The Northern Swagger, Lucorum, Burn Down the Disco, 10/09/10

Four young men are sat around, waiting for their headline set at Barnsley’s premier Indie Nightclub, Lucorum. They’re all smiles, and quite happy to be kept waiting for their set.

‘It’s not our first gig,’ bassist, Tom, informs. ‘So it’s not like we have first night nerves or anything.’ Indeed, it is not the first gig for The Northern Swagger, but it is only their second as a band. Drummer, Marc and lead singer Matt, used to be in a band with Tom, and will treat us later on to a song from their previous incarnation. New member, guitarist Dave, does look somewhat nervous.

‘Things didn’t work out for us with the last band, the sound wasn’t quite right, and we had some other issues. Matty called Dave, and as a guitarist, he’s got Swagger!’ Marc informs, grinning from ear to ear.

So, it’s a totally different sound from your last band then?

‘Oh, yeah, totally. It’s fuller, somewhat heavier. Not so punky.’

Finally, the band come onto stage, at around midnight, which is a shame, as most people have by now, left. They start with The Crazy Gang, a fairly thumping Oasis-esque floor filler. They easily progress into the next tune, Fairy Tales, before asking the remaining audience triumphantly ; ‘Who’s Got Swagger?’ This announced their third song for the night.

Unfortunately, the sound wasn’t quite right, and nothing could be heard of Matt’s vocals, or Dave’s lead guitar. The songs, however, sounded melodic, drawing influences from Oasis circa ’96 and Kasabian. Thumping Stone Roses style bass lines, and a slight Muse feel to the drum riffs rounded off their sound.

The band finished their 7 song set with Cast Your Problems, the sole survivor from the bands previous incarnation, before the encore Me and My Friends.

All in all, a good night, even if the band were on late, and there were issues with the sound. Who’s got swagger? You boys, I do believe.

New Dancers, March 19 2010

It’s a very wet, rainy Friday night in Barnsley, and New Dancers are headlining at Burn Down the Disco at Lucorum. It’s their first gig, and the place is packed out.

The band, meet us in high spirits, quite literally, and although are nervous, are trying to play it down by dragging us to the bar to conduct a quick pre gig interview.

‘We only formed last year, sort of October time, so this is our very first gig, although we have got quite a lot of followers.’ Joshua, the guitarist/vocalist/keys informs us with a grin and a sweeping gesture with his arm encompassing the very packed out venue. ‘Most of these are here to see us!’ He adds, the rest of the band nodding along with equally big smiles.

Rather unlike their name suggests, New Dancers are an Indie band, drawing influences from the usual suspects; Stone Roses, Oasis, Jam, Muse... Their sound is rather punkish pulling other influences such as Arctic Monkeys into the equation. Even though this is their first interview, the band are a charismatic and friendly bunch, quite happily divulging information about each other.

‘Joshua really idolizes Matt Bellamy from Muse, but has a problem in that he’s scared of glitter.’ Matt, guitarist and vocalist informs us with a cheeky grin.

‘Ha, that’s not as bad as your phobia of Pineapples.’ Joshua retaliates, ‘I chased him round Tesco for two hours with a pineapple the other week...’

Pineapples and glitter aside, the band embarks on stage for their headline set, looking nervous, but accomplished at the same time.

They launch straight into ‘Cast your Problems’, a quick paced punky effort with optimistic overtones. The rest of the set follows in the same vein, all the songs with indie guitars and drums and then husky punk vocals. The band are just as charismatic on the stage as off the stage, and have the packed venue in the palm of their hands. The next really stand out tune is ‘Eyes are Crying’, another punk venture with husky vocals akin to Alex Turner’s early days.

‘Confessions’ comes next, and then a few more punk feel tunes, until the band decide to throw in an instrumental of ‘Pjanoo’ by Eric Pridz. They end on ‘Testify’, another homage to Indie/Punk before encoring on another blistering performance of ‘Cast Your Problems’.

The bands self declaration that their music is a ‘different sort of Indie sound’ is in some doubt. That they are a talented set of musicians who play some blistering Indie Punk tunes isn’t.

All in all, a great night, a great sound and a great band. Shame about the glitter phobia.

For more information on New Dancers,

www.myspace.com/newdancersx

www.newdancers.co.uk