The K's: Lafayette, London

Back in 2020, The K’s headlined This Feeling’s Big in 2020 showcase. The promise was there in abundance, but, in a world where record contracts absconded the galaxy and radio airplay is so difficult to come by (despite 4 national alternative stations), fans were left hoping maybe.

For many, the pandemic became a reason, an excuse to fold. Not The K’s. They produced the solemn ‘Valley One’ which grabbed a generation of guitar music fans by heartstrings. Five more singles later and they have a national sold tour to their names. Catch a break? Nah mate, talent plus graft every step of the way.

From the Newcastle fans’ stage left to the die-hards chanting “the K’s are on fire”, the sense of anticipation was oozing from every corner of London’s Lafayette. As anticipation gave way to reality it became obvious that The K’s are not a band of promise anymore. They’ve arrived in the hearts and minds of rock ‘n’ roll fans. Limbs and vocal chords are sacrificed alike as they blast out of the traps with ‘Picture’, ‘Got A Feeling’, ‘Relying On You’, and ‘TV’.

The set is utterly relentless as they follow with new single ‘Chancer’ and fan favourite ‘Glass Towns’. New singles on tour can be tricky, has anyone heard it yet, will it become a piss break. For bands on the up, it’s the chance for the fans to take ownership of it, and man, did they ever. The tale of a risk-taker living for the moment captured the dreams of the sold-out crowd yearning for their own escapism.

Former single ‘Hoping Maybe’ acts more as a lifeline to a crowd feverish with a desire to prove themselves to their new heroes. The singalong anthem has a hymnal quality and its boisterous congregation rejoiced in its illustrious stature.

A special night, a special tour, both sold out. The K’s are indeed on fire and the UK’s cumbersome radio stations are going to have to pay attention now. With an album on the way, it’s inevitable this will be The K’s year.

The K’s – Chancer

Earlestown’s finest The K’s are back with their second single of 2023 ‘Chancer’. Since the release of ‘Hoping Maybe’ back in January, they have embarked on a sold-out tour and been added to the main stages of Godiva Festival, Golden Touch Festival, and the inaugural This Feeling By The Sea in Bridlington. Can they maintain the momentum?

Last time out they were in an achingly beautiful mood. ‘Chancer’ retains the cinematic beauty of ‘Hoping Maybe’ whilst returning to the instantaneous and muscular guitar power of their earlier singles. The ordinary streets of ‘Hometown’ resurface as our protagonist is separated from his friends but, embraces the night’s danger with the infectious “fuck it” attitude of Joe Dempsie’s portrayal of Chris in Skins.

‘Chancer’ is the sound of a band fully harmonious with its identity. Frontman Jamie Boyle is now toying with his vocal cadence like a seasoned master whilst guitarist Ryan Breslin, howls into the night sky like Edge at his best, massive yet understated.

Track by track The K’s are injecting the UK with a sense of hope. Their social comment is more poetic than cultural observers of Britpop and their guitars more unifying than the dirty rock ‘n’ rollers of the 00s. They are forging a new path for rock ‘n’ roll, log may it continue.

*image courtesy of Olivia McDowall & CDP Radio PR

Click the image below for tickets to This Feeling By The Sea:

The K’s – Hoping Maybe

Warrington band The K’s kick-start the new year by self-releasing their new single ‘Hoping Maybe’ this Friday. In 2022, they supported the likes of Liam Gallagher and James as well as kicking off the Shiiine On festival in glorious style. With their live presence quality having no questions left to answer, they returned to the studio and embark on a five-single run this year which culminates with an album release in November.

Pre-save the single here https://sndo.ffm.to/xoxakgp

To date, The K’s have been serving up the life-affirming pedal to the metal Jam-esque mayhem in the form of ‘Hometown’, ‘Sarajevo’, and ‘Aurora’. The one exception being the poignant lockdown release of ‘Valley One’. On ‘Hoping Maybe’ they’ve merged the two but with musicality in the studio not yet witnessed.

Jamie Boyle’s songwriting has reeled in the aching beauty of Andrew Cushin alongside his penchant for conjuring silver screen majesty. It’s lent his already heartstring-panging odes another level of drama for fans to revel in. The romance, the hope, and the love he imparts will inevitably burrow into the hearts of the masses.

Backing him up, as ever, is this generation’s guitar idol Ryan Breslin. Ethereal licks accentuate Boyle’s soulful vocals until it’s his chance to shine on the solo. The solos on the early tracks have often been raw unadulterated releases of rage and angst. Here, Breslin’s guitars are blessed with the cinematic romance of Clark Gable and an otherworldly shimmering that reverberate across the galaxy as a ray of hope amid the recession and social decay.

Together, they are the UK’s finest songwriting partnership since Pete and Carl. Different in sonic of course, but, they breed the love, affection, and desperation to buy their records and pour over the lyrics of the Albion pair.

It’s one hell of a benchmark they have set themselves for this five-single run, but is anyone in any doubt it’s going to get better? Thought not!

*artwork courtesy of CDP Radio PR

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LOCK-IN: Lower Third, London

Lock-in began their life as a band in far from serious circumstances. Fast-forward a few years, the Essex outfit now residing in London and have a string of festivals to their name. They recently supported The K’s for This Feeling’s Teenage Cancer Trust night at Lower Third and we were there to check them out.

On record, a teenage innocence permeates their lyrics. Riddled with heartache and angst, they transport the oldest of souls back to the slumber of relationship woes. Live though, Lock-in are joyously learning to beef up their 00s revival sound.

‘I Caught Feelings’, via Ollie’s drumming builds to a raucous Milburn-esque crescendo. The lovelorn characters are built up to the fringes of rock ‘n’ roll with the shimmering guitar licks and frontman Benjy Leak’s swagger. The intro to set closer ‘Yours Sincerely’, more muscular than ever, adopts the angular mod riffs of The Rifles’ ‘She’s Got Standards’ and the punk of Good Shoes. The as yet unreleased ‘Sweet Love’ is their most bullish track to date and seemed to signify a departure from their cuter intonations.

On ‘Know The Score’ and ‘Get Over It’, they have serious weaponry to unleash on indie fans. The formers disco stomp hooked in the London crowd before frontman Benjy wielded his refreshingly ambitious stage presence. On ‘Get Over It’, something so instantaneous which allows them to dial down the bravado and thus, lets the audience feel a bigger part of their journey.

On this showing, it won’t be long they are headlining venues like this.

*image courtesy of the band

The K’s – Hometown

The Earlstown quartet returned recently with their new single ‘Hometown’ to support their near sell-out tour. Formed in the wake of watching The Jam, they have been tearing it up on the underground and in support slots. Could this be their breakout moment?

Hissing with hope, ‘Hometown’ roars its way to the hearts and minds of music lovers once more. The joyous rebellion of Slade and the everyman appeal of The Courteeners lurk but, this is the sound of the band entering their pomp. They’ve been defining their identity through aggressive but caring and humble tales and, now, they’ve hit upon the most accessible single to date.

Slade’s unifying debauchery hooks up with the Phonics early tales of local boys and big-time drinkers to ignite The K’s inevitable rise to main stages. Like The Simpsons or Scorsese, they walk the tightrope of underground art and mainstream appeal with an effortless. From Breslin’s stadium-sized riffs to Boyle’s poetic fury, this band with fierce polemic looks to unite the world.

On paper, as the protagonist “empty’s all his wages / Into the pockets of the boys he hated / When he was at school”, you’d be forgiven for feeling exasperated. However, The K’s have The Rifles and The Jam’s skill of making aggression and the downtrodden sounding lovingly Goliath to the point that, you’d throw yourself into the trenches for the character to fight alongside him.

Politically, this country is bankrupt. Liars, cheats and the inept fill the top 2 seats. The apathy towards them is yet more depressing still. The K’s are not Billy Bragg. They’re not standing dialectically opposed to them. However, what their brand of rock ‘n’ roll does is, breathe life into moribund souls. They put under the skin of those who are bored and down. They’re going to escape their woes; will you follow them into the light?

*Image courtesy of Songbird PR

The K's - Picture

Earlestown quintet The K’s have returned with their new single ‘Picture’. Produced and mixed by Gareth Nuttall (‘Saravejo’ producer) at The Lounge in Wigan, it follows the raucous ‘TV’.

Picture courtesy of Katie Stokes & Songbird PR.

Mid-December, credible singles tend to fade into icy cold acoustic affairs in a reflective mood. Not The K’s! Blasting out of the traps with a rip-roaring solo, they set December ablaze with their brand of rock ‘n’ roll.

Guitarist Ryan Breslin taps into The Rifles’ Lucas Crowther as he pummels the senses with infectious and aggressive licks. Every time Breslin steps forward on this record, a frenzy follows. The Pistols-esque solo alongside the crashing drums is enough to believe the second coming has already happened!

Like all great frontmen, Jamie Boyle is never overshadowed. His humble tale of regret allows us, mortals, a way into their iconic sonic. His innate ability to deliver rapid-fire lyrics is the perfect accompaniment to the colossal noise of their gang mentality.

With Father Christmas watching over you. Don’t be naughty, get on this record!

*Cover picture courtesy of Olivia McDowall & Songbird PR

The K’s - Valley One

The K’s set This Feeling’s ‘Big In 2020’ alight in January and followed that up with sold out shows Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. This was there year!

Cue, covid19!

The Earlestown outfit’s inevitable rise to stardom has been curtailed. It’s not easy to survive in a band when Spotify pays you 7p for a million streams. These are more than testing times for the band and their fans.

However, on May 15th, they released ‘Valley One’ and proved they still have their finger of Britain’s cultural pulse. The solemn affair captures the aching isolation so many have endured:

“now I’m back home I am seeing your shadow from anyone”.

You’ll be hard pressed not to snigger at Dominic Cummings when frontman Jamie Boyle decrees “even Midas would find it surprising you’re out here devising a plan for me”.

Winston Churchill once said, “never waste a good crisis”. The K’s have used their diminished platform expertly here. This might still be their year yet!

*Image courtesy of Ricky Atterby.

The K’s: Nambucca, London

After supporting the The Rifles last October, The K’s, from Earlestown, put the UK on red alert. Last Saturday, they headlined This Feeling’s ‘Big in 2020’ at London’s Nambucca.

Their Roundhouse support slot, was eyebrow raising. Their Nambucca slot however, this was biblical. More aggression and venom found its way into their Northern escapism meets The Jam sound.

Frontman James Boyle furiously attacked his lyrics with real menace, an approach he should seldom stray from in future. This was the real deal. His naturally far reaching and angelic vocals, came with a nasty streak and elevated him to icon in the making status.

In a perfectly scripted twist of fate, Carl Barat, the guitarist of a generation was in the crowd. Such was the brilliance of Ryan Breslin’s lead guitars, it felt as though the baton was being handed over.

With a sold out gig in Manchester the 25th of this month on the slate, it rapidly becoming clear that we won’t get to see them in intimate venues for much longer.

*Image courtesy of Ricky Atterby.