The Spitfires – Life Worth Living

The Watford three piece are back with their fourth album ‘Life Worth Living’. They have been an underdog success story for the past decade, selling out small venues nationwide with minimal backing. Having signed to Acid Jazz Records and, having Simon Dine (Weller’s cohort on ’22 Dreams’, Wake Up The Nation’ and ‘Sonik Kicks’) at the helm in the studio, they have said backing, can this be their entrance into the mainstream?

The Spitfires have been heavily indebted to the UK’s counter culture greats to date, especially The Jam. With their new high end mod backing, ‘Life Worth Living’ hasn’t ripped this formula up, it has seeked to enhance. ‘It Can’t Be Done’ merges the musketeer spirit of The Libertines’ ‘Fame and Fortune’ and the indie-dub of Hard-Fi’s ‘Cash Machine’ before unleashing a grandiose Blur-esque piece of orchestration.

There are moments of pure carnival spirit on the record which, keep the aforementioned archetypal sound fresh. Title track lacks a killer hook but, few parties would lose out from this unifying ska. Whereas, ‘Start All Over Again’, truly brings the party fire. The bombast of Spencer Davis Group and the majesty of Weller’s ’22 Dreams’ (the song) combine on this aggressive slice of funk and soul.  

Certain tracks, despite sonic advancement, diminish in power. ‘How Could Lie To You?’ departs for Tom Clarke glory but, never arrives. Meanwhile, ‘Kings & Queens’ is a bit flat.

This all pales into insignificance on ‘Have It Your Way’. The eloquence of George Harrison’s guitars, take the hand of Cornershop’s playful production, and dance like inhibited lovers. Often, The Spitfires offer you all their righteous glory in one verse. Here, they utilise the subtle build to perfection. The Johnny Marr via The Jam circa ‘The Gift’ solo leads the album to it’s one true moment of ecstasy.

‘Life Worth Living’ is not going to catapult The Spitfires to mainstream. However, there is a notable stride forward in musicality. It almost feels like another debut album. IF they can continue in this vein, they are sure to marry up their working class hero story telling with top draw musicianship.

*Image courtesy of Tony Briggs

The Spitfires: Live in Southend

Watford​ three piece The Spitfires returned to Chinnery’s in Southend this past Saturday.

They came on the trail of their new single ‘Enough is Enough’, would it be enough to keep them in the hearts of Essex’s mods?

Roaring out of the traps with crowd favourite ‘Last Goodbye’ and ‘The New Age’. The fury of The Jam and melodic rumble of The Rifles combined with their playfulness to kick-start the dancing. A word that became omnipresent throughout.

New single ‘Enough is Enough’ took the defiant spirit of Hard-Fi’s debut ‘Stars of CCTV’ and threw in, well, everything! The brass, at times hinging on the love of Frankie Knuckles and at others, drawing upon ska, funk and soul they have become famed for. It’s such a raucous carnival affair that, it sets frontman Billy Sullivan freer than ever before.

Remember, their 4th album is imminent, this isn’t a band with a new sheen, this is one with crowd favourites. Nothing touched the vibrancy of the crowd’s reaction than on ‘Enough is Enough’.

Speaking of crowd favourites, ‘Something Worth Fighting For’ was sounding more desolate than ever, clinging to the last shred of hope in a world gone bat shit. Meanwhile. The blistering guitar solo on ‘Return To Me’ and the euphoria of ‘On My Mind’ defy all logic of the working classes in recent years. Social comment and escapist rebellion should always meet these standards!

It’s fair to say, they left Southend as favourite adopted sons

*Image coutesy of Tony Briggs

The Spitfires: Chinnerys, Southend

It's been just under a year since the Watford band ventured to the Essex coast. Their previous visit witnessed a solid outing, this time, an evolution to something far greater emerged.

Maybe performing on national TV (The Andrew Marr Show) and chiding against the middle of the road has been a huge confidence boost. Whatever it is, their playing was tighter and harder and lead to some jaw dropping moments.

The pre-fame fire of The Ordinary Boys was all over this performance. However, with The Spitfires, it feels more earnest and pure. The stripped back version of '4am' heightened this wonderfully. The lyrical desperation collided with jagged Bragg-esque guitar licks to deliver a sense of togetherness few can deliver. Too rare are fists raised aloft and strangers hugged in moments of sheer joy today.

They should be buoyed by their new songs in the set. There was no clear piss break tonight. 'Move On' and 'Something Worth Fighting For' have embraced their love of Ska and Dub. Whilst the lyrical intensity remains, there is a brevity to them which injects a skanking euphoria to the room.

The Spitfires have gone from a band that only music obsessed fans know about to, the one those fans will beg their friends to come see. They have hit that level where what they do is undeniable.

The Spitfires - Chinnerys, Southend

All too often, The Spitfires are written off as just another Jam revivalist band. Anyone in Southend last Friday surely has to dispute this, loudly!

They are band steeped in the English greats such as The Jam, Specials, Billy Bragg, and Madness. Sometimes, The Jam comparisons shine a little too bright but, with this much melody and passion, they seem destined to outrun this tag. 

This is particularly pertinent on ‘4am’. This earnest tale of abusive landlords stops Chinnerys dead in its tracks. Social comment is always a plus point in the alternative music community but, this poetic, and with this much integrity, a rare thing indeed.

Former singles ‘So Long’ and ‘Move On’ go down well. The Clash via The Beat inspired ‘Move On’ has the Southend faithful skanking whilst ‘So Long’, reminds us all of when The Ordinary Boys first emerged and were not fame hungry whores.

Whilst we have all be lauding Liam Gallagher’s new found confessional song writing style (and rightly so), The Spitfires, Sullivan in particular, nail this one epic song. ‘Spoke To Soon’ recounts a tale of degradation and personal failure towards a loved one whilst all around it, is a swirling Who via Arcade Fire epic.

With new material on the horizon, watch out as this has to be their breakthrough year.