The Gin Riots

THE GIN RIOTS sound like an amalgam of Robert Smith, Shane McGowan and even Arcade Fire - all with a twist of the chirpy ‘en vogue’ sound favoured by young art-rock bands from down old London town. That such an eclectic mix of influences can be blended into something so coherent and catchy is testament to a talented young band that is surely destined for mass-media exposure. This really is five-track gem, exhibiting differing moods and combinations of influences. Opener, ‘I Didn’t Mean It’ starts with a traditional pub-rock riff and develops into a good-time, melodic pop-punk classic. ‘The Polka’ uses a Cure-style (Love Cats) bass-line to great effect, infused with a Gogol Bordello folk-punk vocal master-class. ‘Pretty Little Things’ follows in epic, moody Arcade Fire style – a little more rough around the edges, but better for it. ‘The Daily Dust’ utilizes a jazz feel with soft then powerful vocals, whilst the final track, ‘El Torro’ induces visions of The Housemartins having ingested too many ‘E’ additives. Due to hit the roads of the UK shortly, The Gin Riots are certainly worth checking out." COLIN JACKSON - Is This Music Magazine, Scotland

"the Gin Riots = pretty faces, great voices, lovely tunes, great beats, packed house. What more could you ask for? - TorontoIndie.com

"one of the best acts I'd seen in the whole festival, London's The Gin Riots." - Toro Magazine Toronto

"...stumbled into the Gin Riots show. These guys just plain ass killed it. Brits that tore the place up. I would fully expect to hear a lot more from them very soon." - JB Hager, Mix 94.7 Radio, Austin Texas

Formed at Uni by friends Guy Stevenson and Cillian Logue The Gin Riots have New Wave written all over them, but the beauty of this four piece is their ability to straddle the genre with nods to punk and influences as diverse as the Cure and Bert Jansch. Coming through in tracks such as The Polka, front man Guy Stevenson lauds a tale of misfortune in a foreign land, the track twists and turns bringing us through lovecats base and punchy drums into a whispered line before we head back to the frenzy. 'I Didn't mean it' gets us all limbered up with its powerpogueesque changes and chorus, egged on by Stevenson's flitting dance moves, often traversing the usual stage/floor barrier to shake it for the crowd. No time to catch your breath as they punch straight into El Torro, at heart stopping speed we hear of loneliness and passion only made all the more sweet by the Pneumatic stable lad of a lead singer. Funnily, their energetic and what feels like laddish charm would suit the iPod on the way to work just as well as a lairy night on the lash. Hybridlab (Claire Quinn) - Hybridlab.org

'You guys Rock!' - The Indie Machine, Canada

'Intensely Intense!' - Anne Donahue, Radio Laurier, Canada

Incredible! I came up to the stage and felt the sheer intensity... just absolutely awesome!' - JCM NXNE BBQ, Toronto