New band: The See See

Bands often come together after former disparate musical journeys end, and the impetus to start afresh brings like-minded souls instinctively together. Such as it was with London four-piece beat-folk-psych'ers The See See.

Richard Olson (The Eighteenth Day Of May), Kevin Peyok (Waxwings), and Ben Swank (Soledad Brothers) are joined by Leeds folkster Pete Greenwood. Together they bring ‘guts’ to the traditional 60s rock-lite sound. Sold-out debut single ‘Up The Hill’ takes the West Coast jangle template and brings that sought-after ragged, world-take-a-hike angle on events. Another track ‘Keep Your Head’ sounds like ‘Eight Miles High’ on a particularly frazzled night out. Meanwhile the tremeloed guitar and on the beginning of new song ‘It’s True Pt. 12’ shows the influence of various lilting luminaries (The Pretty Things, Buffalo Springfield, Teenage Fanclub), before briefly heading into more lysergic territory with some heady and heady psychedelic guitar lines.

Jack White is a big fan of the band, and has asked them to provide support at recent Raconteurs gigs. This comes second in the highlights-so-far category though. As Olsen explains, “Kevin ranted outrageously from the stage at a bunch of yuppies at one of our early shows; their jaws dropped down to their brogues and they all bought our records afterwards“. That display of honestly and integrity implies The See See are a band that you can easily learn to love, and men not reduced to conform and flogged on the back of the latest nostalgia trend. Free from the weight of anyone’s expectations and the ability to record at their leisure in Olsen’s warehouse studio has brought freedom and confidence to the grouping. “We're probably the least self-conscious band in London, and it pays dividends. You can listen to the band growing. It's like watching a kid learn to walk“. And when your children sound as handsome as this, you’re likely to beam with pride.

The See See are currently working on their debut album to be released next year. Hear them on their Myspace page here.

New band: The Q

Gloucestershire has a new mod revival-inspired band by the name of The Q.

The four-piece (Shane on drums, Rob on bass, Mike on guitar/vocals, and Tim also on guitar/vocals) deal in melodic, catchy power-pop very much in the mod tradition of The Jam, The Chords and Secret Affair. Their song 'Through Your Eyes' has a stomper of a chorus, destined to be belted out like any classic anthem you choose to name. Meanwhile 'Interlude' is a more subtle take on inner-city strife, with the same classic '79 sound as before.

Recently released debut EP Issues was produced by none other than Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, best known for his work with The Jam. It has been released by German label Time For Action, on 10" vinyl and as a download from ITunes.

You can hear the band on their Myspace page here and their website here.

New band: Jensen And The Interceptors

Wolverhampton: riding high in the Championship, and now also in the 60s-influenced music stakes with the introduction of Jensen And The Interceptors.

The four-piece consist of Izzy Izenstain (Vocals/Guitar), Joey Ropper (Guitar/Vocals), James Campbell (Bass), and Andy Bowker (Drums/Vocals). Melting together the holy trinity of freakbeat, British Invasion pop and gritty garage rock, Jensen And The Interceptors formed only a few months ago but already have their songwriting skills sorted. The propulsive, 'Hey Joe'-aping 'There's A Girl' has the garage-jangle and snotty vocals we all have come to love, the demo of 'Just To Cry' is pure primitive Thee Headcoatees-esque joy, whilst 'Sitting Side by Side' is one-part cheese-grating guitars and one-part 'bop sha woo wop' vocals. These Interceptors are surely the offspring of the Black Lips generation, and doing it just as well as the masters.

Have a listen to Jensen And The Interceptors yourself by visiting their Myspace page here. They are not hanging around on the gigging front, so whether you live in the Midlands, the North or the South you should be able to catch them soon. With full marks on the looks and the attitude front we wouldn't be surprised if they are huge before 2009 is done.

New band: Pony Taylor

If you remember the 60s-inspired French band Strawberry Smell, you might be interested to know that ex-members of the group have regrouped under the name Pony Taylor.

A new band and a new sound, described as a mix of pop and northern soul, but perhaps you need to check them out to appreciate what really means. And you can check them out via the band's MySpace site. Not sure about a song title of Married To Wigan though...

Pony Taylor MySpace site

New band: The Vinyl Stitches

Occasionally London throws up a 60s-style primitive rock band that you simply can’t ignore. The Vinyl Stitches are such a band.

These four individuals - two boys called Jean Claude and Vinny, two girls called Sam and Evy - have only garage on their mind and fuzz in their lustful hearts. The Stitches recreate that infectious sound when young Americans came out of their sleepy towns high on illicit substances and set about changing the world with the 4/4 beat. Employing a heady mix of The Stooges, 13th Floor Elevators, and The Velvet Underground, not to mention a splash of Jesus & Mary Chain and The Cramps, they create an orgy of foot-stomping noise to soundtrack an imaginary psych-ploitation film.

London has been bowled over these last few months by their outlandish and mesmerising live shows, which come highly recommended by us. In the meantime stop by their Myspace page and have a listen.

New band: The Invisible Lead Soup

Sometimes all a mod needs to keep happy is some mid-60s beat-pop. Step forward The Invisible Lead Soup.

The London five-piece - Mark, Colin, Tony, Ted, and Tim - possess the harmonies of vintage US folk-rockers, mixed in with the pop-nous of Steve's Winwood and Marriott. The Zombies and Rubber Soul-era Beatles are obvious influences, whilst the driving rhythms and understated vocals on tracks such as 'Brand New Shirt' and What She Said' are also reminiscent of contemporary acts such like The Higher State and Beep Seals. The subtle but fluid Hammond organ playing is an added bonus to the psych-beat treats. Mark and Colin from the band also have another band on the go called The J-Pegs, where they play similar, if slightly more pared-down, material.

Try and catch either act in a dingy basement near you soon!

The Invisible Lead Soup can be heard here and here. The J-Pegs are here.

New band: The Supernovas

Certain to spark a what is/isn't mod debate is new band The Supernovas.

Very much operating in that late 70s punk/pop groove (with a bit of modern-day indie thrown in for good measure), The Supernovas can certainly knock out a catchy tune (judging by their MySpace tunes) - whether you think it ticks the 'mod' box probably depends on where you sit with guitar bands in general.

Anyway - find out for yourself via the band's page below.

The Supernovas MySpace page

New band: The Executioners

Now far be it for us to cast aspersions on the youth of Britain today, but there's not many of them out there keeping the garage flame alive. Despite the success of The Horrors, we don't often find many decent bands following in their well-groomed wake. If such a sentiment strikes a chord with you, then take heart in us discovering The Executioners.

The Leeds four-piece are a band with a philosophy. They “don’t release records, don’t have T-shirts you would like to buy, don’t have good manners, and don’t care (being a band of jackasses and born losers)”. What they definitely do have though is thoroughly nasty Back From The Grave-style garage punk songs with plenty of wyld fuzz. ‘Run And Hide’ and ‘Don’t Give Me No Lip’ sound like unreleased monsters from 1965, whilst ‘The Kreeper’ and ‘Death Shaker’ are surf-punk songs that probably live in a basement existing on a diet of nothing but Dave Allen And The Arrows. Put simply, The Executioners are the best new garage band in Britain right now. Go listen to them on Myspace page, and download the songs available. New material is promised soon too. They don't do many gigs (that name might have something to do with it), so catch them live where and when you can.

New band: Nicole Willis

Ah yes, another female 'retro-soul' singer appears on our doorstep. But Nicole Willis And The Soul Investigators are no cash-in, just a very talented band.

Hailing from Finland, Willis has the sort of modern soul voice which unites the nu-soul and 60s soulie crowd. The production on tracks like 'If This Ain't Love' and 'Feeling Free' is straight out of the late-60s/early-70s textbook, mixing northern soul, soul-jazz, funk, and disco with ease. Whilst it isn't particularly original it is very accomplished, thanks greatly due to the wonderful nine-piece band The Soul Investigators. Debut album Keep Reachin' Up is available now on Timmion Records, with a new record expected next year.

You can hear more from Nicole and the band on their Myspace page here and website here. Alternatively just sit back and watch her latest video below...

New bands: Reign

Walking a fine line between modern-day indie and vintage 60s pop is Hertfordshire-based Reign.

This four-piece band take their influences from everyone from The Charlatans, Stones Roses and Blur through to The Who and the '60s mod era', some of which you can hear on the band's MySpace page, which has a few of the unsigned band's demos uploaded.

If you like what you hear, you can check them out supporting Yeti (a Libertines offshoot) at The Horn in St Albans on 28th July. Other dates are on the website.

Reign MySpace site