soroparty:

As I sit here nursing an incredibly fuzzy-wuzzy head and listen to @Florriemusic ahead of tonight’s show @CamdenBarfly I reflect on day 2 of HMV Next Big Thing… how is everyone enjoying themselves so far?

So last night I was at The Camden Barfly, sponsored by Red Stripe, Eugene Mcguinness, Francois and the Atlas Mountains and Trailer Trash Tracy  and I managed to sneak backstage to have a quick chat with everyone to see how they felt about being part of HMV Next Big Thing 2012.

First off, I hunted down the guys from Francois and the Atlas Mountains click here to listen to their song ‘Piscine’.

They said they were really excited and privileged to be thought of as potential next big thing and were getting ready to get out on the road, to take over the world, country by country… Not too much to expect, I don’t think! 

If you’ve listened to Francois and the Atlas Mountains before you won’t be surprised of the list of influences that was reeled off to me; Prince, Michael Jackson, Beach Boys harmonies amongst others and apparently, Rob the drummer make’s his own Kate Bush t-shirts and bags for a little pocket money, another influence!

They were just about to head on stage when I grabbed them, so I followed them down - and what a set! It was absolutely RAMMO’D ! Definitely one’s to watch…!

Midway through the set, I headed back to the land of dressing rooms and found the Trailer Trash Tracy’s fresh off the stage.

Now, the last and only time I’d seen TTT was back in 2009 when I saw them support this little known band called The XX.

Fast forward two and a half years, a management swap, a record deal, landing Rough Trade’s coveted award ‘Album of the Month’ in January for their album ‘Ester’ out on Double 6 and a few prize spots supporting the likes of Ariel Pink and The Maccabees and here I am sat with Suzanne (vocals) and Jimmy-Lee (guitar) discussing how awful they thought that gig was for them back in 2009 and how things have changed, fingers crossed, for the better…

Last week they supported The Maccabees at their sell-out show in Brixton, a stark contrast to the stage in the Barfly, Camden but good nonetheless. I suspect, slightly underwhelming after living the high life - although an intimate crowd it may have been, it meant the audience was captivated from the get-go.

For all I know, I could have been hypnotized during their set, they’re sending me subliminal messages through their music… yet to pretend I’m a chicken… fingers crossed this doesn’t happen.

But if you’re thinking they’re feeling the pressure of being one of HMV’s NBT’s you are WRONG-DIDDLY-WRONG. According to them, they were pressure free and it hadn’t even crossed their mind! 

2012 sound’s to me like it might be the World’s NBT, for them it means travelling across the globe, getting out of this HORRIBLE HORRIBLE COLD SPELL and showing everyone what this London 4-piece are about, improving live performances and getting that difficult 2nd album out.

Their hot tip for 2012? CLICK HERE somehow I’m not too sure.

Lastly, it was the very dapper Eugene McGuinness - saying he was a happy chappy to be back on the scene after a two-year hiatus is probably an understatement.

‘Why was he gone so long?’ I hear you ask. WELL… He said he’d wanted to take a step back, review the situation and begin to write something a bit different to the Eugene McGuinness you might have seen back in 2009…  and he’s certainly achieved it! What you have now is a punchy bit of rock’n’roll, a guy who now slicks his hair back, a guy who has all the balls a guy could wish for! (Not implying he didn’t have any before) (I wouldn’t know to confirm or deny) (Jus’ sayin’)

But don’t sit there and think he’s been sat on his backside, waiting for a change of direction to fall into his lap, no no no. He’s been on tour with Miles Kane being a part of his band, who conveniently, he’ll be supporting on tour in the next coming months… it’s not what you know in this business, eh! He owes Miles a lot to where he envisions himself today and I’m sure his influence would be hard to avoid …so hence we get onto the conversation of inspirations and out comes the ‘Beatles’ word. 

Cue a really excited conversation about how much we both love Liverpool, Beatles tours, various pubs and a round of John Lennon impressions - I failed somewhat, Eugene’s on the other hand almost felt if JL had come down from the fluffy place in the sky and had taken over his body. I was quite impressed!

Having been away for the last two years, he promised not to let HMV down in the NBT department - expect big things from this indie prince. The crowd was absolutely JAM PACKED, to the point that someone spilt their beer down my front… (no it wasn’t me) (cheers mate) and I can see this guy, who is very easy on the eyes, to become a rock’n’roll pin-up for girls and boys alike.

Apparently though, he doesn’t listen to new music… so went back in time for his hotpicks of 2012.

Black Keys, The Horrors, Gorillaz, anything from the past, Paul Weller, The La’s, Stone Roses, Ian Brown cue another excited conversation about our joint favourite song CLICK HERE  - I think we really hit it off

Anyways! What a top night and a lovely bunch of people, click through the pictures to see me getting in on the action.

Remember to tweet me @SoRoParty and @Lucyhmv throughout the festival. 

Until next time my HMV compadres! 

Sophie x