More about: Coach party

The Isle of Wight music scene is really punching above its weight right now. Considering the whole island only contains around 140k people (which, for scale, is less than 2% of London's population), it seems to be simply plush with bands making big waves in 2022. With highly-touted rock duo Wet Leg already landing a UK No.1 Album for one of the biggest debuts of the year so far, it is now the turn of punk rock quartet Coach Party to enter your radar — if they aren’t on it already.

Comprising of frontwoman Jess Eastwood, guitarists Joe Perry and Steph Norris, along with drummer Guy Page, Coach Party may still live and work on the Isle of Wight but they certainly haven’t struggled to generate plenty of buzz. From their excellent first two EPs Party Food and After Party, to their raucous live shows supporting the likes of fellow indie darlings Sea Girls, We Are Scientists and The Mysterines, they’ve already gathered quite the loyal following from fans and critics alike. Now with their own headline tour due to take place next month and a host of festival appearances already lined up for the summer, they’re further whetting appetites with a new five track EP, titled Nothing Is Real – and it contains some of their very best songs to date. 

The band themselves have described life on the Isle of Wight as going “through pretty distinct phases of being a great, and a really frustrating place to live” and these polar opposite contrasts and bittersweet emotions seem to channel through all the songs here on Nothing Is Real. There’s both a strong sense of confidence and optimism to their work, but also an undertone of vulnerability, deflation, and anger.

Popular 2021 single 'FLAG (Feel Like A Girl)' opens proceedings and it comes flying full throttle out the gates, carrying with it all the vigour, energy and raw talent of an early Wolf Alice track. With seismic rock riffs and Eastwood’s punk vocals aggressively repeating the line “Wanna hurt you bad, just like how you hurt me” it’s the perfect start, and probably the best track on the whole EP.

'Shit TV' follows with its great rumbling bassline and hooky guitars, as Eastwood compares an abysmal yet addictive TV show to a failing relationship, and the conflicting feelings of both comfort and numbness that come with wasting time on both. '3 Kisses' is by far the poppiest track here and does border on being slightly too twee, even if the attention was to be wry and more sarcastic in tone. Either way, the catchy chorus and fun energy should win you over and at a concise two minutes in length, it doesn’t have time to overstay its welcome either. 

'Weird Me Out' is another strong highlight, an instant anthem with its spiralling scuzzy riffs and positive message to break free of controlling relationships and remember to be unapologetically yourself. With its huge self-affirming chorus of “Why do I care, I’m better than that”, it’s seemingly destined to be sung out by festival crowds in the not-so-distant future. Title track and recent single 'Nothing Is Real' closes things out in grand fashion, a melodic track built on dynamic swells of hazy guitars and another huge, soaring chorus.

Overall, Coach Party continue to go from strength-to-strength, with this latest EP another great showcase for their unique blend of attention-grabbing punk and stylish new wave. Although they may hail from an isolated remote island, going forward I’m certain their music will help keep them very well connected.

Nothing is Real arrives 29 April via Chess Club Records.

Grab your copy of the Gigwise print magazine here.

More about: Coach party