'Fantastic stuff indeed' - Brumcast net radio
'A wash of sultry dark 80's kohled eyes and razor sharp melodies'
- Bull & Gate Promotions
'Punk meets American indie, like a heavier Bloc Party,
though not as perky... what these guys do is very interesting, so you
shouldn't miss out.' - Bugbear Promotions
BUBBLEGUM SLUT: ISSUE 33
(what's on your free cd?)
With collarbones you could cut yourself on, acerbic lyrics that slice to the heart of the matter, and razor riffs from the Manics' lean 'Holy Bible' songbook, the only thing that isn't sharp about The Drowners is their eyeliner pencils, applied smudged under further influence from Richey Edwards. If, like us, you loved the darkly camp take on 70s glam of Suede and Placebo et al during the mid 90s, this London trio will be a sheer delight.
(live review)
...for starters we have nihilistic pretty boys The Drowners, who you can check out on this issue's free CD. As deeply influenced by the darker, sexier guitar pop that bubbled under during the Britpop era as their Suede inspired name might suggest, they've also definitely forged a defining and distinctive sound in their few months together, characterized by swirling, seething guitar melodies, and Rob's frequently off-key, but somehow always on the point of ripping your heart out via your ears, howling vocals.
(demo review)
Beauty
You'll already have heard the title track here on this issue's free CD, and if you've got a weakness for pretty boys dealing in dark thoughts and howling guitar noise the way we have, you'll doubtless be in agreement that this London trio provide one of that sampler's highlights. The bloodline to the Manics is pretty apparent (more so in the slightly more immediate, conventially structured 'Not A Love Song', something the Welsh wonders of course swore they'd never write), although if we want to get nit picky they tap more specifically that arty and distorted vein of indie rock with sex appeal opened by other Bubblegum Slut favourites Ariel-X and Neurotica. It's more than a strong start, it's encouragement in just two tracks to dive at the deep end ansd say we're already firm fans.
The New Current- Student Media (March 2009)
Sometimes this job is too easy. You get to listen to
great music, meet fantastic bands, and get to hear what they have to
say for themselves!
Meet
The Drowners.
Robert, Simon & James took the time out to answer some of our heavy
hitting questions and we reproduce them here for your reading delight.
As with most bands the guys are going to be gigging all round London
through April/May and you can find more information about that in the
Gig Guide section of this site.
INTERVIEW
How did you guys meet?Rob met James at university, they both met Simon at a gig in
Birmingham. We all lived together in a band house, our P.A and drum kit
set up in the living room. A bit like The Monkees, but more squalid.
Were you musical at school?Rob was a Grade 8 kind of boy, Simon spent his spare time playing
his guitar along to records and James was just hitting things with
sticks slightly better than his mates I guess.
What is your favourite venue to play?We have a monthly residency at The Gaff in Holloway co-hosting ‘The
Vapour Trail’ with The Firm. We have 4 bands then a club night
afterwards. It’s like playing on home turf for us, especially as it’s
next door.
Do you have a favourite band/artists living or dead?Between the 3 of us we like loads of bands, too many to mention. But we can ALL agree on The Cure.
What has been the best gig you have played?The best gigs are the ones where you are drunk enough to give a good
performance but sober enough not to make too many mistakes like falling over.
What city-country would you like to visit?In this country, who knows? Everywhere just looks the same but has a slightly bigger or smaller High Street. Take us anywhere.
What would you say about the music scene now?Is there one? If there is, we don’t know about it. There’s always
loads of bands doing their own thing and it’s only the music press that
decides what’s cool and what we should all be listening to.
Where does your music fit in?Somewhere between Bloc Party and Nirvana on your iPod.
Would you allow your music to be used in commercials/TV?At the moment we don’t make a penny from our music, so if someone
was prepared to pay us for using a track, we are fine with that. Even
if it was to advertise laxatives or something. I can imagine ‘Let Me
Out’ would be a good choice for that.
If there was one person you could work with who would it be?Rob:Napoleon, Simon:David Brent, James: Garth Marenghi
What would you say the worst thing about touring is?You’d have to ask Motley Crue that! Or Status Quo! I guess you lose
touch with reality playing gig after gig. It becomes a job like any
other. We have no immediate plans to tour the universe, so we’ll be
fine for a while yet.
Who has any bad habits in the band?We pick each others noses.
How do you write your music?Rob writes songs at home, then we play about with it in rehearsal
and decide if we like it. The quality control and decision making
process is as important as the basic song. Sometimes lyrics or music
from one of our old songs will reappear in a new guise. We don’t mind
recycling for the greater good.
What have you got planned for the rest of the year, are you playing any
festivals?We are really busy recording loads of songs at home at the moment. By the
summer we’ll be busy haranguing everyone we encounter to give us some
recognition for them. We’re not going to any festivals, we’ll probably
try and find some shade so we don’t get bad tans!
What advice had you been given before you started this journey and what
advice would you give someone just starting out?Don’t bother. Haven’t you heard? Music’s full! If you’re starting
out, you should probably get yourselves a job, your parents will be
proud of that. We’re such hypocrites……
'GLITZINE' Review:
Towards the end of 2008
the BBC website was banging on about an 80's revival - the return of the synthesiser
and daft haircuts. OK - I made up the bit about haircuts but seeing some of
the band photos, it seemed apt. Whereas I've no objection to a revival I really
must insist that some room is made for three piece guitar band The Drowners
who have managed a magnificent amalgam of the Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen
with perhaps a touch here and there of the Psychedelic Furs.Opener "Beauty" trundles along like The Cure on speed and it's not harmed at all by the Bunnymen-esque guitar riffs. I've no idea if the muddy production is deliberate or not but it certainly works to add atmosphere.
"Not A Love Song"is slightly brighter production wise though the vocals do get a bit fuzzy towards the end and personally I'd have liked a little more clarity in that area but it's a minor complaint. There's enough here to appeal to a broad spectrum of fans from the Goths to the indie kids. If this is representative of what they're capable
of, some serious airplay and a heavy gigging schedule should guarantee this
lot a decent shot at a successful career.
On a personal basis, I'm looking forward to hearing much more.
by Phil T.The Devil has the best tuna review:
Cockney glam punk trio The Drowners (not to be confused with the Swedish powerpop group, The Drowners), are named after the Suede song of the same name (why did I write of the same name isn't that obvious!).
With a look that's best described as impoverished Manic Street Preachers it's hardly surprising that there's a Manics feel to the tracks on their myspace site
Check out 'Not A Love Song',
unfortunately not a glam punk take on the PIL classic, a rough, raging,
fearsome beast of a track that pummels you into submission with
stilleto sharp guitars that could cut glass and a chorus that takes
refuge in your brain and refuses to leave. It's angry, agit pop that
Richey Edwards (it couldn't be, could it?) would have been proud to
call his own.
The Drowners are 4 Real and they're taking you over.
Go Try.
'Glam Fury' Rated 10/13
The Drowners hark back to the days when the Manics were at the height of their powers, glam rock littered with literary references was in its heyday and groups like King Adora were poised to crash onto the scene. On 'Beauty' screeching guitars lash out at echo-drowned vocals while razorblade riffs lacerate the fierce chorus. It's very much derivative but there's definitely something there and all bands start off rather rough around the edges and at least The Drowners are clear about their influences and wear them on their sleeves with style.
'Not A love Song' has a vicious, melodic chorus that springs out of a gnarled, agitated verse and glorious rushes of guitar riffs. The guitars are big and brash and threaten to overpower the vocal melody at times but this also acts to boost the gritty punk dynamics of the tune.
The Drowners certainly have something about them, it may be more a matter of style and promise over polished substance at this stage but many of the best bands have started out with passion and shaped it into exceptional tunes. If you're looking for an interesting start to the New Year, then i'd recommend checking these guys out in action at The Vapour Trail night held at The Gaff on 16th January.
Tracks: Beauty, Not A Love Song
Jo Vallance, Room Thirteen
December 6th 2008
Festive questions from the Vapour Trail
CHRISTMAS Q&A:
ROB (THE DROWNERS)
1. What do you actually like about Christmas?
I like the fact that I can be extremely drunk and no one will look down on me for it. I like the weather, there's something about winter that I find very attractive.I like Mulled wine, (why can you only get this at Christmas?)Time off work is always nice.I'm kind of at a loss after that.
2. What do you utterly despise about Christmas?
I hate the fact that Christmas is an unholy marriage between two of the greatest evils in society: Capitalism and Christianity. I hate the fact that the one time of year that everything is closed is the one time of year where there's fuck all on TV so you have no choice but to sit comatose being brainwashed by an inane talking reindeer.Fucking Christmas adverts.
3. What are your favourite and worst Christmas songs?
My favourite is 'Last Christmas' by George Michael, although I prefer James Dean Bradfield's
version.My worst would have to be all of the others, except maybe Fairytale of New York.
4. What is the most dreadful gift you've been given at Christmas?
Chlamydia.
5. What will you be doing at, say, 6pm on Christmas day?
Hopefully I'll be in an alcohol induced coma that will last until Boxing Day when I can go back to my flat and resume normal life.
Interview with The Vapour Trail, November 2007
THEY'RE TAKING YOU OVER…
THE DROWNERS hit the capital with a show at The Vapour Trail. A showstopping three piece very much in the classic mould, they are Robert Hardy (vocals, guitar), Simon Hidson (bass) and Tim Smerdon (drums.) Very much an anomaly in today's largely vacuous and still rather corporate alternative music scene, not only do they look good and sound good but they also have something to say. And right here is where you can read what they wish to get off their chests…
Like the best rock bands, The Drowners have something of a penchant for drinking. Well, when we say 'penchant', what we really mean is 'an abusive habit that could well result in cirrhosis of the liver by 35 at the very latest.' The story of how they came to be illustrates exactly that. 'We formed in January 2007 out of the ashes of our (Simon and Rob's) old band, which fell apart following the departure of our guitarist who was becoming increasingly concerned about our spiralling drink problems. We'd usually be too drunk to play our instruments and often verge on falling off the stage. In the end, both our guitarist and drummer had enough and moved out of the house we shared and left the band. We were left with each other, a shared passion for the Manic Street Preachers and drinking. So we regrouped and found our drummer Tim in January and played our first gig in April.'
When the group got together, the initial aims in terms of style, sound and overall direction were simple. They wanted to mix a frenetic kind of fury with a poignant kind of gloominess. And they partly took their cue from the aforementioned Welsh rockers. 'We wanted to marry the ferocity of Holy Bible-era Manics with the overt melancholy of The Cure and make a more aggressive sound than before. Becoming a three-piece actually helped in that regard as it enabled us to get rid of parts that weren't necessary and encouraged us to play more violently to make up for that. We never wanted to be a 'jeans and t-shirt' indie band singing about nothing over whatever middle of the road sound was fashionable. We wanted to be something that people could fall in love with, a band that people would want to be in instead of just thinking 'that's a good song.' We recognize that it's not just about the music, it's everything, the band sets the context for the music in the way that they look, the artwork, the things they say. We wanted to change people's lives like bands changed ours ten years ago.'
Which conveniently brings us onto the discussion of those bands, exactly who they were and exactly why you never seem to get those bands anymore (until now, of course.) When prompted, the band list Nirvana, The Cure, Joy Division, Smashing Pumpkins, The Smiths and Placebo as being the main offenders in question. 'There seems to be very few signature sounds these days and that was something we were keen to produce. All the bands we've mentioned are instantly recognisable. None of the bands around at the moment are going to make the impact on people's lives that the bands we've mentioned have. The fucking Killers aren't going to change the ideals of anyone. It comes back to the old Morrisseyism 'it says nothing to me about my life.' There doesn't seem to be music for those who are different and relish the fact. There's nothing for those who question God, their friends and their own actions. We want to be that band.'
Clearly The Drowners have what it takes to be a classic outsider's band. Their refusal to settle for anything and will to question everything goes a long way to supporting that theory. 'Most people float through their miserable existence with little regard for what is going on around them and inside them. We want to make people look at their own lives and be disgusted, with the things they do, the things they say. We want our songs to be a mirror for people to be able to see the worst qualities in themselves and those around them and to maybe do something about it. We write about the things we recognise in ourselves, the people we know and society, as repugnant. The only reason we can sing about these things is because we are these things, we're the same selfish islands, but we're desperately seeking some kind of thrill to numb this realisation simply because we realise it. We're not so depressed about this that we're going to write slow, pseudo-ballads or bland anthems like Snow Patrol. We're fucking angry.'
And with all this in place, it only seems right that The Drowners will cultivate a huge hardcore following of like-minded people; the young, pissed-off and dispossessed. We wonder if this is an aim or just the likely and natural conclusion. 'We think that is something that is more important to us than achieving a general malaise of benevolent indifference. We'd rather mean the world to a few people than very little to many. It would be difficult to even really think about being mainstream simply because we're not prepared to sacrifice what we think and believe in for the sake of success. Success has to be on our own terms and we'd rather spectacularly fail but know we tried to do it our way than change what we are and do. I think that kind of single mindedness naturally attracts similar people so for that reason, it's both an aim and a natural conclusion.'
With a band as exciting as this, and one who seemingly know exactly what they want and where they ought to be going, the final question has to be an inevitable one. What is next for you? 'Who knows? Obviously, we're going to carry on gigging as much as we can. We're just so desperate to break out of Birmingham, there's nothing there for us. We've seen so many bands from Birmingham supposedly 'achieve' things but what that inevitably means is that they've managed to get a gig in a slightly bigger venue and played to more of their friends and family at once than usual. We have no interest in playing to the same 50 people week after week, or being part of some pointless indie scene that isn't going anywhere. We want people to actually hear us, it doesn't matter if they hate us; an opinion is better than nothing.'
And to us, that certainly is the hallmark of a classic outsider's band. One day, you'll find yourself kissing in his room to a popular tune – and that tune will be by real Drowners.
'Fool Myself'
When 'Fool Myself' by British punk rock band The Drowners first opens in my iTunes, the opening guitar riffs immediately remind me of a haunting version of The Killers Mr. Brightside.
The song is completely guitar driven, with a catchy bass line that instantly captivates my ears. Their influences from The Cure and The Smiths is evident from the eerie electric guitar that towers over the bass and tumbles under furious drum beats. Even though the vocals are a bit difficult to follow at times, the harmonies mesh perfectly with the guitar riffs. Its only until the chorus when the lyrics are yelled with emotion and beg for attention from the listener.
With these catchy, unnerving, and intertwining melodies, The Drowners have a song with the potential to be a hit.
By Heather Allison
www.noizemakesenemies.co.uk