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!