Things we don’t like this week – Scotland being thrashed 3-0 going on 6-0 by Sweden. The £85 – a pint it will inevitably cost in most pubs in Edinburgh on this weekend’s Festival jaunt. Mongrels finishing. Things we DO like this week  - your #InMyPants entries. The manky earwax cream ad on the TV.  Manchester-via-Cleethorpes band Orphan Boy, and their new single ‘Pop Song’ (which is one of the 1% of song titles that doesn’t work for #InMyPants).

Sounding a bit like the Arctics, and a bit like the Inspiral Carpets, had they realised that the Hammond Organ works better as a constituent part of your sound rather the whole bloody thing. They’re not big on choruses, or spending any more than 50p making videos. They play, as the title of this blog suggests ‘Two-Chord Council Pop’ (their words, not ours..) Which with a perverse logic, we admire them for. Here it’s here.

Record Label: East City Records

Download Single:

Our Rating:

After wowing Glasto last year, Ten Bears have gone and given us a single. And thank god they have, for ‘Braces’ is like a cheeky but well-meaning sideways jab at everything that is stuffy or mundane in today’s indie, rock or pop world. It’s reassuring to know that bands can still pick up their instruments and rattle off a number that for a few happy minutes makes you want to tap your toes and wave your arms around in the air like a kids’ TV presenter on ecstasy. ‘Braces’ is jaunty, simplistic but never dull, and catchy, very catchy, dangerously so. In many ways on this single, Ten Bears resemble the Roman god Janus, looking to the past for inspiration but also gazing proactively to the future. So we have a verse that feels glam and features some cheesy, cheery backing vocals and a chorus that is somewhere between the Arctic Monkeys and MGMT, full of guitar and fuzz-laden synths. Whatever, it works and is thoroughly recommended.

After self-releasing two very limited edition singles last year, Young Rebel Set return with an EP full of new material which showcases the depth to the band’s songwriting canon & demonstrates why they’re so hotly tipped for this year. The self-produced EP is set for release through the band’s own label – Our Broadcast – and ‘Won’t Get Up Again’ is mixed by Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, The Coral).

The seven-piece are also making live favourite “Borders” available for free exclusively via this official link: http://youngrebelset.mp3signup.com/

Young Rebel Set are currently on a mammoth UK tour which sees them take in 24 venues over March & April that will steadily build on the buzz that has been spilling over from the North East into the rest of the UK.

Breaking out of their own native scene where they’ve built a huge following, Young Rebel Set’s songs are the sound of disenchanted, literate, working class young men in Northern Britain in 2010, looking for a means of escape through the music they love. Fronted by Matty Chipchase, all seven members of the band have been friends since school and include two sets of brothers, further cementing the gang spirit.

‘Wont Get Up Again’ is another outstanding anthem from Young Rebel Set, blending the band’s love of folk and punk into a rousing tale of stumbling down the wrong path. Their love for Dylan can be seen on ‘Bagatelle‘ which highlights the more delicate side of Chipchase’s vocals and the band’s subtle musicianship. And with ‘Rosie‘ they tell the story of a woman trying to change her wayward ways. Matty’s strong accent is as ever present, and these songs could come from nowhere else but the North East of England, adding to the band’s collective charm and individuality.

LIVE DATES:

Tue 13^th April – The Rainbow, Birmingham

Wed 14^th April – Ruby Lounge, Manchester

Thu 15^th April – Aldephi, Hull

Fri 16^th April – Barfly, Cardiff

Sat 17^th April – Lennons, Southampton

Sun 18^th April – Oakford Social, Reading (Free show)

Mon 19^th April – Barfly, London

Wed 21^st April – Music Café, Leicester

Fri 30^th April – Independent, Sunderland

Sat 1^st May – Live @ Leeds Festival, Leeds

Arctic Monkeys‘ Alex Turner played a surprise set tonight (November 19) at the Mencap Little Noise Sessions.

Taking place at Islington Union Chapel the Arctic Monkeys man performed a seven-song set which featured two new songs – ‘Joining The Dots’ and an untitled track.

Turner’s set also included the Arctic Monkeys tracks ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’, ‘Secret Door’ and current single ‘Cornerstone’. He also performed two covers – The Ink Spots’ ‘I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire’ and ‘Only You Know’, which appeared on Dion’s 1975 album ‘Born To Be With You’, and was co-written by the album’s producer Phil Spector.

Accompanied by a keyboardist, Turner was also joined on stage by his bandmate Jamie Cook who played guitar on ‘Secret Door’ and ‘Cornerstone’.

Alex Turner played:

‘I Don’t Want To Set The The World On Fire’
‘Joining The Dots’
‘Flourescent Adolescent’
‘Only You Know’
‘Secret Door’
‘Cornerstone’
‘Untitled New Song’

Headlining the event was Richard Hawley whose set featured the songs a cover of Elvis Presley‘s ‘Crawfish’ and ‘Hushabye Mountain’ from the 1968 film ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’.

Later in the set Hawley then brought back on Alex Turner introducing him as “the lizard of lounge”, before the pair played the Arctic Monkeys song ‘Only Ones Who Know’.

Richard Hawley played:

‘Born Under A Bad Sign’
‘Ashes On The Fire’
‘Lady Solitude’
‘For Your Lover, Give Some Time’
‘Serious’
‘I’m On Nights’
‘Only Ones Who Know’
‘Crawfish’
‘Hushabye Mountain’
‘Run To Me’
‘Open Up The Door’

The Mencap Little Noise Sessions gigs continue tomorrow night (November 20) with Lostprophets taking on the headline slot.