The Shakes – Demos

This past Friday, The Shakes opened up Martin Rossiter (Gene’s) benefit for Ukraine at the Shepherds Bush Empire. Everyone from James Acaster to Sleeper to the London-Liverpool express were given minimal stage time. Yet, they still managed to blow a hole into the soul for all who watched!

Out of tribute, no, just sheer respect to their ten minutes, we’re revisiting the Demos EP they released in January. Here’s our track by track review:

The Demos EP is availble to buy on the bands Bandcamp page. Images courtesy of the band.

Watch It

Hurtling out of the traps like the Small Faces on speed, ‘Watch It’ fires like The Strypes with The Buzzcocks fury in their hearts.

It has all the hallmarks of great 00s indie-punk bands but, though their guitars, there is an innate ability to take that sound to the vastness of Pete Townsend and hint at the psychedelic mayhem of ‘Disraeli Gears’. The guitar breakdown snarls like Paul Cook but has the prowess of Townsend and the life-affirming swagger of Noel Gallagher with that union jack guitar.

When Liam Gallagher hit his peak, he was the vocal personification of John Lennon and John Lydon. Frontman Zak Nimmo, here, has found something between Liam, Ian McCulloch, and Mick Jagger. Like Liam, he not only has the ability and confidence to carry it off, he has the charisma to work them into his live sets without it ever being pantomime. He is an instant icon!  

I’m Your Man

In between the glorious noise and confusion comes the infectious ‘I’m Your Man’. A sumptuous ode to the lovesick males among us. Teenage boys will bang their chest in bravado to ’Watch It’ but, in front of the bedroom mirror, will swoon with a lynx Africa in hand begging to be this expressive!

With the beauty of Zutons and The Coral and the devilment of the Buff Medways and The Libertines, they have unearthed a classic to wave the flag of good ship Albion once more.

Lost Along The Way

Not for the first time on the EP, The Libertines’ sense of togetherness is key to their success. The jagged ska of ‘Guanga Din’ is given an injection of Iggy via Hendrix. Their ability to keep the melodic visceral is remarkable, it keeps this looping verses integrity intact and thus, allows the solo to feel like a cannonball being launched into the night sky.

The aggression and raw power of the looping riff powers this Iggy via Hendrix and Libertines classic. Despite the penchant for ‘Guanga Din’, a visceral and muscular power rumbles throughout that Kinks would be proud of.

The Libertines imagery is hard to shake as lyrics detail a forlorn character making best-laid plans (“when I think of all the plans that I’ve made / I guess they got lost along the way”). Those wilderness years of the band caused a decade of ‘what might have beens’ for fans. Now, The Libs are back but, they’re most definitely playing second fiddle to The Shakes.

The solo shimmers and shakes like the psychotic bugged-out love child of Carl Barat and Dave Davies.

Here Comes The Rat

The guitars, oh those guitars, it’s heaven for lovers of The Stands, The Bandits, The Zutons. Liverpool has been paid homage to here and then some! Despite being the most well thought out piece is beset with the desperation all rock ‘n’ roll needs to thrive!

The Shakes: Shiiine On Festival

Some bands you like, some bands you love, then, there are bands like The Shakes. The type that walks on stage mortal and leaves it immortal. After two years away, Shiiine On festival returned and, its loyal following would have been forgiven for ignoring the new bands. It didn’t. 

The London-Liverpool express opened up Centre Stage on the Friday to a big crowd and did not disappoint. Not since The Strokes and The Libertines have band looked this good and seemed this important.

The clothes, looks, and crucially, the tunes. They are now the zeitgeist!

‘Watch It’ struts with the r’n’b Small Faces and the far-reaching ambition of a young Liam Gallagher. ‘Lost Along the Way’ traverses the sodden world of ‘Guanga Gin’, the poetic soul of Morrison, and the grooves of The Ordinary Boys to create a truly magical moment! Meanwhile, on ‘I’m Your Man’, they deliver an infectious piece of rock ‘n’ roll that makes aging men in the crowd wish they could be 18 again and every woman fall in love with them.

Their scintillating majesty is led by frontman Zak Nimmo. Beautiful like a young Jagger, he moves like no one you have ever seen. From northern soul to RnB to borderline breakdancing, Nimmo doesn’t demand your attention, he takes it! Seemingly love the child of Brian Jones and Mick Jagger, Nimmo is the icon rock ‘n’ roll so desperately needs. Confident and substantive. He can tap into Liam’s melodic soul, the tenacity of Marriot, and the all-blaze riot of Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist.

Their next show at Camden’s Fiddlers Elbow is not to be missed!

*Image courtesy of the band

Mark Morriss: 229, London

Bluetones frontman returned to London last weekend to be the jewel in the crown of the Shiiine On summer party at 229. A gig with Mark Morriss is more than just a mesh of solo tracks and Bluetones classics. With a little charm and a lot of style, he’ll reel in the unbelievers, quieten the talkers and enthrall the diehard fans.

Those unaware of his solo career are reeled in with ‘Rimini’. The stripped-back acoustic version loses none of its ability to convey the loss of certainty and civility “that” vote brought in 2016. Despair has never sounded this good!

His muse has clearly been undeterred by lockdown on the new song ‘Madeline’. A darker tinged number showcased more strings to his bow. Then, on ‘Sick Again’, he exudes vibrancy and bombast that his 90s fame can only look on at in awe.

The Bluetones always had an ability to open the deepest of wounds. When Morriss strips their classics back, in this form the fervour skyrockets! The opening couplet of Bluetonic “When I am sad and weary / When all my hope is gone” will undoubtedly, transported many to the glory of 96. However, with covid still looking on from the abyss, recent traumas also flood the senses.

‘Learning To Fly’ opener ‘Talking To Clarry’ was given a glorious outing. As his vocals hit the achingly beautiful climax of “communication is blurred / I can’t understand a word”, we raised a wry smile. The Shiiine On festival has grown into a small family over the years. People from all over the UK have forged friendships at their festivals because one is never a stranger when you love the same band.

If like us, this is not enough Morriss, The Bluetones kick off the Star Shaped tour this Friday with Sleeper!

The Utopiates: 229, London

North London’s The Utopiates were second on the bill for the Shiiine On Summer Party at 229 this past Saturday. After wowing fans and critics alike with their EP ‘Anywhere But Here’, could they deliver on the big stage?

Despite technical issues, they grooved their way to the hearts and minds of the Shiiine On faithful. Former single, ‘Only Human’ lit up the room like a bush fire. Josh Redding’s guitars spiralled with such intensity alongside Dan Popplewell’s vocals to conjure, the embers are still burning bright five days on.

On ‘Antidote’, they found unity and power demands the UK’s attention, immediately. It soared above the clouds but crucially, always felt within reach. This kind of songwriting combined with this magical delivery will take them to the main stages of festivals and, thousand along to see them.

This is not a one-man band by any means but, at times Redding’s guitars drew the focus like no other of recent times. On ‘Anywhere But Here’ Popplewell’s acoustic guitar and Ed Godshaw’s keys laid the groundwork for his Squire-esque majesty.

In ‘Love Salvation’ they have set closer for life. Anthemic and euphoric, it had that mid-paced beauty that pulled a group of strangers together as one. Tripping along like Primal Scream, swaggering like Mondays, they’ve tapped into a golden age of love-seekers and found a way to make it sound fresh.

A truly astonishing performance from a band only formed in lockdown. It’s easy to see why The Pigeon Detectives have added them as support at the Forum this autumn. 

*Image courtesy of Shiiine On legend Louise Deveraux

The Shakes: 229, London

This Image provided by the band.

The Self-described “London-Liverpool Express” The Shakes opened Shiiine On’s summer party this past Saturday at London’s 229.

Openers they might have been but, they played to and owned this crowd like a band at the peak of their powers. Oozing charm and style, they grabbed this opportunity as if their life depended on it and, frankly, nothing is better than desperate rock ‘n’ roll!

In between the glorious noise and confusion was ‘I’m Your Man’. It’s a sumptuous ode with nods to Liverpool legends The Bandits. With the beauty of Zutons and The Coral and the devilment of the Buff Medways and The Libertines, they have unearthed a classic to wave the flag of good ship Albion once more.

In closing stages, they take a good set to a great set. ‘Change Isn’t’ and ‘Strange Sorry Officer’ bust open creative avenues which allow their mod instincts and love of ‘Definitely Maybe’ to collide. It’s debauched, firesome, and begging to be worshiped.

The Shakes may be in the early days but, on this showing, not for long. The confidence is irrepressible. True icons in the making!

*Banner image courtesy of Shiiine On.