Potential is always a key thought when I am deciding who to write about for this feature. In this week’s issue I have chosen a band who have potential beyond doubt. Think The Libertines and The Strokes meets the grungey goings on of Blackpool trio Darlia (a band I considering writing about for this week’s issue so thought I’d name check them at least) with an upbeat dash of rock seen in The Vaccines and I guess you end up in Circa Waves territory.
Hottly tipped by industry giants such as NME who have booked the band for their popular awards tour in March as well as alternative radio station XFM, the Liverpool quartet have a lot of support behind them. The band began life less than a year ago after frontman Keiran Shuddall became increasingly disolutioned following a stint with various dead-end bands over the course of a few years. After meeting bassist Sam Rourke and drummer Sian Plummer through mutual friends and guitarist Joe Falconer whilst he was stage managing, Shuddall decided to give a career in music one last shot. Aspiring to create “indie-pop classics”, the band’s debut double A-side single Get Away/Good For Me was picked up by Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe as one of his hottest records last November. The two tracks made a good impression and highlighted the band’s knack for solid chorus lines, jangly guitars, wild percussion and all round rowdiness. Second single Stuck In My Teeth, released earlier this month, confirmed their signature sound with the chorus remaining just as delicious and not let-up in terms of noise.
With shows booked for Germany, France, Holland, Belgium and Sweden, it looks like Circa Waves are making a name for themselves and I hope with all this travelling and growing notoriety will come inspiration, experience and wisdom which will help push them on. Although it seems as though I’m describing a band lacking that clinical edge when it comes to writing and performing, the apparent noise I described does actually come across as well thought out, but it would be nice to see how they will go about developing their sound and moving out of their established comfort zone. The band, now in their mid-20s, seem like a group of lads with a lot of energy to give to both live performances and in the studio, so I’m expecting them to go all out this year. Coming so far in under 12 months is a promising sign, so keep your eyes peeled and fingers crossed that they’ll be making waves soon.
