Five Favourites: Perennial

I remember being told by some friends who got to see New England’s Perennial live when they were last in the UK that it was one of the best shows they’d ever seen. The band’s chaotic frenzied energy was unmatched and the way they interacted with the crowd whilst delivering their immense mod-rock anthems was unlike anything they’d seen before. So, I am extremely excited that we’re going to have them playing for us next week! Come and experience this one-of-a-kind live show for yourself at A L P H A B E T in Brighton on 9th October, along with Kansas-born Piney Gir and Brighton’s own shoegaze superstars Minor Dents. Tickets are on DICE now and they’re cheaper in advance. In the meantime, listen to their epic new album Modernism (and all their back catalogue from the last few years) and get your dancing shoes ready.

We think one of the best ways to get to know a band is by asking what music inspires them. So, following the release of Modernism, we caught up with Chesley, Chad and Ceej to find out about the five albums that inspired the writing of the new album the most. Read about their five favourites, listen to the Modernism on repeat, get tickets to one of their UK tour dates and watch the glorious video for recent single ‘Ready! Steady! Go!‘ below:

The Who – A Quick One
Our favourites are always changing, so we’ve decided to really focus on the key albums that influenced our new record, Modernism. And A Quick One by The Who is at the very top of that list. It’s a pop art masterpiece — catchy and tuneful and tight while also being brilliantly experimental and abstract and sonically adventurous. It’s all melody and weirdness. We really loved that idea of a compact, 10-song pop record that also finds all this room for more elliptical, left-field stuff. Even within individual songs the record will go from power pop to abstract noise at the drop of a hat. Hooks and killer melodies and feedback and weird sonic collages: What’s not to love? A really, really important album for us.

The Jam – Sound Affects
A lot of what is so brilliant about A Quick One also applies to Sound Affects, another short sharp record full of hooks with all this heady, arty stuff just beneath the surface. Of course the mod sound/aesthetic is a really important element for us, and what The Jam are doing here is the iteration of mod that is most at the heart of what we’re doing today. There’s this very stylish, almost playful post-modernism going on on Sound Affects that we really dig. Take something like ‘Start’, which is so clearly and brazenly borrowing the groove and riffs of The Beatles’ ‘Taxman’, but The Jam trust themselves to bring enough electricity and wit to the table that they can really reframe how that very classic groove works and what it has to say. Just a very cool record featuring one of our favourite bands at the height of their powers.

Various Artists – Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971
I’m fully aware this is probably cheating since this record is a four-disc compilation, but I don’t think there’s a single album that has shaped us more as songwriters and producers. That sense of specificity, of pop songwriting as a widescreen, cinematic endeavor full of detail and personality. Then there’s the production on these records: all this experimentation with instrumentation and arrangement and mixing and effects, but all devoted to making these pop gems are memorable and striking as possible. Add to that the fact that this run of songs is, to my mind, the absolute acme of pop music. In particular the mid-60s Motown singles from The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, etc… etc… etc… is just astonishing. ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’, ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’, ‘It’s The Same Old Song’, ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’, ‘Heatwave’, ‘Up-tight’. I could go on and on. Perfection.

Elvis Costello & The Attractions – This Year’s Model (1978)
Pop music played as punk music. Costello’s lyrics on this one are unreal; the way he’s able to put together his phrases, his images, his rhyme schemes. It’s always so clever and sharp and fluid, and on this record in particular its all married to this really dynamic, punchy power pop sound. Poetry that stings while electric organs and Fender basses bash away as accompaniment. ‘Pump It Up’, for instance, is just a marvel. Lyrics that good atop a garage rock stomper that perfect. My goodness! As a working pattern of a record that is so flawlessly tailored and such an endless pleasure to listen to, This Year’s Model really can’t be beat.

The Go! Team – Thunder Lightning Strike (2005)
The hooks, the energy, the studio-as-instrument Technicolor joy. An endlessly re-listenable record. We caught The Go! Team live last year on the anniversary tour for this LP and it was such a beautiful, life-affirming night, and a reminder of just how incredible Thunder Lightning Strike is. There’s this collage effect to the way these songs are put together, where there is some really adventurous studio craft, some real experimental production stuff, but it’s all directed towards melody and energy and making the songs that much catchier and that much more electric. It’s a sonic sugar rush, and a really inspiring album to listen to while you’re working on a new project. This absolute burst of infectious creativity.

Huge thanks to Perennial for sharing their Five Favourites with us! Their new album Modernism is out now and we cannot wait to host them live at A L P H A B E T in Brighton next Friday, 9th October. Tickets available on Dice now. In the meantime, get in the mood by watching their glorious recent video for ‘Ready! Steady! Go!’:


And, if Brighton’s not handy for you, catch Perennial on any of their other UK dates over the next couple of weeks. All tickets here.

Perennial UK Tour Dates:

8th Oct – Oxford – The Library
9th Oct – Brighton – Alphabet
10th Oct – Liverpool – Outpost
11th Oct – Leeds – Grindhouse
13th Oct – Nottingham – JT Soar
14th Oct – Coventry – Just Dropped In
15th Oct – Manchester – The Modernist Gallery Shop
16th Oct – London – The Cavendish Arms

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Video Premiere: Gabi Garbutt – ‘Snaggletooth’

Having been a big fan of Gabi Garbutt since the release of their 2022 album Cockerel, and being utterly charmed seeing them live supporting queer folk legend Grace Petrie back in 2024, it’s been great to see them go from strength to strength over the last few years; they’ve received acclaim from the likes of Cerys Matthews and Chris Hawkins on BBC 6Music and John Kennedy on Radio X, had a chat with fellow ‘punk poet’ John Cooper Clarke for Clash, and now their recently released new album Radical Love has showcased just what a beautifully gifted songwriter and storyteller they are.

Following the release of the album’s poignant title track and the driving danceable allure of recent single ‘Lightning Held‘, Gabi is now sharing ‘Snaggletooth’. Flowing with lilting folk-strewn melodies, the track offers a heartwarming reflection on childhood; a beautifully stirring ode to being different, and finding comfort in music and nature, it’s yet another example of their exquisite songwriting and ability to ruminate on life’s challenges in a way that’s both relatable and empowering. Of the track, they explain:

“This song is about being a weirdo kid. It’s about not fitting in and instead getting lost in nature and the untamed energy of rock & roll. It’s about how that little troubled kid with a snaggletooth, obsessed with music, animals and birds, is still very much a part of me.”

‘Snaggletooth’ is accompanied by a wonderfully hand-crafted new stop-motion video. Made by Gabi with help from GIHE fave Jemma Freeman, it perfectly portrays the nostalgia and reflective sentiment of the track, using Gabi’s actual childhood toys!

Watch the video for the first time here:


Radical Love, the new album from Gabi Garbutt, is out now via INH Records.

And make sure you catch Gabi Garbutt celebrating the release, headlining for us at The Cavendish Arms this Thursday 10th September! Support comes from Celeste Madden with her dreamy, shoegaze-tinged offerings and First Timers Fest alumni The JuOh. Would love to see you there! Tickets are on Dice now and cheaper in advance (but we don’t turn anyone away for lack of funds so please do ping us a message if you fancy coming but would just like to pay what you want on the door).

Photo Credit: Suzi Corker

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New Track: CHROMA – ‘Don’t Wanna Go Out’

Having just announced the release of their debut album, out via Alcopop! next month, and with news of an exciting support slot with (my most watched band in the world) Foo Fighters next year, Welsh band CHROMA are definite ones to watch right now. And, with acclaim from the likes of John Kennedy at Radio X and BBC Radio 1’s Alyx Holcombe, their instantly catchy new single showcases all there is to love about Pontypridd’s band on the rise.

Propelled by the band’s distinctive relentless energy, ‘Don’t Wanna Go Out‘ reflects on feelings of FOMO and the pressure to go out and socialise. Raging with seething hooks and front woman Katie Hall’s fiercely raw vocals, it offers a compelling slice of biting garage-rock; a relatable and dance-able anthem that’ll cement itself in the ears on first listen, demanding multiple plays immediately.

Currently in Korea, playing DMZ Peace Train Festival, CHROMA are excited to share their debut album with the world. Entitled Ask For Angela, it shares its name with the UK wide campaign to prevent sexual assault in the UK, and showcases the band’s knack for creating empowering, inclusive offerings covering poignant topics ranging from trans rights and violence against women, to their experiences of growing up in the Welsh countryside. Of the album, they add:

“This album takes us in a direction that we as a band feel as if it affirms the sound that we’ve always wanted to create, and with thanks to Steffan Pringle and Tom E1 Mastering and Duplication, they’ve helped bring these songs to life. ‘Ask For Angela’ is no longer just ours, but it’s yours, now and forever. We hope you find as much joy in this record as it was for us to create.”

And, on their return from Korea, they’re heading straight up to London next Friday 8th September to headline for us at Shacklewell Arms – we couldn’t be more excited. It seems to be their only London show for a while, so do come and join us in moshing along to their gritty energy in a fairly intimate venue, before they hit the stadium next year!


Ask For Angela, the debut album from CHROMA, is set for release on 20th October via Alcopop! Records. Pre-order here. And make sure you don’t miss them live at Shacklewell Arms on 8th September, with support from Leeds band wormboys and Brighton’s UrgentSea – nab tickets here!

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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INTERVIEW: ALT BLK ERA

Formed of sisters Nyrobi and Chaya, genre-defying duo ALT BLK ERA create tenacious alternative tunes designed to showcase their vivid personalities. Inspired by the likes of Ashnikko, Hacktivist, The Prodigy and Billie Eilish, they blur the boundaries of pop punk, nu-metal, rap and electronic music to form their riotous sounds.

By combining jagged electronics, heavy riffs and racing beats with raging lyrics, the pair have created an alternative statement of self autonomy on their debut EP, Freak Show, which perfectly showcases their antagonistic, youthful spirit. We caught up with Nyrobi and Chaya to talk about their new release (out on 1st September), their recent performances at Reading & Leeds and Glastonbury, and the love they’ve received from fans who have discovered their music…

 

For anyone who doesn’t already know, can you explain how you came to be ALT BLK ERA?

We’re sisters from Nottingham and we have been singing together for as long as I (Nyrobi) can remember. It became a regular daily feature when we would do our chores, washing up, with music blasting from our Apple iPod. This is where we learnt how to harmonise so easily with one another.

I’m the chief song-writer (Nyrobi) however, I work best with my sister Chaya by my side. She’ll add key parts, change things or say a straight no – so it’s a dual process. We sound so different, and we have such different personalities that we have to work closely together throughout the creative process.

Your own music is a blend of lots of different genres (nu-metal, rap, pop punk, electronic/rave) – talk us through your process of combining these styles and merging them into your songs…

We grew up on Reggae, Soul and R&B – so these elements are at our core. However, we stumbled upon the world of Metal and DnB when we were trying to express something harder and edgier than what we knew.

We haven’t got a step-by-step process. We sit with a beat. We have a song title and theme and then we ride the creativity wave. If we hit a wall – we write something else and then come back to it later down the line. There’s no pressure. We have fun making our music and if we want to throw in a bit of opera – we do exactly that. If we want to throw in a few bars of rap, we do that. There are no rules. This works for and against us because the industry wants to give a title to what we do. At one point we felt pressured to label our music genre – but it isn’t one thing so we generally call it ‘Alternative’.

You’re gearing up to release your debut EP, Freak Show, on the 1st September. What are you most proud of about this release?

We love that the EP is a story of where we started from. Our feelings of sitting outside of the mainstream. It feels like we’re getting a lot off our chest and we’ve found that so many others relate to what we’re singing about. We’re still really young, so the school experience has been a major area of our lives. What’s amazing is how many older listeners share with us that they wish they had us around when they were growing up. This is what we are most proud of – being able to connect with a range of people who identify themselves in our music. All the songs have a slightly different twist on them, and there are a range of energies that we share – from defiance to empowerment, to encouragement and love of yourself and others.

Do you have a favourite track on the EP? If so, why?

We of course love every track on the EP, but Chaya holds a special place in her heart for the title track, ‘Freak Show’ and I am loving ‘I’m Normally Like This’ – but this could change. It depends where we’re at emotionally as each track can speak strongly to you at different times.

Your music and your aesthetic both make a strong statement about individuality and not being afraid to express yourself. How has this message impacted your listeners? Have people reached out to talk to you about these things?

It’s been so wonderful to see the reaction. Our music is about celebrating who we all are which we especially see when we perform live. We’re tired of the pressures to conform. There have been a few haters that can’t help but share their thoughts about us and what we stand for – but we forgive them because they maybe haven’t heard our lyrics where we say “We don’t give a damn if you like it!”

People are always reaching out to us. We talk about some deep issues in our music, including violence against women. We get so many comments and private messages from people who have or who are struggling with their mental health and self-love – who say our music is helping them. Parents and grandparents introduce our music to their children and grandchildren. People from marginalised communities reach out to us and thank us for making them feel safe and heard.

Older true Metal Heads tell us how much they love our music. Rap artists tell us that they love the music we are making. What’s also beautiful is how many people from the Black community reach out to us too. Either they’ve never liked Rock/Metal music before or they have not seen enough representation. This is clear in our live shows when there are so many people from different walks of life join us in one room.

You performed at Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds Festival this year! Talk to us about these sets… 

OMGosh! Glastonbury was a dream. We have so much love for Earache Records for taking a risk on two teenage girls and putting us on their Takeover of the Truth Stage at Shangri-la. The highlight was when we looked over at each other in the middle of our set and we both knew what the other was thinking… “It’s really happening!” We were so happy.

We headlined the BBC Introducing stages at Reading & Leeds Festival. Again, another dream come true. We just wanted the audience to enjoy themselves and feel part of something new. We had people screaming back at us and joining in the chants it was spectacular. We’re still processing the experience.

You played live for Get In Her Ears supporting STRAIGHT GIRL in July and we loved your set. What do you enjoy most about playing live?

We love seeing the energy of the crowd. We love how we take them through different mood states and how we all experience it together. From soft, weird, to full out moshing. Live is the most wonderful thing! Thank you for having us! (see pics of the night here)

What does the rest of 2023 hold for ALT BLK ERA?

We have a few things lined up. We will be supporting Lord Of The Lost at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – this is another massive step for us and we’re so excited for this. On the 3rd November we have our headline show in Nottingham, where we will also be sharing music that we plan to release in 2024. It’s going to be a full on party!

Finally, as we’re a new music blog, we always ask for new music recommendations. Is there a band or artist who you’ve been listening to lately that you’d like to give a shout out to?

We have three we’d like to mention: PleasePretty Lea, Gender Crisis and Ruena. Do not sleep on these artists!!!

Follow ALT BLK ERA on bandcamp, Spotify, Tik Tok, Twitter (X), Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Fabrice Gagos

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate Crudgington1 Comment