WEEK 10 - THE STRYPES

When this band debuted their first album back in 2013, they made some serious waves. It captured the attention of The Who’s Roger Daltrey, The Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, and Elton John, who all publicly proclaimed their fandom. Since their 2013 release of Snapshot, the band also released a sophomore album, Little Victories, in 2015. Both albums did very will on charts in the UK.

The most incredible part of all this is that the band members hadn’t even turned 18 at the time of their first album release. The members, Ross Farrelly on vocals, Josh McClorey on lead guitar, Peter O’Hanlon on bass guitar, and Evan Walsh on drums, formed the group in 2011 in the town of Cavan Ireland. The four met at school and played their first show at a school Christmas party. After later appearing on an Irish late night talk show, they released a self-produced EP titledYoung Gifted & Blue, that earned them some recognition. That EP did not contain any original songs, but it did earn them the ear of Elton John, who signed them to his group, Rocket Music Management.

Then, the group began work on their first album, Snapshot, and landed a huge hit. It reached number 5 on UK charts and number 2 on charts in Ireland. What about this group caught the attention and admiration of so many legendary musicians? If you listen, you’ll immediately know. The Strypes bring a hard-hitting 60’s R&B sound to the modern era and it works beautifully. Driving drum and bass rhythms, riffing guitar solos, and screaming harmonica sections will force any listener onto his or her feet. No one expected a couple of young kids from Ireland to bring old-school rock ’n roll back to the forefront of music, but this group of Irish musicians did just that.

Snapshot consists of 12 original songs, all of which are very strong displays of the band’s talent. They released “Blue Collar Jane,” “Mystery Man,” and “What a Shame,” as singles off the album. Strong influences from The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, The Yardbirds, and The Ramones can be heard on many of the tracks. They basically channel as many of the greatest rock ’n roll acts to ever exist into their music and hold nothing back. Their latest release, Little Victories, has a similar sound, but the group certainly diverges from traditional R&B, and influences like the Arctic Monkeys draw the band toward a much more modern approach to rock without losing any of their original attitude or energy.

Check out this amazing performance of “What a Shame,” on The Late Show With David Letterman, and watch Letterman’s reaction at the end. That man has seen thousands of bands play on his stage, so his utter exuberance following the Strype’s concluding chord really speaks to their talent.

WEEK 9 - Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Okay, okay, this will be the only alternative/indie-pop band I will EVER share with anyone in my entire life. I usually can’t stand most “underground” indie bands’ predictable style and vanilla sound, but Rainbow Kitten Surprise really earned my respect. My friend introduced me to this band quite a few months ago, and I still regularly visit their music on my iPod today.

Rainbow Kitten Surprise hails from the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. The members include Sam Melo on lead vocals, Darrick Keller on acoustic guitar and vocals, Ethan Goodpaster on lead guitar and vocals, Charlie Holt on bass, and Jess Haney on drums. As you may have noticed, this band has three members capable of singing quite well, and that allows for some really fascinating harmonies. The bassist and lead guitar are also very impressive musicians. Rainbow Kitten Surprise released their first album, Seven + Mary, in 2013, and their second album, RKS, in mid-2015.

My motivation for not passing by this undiscovered indie band stems directly from their unique sound. They’re not afraid to mix modern textures, like sampled drums and guitar distortions, with the very folksy timbre of the lead singer’s voice and the acoustic guitar. The blend captivated my interest from the first few moments of the first song I heard, and I had to explore more.

That first song was called, “Devil Like Me,” off Seven + Mary; It tells the tragic story of a relationship destroyed by alcoholism. Sam Melo’s voice adds a level of depth and authenticity to the atmosphere of the piece that I rarely hear in most music today. His voice just fits the composition beautifully. The central acoustic guitar theme also hooks the listener and sets a sobering mood. Another favorite song of mine is “First Class,” about the struggle of making it in the modern world. The vocal harmonies in this song blew me away. All three vocalists come together to create one gorgeous, ethereal voice. The band does a nice job combining slow, pensive sections with faster parts where they almost chant the lyrics. I also thoroughly enjoy “Shameful Company,” where the song transitions seamlessly between verses, choruses, and instrumental sections. The drummer particularly demonstrates his musicality by laying down a mellow rhythm with the ride cymbal and brushes on the snare to help the song flow.

I highly recommend you check these guys out! Whether you like folk, rock, country, contemporary, or indie, you will undoubtedly find something intriguing in this band’s music. Watch the music video for “Devil Like Me”, and then listen to “First Class!” Enjoy the unique sound of the immensely talented members of Rainbow Kitten Surprise.