Rooskin - Evergreen

Southend’s Rooskin signed off a fine 2022 with the single ‘Evergreen’.

There’s been a hazy vibe to their guitars from day one but, here, there’s a depth to the bubblegum kaleidoscope shredding not seen before. The hope and youthful exuberance of Sub Pop Records surfs down the West Coast of the US to flirt with Laurel Canyon scene whilst getting stoned in San Francisco.

The richness of the guitars feels like a warming goodbye to the teenage souls of the Honey Spells EP and hello to a more mature set of adventures in sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. Whereas once they were the sound of summer’s heights, here they have perfectly encapsulated summer’s fade towards autumn. Although ‘Evergreen’ doesn’t have an urgency to its sonic, the hazy guitars are blessed with such beauty that a live for the moment quality emerges.

Rooskin headline the iconic Chinnerys in their home city of Southend in February. Click the image for tickets:

Rooskin ft Katy for Kings – Just a Town You’re Passing Through

Southend’s Rooskin have teamed up with fellow songsmith Katy for Kings on their latest single ‘Just a Town You’re Passing Through’. Released late 2021, can they keep up their rich vein form?

This time out, they allow a melancholy to pervade their hazy technicolour. Furthermore, the duet with Katy for Kings shows a creative instinct way beyond their years. Usually, it’s senior artists who dabble in a concept album. Rooskin, have boiled it down to a concept single where a couple enacts their tumultuous position.

The lyrical back and forth is less playful than Mystery Jets & Laura Marling’s ‘Young Love’ and more forlorn, albeit just as melodic. They impart honesty from both sides, demonstrating a creative acumen beyond their years. The Rooksin perspective, hopeful but beaten (“come on oversee things my way / but you never do / and you never will”) is downtrodden but shrouded in great melody. It is though, the spiky nature of Katy’s character where the true magic lies:

“my conversations come with a catch / I say things just to take them back”

The ethereal refrain is rapidly becoming an archetypal sonic. By adding the pop instincts of Mystery jets and the harmonies of the west coast on this offering, they have continued their fine run of singles by growing as a creative collective.

In Earnest: Chinnerys, Southend

Southend’s In Earnest played their first headline gig at their iconic hometown (city) venue of Chinnerys last week.

Images courtesy of Rob Humm & the band.

October the 9th marked their release of their stunning EP ‘Reasons to Stay Alive’. A seamless piece of music that delves into the struggles of mental health in relationships. Not content with the challenge of recording the EP, of challenging discourse, in this fashion, their creative chops were again at full capacity. Playing the EP fully with seamless transitions was a joy to watch. Whilst physically, it may have looked frantic at points but, the guitar and pedal switches were delivered with aplomb. It added a bigger sense of drama to already tumultuous tracks like ‘I Feel Alone Even If I’m Not’ and ‘Hands Are Tied’.

They come as a collective but, it’s Sarah Holbourn’s voice are that people leave talking about. The harrowing lyrics are met with heaven-sent vocals to forge the most intimate of bonds with the Southend crowd. On ‘Put Me Under’, she drifts from Laura Marling to Phoebe Bridgers whilst songwriting partner Thomas Eatherton’s guitars shimmer with Bon Iver’s majesty.

Eatherton’s guitars, eloquent throughout, stack up to Holbourn’s beauty on several occasions. Whether it be the Ryan Adams-tinged ‘29’, the Cocteau Twins dreaminess of ‘Fables’, or the dreampop meets Billy Bragg, he has an ability to know when to let things breathe around him.

With another show at The Amersham Arms tomorrow and a film launch with Rooskin’s Rob Humm to supplement the EP in November, this is a band with serious creative chops that should not be missed.

Rooskin – Eloise

Fresh from their stunning live show at Chinnerys, Southend’s Rooskin release their new single ‘Eloise’. Can it match up to their dreamy debut EP ‘Honey Spells’?

Image and artwork courtesy of Neat Siren PR.

Despite the gloom of cvoid, their ability to conjure a sonic drenched in the summertime hasn’t diminished. Between Rob and Matt’s guitars and ethereal keys of Buddy Caderni, they summon the sun easier than Helios. Not even Kurt Vile has this access!

As with their live show, ‘Eloise’ goes to another level because of the spirit they invoke. They’ve funnelled ‘Teenage Kicks’ through their lo-fi genius of ‘Living Proof’ and sprinkled it with their psychedelic surf sound.

Their youthful buoyancy is echoed lyrically with a newfound hope:

“It’s the longest I’ve been without needing to pretend, that my luck / It ain’t running out”

As we approach the last throes of summer, let Rooskin provide suspiciously high levels of serotonin with their angelic fuzz and sun-kissed charm.

Rooskin: Chinnerys, Southend

Southend’s Rooskin played their hometown venue Chinnery’s this past Friday in support of fellow local band The Waterfalls. Having been away for 19months, and with a big crowd in, could they deliver?

At times, Rooskin transcended music. Maybe it’s the long wait for gigs but, their brand of hazy love songs and sunny climates was the warming embrace Southend needed. ‘Donnie’ drifted across the coastline to thaw even the coldest souls with its infectious joy. Like all special songs, it began to take on new meaning via its lyrics:

“I’ve been looking for love / in all the wrong places / it’s been tearing me up and I’m sick of waiting”

The poor life choices and dangerous crutches society have leaned on to get through the lockdown flood to the surface. However, the effortless guitars and glory of the vocals ushered the room back to positive planes.

Upcoming single ‘Eloise’ (released 20th August), got its first airing and, did not disappoint. A sense of hope permeated the room. As they sing of the West Coast, a spirit powerfully forms and feelings that all is not lost and never give up filled hearts once again.

Rooskin’s laid-back nebulous is given an injection on set closer ‘Goldfish’. The added bombast brought about a clarity and future for all to follow them off stage with. Dreams and schemes among the young crowd were almost tangible as their licks and harmonies soared upon the horizon.

Music lovers will always discuss why certain bands don’t make it. Unlucky, the look, charisma, etc. In Rooskin’s case, there’s nothing to talk about. They look like a gang, bonded together by in-jokes, love, and desire. There’s a wit to their between-song patter that forges more love with the crowd. They have all the indefinable qualities to go with sublime alt-pop melodies. You simply cannot deny this band!

Rooskin – Honey Spells

Southend’s Rooskin have released their debut EP, ‘Honey Spells’. After eye catching shows at The Railway and Village Green in 2019, the three piece are rising stars on their local scene.

Here is our track by track review:

Radio Slave

Warped melodic brilliance that makes Peace’s debut ‘In Love’ virtually redundant. Rob and Matt’s angelic vocals alongside the hazy guitars is a slice of escapist summertime we’re all going to be in need of soon.

Donnie (Beach for Tiger)

“The great art of life is sensation, to feel that we exist, even in pain.”, Lord Byron.

If this isn’t sound tracking the third series of Sex Education, then, the world has lost its mind. As front man Rob Humm decrees “I’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places” and latterly wrenches, from his gut, “I’m sick of waiting”, images of Otis and Mauve come flooding in.

When I’m High

Real Estate’s lazy sun drenched guitars meander their way to a chorus worthy of Phil Spector in his pomp. Here, Rooksin have set their standards incredibly high for all future success. It could only have been written by those in the throes of youth and yet, its wisdom is way beyond their years.

On this comparison of heartbreak and substance addiction, Rooskin have landed a coming of age gem. Whether you relate to the heartache, the drugs or both, this is the soundtrack to this generations relationships. The ones that bring endless joy and inevitably, crushing despair.

For those old enough to look back, missed opportunities, regret, wry smiles and sarcastic laughs at those heady days will undoubtedly be unlocked.

4:33

Echoes of Peace’s debut come out to play again on this achingly confessional dreampop affair.

With Rob taking the lead vocals here, it shows a maturity in the band many do not possess. One of Bobby Gillespie’s greatest assets is, to know when to step aside. Here’s hoping they produce great art like the Primals did.