Lock, Stock, and Three Smokin’ Barrels…
Well, it’s that time of year again when everyone starts telling you who is going to break through and become the biggest thing since The Beatles.
Usually, such predictions fall short and never fulfill the grand expectations that are bestowed upon those special chosen ones. Brother were once hailed by some as the next Oasis but, in the end, they didn’t even scratch the surface. So what about 2012? We’re not going to insist on telling you who is definitely going to tilt the world on its axis, but a bit of gentle guidance never hurt anyone.
The Smokin’ Barrels are a trio of very young Englishmen who are sitting on four albums worth of material. “We all met at school at the age of 14 and the band was properly formed late 2008,” frontman Chris Dawson recently told the Live4ever Ezine. “The first gig we played was Josh’s (the bass player) Granddad’s birthday party in front of about 30 of his family. We shit ourselves but it was fun. We had a few gigs after that, then I think it was our fifth or sixth gig when we played in front of 1200 people at the O2 Academy in Newcastle and, at the risk of sounding arrogant, it didn’t phase us at all – it just felt right.”
Since that formation in 2008, The Smokin’ Barrels have incessantly practiced, written and honed their sound. Now, after three years of grafting, they are finally on the cusp of their reward as the band’s latest EP ‘Mindless Self Indulgence‘ prepares to be unleashed on the world this month.
That’s more promising than the bleak outlook for many English students who have just come out of University only to be faced with a diabolical job market and prospects that don’t spur any further than the graveyard shift at the local McDonald’s. No need to worry though, allow The Smokin’ Barrels in to brighten the mood somewhat: “There’s some tunes that will make you go mental and wanna jump about like a head case, some that’ll make you reminisce, some will make you think, some tunes may even chill you out, but I guarantee you’ll sing along to every one of them,” Chris tells us.
The ‘Mindless Self Indulgence’ EP showcases whiffs of intriguing potential and is a very open window into their influences. ‘David & Goliath‘ echoes the glam rock gut punching chords of Slade‘s ‘Cum On Feel The Noize‘. It embraces the optimism of early Oasis and is a breath of fresh air in a musical climate currently crying out for a downpour of good old fashioned rock n roll. It should cross over to both sides of the pond and appeal not only to the music connoisseur, but also the ‘Now That’s What I Call Music’ compilation enthusiast thanks to its unabashed poppy undertones.
“I think we’ve got a bit of balls about us,” Chris says on what else will elevate the band above today’s plethora of emerging upstarts. “Nearly every song is an anthem in some way or another, and no one seems to be doing that at the moment. It’s just a chart full of people mincing about, frightened to say or do anything outside of what everyone else is doing. You shouldn’t follow trends – you should set them.”
‘I’m Coming Down‘ finds the band in their element; opening with a menacing bass line soon followed by a marching beat and razor sharp guitar that creeps in and erupts into a pounding tune akin to The Music‘s ‘Getaway‘. It doesn’t follow a straightforward path and hits you with twists and turns that make this far from predictable. It’s Arctic Monkeys and Oasis that are particularly paramount in describing the makeup of their sound, and they appear to be huge inspirations in their songwriting. ‘Blinds My Eyes‘ is strongly reminiscent of the high octane energy and riffage of early Arctic Monkeys, and boasts an almost anthemic chorus that demonstrates the vocal gymnastics of lead singer Chris – think somewhere between The Courteeners‘ Liam Fray and The Music’s Robert Harvey.
It Blinds My Eyes by The Smokin’ Barrels
“I’m an only child so I’ve always loved being the centre of attention,” says Chris on his frontman role and inspiration. “The reason I got in to music was Oasis and Kasabian so it’s gotta be Liam Gallagher and Tom Meighan. I also like Robert Harvey – I saw him in Leeds; he’s a bundle of energy, I was knackered just watching him.”
However, unlike some of those heroes, Dawson’s attention isn’t merely confined to the familiar trappings of being the focal point of a young, dream-chasing rock band. As chief songwriter with a penchant for gritty, story-telling lyrics, Chris’ thoughts are never far away from what really matters.
“I write all the songs, there’s a couple I wrote with Josh but I definitely work better alone,” he explains. “The process is different every time for me – sometimes I have words, sometimes a singing tune, sometimes chords or a riff. I put them together, then the band meets up and we try and come up with the bass lines and drums that I have embedded in my subconscious.”
Chris continues on his sharp lyrical tongue: “I’ve got an obsession with Sky News, all my mates will tell you. So it must have a subconscious effect on me. But like I say, some of our songs mean nothing at all, but as long as they sound good who cares?”
‘Mindless Self Indulgence’ follows last year’s debut EP ‘Lies, Ties and Compromise‘, whose rough around the edges production serves the punk spirit of the songs well. “I would describe our first EP as one dimensional, but with the potential to be mesmerising,” Chris says. “We had limited time and a very limited budget, plus we had never been in a professional studio before. So the production on some songs isn’t as good as we wanted, but you make do with what you’ve got. I’d love to record them again – there’s a couple that I’m sure will be on the first album.”
‘Edge Of Reason‘ clocks in at a mere 2 minutes 45 seconds, but leaves a lasting impression. Encapsulating the adrenaline that make this band’s songwriting so uplifting, singer Chris is channeling John Lydon with a sneering vocal that matches the attitude which oozes throughout this short but sweet affair. It’s a balls-out snarling rocker that certainly plays on their strengths.
There’s evidently a versatility in the breadth of the songwriting as the pace is slowed down on the brilliantly titled ‘Stella in The Starlight‘ and ‘We’re Just Never Gonna Fall‘ – a track that successfully manages to mix Hurricane No.1 with the Arctic Monkeys. Lyrics that seem to draw on real life and people with genuine feeling and sincerity will enable this band to connect well with a wide audience when they get their chance…
“Personally I believe we appeal to 99 percent of the public, no matter what age or taste they have in music, so I’m totally confident in our commercial potential,” Chris remarks on that future audience. “Let’s just say there’s record companies sniffing so they must they must think we have it, so I think the time is right for a British rock band to storm the charts.”
Channeling the spirit of past greats as well as contemporary acts will attract the ears of those who share their exquisite musical taste. There is certainly room in 2012 for a band with big ambition and this bunch have a bright future, with plenty of talent, time and a wealth of material on their hands to work out exactly where they want to go. If they can get that right, then there’s no stopping them.
Now, is that enough gentle guidance? No? Well let Chris have the last word. “Success to me is headlining arenas, big festivals, stadiums and touring the world. Every radio station just plays shite these days, everything sounds the same. I’m sick of it – it’s time for us!”
(Words: Matt Humphrey & Dave Smith)
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