Real Friends Gig Review

On April 14, the American five-piece Real Friends played a gig at Epic Studios in Norwich as part of their tour, 'The Home Inside My Head'. The tour was named after their second studio album which was released May 27 of 2016. Real Friends put on an excellent show and had a set which had just the right blend of old and new songs.

The band opened with "Empty Picture Frames" which couldn't have been a better choice; it instantly got the crowd going and formed a connection between the band and audience. From the set they played on Friday, it is clear that Real Friends have refined their craft to put on an incredibly slick performance. Lead singer Lambton's vocals shone throughout the set and his charisma boosted the good performance to become a great one.

Musically, every aspect of the performance was sound and tight but there was a further element that the band nailed which was that of crowd interaction. Letting members of the audience sing into the microphone, encouraging crowd surfing and welcoming crowd surfers onto stage is to name a few of the outstanding aspects the band threw in. This made everything more personal and made the crowd feel welcomed and exuded class; perhaps it's less 'The Home Inside My Head' and more 'The Home Inside the Real Friends Crowd'.

Every second of the set that the Illinoisan band played was beyond all expectations and the intimate nature of the venue exemplified their talent. In the band, each member is as crucial and talented as the next and they have the tracks to prove it. The wonderful reaction of the audience to the band's performance proves how brilliant their gig was. 

Did you see Real Friends on Friday 14 April or on a different date? Why not comment below or on Twitter at @TheRiffReviews ?

More from Real Friends: 

• Twitter - @realfriendsband
• Facebook - Real Friends
• YouTube - realfriendsband
• Site - realfriendsband.com
• Instagram - @realfriendsband

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"Eternity, In Your Arms" - Creeper, Album Review

Above: album artwork for "Eternity, In Your Arms" (image from Twitter @creepercultuk)

Released on March 24th 2017, Creeper's debut studio album "Eternity, In Your Arms" came out via Roadrunner Records. The band are a six-piece from Southampton and have been together since 2014. Considered to be 'Horror Punk' this LP certainly reflects the essence of what the band is about. 

The intro of the opening track "Black Rain" is a spoken word verse which references an EP the band released prior to the album called "The Callous Heart". With the image of the band, the theme through each of the tracks on this album and the coordination to previous releases, it is clear that Creeper have created an identity within themselves as a band.

Musically, the album is strong. The vocals on every track are of a consistent standard and are met with powerful riffs and beats throughout. The percussion on "Hiding With Boys" is especially notable for it's uplifting foundations which provide the track with the base to be one to stand out on the album. On the song "Room 309", the bass shines through giving the track an edge which is missing slightly from some of the others. "Misery" is the first slower song on the album and it breaks it up nicely without being so different as to alter what the LP is about. "Crickets" is an acoustically slanted song which highlights some beautiful vocals as well as raw musical talent.

Thematically, the album is exactly what you may expect; it talks of broken love, the loss of innocence and, of course, the role society has on youth - it even makes a reference to Winona. But is there anything wrong with that? It simply shows that the band are delivering what fans likely want. Although they are covering bases which have been done, Creeper seem to manage it in an original and more modern way. The final track on the album "I Choose To Live" opens with the piano and finishes this debut LP in the perfect way. Its message is elevating suggesting that the speaker can overcome anything and is choosing light and positivity while keeping with the theme of the rest of the album.

Rating: 7.5/10

You can get a copy of "Eternity, In Your Arms" via the Roadrunner Records website here, on iTunes here and can listen on Spotify here.

What do you think of this album? Why not comment below or on Twitter @TheRiffReviews ?

SWMRS Gig Review, Supporting for ATL

Thursday 30th March saw SWMRS' return to Norwich; this time, opening for All Time Low. Second on the bill, the band played after Waterparks.

To kick things off, the band opened their set with "Palm Trees"; one which got the crowd going. SWMRS played 8 songs which included some of their biggest tunes such as "D'You Have a Car", "Miley" and finishing with "Figuring It Out". If you enjoy this band's recorded music, you will love their live show because they put on an excellent one.

Musically, the performance was incredibly slick and clearly well-rehearsed. From the way the four members played, it was evident that they know their craft masterfully. However, the performance of the band was far more than just their musical ability: they had the crowd in the palm of their hands and created an unmatchable atmosphere. Lead singer, Cole Becker, had the audience hanging onto his every word, every note. When they began to discuss political issues the crowd showed significant support; when they emphasised the power of Rock 'n' Roll, the crowd cheered; and when they played their, the crowd showed love and passion to notable amounts. 

Thursday's show showed that this band are something special: for a support act to be able to get the audience yearning for more the way SWMRS did is something that rarely happens; so skilled that an unknowing audience member could easily have felt that it was SWMRS who were headlining. Watching from the pit, or experiencing from the pit, was a truly wonderful affair and has left the feeling of wanting more.

If ever you get the chance to see this Oakland quartet perform, I urge you to take it because this is band who are heading in one way and that is up. Likeable, relatable, but most importantly talented; if you want to go to a gig and get the full package of a great sound, great songs and a great atmosphere, GO TO SEE SWMRS.

On the 30th, SWMRS killed it and surpassed any and all expectations, which were very high. This band are the future of music and are certainly one to watch.

Did you see SWMRS on Thursday 30th or on a different date? Why not comment below or on Twitter at @TheRiffReviews ?

More from SWMRS: 

• Twitter - @swmrs
• Facebook - SWMRS
• YouTube - SWMRS
• Site - swmrs.com
• Instagram - @swmrs

Please note: if you have any images from this show that we may use for this article please contact us!

"Better Off Without You" - Mallory Knox, Single Review

Above: album artwork for "Wired" the upcoming Mallory Knox album (@malloryknoxband/Instagram)

Taken from their forthcoming studio album "Wired", Mallory Knox have dropped a new track and hold nothing back. 

Referring to front man, Sam Douglas' personal experiences surrounding mental health issues, this song is incredibly powerful. Lyrically, it is moving and is an undeniably emotional listen. But "Better Off Without You" is more than that - it is a song with a very high quality of music too. The composition of instruments on this single is the perfect blend and exceeds the expectations you may hold in terms of this genre.

If this track is anything to go by, the anticipation for the album is deservedly high. The rawness and calibre of this song has left everyone eager to hear what their album will hold.

Rating: 8/10

You can pre-order "Wired" on iTunes and get two tracks immediately here or you can check out the audio for the track on YouTube here.

What do you think of this track? Why not comment below or on Twitter @TheRiffReviews ?

"I See You" - The xx, Album Review

Above: album artwork for "I See You" (The xx/Spotify)


January 13th saw the release of The xx's third studio alum, "I See You". The London based band dropped this indie pop record after four years since the release of their prior album "Coexist".

"I See You" shows an agreeable development from their previous releases and delivers all you could want from music of this genre. With relaxed vibes throughout, this album is lyrically very good with a musical force to match. The three-piece are an extremely talented trio and this album encompasses that very well; but there is little about the record which is particularly moving. That said, it has elements of emotion in just the right tones and doses to prevent the album from becoming a heavy listen.

This album progresses in exactly the way you would expect and is a great listen. The standout tracks include "Say Something Loving", "On Hold" and "Test Me". "On Hold" particularly emphasises the impressive vocal talents within this band.

Rating: 6.5/10

You can get hold of "I See You" via iTunes here and can listen on Spotify here.

What do you think of this album? Why not comment below or on Twitter @TheRiffReviews?

"Night People" - You Me At Six, Album Review

Above: album artwork for "Night People" (@youmeatsix/Twitter)

January 6 2017 saw the release of You Me At Six's fifth studio album, "Night People". Breaking away from the band's usual alternative rock sound, this album's heavier sound reflects how the band have grown.

This record is guitar-driven but the talent of drummer, David Flint, is clear as the LP has a very high-quality percussive element. Lyrically, this is an easy, fun listen but it's safe. Granted, it is a step away from the music You Me At Six normally make but it isn't trying anything new - they haven't branched out excessively. Perhaps it would have been nice to see them experiment a bit more on this album but the way they've evolved seems natural.

The track "Can't Hold Back" stands out for it's musical finesse. The composition of it is incredible; the instrumental side of this song is outstanding and the lyrics are just as good. You Me At Six wrote this song with Crispin Hunt. It's upbeat manner is followed by "Spell It Out" which is a track with a dramatic flair highlighting the always impressive vocals of front man Josh Franceschi.

Overall, "Night People" is an excellent album and is perfectly consistent with You Me At Six's previous releases. It would have been nice to see the band experiment a little more on this album but the three year wait was certainly worth it. 

Rating: 7/10

You can get hold of "Night People" via iTunes here and can listen on Spotify here. 

What do you think of this album? Why not comment below or on Twitter @TheRiffReviews?

"Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect" - Sundara Karma, Album Review

Above: album artwork for "Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect" (@sundarakarma/Instagram)

On January 6 2017, the Berkshire quartet Sundara Karma released their highly anticipated debut album. Prior to this, the indie band had released three EPs entitled "EP I" and "EP II" in 2015 and "Loveblood" in 2016.

This record is filled with catchy guitar riffs and melodic tunes from start to end. In this LP, Sundara Karma achieve the perfect blend of upbeat rhythms and powerful lyrics. What they lack in experience, Sundara Karma make up for in experimentalism and stepping out of the box which is always refreshing to see. "Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect" is the type of album which makes you want to get up and dance but also makes you want to think: the way this four-piece have mastered it is something special. 

Standout tracks include "Vivienne", "Watching from Great Heights" and "Happy Family". The musical talent of the quartet is highlighted throughout the album with the vocals of lead singer, Oscar Pollock, in "The Night" shining through. This concluding track brings the album to the perfect end, finishing with just the right tone.

It's evident that these young musicians have significant amounts of talent and chemistry as they have produced such a high quality debut album. Sundara Karma are fresh on the scene and give off the impression that what they care about is making music - something we need more of in the industry. The combination of raw talent and diligence this band hold is exceptional. But this is just the beginning; the standard of this album leaves very high expectations and intrigue as to how further experience will dictate their sound. If they continue like this, big things are sure to come for Sundara Karma.

Rating: 8/10

You can get hold of Sundara Karma's album via iTunes here and can listen on Spotify here.

What do you think of this album? Why not comment below or on Twitter @TheRiffReviews ?