The Lilacs: The Good Mixer, London

Wigan outfit The Lilacs took to Camden’s iconic boozer The Good Mixer this past Thursday to headline an intimate This Feeling gig. Image courtesy of This Feeling.

There was an ambition to the guitars which made the intimate Mixer feel like an arena gig. The infectious and raucous guitars have never sounded so far-reaching. On their recent single ‘Sticky Dancefloors’, the jagged edges of The Courteeners St. Jude and the rumbling power of The Rifles’ drums set sail for a drunken sense of freedom which the tightly packed crowd followed with glee. 

Frontman Ollie Anglesa’s vocal was blessed with the kind of guts and glory to see the masses line up to throw pints and fists aloft. To date, his stage power has yet to really shine through on the record. However, on a sticky night in Camden, he let the world see the essence of the band and their songs, wrenching their humble beauty from his soul for rabid fans to feast on. This do-or-die spirit launched Liam Fray, Joel Stoker, and Tom Clarke in the 00s, now it’s his and The Lilacs turn!

The night climaxed with their instant classic ‘Vicarage Road’. Dave Gomersall’s drumming lent a rock ‘n’ rolls vastness to the pulsating indie-floorfiller guitar and bass licks of Matt Johnson and Sam Birchall and had the Mixer bouncing.

The Lilacs walked on stage as a promising band. They left it verging on immortal. Click on the image below to witness them steal the show at This Feeling’s By The Sea festival.

Bugeye: Good Mixer, Camden

It’s hard not to think about the Mixer’s mythology on the approach to Inverness Street. The formative years of the art-rock scene congregating with the NME and Select journos, planning world domination. In 2018, the egos of yesteryear can be ill afforded in an era of isolation for bands.

Step forward London three piece Bugeye. They are back on the promotional trail with their slick new single ‘Is This Love’, this though, is where the formalities end.

It is a razor sharp display of post-punk riffs which are begging to be danced to. The in front woman Angela Martin, Bugeye have an icon in the making. Combining the wry snarl of Ari Up with the pithy sex fuelled Justine Frischmann, Martin is carving a space for glory.

Expect to see eye make up in a live venue near you soon!