Photo: Press
NME Awards tours feature some great bands but it’s not exactly the tour that its Wikipedia claims it to be. It's not a showcase of “the main protaganists independent alternative rock scene.” Its most recent tour is a case in point as the band Blossoms, great as they are, are not an alternative rock band, they are a pop band signed to a major label. Cabbage, the main support, are also rumoured to have inked a major deal. As such the idea of an alternative band tour is something that’s sold to the public through an aesthetic rather than a factual reality.
Cue then the Alive tour put on by promoter This Feeling. They have put together a four band bill of groups actually still at an independent stage. The role this tour serves their career is life-changing as opposed to a glamour trail that they could opt in or out from. This tour is an example of how getting four bands on the verge of gate-crashing the mainstream can help them get to the next level. The DNA of these bands is naturally hard grafting and they are at a stage that the likes of Blossoms and Cabbage have certainly gone through, but they are still there, in the shadows of the nation at large, but in the spotlight for a dedicated few. So to say it’s an alternative independent group of bands is actually true. They’re all going to be crammed into the smallest splitters with eight in a transit bed taking turns on Fifa until they get to the next town. They’re all on the circuit playing small venues, partying with the fans.
It’s this personable attitude that unites these groups, and it translates to the way they treat each other. Of this kinship, Anastacia Walker, singer in Doncaster-based band Bang Bang Romeo, says “I’m sat here with The Shimmer Band, Blackwaters, and Blinders, “these are superstars to me," and that says it all. From within the circle of bands doing the indie circuit this four have small, but tight and dedicated followings. They also have a healthy sense of apathy, even remorse for mainstream culture.
The singer of The Shimmer Band feels alienated from mainstream pop culture, and that seems to spur him on: “It’s us against prime time and all that shit,” he says from behind is dark sunglasses as he quietly belittles Ant and Dec in his head. It seems there's a real of transformation brewing from within these young bands hearts. They're out there on the road interacting with all kinds of people, and playing music that they’ve all written themselves through massively loud rigs that are owing to cause colossal crowd reactions. They realise that this is where it’s at – it’s not about sitting at home doing nothing and moaning about what’s wrong with mainstream culture, they’re all in the process of creating an alternative.
The way these guys think is also very healthy. The Blinders are especially switched on and slam the current government. Their sound, too, is very subversive, darkly distorted and is almost the embodiment of what can happen if you oppress young people’s opportunity through cuts. They seem to have quietly got wound up over the years of excrtiatingly digesting the news and express all their anger through their instruments. This is taking the power back the old fashioned way and more effective than telling people what to think, is showing you how they feel, and The Blinders do a phenomenal job of articulating their frustration.
The Shimmer Band, on the other hand, are more euphoric and more likely to be found bumbling about a field looking for shrooms than they are at a picket line and their contrasting sound reflects this. The Shimmer Band write anthems, huge song with choruses that can unite thousands, so they’ll be the psychedelic indie euphoria every hedonistic reprobate in this country will need.
Bang Bang Romeo, meanwhile, have so much power through their lead vocalist with their Last Shadow Puppets meets Fleetwood Mac sound they can’t help but grab the attention of everyone in the room and bring people together. Lastly, ppening band Blackwaters, based in Surrey, but very much from Essex, are the new Libertines. They offer that insane rush you get from going to live gigs through pacey guitar, sharp-witted lyricism, and pounding drums. This tour is going to blow the roof off, and get people off their sofas, and into a world where everyone fits in.
Tickets for 'alive' will be available here from Friday 2 June at 9am. Tour dates are as follows
01 Oct Bristol Thekla
02 Oct Cardiff Glee Club
03 Oct Birmingham 02 Institute 2
05 Oct Belfast The Limelight
06 Oct Glasgow 02 ABC3
08 Oct Manchester Academy 2
09 Oct Leeds The Wardrobe
10 Oct Hull The Welly Club
11 Oct Nottingham Glee Club
13 Oct Sheffield The Plug
14 Oct London Electric Ballroom
15 Oct Brighton Concorde 2
