The Drums

The Drums are far more than the surf-pop band they have been labelled after the huge success of their EP release, Summertime! and having been on tour in Europe they have been able to showcase their broader range of music to appreciative audiences.

The Drums 02 Academy Leeds February 2010 © Nick Pickles

A new band in a new country opening a five band set is not an easy feat, but they pulled it off with credit. The ricochet guitars quickly warming even the more sceptical standing at the back of the arena, by the third number, the front rows on the barricade were in full flow and many of the stragglers at the bar found space at the sold out event to come in and see exactly who are this outfit from New York.

Not that Jonathan Pierce was in the mood to run a biography, other than letting the crowd know they were from New York and a thank you between songs, The Drums let their music be their introduction and so it did very successfully.

With their mix of electro-pop and energising beat, The Drums played a half hour set to a crowd who took them to their hearts. In snatched conversations with other people at the show, it was apparent that they are gaining a loyal following in the UK, pretty neat work for a band only really been around since May 2009 and on their first UK tour.

They have come a long way in a short time and as their confidence grows, I am sure that the stage presence will grow to match the superb out-put. They worked hard to fill the large stage at The Corn Exchange and it was their music which leapt out in to the crowd.

By the end of the set, every song was greeted with anticipation and applause throught the auditorium. I envisage The Drums will continue to grow an enthusiastic fan base with those who come across their sound.

Their brief set is well put together, enabling the band to demonstrate their versatility, which has been overshadowed by the enormous success of the surf-pop Summertime EP.

Definitely worth getting out to see, for a sense of fun and well-being.

Thanks to Nick Pickles for allowing me to use  photographs taken at the O2 Academy in Leeds.

Thanks also to Tasha at Anorak for organising the tickets.

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The Drums

27th January Dingwalls London 20:00

4th February O2 Academy Newcastle 20:00

5th February Glasgow Barrowland 20:00

6th February Manchester Academy 20:00

7th February O2 Academy Leeds 20:00

9th February Rock City Nottingham 20:00

10th February UEA Norwich 20:00

11th February O2 Academy Birmingham 20:00

13th February Cardiff University 20:00

14th February Bristol Academy 20:00

15th February Brighton Dome 20:00

16th February Bournemouth Academy 20:00

18th February Portsmouth Pyramid 20:00

19th February Cambridge Corn Exchange 20:00

20th February Brixton Academy London 20:00

22nd February Talking Heads Southampton 20:00

23rd February Academy 2 Oxford  20:00

25th February La Maroquinerie Paris 20:00

26th February Bitterzoet Amsterdam 20:00

27th February Lido Berlin 20:00

For more on The Drums on the indie bands blog

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Band of the week: Top 10. Saturday 26th December 2009.

1. The Drums USA  (+ 1 place)
2. The Gadsdens UK (re-entry)
3. Krakatoa UK (re-entry)
4. Gary War USA (+ 2 places)
5. Gaoler’s Daughter UK (+ 2 places)
6. Long Long Showers Sweden (- 5 places)
7. Richard Jay UK (new entry)
8. Them Bird Things Finland/USA (re-entry)
9. The Pocket Gods UK (re-entry)
10. Brittni Paiva USA (re-entry)

The Drums, Fusing influences from Factory records and ’50s surfing, are a band on the ascendancy with an ever increasing global fan-base.

Until the 5th January we are running a competition on the blog to win one of five prizes, details – time for a WKD competition

Jon and Lynn

Band of the week: Top 10. Saturday 31st October 2009.

1. Jon and Lynn USA (unchanged)
2. Dinah Wants Religion Sweden (New entry)
3. The Steepwater Band US (New entry)
4. Krakatoa UK (New entry)
5. The Gadsdens UK (+ 2 places)
6. Chicros France (New entry)
7. The Drums USA (- 2 places)
8. The XX UK (re-entry)
9. The Fury! UK (- 7 places)
10. Gary War USA (- 4 places)

Jon and Lynn from the USA, have remained at number one on the Indie Band Blog Band of the week chart. Currently undertaking an increasing number of performances and working on some new material, which we will get to you as soon as we are able.

Band of the week: Top 10. Saturday 24th October 2009.

1. Jon and Lynn USA (+ 1 place)
2. The Fury! UK (new entry)
3. Ofeliadorme Italy (new entry)
4. Mono Stereo Sweden (- 3 places)
5. The Drums USA (- 2 places)
6. Gary War – USA (+ 3 places)
7. The Gadsdens UK (- 1 place)
8. Brittni Paiva USA (new entry)
9. Jointpop Trinidad and Tobago (re-entry)
10. Juliet Gough Denmark (- 6 places)

Jon and Lynn

Jon and Lynn from the USA, have taken back the top spot in the indie bands chart. Their recent releases have been particularly popular, as the bass and vocal duo continue to develop output.

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The Drums No1 Indie bands chart

Band of the week: Top 10. Saturday 3rd October 2009.

1. The Drums USA (+ 2 places)
2. Jon and Lynn USA (- 1 place)
3. Juliet Gough Denmark (unchanged)
4. Vaqueros Paganos Argentina (unchanged)
5. Gary War – USA (+ 5 places)
6. The Gadsdens – UK (new entry)
7. The Swing Movement UK (+1 place)
8. Bauchklang – Austria (new entry)
9. Jointpop – Trinidad and Tobago (new entry)
10. The XX UK (-1 place)

The Drums with their surf indie pop and sounds reminiscent of Joy Division have been stalwarts on the Indie Bands chart and have climbed to the number one spot. Their recent release -  Summertime, has taken off around the world, with visitors arriving to the pages from throughout the globe, they are about to start a European tour, information to follow soon.

The indie bands blog reviewed the Summertime – EP on 22nd September

Band of the week: Top 10. Saturday 3rd October 2009.

1. Jon and Lynn US (New entry)
2. Juliet Gough Denmark (new entry)
3. The Drums US (-1 place)
4. Vaqueros Paganos Argentina (+1 place)
5. Negro Fluo Argentina (-4 places)
6. Operator Six UK (new entry)
7. The Five One US (-4 places)
8. The Swing Movement UK (-4 places)
9. The XX UK (-3 places)
10. Gary War – USA (new entry)

Jon and Lynn literally started by jamming together around a kitchen table and immediately found a connection between each other and the music they were creating, which comes across in their work.  The duo also discovered matches in their eclectic musical and artistic interests, which enables them to comfortably explore a wide range of styles and approaches to the music.

Jon and Lynn

Classically trained and with a background in Jazz, the stylistic output of Jon and Lynn, has enabled Jon to develop new ways of using an instrument he has played for years. Lynn has used her background in acting, musical theatre and singing, to great effect, with intuitive ability to express the sentiments of a lyric, while picking up the centre pitch from a bass note.

Much more is planned from the Duo and they have already laid plans for a new video. As soon as we have more on that, you can be sure the Indie Bands Blog will keep you informed.

Band of the week: Top 10. Saturday 26th September 2009.

1. Negro Fluo – Argentina
2. The Drums – USA
3. The Five One – USA
4. The Swing Movement – UK
5. Vaqueros Paganos – Argentina
6. The XX – UK
7. Divorce – UK
8. Temposhark – UK
9. White Clouds and Gunfire – UK
10. Joyside – China

Jorge Niklison is more than a musician, he is also a talented and creative artist, his work reflecting the same themes as the music.

Un bosque donde las cuerdas te iluminan C :All rights reserved

In a recent departure from the one man live shows, he has started to practice with a female singer for the live sets and the Indie Bands Blog will bring you more information as it becomes available.

To accompany digital music downloads, artwork for Negro Fluo is also available for download, this can be obtained by joining his mailing list, details available from the myspace page which is linked to from the Indie bands blog review.

How will the Band of the Week shape up next week? Keep your eye on the indie bands blog for the best emerging bands from around the globe.

The drums - Summertime EP

1 Saddest Summer
2 Let’s Go Surfing
3 Make You Mine
4 Don’t Be A Jerk, Jonny
5 Submarine
6 Down By The Water

Available as a CD from Insound

Find out more on the indie bands blog about The Drums