This past summer we were introduced to Cambridge’s Grieving and their ‘Demonstrations’ EP. If you’ve yet to hear the EP, it offers five slices of impassioned indie-punk that lends itself to turn-of-the-millennium emo/indie rock.
Next week they’re joining cult rockers Tellison for a short run of shows. We recently grabbed a quick work with quartet to find out what tracks they’re going to be playing on the van stereo. Read on to find out about Grieving’s 20 tour tracks…
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Minus the Bear – Absinthe Party At The Fly Honey Warehouse
Jack: I originally only listened to it because I thought the name was amusing. Turns out it’s a big singalongy banger with cool guitars.
JOHN (timesbytwo) – Big Game Tactics
Jack: Big riff considering it’s basically just one note. James sent me this originally, ended up listening to it 100s of times.
William Tyler – Hotel Catatonia
Jack: WT has got a really good skill for making a big emotional song without words or vocals. I’d also recommend watching this with him in, to hear totally amazing noise coming out of a guitar.
Jawbreaker – Kiss The Bottle
Jack: This one is a classic. I also find it funny that a few people have said James’ vocals sound a bit like Jawbreaker and it’s not a comparison he really likes.
The Weakerthans – Left And Leaving
Jack: I hadn’t actually given a ton of time to The Weakerthans before I was in this band, but I’m glad I got the recommendation. This song is great.
Hot Snakes – U.S. Mint
Matthew: This song encapsulates everything I love about Hot Snakes. Short, fast and intense.
The Antlers – Wake
Matthew: The climax to a truly heart breaking record. It’s not fair to listen to this in isolation so start at the beginning, but wait for this one to tip you over the edge.
Weezer – Only in Dreams
Matthew: Such a banger to end the record on. I would die a happy man if I was part of band that could write something which builds and drops the way ‘Only in Dreams’ does.
Forward Russia! – Twelve
Matthew: The angular guitar, loose drums and discordant vocals are exceptional. Awful, awful song titles. Awful.
Gladys Knight & The Pips – Midnight Train to Georgia
Matthew: A classic. Easily in my top-ten of all time. It’s all about the backing vocals in this one, particularly the overlapping at the end.
Wipers – Mystery
Ned: Man I really like Wipers. Their first three albums are all just total killers. Influential as hell and it’s pretty criminal that they’re not better known.
Mitski – Your Best American Girl
Ned: Sometimes a quiet-loud-quiet-loud Weezer-y song is just what you need, and this is exactly right. Mitski is awesome.
Talking Heads – Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
Ned: Sure everyone loves ‘Once In A Lifetime’, but for me this track is one of the best. Just listen to that glitch-guitar solo halfway through. An incredible groovy mess.
milo – Salladhor Saan, Smuggler
Ned: Milo’s like a super-literate alt-hip-hop rap guy, I guess. I dig it greatly. The production on this track is killer, and there’s a whole lot of totally nerdy references in his stuff which I also appreciate.
Reuben – Let’s Stop Hanging Out
Ned: Let’s all never forget about Reuben. They’ll always be my go-to band for rocking the fuck out.
Samiam – How Long
James: Could’ve picked pretty much any track off ‘Astray’ – ‘Dull”’’ in particular is another favourite. Samiam have a lot of heart, they’re as much a loud indie-rock band as anything, but they have that anthemic edge that every great punk band revels in. Quiet-loud done right here, that chorus just explodes.
Wolf Parade – I’ll Believe In Anything
James: Just listen, there are your answers. Hyped that they’ve reformed recently and looking forward to the next record.
Ratboys – Charles Bernstein
James: Effortlessly great lo-fi / indie-pop from the US, on one of my favourite labels, Topshelf. Toured the UK recently with Dowsing but the dates clashed with one of our shows and I couldn’t attend. I will make it next time.
Andy Shauf – I’m Not Falling Asleep
James: Andy Shauf is a clever songwriter from Canada who matures further with each record. I think I read something along the lines of “Andy Shauf is never missing the next chord” and that sounds about right to me.
Teksti-TV 666 – Silmat kiinni ja kadet ristiin
James: Totally fallen in love with this Finnish psych-punk band. Five guitarists, huge hooks. Haven’t got a clue what they’re singing about but I still know that they’re the 9th best band in the world.
Grieving will be playing with Tellison on the following dates:
November
24th The Blue Moon, Cambridge
25th The Exchange, Bristol
26th Pop Bubble Rock!, Manchester
27th The Lexington, London (w/ Doe)
’Demonstrations’ EP by Grieving is out now.
