT'S ALL INDIE

It seems bad to start a live review by referencing an artist that has nothing to do with band playing, but the first thing that strikes you as you walk into the 100 club is the similarity in the demographic of the audience, and the overall feeling of excited adulation, to a Mac Demarco show. But whereas Mac arouses this reaction through sheer force of personality, Alex Giannascoli, AKA Alex G, does it through the sheer power of his song-writing. One of the most prolific artists of the past couple of years, Alex has made a name for himself by producing cool, laid-back yet truly emotional songs, and indirectly become a ‘generation X’ pin-up for a swathe of disenchanted indie kids. Tonight’s set draws from the highlights of his 4 albums, naturally leaning heavily on recently released ‘Beach Music’ and break-out LP ‘DSU’. Taking to the stage in a low-key manner, Giannascoli and band faff around setting up before launching into the one-two punch of ‘Beach Music’ singles ‘Bug’ and ...

Introducing... KRAFTKLUB

Music from Germany doesn't exactly have the best reputation. Music IN German is usually pretty bad. One of the exceptions to this "tradition" is German band KRAFTKLUB. Describing their music isn't an easy task, leading to every music magazine in Germany assigning them to a different genre. If the band from Chemnitz, a city in former eastern Germany, were an instrumental band they would sound like an indie guitar band, similar to the Arctic Monkeys. But that's a big IF, since there's the not-so-small matter of lead singer Felix Brummer (whose brother Till plays bass for KRAFTKLUB). With him rapping often ironic and humorous lyrics and guitarist Karl Schumann occasionally singing they don't fit into any standard genre. In their song "Eure Mädchen", a song featured on FIFA 13, they claim: "Wir machen Pop Musik", (We make pop music) ironically showing that they themselves don't care who listens to their music and what their fans l...

Single Review... Ideals - Reflections

A standard Tuesday waiting around for the evening and what happens? Ideals suddenly release a FREE download of 'Reflections' An utter surprise and a lovely track to listen to on quite a dull day in Cambridge. I remember hearing this track way back in January when they headlined the Haymakers in Cambridge, still it lingered in my mind as one of those tracks always does, you can't remember much but when you hear the studio version you just get bowled over! Catchy hooks, riffs, pulsating bass lines and the drummer working so hardly make this track become one with Andrews catchy lyircs. "And if he looks in the mirror and sees a reflection Of a boy on the path to redemption" They seem to be getting better and better as time goes on by, this song (so far) is the jewel of the crown in their collection of songs... for now maybe? I think this can be one of their tracks that stands the test of time, much like 'Lungs' which I still listen to and will always love. Ide...

The Origins of Indie Rock Music: From Underground Roots to Global Stages

Indie rock music is one of the most beloved and influential genres in modern music. Known for its DIY ethos, raw authenticity, and refusal to conform to mainstream industry norms, indie rock has evolved from underground beginnings into a global movement. But where did indie rock come from, and how did it grow into the genre we know today? What Does “Indie Rock” Mean? The term “indie” originally stood for independent . In the late 1970s and early 1980s, bands that weren’t signed to major record labels released their music through smaller independent labels . Over time, the word “indie” became less about the business model and more about the sound and attitude —raw, experimental, and often outside the mainstream. The 1970s: Punk and Post-Punk Influence Indie rock’s origins are deeply tied to the punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. Bands like The Sex Pistols and The Clash proved that music didn’t need polished production or major backing to make an impact. Out of punk came post-punk ...

19 Of The Best British Female Vocalists

British vocalists always get praise all over the world, but a portion of them get over-looked at festivals and when radio stations do their 'playlists'. This is just a total shambles for equality and can be seen as sexist, especially when a certain festival rhyming with Bedding and Beads books an incredibly small amount of acts including a female - let alone female vocalists. I'm a guy and can't stand it that in 2018 sexism exists still, especially in the music industry when people write about their deepest feelings and express them to all. Below is a MASSIVE list of acts that have a female vocalist leading the group or an astonishing singer-songwriter proving that gender is just a word and you should be judged on music. If we go by these rules, if anything, the men will be put to shame! Fickle Friends Gabrielle Aplin Lucy Rose Wolf Alice Frances CHVRCHES Oh Wonder YONAKA ...

Oasis: Their Enduring Impact on Music and Hints of a 2026/27 Tour

Few bands have left as profound a mark on modern rock as Oasis . Emerging in the early 1990s from Manchester, the group — fronted by brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher — quickly rose to global fame with their signature blend of Britpop swagger, anthemic melodies, and unforgettable choruses. Today, decades after their debut, Oasis remain a cultural touchstone, their influence stretching across generations of indie and rock acts . The Oasis Sound and Legacy Oasis’ defining sound combined gritty guitar riffs, soaring vocals, and lyrics that balanced working-class grit with poetic ambition. Albums like Definitely Maybe (1994) and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995) became instant classics, propelling the band into international superstardom. Tracks such as Wonderwall , Don’t Look Back in Anger , and Champagne Supernova are now timeless sing-alongs that have transcended the era they were created in. Their influence can be heard in countless bands that followed, from Arctic Monkeys...

An Interview with... The Garden

The Garden are one of the most exciting young bands right now, live and recorded. From Orange County in California, the twins have built a name for themselves at home and across the pond but still show no signs of slowing down. Whilst on tour with Warpaint, the duo are playing a one of show at London's prestigious 100 Club where a sold out show get the chance to go wild to The Garden's unique style and stage performance. Photo by Nathan McLaren-Stewart Nathan McLaren-Stewart sat down with the band backstage before the band played to 350 sweaty fans to talk about playing rooms that hold up to 5000 people, their unique sound and girls stealing their jackets. When you come to the UK does it feel like you have already established that support you have back home in America or do you think that's something you need to work on? Wyatt: I think here and back home, both support systems aren't fully established. I think they're on their way and I think that the UK i...

New Sunday reveals their stunning single, "The Empty Street"

Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, is home to New Sunday, a studio project that has got some incredible sounds to them. The single is "The Empty Street," the third since launching early this year, and is a whimsical blend of cinematic acoustic music and driving folk beats, with some contemporary pop vocals polishing it off. ... a stunning cinematic folk-pop journey filled with soothing strings and atmospheric beauty. Built around songwriter Einar Askelsson's carefully crafted compositions, the track showcases her vocals and her attention to detail with her music. It is simply stunning, with the atmospheric sounds and the soothing violin strings offering you plenty of opportunities to feel like you can end up disappearing into her back catalogue of music. The song is incredibly well-written, with stunning vocals and incredible instrumentation. I feel like this is simply the beginning of this project and is no doubt one of the best rising artists that Iceland currently has. Want u...

Garett Gunderson reveals his nostalgic new track, "Anywhere Anytime"

Edmonton-based singer-songwriter and visual artist Garett Gunderson is back with his nostalgic slice of rock. The new track is titled "Anywhere Anytime", and it has this incredibly warm Americana rock undertone that has a distinct taste of the 1990s about it too. ... a warm and uplifting Americana rock anthem with 90s nostalgia, soaring choruses and a standout guitar solo. As you will be able to hear from the very start, it is incredibly uplifting and has a soaring chorus that is sure to get you on board well within the first minute. The song was written during a particularly difficult period of his life while he was supporting a terminally ill friend and a bandmate. But the overall feel of this song is less about sadness and is more of an upbeat affair that is sure to get you feeling better, even on the gloomiest of days. Be sure to keep an ear out for the guitar solo at around the midway point. That was, for me, a turning point in the song that got me hitting that replay bu...

Paul Ariss returns with the new single, "The Way You Are"

Paul Ariss is one of our favourite artists on this website, and the Prescott-based singer-songwriter is back with his new single, "The Way You Are". ... a warm and heartfelt indie rock gem with jangly guitars, Smiths-inspired charm and beautifully rich vocals. Much like his previous tracks, this is once more a warm and heartfelt indie rock offering with a smattering of jangly guitars that remind you almost of The Smiths in places. It's a very polished track and is certainly going to be one of his key tracks moving forward. One thing I personally loved was how, after the halfway point, the track became brighter, fuller, and the richness exploded, with his vocals becoming even better as far as I'm concerned. There's so much charm to this song, and as I was in the final third of the track, I had a lot of self-reflection and decided to give this track a play once more. It's a fantastic song by Paul, and I am certainly going to be giving this a play or two once the...