FlashFires - intense Power Pop Rocking - with attitude
There's a punky confidence to FlashFires, an alternative rock band with power pop sensibilities. School friends turned musical gang, they are Alex Gonzato, vocals/guitars, Fraser Roskilly, guitar, Jon Cullis, guitar, Liam Kinslow, bass and Toby Bartlett, drums. (photography by Oliver Halfin).
Taken from their 'Play' EP - '31', 'Shy', 'Lingo', 'You Say Nothing' and 'Circus Boy', the band prove themselves ring masters in this video. There are so many ideas orchestrated just into this one song. It bodes well.
The 'Play' EP is a transatlantic creation; produced and mixed by Brian Wheat at J Street Studios in California, mastered at London's Abbey Road by Frank Arkwright who has also worked with New Order, Oasis, Blur, The Smiths and Arcade Fire.
It is available from Angry Badger Records and an essential part of 2015 layiing firm under-radar foundations in the small to medium venues and independent media. Exactly the places where the very near future is crackling with possibilities.
In possession of a dynamic mix of calm and anthemic twists in entertainment focused sound, FlashFires are making a name for themselves around the country. A recent, packed out, BBC Introducing show in Reading and a sold out, sole support gig with Ash at Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms proved that. It's no surprise that great shows (including with The Subways, Catfish And The Bottlemen) plus cool festival appearances - most recently, headlining the BBC Introducing Stage at Butserfest - keep coming their way.
FlashFires were also part of this month's band/industry/celebrity uniting #SoccerSixFest at Mile End Stadium. There is no doubting their footy skills, (they made it to the semi finals), but having had a chance to investigate more of their sounds, FlashFires have got what it takes to be #TheZineUK ~FuturePicks, musically. They write outside of the genre box and bring a variety of influences in to create powerful music with the potential to become very popular. Its more than just power pop, though. The whole gang of friends on a romantic rock n roll adventure appeals to our poetic souls. Tunes like, an earlier release, the skanky-funky 'Manshark' (great video) are the kind of aural assault that converts strangers into friends and fans. Now with heavyweight industry support, and off to the USA to record in November, expect to be hearing more, much more about the band aptly named after sudden, intense ignitions: FlashFires.
Stay tuned to their news; www.facebook.com/flashfiresmusic * @FlashFiresBand
Caffy St Luce