At The Drive In
Fall Of Troy
Jetplane Landing
Cursive
Biffy Clyro
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
Fighting With Wire
The Blood Brothers
La Faro
These Arms Are Snakes
Future Of The Left
The Fall
Based in Belfast and hailing from Mid-Ulster, Derry City and Dunganon areas, Explosive sextet Stereo War Favourites are described as 'one of the more colourful bands on the Norths music scene'(Patrick Kane). Formed in late 2008 and compromising of former members of Coda, The Remains Of Youth, Angelfall, Shiro, Assassinate The Itch and The October Connection, the six-piece spent the guts of a year writing and demo-ing with a view to hitting the ground running in Summer 09 - And that they did! After a steady stream of blistering shows - the highlight of which being a stunning and arrival-announcing set at the Smalltown America 'This Ain't No Picnic' event in Derry- the six-piece have been making waves on the N.I scene, developing a reputation for their incredible energy and frenetic amp toppling, drum-kit crashing sets. A controversial bunch, they have been stirring audiences all summer with satirically contentious statements! Drawing inevitable comparisons with ATD-I, Hundred Reasons, Jetplane Landing, Sparta and American Football. After a busy few sapling months, Stereo War Favourites are steadfastly developing a dangerous swagger and unshakeable belief that what they have to offer is good. Very fucking good. In the months to come they are hoping to enhance their rapidly increasing reputation somehow
MUSIC REVIEW: Stereo War Favourites
They come from Derry, they're headed for the stars
Written by Lee Henry
Culture Northern Ireland
Second on the bill is Stereo War Favourites, a flamboyant sextet featuring three guitarists, a bass player, a female drummer and the most charismatic singer on the scene in Emmett Colton - a cross between Cedric Bixler, Zack de la Rocha and Jim Morrison - writhing and tugging at his t-shirt as he screeches out the high notes, punching the air as he scatterguns lyrics left, right and centre.
Stereo War Favourites are all unorthodox chords, intricate refrains, big beats and larynx damaging choruses. You might think that three guitars would make for a dirge, but all six members play separate parts and combine to create a sound unlike any other on the current scene.
Where The South Pole fail because of a lack of confidence and - at least it seems to me - practice, Stereo War Favourites are tight and self-assured. This being only their second gig, the cohesion is remarkable. According to their MySpace page they had a plan - to write, practice and record behind closed doors until the time was right, and it’s clear that their patience and persistence have paid off.
Opening with ‘Theatre of Thieves’, the boys and girl flood the venue with a river of sound that never for a second threatens to trickle to a halt.
Drummer Grace Leacock beats all of her male rivals to a pulp, hammering out rhythms one second, tinkling cymbals the next; whilst guitarists Gregs, Dermot and Snoopy all provide styles of their own, at times reminiscient of The Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr, but infinitely more aggressive.
Stereo War Favourites should be commended for being themselves. They're a little bit cocky, a little bit loud, a whole lot of Rosie, and that's what makes them so good. If any band on the current scene is going follow the likes of Duke Special and Snow Patrol into the international charts, it's not the usual suspects, it's Stereo War Favourites.
There are three acts on the bill tonight, but I can't remember the third. I have to go lie down. Stereo War Favourites will do that to you.
whooohooo! been thinking about you, and how i would ever get hold of you again, being now based in darkest africa, ha ha! will take a listen - so glad you're still playing and making songs. x Sarah
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