The Lilacs – Hopeless Romantic

Wigan outfit The Lilacs returned last Friday with their new single ‘Hopeless Romantic’.  

Image & artwork courtesy of Fear PR.

Lead guitarist Sam Birchall has moved away from indie anthems with great sensibilities into the trickier realm of forlorn indie. A weariness permeates through, bringing the majesty of The Rifles’ Luke Crowther to the fore. Like Crowther, Birchall maintains a sense of euphoria amid the protagonist’s romantic failures.

Meanwhile, Ollie Anglesa’s vocal taps into Liam Fray circa ‘Mapping The Rendezvous’. Melodic but gravelled, he is emerging as the next indie everyman for the masses to unite behind! With their production adding Blossoms-esque flourishes, The Lilacs are becoming a three-dimensional band that can flesh out anthems with subtle flourishes to hook you in for the long term.

The run of form The Lilacs have had from Vicarage Road to now is making their upcoming tour utterly unmissable.

Click the image below for tickets:

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.

The Lilacs - Sticky Dancefloors

Wigan outfit The Lilacs released their latest single ‘Sticky Dancefloors’ last week. Recorded at Sugar House Catalyst Studios in St. Helens it follows last year’s EP ‘Red Flags & Warning Signs’.

Artwork made by & courtesy of the band.

Lead guitarist Sam Birchall’s guitar parts have a muscular but inviting quality has finds a space between The Pigeon Detectives and ‘St. Jude’ era Courteeners on this tale of indie nightclubs. His raw power is gloriously offset by frontman Ollie Anglesa’s indie-soul power.

Anglesa’s vocal draws from the warmth of Tom Concannon (Stanleys) and the brash immediacy of The Clause’s Pearce Macca allowing the guitars to explode like fireworks. The guitars fizz with such power that Anglesa’s vocal is not just on point, it’s vital to the song’s success. It allows the listener a way into the sonic and an ability to feel a part of something greater. What could be a more perfect display of love for indie nightclubs?

*banner image courtesy of Barnaby Fairley

Click the image below for tickets to The Lilacs tour: