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The 4 piece, fronted by Liam Fray, have had a strong bond since before the band was even formed, having known each other from the age of ten. After Liam played some well received acoustic sets during his (short-lived) university stint, he decided to pack his education in and form a band, initially recruiting Michel Campbell as drummer (even though he had never touched a drum kit) and rounding out the group with Daniel "Conan" Moores and Mark Joseph Cuppello.
The band quickly went from their first gig in October 2006 to their first chart appearance under a year later for their single ‘Cavorting’, their popularity being accelerated by word of mouth hype around Manchester.
The band was approached by Stephen Smith, a man who had previously produced with The Smiths and Morrissey making him the obvious producer choice for their first record which turned out to be 2008’s ‘St Jude’. The album reached number 4 in the charts, its success being driven by the anthemic single ‘Not Nineteen Forever’.
The continued success of follow up albums like ‘Falcon’, ‘Anna’ and ‘Concrete Love’ has made them a popular live act as well. They are a staple act at major festivals and have played everywhere from Glastonbury to Isle of White. They are still heroes in their hometown as well and have headlined the 16000 capacity Manchester Arena 3 times.
The Vaccines are one of those classic examples of pretty much instantaneous success; they formed in 2010, with their links to the UK indie scene already well-established - frontman Justin Young had previously recorded and toured under the name Jay Jay Pistolet, albeit with an altogether more folky sound, whilst guitarist Freddie Cowan is the younger brother of his counterpart in The Horrors, Tom.
By February of 2011, just a couple of early singles were enough to land The Vaccines the prestigious opening slot on the NME Awards Tour that year - previously occupied by the likes of Franz Ferdinand and Coldplay - and by the time they released their debut album, ‘What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?’, they had already built up a sizable fanbase of the back of tracks like ‘Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra)’ and ‘Post Break-Up Sex’. That first album charted at number four in their native UK, and would eventually go on to be the biggest-selling debut of the year on those shores. They wasted little time in following it up; album number two, ‘Come of Age’, was released in September of 2012, after a successful lap of European festivals, and topped the album charts in the UK.
The Courteeners are adored locally and globally, having sold out the Manchester Arena in 2010 they have gone on to play massive outdoor shows such as Wigan’s Haigh Hall and Delamere Forest in 2011 and two sold out dates at Castlefield Bowl in 2013.
The Courteeners experience is never the same as the band also play many more intimate gigs on their tours across the UK at venues such as the O2 academies and even university unions. This scope of venue capacity is just the start of why the Courteeners are an addictive band. Their songs are anthemic and perfect for stadium shows but retain their intimacy through wonderfully crafted lyrics that anyone living in the UK can relate to especially those from the north.
There is no better tune to exemplify this than ‘The Opener’ taken from their second album Falcon. If you’re looking to get into this band, I couldn’t pinpoint one song or album to listen to, you need listen to all three albums as they show the progression of this incredible band.
From the first time I saw them in 2007 at O2 Apollo in Manchester I knew I’d fallen in love with their music and they haven’t disappointed the 6 or 7 times I have seen them since.
jack-ward
A boisterous band du jour, there were many who doubted the lasting capabilities of West Londoners The Vaccines, featuring members of Jay Jay Pistolet, and the little bro of Tom Cowan (The Horrors). With early plaudits from Clash, Zane Lowe and NME for YouTube demo “If You Wanna...”, the foursome blew up, trebucheted into the mainstream for all to see. Their debut record What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? toyed with their hype, yet remained a brash anthology of youthful guitar-pop. Those that had doubts were being dissuaded; when the band released Come Of Age, which went straight to the number one spot, almost all naysayers had been converted. The band famously debuted their live prowess in a high profile, sold-out show at The Flowerpot, with members of Franz Ferdinand, The Maccabees, White Lies and Mumford & Sons in attendance. Not bad, eh?
The Vaccines have gone strength to strength with their shows, unleashing torrents of scuzzy rock onto crowds via pleasers such as “Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)”, “Nørgaard” and “Post Break-Up Sex”. These days, they're bolstered by a beefy back catalogue (“No Hope” and “Teenage Icon” shining particularly bright), legions of diehard fans and a raw, energising live show that'll scorch your eyebrows clean off. Recently(ish), they also played to a sell-out audience at the 10,000 capacity Alexandria Palace – not too shabby for a pack of unlikely pals after only a couple of years together.
larryday
As an aspiring musician, Andrew Bird’s music fills me with a sense of wonder and excitement as I listen and dream of someday being half as good as him. With music that can make your heart soar, give you goose bumps, and make you feel incredible things, Andrew Bird is truly a musical genius. Andrew Bird seems to be able to make the most beautiful music you’ve ever heard up on the spot. Known for improvising on stage, using loops to play over himself, and of course his sock puppet that always seems to be somewhere on stage, Bird’s performances leave you absolutely captivated. Each song seems to have something different and new as he explores different styles and sounds. Bird writes in such a unique way that it’s almost impossible to compare his music to anything you’ve heard before. His amazing use of violin and his wonderful ability to whistle some of the most beautiful tunes could bring a tear to the eye of even the toughest person. Bird’s quiet humor spread lightly throughout the show also leaves the audience laughing as he prepares for the next song. As soon as he started to play, however, a hushed silence falls over the audience as they are immediately drawn in by his playing.
Andrew Bird’s shows always seem to be different and leave you with the feeling that you could go to every single one and still be amazed. Whether he is playing with his band or by himself, Bird always seems to be able to leave you pleasantly surprised, wishing that you could quickly think up as beautiful melodies as he can, and finding yourself humming along to various songs later.
juliafasano
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