Southpaw - In With A Chance?
 |
| Southpaw - In With A Chance? |
Release Date: 18th July 2014
If you'd asked me half an hour
ago where Retford was I would have had a guess but I wouldn't been right. But
now, thanks to this trio of guitar toting upstarts, I have been compelled to
find out where Retford is (to save you a job, it's just East of Sheffield and
Derby). Anyway, Geography lesson over. Southpaw are a power-punk-indie trio and
the opening track of their EP, 'I Don't Dance' is a triumph in controlled exuberance
with early Arctic Monkeys spirit and three chord punk riffs powered along by pounding drums. 'If I Was Taken' has a more
laid back feel but singer-guitarist Khalil Adesanya has definitely been to the
Alex Turner/Jake Bugg academy of lyricism as he sings of late night texts and
unwanted attention.
The energy and enthusiasm of
the band is quite infectious but they have the songs to back it up and I would
go so far as to say that Southpaw are one of the most engaging young British
bands I have heard in a long time. 'Realistic Optimistic' is up next and has
elements of the Hives as well as that Arctic Monkeys influence but also has a
wonderfully bitter monologue in the middle of the song which reveals the punk heart
of everything Southpaw do. The EP closes with 'Adrenaline Kick', a song that is
in danger of derailing itself before Adesanya's vocals kick in like a cross
between Collapsed Lung and Zach De La Rocha. Maybe saying that Southpaw have
just put Retford on the map is a relatively underwhelming claim but they should
be proud of their music and Retford should be proud of their new local heroes.
Ones to watch and I only use that phrase when I absolutely mean it.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreSouthpaw
Live Dates:
18th July - EP Launch @ Doncaster Warehouse, Doncaster
19th July - Bun Fest @ Newcastle Arms, Retford
20th July -Redhouse, Sheffield
25th July - The Rocking Chair @ Tramlines, Sheffield
26th July - Redhouse @ Tramlines, Sheffield
1st August, Bar One @ Sheffield University, Sheffield
24th August - Henrys, Scunthorpe
25th August - Grimsthorpe Festival
13th September - O2 Academy, Sheffield