In today’s climate, bands and artists blowing up overnight and storming the charts are dead. It’s a hard grind from. It is a brutal process, from getting local gigs to performing on the main stages of festivals. As such, there is a swelling of talent on the underground poised to breakthrough.
So, this week, we are picking five of our favourite artists on the cusp of said breakthrough.
*banner image courtesy of Magnolia Lux
First up are Southend’s San Quentin. They were formed in 2019 by songwriter Liam Cass, frontman Owen Eves, drummer Luke Johns, and bassist Nick Keep. Lead Guitarist Dan Ridgewell joined the band in 2020 .
They’ve since gone on to sell out The Water Rats for This Feeling and be named in BBC Introducing’s 2022 ‘Ones To Watch’. They’re
To celebrate San Quentin, we give our track-by-track EP review of ‘Feed The Ego’ to celebrate the band today. The EP was released on 25th August and recorded at SS2 Recording. Rees Broomfield carried out mixing and mastering duties.
You’re Lost
Artwork courtesy of Songbird PR.
Live, San Quentin have always caught the eye with their effervescent energy. On record, this hasn’t always translated. Here, they capture their live essence but crucially add scathing lyrical content and go to another level.
Aiming at all the worst aspects of today's apathetic society, they take Soft Play’s fire into their rapturous indie world. More melodic than the Kent icons, San Quentin have found a recipe for success.
You Got Some Nerve
Gunslinging indie! The sound of the band in the trenches fighting their way out against inconceivable odds. The bitter discourse “so whose wrong, is it me or is it you / yeah you got some nerve” comes snarling with hints of grunge and their indomitable spirit.
Serotonin
Fall to floor indie rock. Desperate and unhinged, the guitars fizz with the volatility of The Reytons and the melodic hiss of Reverend & The Makers.
You Can’t Stop Me This Time (Underdog)
The moment the cusp became a distant memory. This is the sound of a band realising their dreams. Visceral and cinematic, San Quentin delivers their biggest sound to date.
Eves vocal comes with an emotional heft not seen before. Something death-defying has flooded his soul! Ridgewell’s guitars loiter with menacing intent until his solo emerges victoriously. All the years spent in jobs they’ve hated pour out into this emotional juggernaut of a song.
As Eves decrees, “you can’t stop me this time” you are left in no uncertain doubt that he is right!
Feed The Ego
Swaggering with danger, the title track signs off with great style!
Tour Dates
September 9th - THA KNOWS - Sheffield
September 23rd - Real Time Music - Chesterfield
September 30th - Gathering Sounds - Stockton
Tickets available here https://www.sanquentin.co.uk/gigsv