Into the Groove with.. The Shimmer Band.

Images by Sandy K. Moz

The Shimmer Band almost took the roof off of a sold out Camden Assembly the other week. At a time when guitar bands are out of vogue in the mainstream, their headline tour of the UK has been selling out, scenes have been wild and the 21st century word of mouth, social networks are exchanging excited feedback.

The Zine UK team are in attendance and trying to keep balance on a dance floor that is (actually) bouncing as the raucous sing along rock rave raises the adoration levels with each song.

This is the last date before the band hit the summer festivals and, with a glitteratti of rock n roll "faces" here to see them (and over 50 turned away outside) probably the last London date in a venue this size. Their last single 'Jacknife And The Death Call' is a Radio 1 play-listed slice of aural ambition, they mic-dropped the latest single 'What Is Mine?' at the end of April, that is already a euphoric soundtrack of 2017, and at one point of the show a fan is on stage with a bouquet of flowers. What the psychaedelic f...?!

Hang on, The Shimmer Band. Who? Tom Newman (vocals), William "Willz" Hatcher (drums), Tom "Schmidt" Smith (synth and guitar), Tom Kuras (bass), Daniel "Babsy" Barry (guitar).

"So, who are ya? "

Tom N: We’re from Bristol, we all went to the same school – we grew up together, and have known each other for a long, long time. We’d all been involved in music at different points, somehow, we eventually come together and decided to start a band.

We got our name because we wanted something with a little bit of light in it, a bit of positivity. I think it’s important to have the word band in the title, because we want people to know what they’re getting on the poster. It lets everyone know we’re a band, we’re a group of musicians, artists.

The Shimmer Band Manifesto...

Tom N: We all know what’s going on politically now, and to be honest I’m bored of it. It’s important for some people to talk about it, to speak out about it – you know but we’re really fucking bored of it. I like to think that we as a band are an art form, and some people see rock n roll as a low art form, but it’s not – I think it should be held as above politics really. I think you should transcend all that, and mean a little bit more to people. The point of The Shimmer Band is to try and add a little euphoria and make people stop thinking about all the shit that’s going on, for a little while. People see us live and have the chance to forget about that shit for 40 minutes, forget about all we get fed all day long.

We don’t get long on this planet so I want it to be happy, and for everyone to have a good time. We’re a positive band, here to spread a bit of positivity.

Tom S: I guess we’re like a big ball of euphoric psychedelic rock, full stop.

The Devil Makes work for idle bands...

Babsy: We gig, and gig and gig constantly.

Tom N: Yeah because when you’re independent, like we are – you just must keep at it, be consistent and work so hard non-stop.

It's been constant for us since we put out our first single out in January 2016, 'Shoot Me Baby'. Then from our second single “Freedom’ things sort of exploded from there. We did the BBC6 fringe festival and that’s where Steve Lamacq heard us, and he liked it. Through that we did Maida Vale... BBC Introducing – Then suddenly, we were supporting the Stereophonics and the Jesus and Mary Chain.

Babsy: Playing with Jesus & Mary Chain was something else. When you play a stadium – it’s proper spinal tap. I mean we’d stand there and there would be someone whose role was just to open a door for us.

Tom N: It was beautifully ridiculous. Everything you’d expect from an overblown tour like that. It was just fucking mental.

"Who influences The Shimmer Band?"

Tom N: We’re big fans of Creation records, all the bands on that label, Primal Scream, Jesus and Mary Chain, Super Furry Animals. I mean the bands on that label really makes up who we are and Alan McGee... Everything thing he did.

Tom S: We met Alan McGee at the Jesus & Mary Chain gig and we were in awe – he proper liked us too.

Tom N: We love Jags Kooner too, he did Swastika eyes for Primal Scream. He is actually doing some remixes for us and we hope we can get him to do some new songs – that’s what we’d really like to work out really. He’s the electro-rock wizard.

"What's next?"

Tom N: We’re just going to carry on putting out singles for a bit – I reckon we’d have an album in October – to coincide with the This Feeling tour in October. This Feeling are amazing it’s always fantastic to be able to play with them.

We’ve been doing loads of support slots recently, and it’s like a war like intensity because we must win people over, but when it’s our own shows, we really enjoy it more – we’re so appreciative of the people that come to see us, so when we’re doing all the city festivals this year, we’re excited to be smashing as many of them as possible. This Feeling are amazing, and it’s always fantastic to be able to play with them.

"Final thoughts?"

Babsy: Just remember Stay in school and use your brain. Be a thinker, not a stinker.

Planet sized sounds from a band with the potential to make the globe happy. This is just the beginning, bigger stages call. The Shimmer Band's next live appearances are at festivals. They have a slice of rather large news in the pipeline (this clip, below was the band, a few hours before Camden Assembly, TheZineUK are in the mix, excited). Just follow facebook.com/TheShimmerBand if you don't already, to be in the know first.