The Velvet Hands - Sucker Punch

“If it’s us versus them then we’ll be winning …you’ll never be alone”

London via Cornwall four-piece The Velvet Hands return after five years to release their second album ‘Sucker Punch’ (JamX / Blood Records). It follows the exhilarating Ramones and Strokes-inspired debut ‘Party’s Over’ in 2018. The album was produced and mixed by John Logan at Par Studios (Cornwall) and mastered by the legendary John Cornfield (The Stone Roses/Supergrass).

‘Party’s Over’ was a buoyant expression of youth. Their enthusiasm for life laid bare in short, fiery garage-psyche rock anthems to soundtrack a new generation coming of age. ‘Sucker Punch’, although sonically linked to the debut, becomes the antithesis of this lyrically at points. ‘Holiday In My Head’ witnesses the late teen zest for life descend into the forlorn 20s, sick of being skint:

“If I had money left to burn / But sparks just won’t fly / When you’re billed for every penny, you earn”

Credit: Harvey Williams-Fairley

The fog of life without a future swell to unprecedented levels in the verses as they play The Ramones sound in ferocious Stooges style. The intensity is several levels above anything their debut offered, exemplified by the explosive Nick Valensi meets Russell Lissack solo. It encapsulates the pressure and stress of bills mounting, work not paying, and life becoming too much with such vehement brilliance.

‘Telephone Love’ takes the band to darker pastures of overindulgent all-nighters of booze and drugs. The party is over, but the protagonists remain, caning it. A snapshot of a generation sold down the river in every industry. Now they’re left praying the next line will make them feel alive enough to carry on:

“Bloodshot eyes and bleeding gums,
Welcome to the house of fun
And now you’re talking insane,
Telephone love runs through your veins
And I don’t know just how you found me, I don’t know Just how you found me

And now, and now it’s dawn
Riding from the dusk before
We could waste the night
You know you help me feel alive”

Despite the intoxication, The Velvet Hands find their way out and offer hope in the closing stages. With punk’s DIY spirit in their veins, they demand this be their time in the sun (“But You ain’t ever seen me next in line, / It’s my time, it’s my time, it’s my time”). Impatient and angry, the band are set to piss off the middle classes dominating the airwaves, and the world will be a better place for it.

The violence and desolation continue on the title track, ‘Sucker Punch’ but there is a more thoughtful musicality to the band not seen before, which spreads its wings elsewhere on the album. The title track initiates with jagged 00s guitars reminiscent of Bloc Party, Dogs, and early Razolright whilst the vocals roar like Johnny Rotten. Despite the uncompromising snarling of the verses, they lead into melodic Vaccines-esque chorus for fans to buy into joyously. Not finished there, they serve up a breakdown akin to an out-of-body experience. The message of getting up of the canvas and keep fighting becomes less naive and one of “now or never” and “don’t give up”. They emerge on the other side with confidence and solidarity, which is utterly undeniable on this remaining 00s guitar scene.

Artwork courtesy of Sonic PR

‘Devil’s Tale’ continues the band’s musical expansion with a sumptuous Doors via a Doves opening. Bugged out, the band takes their time, allowing this stoner trip to floating towards its solo climax. The guitars, inevitable, they’re coming, we all know it, and yet, the excitement, hysteria, and fever they create are no less mesmerising. ’40 Up and 40 Down’ sees the influx of Gang of Four, Franz Ferdinand, and XTC’s angular post-punk disco riffs flood the senses and, if any justice exists, will become an indie club floor filler for years.

‘Sucker Punch’ may have taken five years but in every conceivable way, it was worth the wait. Perfectly capturing the landscape that normal folk, especially creatives, face today. Skint, downtrodden, and overtaken by those who can afford it or the artistically redundant. Despite the odds against them and cultural pressures pushing them toward a boring mainstream landscape, the band have funnelled their joyous punk debut into something more studied and grander this time out.  It’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world realises their quality.

The Velvet Hands - Over It Now

London via Cornwall four-piece The Velvet Hands signed of 2022 with a new single ‘Over It Now’. It follows three of the finest anthemic punk anthems in recent times ‘Holiday In My Head’, ‘I Wanna Be There’, and ‘Telephone Love’. All of these will feature on their sophomore album ‘Sucker Punch’ released next February.

The Strokes have always featured heavily the band’s sound and that remains prevalent here. However, their back-and-forth vocals bring The Libertines into play as they begin to splice Pavement’s slacker rock. The dual vocals are edged towards a more universal sense of euphoria than their Albion seniors but the sense lives spontaneity remains.

Lyrically they tread similar paths to many counter-cultural icons and fire shots at the daily 9-5 dross we all endure. With the newfound Malkmus vibes in full swing, they have to search for different ways to impart their venom and it serves them well. It means that the foot isn’t permanently on the accelerator but, when it is, it’s bursting out the stereo like an uppercut of social justice.

Everything they have touched this year has been goldust, it’s almost impossible to see how they don’t produce the breakthrough album of the year in 2023.

*image courtesy of Sonic PR

The Velvet Hands – Star

Last Month The Velvet Hands returned with their latest single ‘Star’. After a string of great garage singles, could they advance their sound with brass arranger Simon Dobson (Architects) stepping into the studio?

There was no call for a ‘Kid A’ reinvention this early in their careers. Gigs were selling out and their buzz was growing. With two headline shows this bank holiday Monday, they look set to continue this form. What Dobson has added is, a splash of musicality to broaden their garage horizons. Subtly done, it keeps visions of Keith Richards and Albert Hammond Jnr on guitars whilst adding the bombast of Shed Seven’s ‘Maximum High’.

It goes to show what a bit of creative thinking in the studio can be done on small budgets. One only hopes that they get their chance of the grandiose ten years in like ‘Urban Hymns’ or ‘Ladies and Gentleman We Are Floating in Space’.

*image courtesy of Harvey Williams-Fairley

The Velvet Hands: Live in London

“Everybody's looking for last gang in town
You better watch out for they're all comin' around”

Falmouth’s The Velvet Hands kicked off their intimate sold out tour off at London’s Roadtrip & The Workshop this past Tuesday night.

The Clash had a gang mentality, The Libertines had it and now, The Velvet Hands have it! Despite the rock n roll, the punk fury and the icey coolness of the vocals, they have warm embracing nature. It’s so inviting that, on the modern classic ‘Party’s Over’, the raucous crowd invite themselves on stage for a dance.

On the debut album record, The Strokes influences were plain to see. Live though, they transcend their NYC heroes. As the BRMC inspired ‘Sick of Living’ catches fire, their welcoming spirit permeates the sweat drenched room. What Richard Hawley does via pop couplets and enriching arrangements, The Velvet Hands are doing with garage punk rock.

New singles ‘Don’t Be Nice To Me’ and ‘This Feeling’ also go down a storm. The word is out! The former, a Cribs meets Strokes banger is the pick of the bunch with its ecstatic closing moments!

Brace yourself Britain, you’re about to get new national treasures!

*Image courtesy of Craig Taylor-Broad

The Velvet Hands – This Feeling

Fresh from supporting 2019’s all-conquering heroes Fontaines D.C. and the omnipresent Liam Gallagher, the Falmouth four-piece are back! Their new single ‘This Feeling’, is released on 27th September via Jam X Recordings.

If previous single 'Don't Be Good To Me' was a solid jab, 'This Feeling' is a massive right hook! The brazen NYC rock n roll of The Strokes collides with the Danish punks Iceage. The results, slice of pure devilment.

Despite the chaos, there are moments of pop majesty. The Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist meets Julian Casablancas back ‘n’ forth vocals recreate the Pete and Carl dynamic for a drunken night out in 2019.

Nevertheless, it’s the intensity that overshadows everything here. Pete Shelly may have left this mortal coil but, his soul lives strong and furious in the The Velvet Hands.  

There some moments of real pop majesty lurking within here. The early Libertines back n forth vocals being the cream of the crop. However, it’s the intensity of it all that overshadows everything. With the spirit and the joy of the Buzzcocks in their hearts, it’s to visualise the assault they put upon their kit in the studio.

The Velvet Hands - Don't Be Nice To Me

With a huge Liam Gallagher support slot in the bag, Cornwall’s The Velvet Hands return with their new single ‘Don’t Be Nice To Me’.

2018’s debut album ‘Party’s Over’ got people talking excitedly about the four piece but, such was the Strokes influence, question marks loomed over future successes. Could they break free from their heroes shackles being the main one.

‘Don’t Be Nice To Me’ is a big stride away from their NYC idols. It’s a short sharp upper cut to their peers and the drivel in the charts. With the warmth of Palma Violets and the angst of Shame, they have found their sweet spot.

This free flowing piece of rock rebellion is going to cause some serious beer spillages on indie dancefloors this summer!

Friday 2nd August marks our 8th birthday. Come down to the New Cross Inn for a night of great live music. Tickets available here: