Enter Shikari appear to be one of the most hyped-up bands predicted to make it big in 2007, and the surreal thing for me is that about three years ago my then-band Shrinking Violet went head-to-head with them and several other bands in the Youth Matters battle of the bands competition 2004 - in our mutual hometown of St Albans. I knew a couple of the guys from the band, Routon and Chris as they ran a promotions company at the time that had sorted our band out with a gig in the past. I was never really sure if I liked their music back then and still haven't really made up my mind. What I will say is that they're very professional about it all and they do seem to be doing something original with all the trancy-electronics so my hat goes off to them in that respect.
MP3: Johnny Sniper - Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari's recent success has put St Albans on the map it seems, and having grown up here I feel obliged to tell you all about some of the other talent we've harbored here in recent years..
To begin with, theres The Legion of Filth, a truly original experimental, psychadellic, folk-rock band who have been described as 'Crosy, Stills and Nash on acid'. They're immensely talented at putting together trippy harmony-rich acoustic songs and are simply one of those bands which everyone should at least hear! 'Ground Dust' is a superb example to showcase their range of talents, named after their EP of the same name.
MP3: Ground Dust - Legion of Filth
Next it would be appropriate to introduce Nick Stephenson who is one of the core members of Legion, but also an accomplished singer/songwriter as a solo performer. Nick has been doing this for years before Legion were formed and has made his art into a fine craft. He's also a great bloke! 'Drink up and say goodnight' is Nick at his rawest and best in my opinion. You can really imagine him belting the song right at you in the front row of a pub.
MP3: Drink up and say goodnight - Nick Stephenson
Taking a very different turn of direction now, as I am duly obliged to mention Dexter's Fish, the band who won the aforementioned Battle of the Bands competition in 2004 (yes that's right, beating Enter Shikari!). They did this by providing delicious slices of perfectly written ska/punk about sunny weather and the usual teenage exploits in a refreshingly humourous fashion. Although technically still together with a different line-up, they don't appear to have any shows by their myspace page but this may change of course. Satisfaction Guaranteed is everything that was great about Dexter's Fish.
MP3: Satisfaction Guaranteed - Dexter's Fish
A few shorter entries now but some equally worthwhile music nonetheless. New Jacuzzi made some very interessting noise back in the 2003 battle of the bands (which led to them winning it), and although I don't know if they are still together 'Napoleon' is a sublime slice of guitar-pop which demands your attention.
MP3: Napoleon - New Jacuzzi
Flatline were a hardcore band also around this year, and although I don't know if they're still together, the dreamy electronica of 'Rome wasn't built in a day' showcases their talent even if not in their usual style.
MP3: Rome wasn't built in a day - Flatline
Violet Delight, were the last band to get big out of St Albans. You might remember their single 'I wish I was a girl' which got to number 23 in the charts about the transexual aspirations of a teenage boy. Whilst they were ultimately a one-trick band (seen by their short-lived life span) an early demo recording of their anti-chav/townie song 'everyone knows' captures a great youthful energy, whilst being very funny in the process.
MP3: Everyone knows - Violent Delight
Suzy Hope are a band deserving of a quick plug too, they're a new band made up of ex-members from Dexter's Fish and Violent Delight and knock out some very catchy pop-punk tunes. They're on tour at the moment too..
MP3: Another Day in Hell - Suzy Hope
..And finally, I couldn't resist but post a Shrinking Violet track recorded live at the Alban Arena for the 2004 battle of the bands final. 'Searching for realisation' was a band favourite to play. Listen out for the inital problems of bass player Simon breaking a string before our final song, and the cheers I get for my short guitar solo near the end! 8-) (also there's harmonica action!)
MP3: Searching for realisation - Shrinking Violet (please excuse the shocking quality, the recording was ripped from a video camera recording..)
(and for those interessted, we came 4th out of 6 bands in total and Enter Shikari came 2nd).
