Based in Glasgow, WRTHLESS are a 5 piece emo/pop punk band formed in 2018. The Scottish band has shared the stage with the likes of Between You & Me (Hopeless Records), Story Untold (Hopeless Records), The Bottom Line(Marshall Records), Forever Came Calling (Pure Noise Records), Better Days and more. Including their multiple UK festival appearances and bags of online press, the band is really starting to find their feet within the UK pop punk scene.
Their sophomore release ‘Give Me A Reason’ was hand-picked by Amazing Radio as their ‘Track of the Day’ and 2019’s ‘Happy’ was added to BBC Introducing’s rotation alongside Spotify’s Pop Punk’s Not Dead and New Punk Tracks.
Despite the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, WRTHLESS didn’t slow down. The 5 piece band released 4 singles to great success and their biggest growth to date which ultimately made up their debut self-titled EP.
After a recording stint with Luke Bovill (Woes/Happydaze), the band are looking to carry that momentum into 2021 with new single ‘Dislike.’
Vocalist Jordan Daly tells The Noise,“‘Dislike’ is one of the first songs we had written before COVID and it was also one of the first songs we had written with Connor (guitarist) after he joined the band. It has a lot more hard-hitting and personal themes that we don’t usually go into. It comes from a place of low self-esteem and just not caring about yourself. Waiting for opportunities to arise rather than going out to create them for yourself. This is something we feel everyone goes through a lot more than people care to admit.”
Hello everyone, and welcome to a brand new monthly post here on Almost Anything Media. I’ve wanted to make a new post for a while. A monthly post that’s inclusive of the local area of York as well as its outlying and other areas of the country and showcases the talent I know there is around here. One way was to write a post about the latest singles you need to listen to, but I thought I might need to reach out to more people before that does happen. In truth, there’s nothing I enjoy more than getting right out there to meet some new people and to listen to some great music and discover bands along the way, so without further ado, I welcome the monthly post of the Mondo Monthly Gigs. This is all the recommended gigs I’m looking forward to in a particular month. Now, of course, there will be one’s I won’t always have the chance to get to but they’ll always be a few local to me around the Yorkshire and outlying areas.
Similar to the weekly Music Video countdown list, this list will compromise of ten gigs I’m sure will be a fun treat for all those involved so let’s dive straight into a local show that’s happening within the Yorkshire area.
1.Foxhaunt. The Crescent, York, 09/08/19
Support: inFade, Avenoir, Pray For Hayden
It’s a showcase of some of the best talents within York for the Alternative scene as the celebration for Foxhaunt’s latest single is being released down at one of the best venues in The Crescent. Armed with inFade, Avenoir and Pray For Hayden as their supports the Alternative outfit are sure to put on a unique night for fans of the genre.
Tickets for the gig at The Crescent on the 9th August are on sale now for £6 in advance.
2. This House Is Haunted. The Crescent, York. 16/08/19
Support: Amongst Thieves.
This House Is Haunted are a three-piece from York. Zak, Dom and Jenn blend influences from post-hardcore and metal with influences from Alexisonfire and Deftones alongside narratively styled instrumental bands such as Mew, Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky.
This House Is Haunted have the sensibilities of melodic, hooky vocals and guitar lines, with post-rock bass and drums. Often This House go in tangential directions to reveal rich sonic landscapes to crushingly heavy riffs.
With Amongst Thieves as their main support for the evening, everything is set to go off as one of the best nights for the local scene in recent memory.
Support: WRTHLESS, Pray For Hayden, Without Andrew.
Embarking on their first steps in their new lineup, Better Days are set to kick off a new era for the band as they embark on a mini-tour of the UK.
The band have been described as a fresh new take on pop-punk which combines all the elements of the early 2000’s era and the upcoming new breed, all eyes will be on them as they look forward to the future with brand new music in mind.
4. Stand Atlantic. The Deaf Institute, Manchester. 28/08/19 (SOLD OUT)
Support: Royls, Superlove
The Aussie up and comers absolutely ripped through their debut UK headlining tour with their fresh and energetic ‘Skinny Dipping’ just a short insight to what goes into their shows. With a few dates set around their Reading and Leeds festival appearances, the band are set to storm across some larger stages than when they came across earlier in 2019.
Adding to this, with their now full-time bassist Miki, the Australian Pop-Pinks will come forth with a clear vision so fans will get a glimpse of just what to expect the second time around.
I was at their last UK tour for the Leeds date, their output was a little sub-par but from what I’ve heard since then, there’s going to be absolutely no stopping this band coming forward in the future.
5. Frank Iero, Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers. Manchester Academy 2, 28/08/19
Support: Moving Galore
I think the only way to truly describe this lineup is Punktastic! That’s the only true adjective that does come to mind as two of the heads of the scene come together for a joint UK tour.
With festival season up and running, it seemed cruel not to mention two of the best bands, Frank Iero and the Future Violents and Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers as they’re on a mission to reclaim Manchester for their true punk heritage. Both projects have new music out and fans to devour them at the ready so everyone better be primed just for what’s going to go down on the tour.
I think when independent bands come down to the Key Club, it just goes off and is a little more special. I say this because when I went to see Sumo Cyco and Blood Youth, the atmosphere just transforms and elevates the show to new heights. With the metalcore troupe in Black Tongue coming across to Leeds and their EU shows in full swing, things are just going to be sweaty and rough if things are to be believed.
Another Aussie group straight onto this list, the up and coming rockers are embarking on a lengthy UK stint in celebration of their upcoming release, ‘State Of Mind’ and it’s interesting to see what will occur on these shows coming up as you have the varying bands supporting them on their UK tour. For example with Woes, they’ve modified themselves into an experimental rock outfit but that makes them all the more enjoyable to watch and with The Faim, their transference to more Poppier sounds but with all the meaning int their lyrics shows just how much they’ll be rooted into their ways. Obviously, it’s a departure from the ‘Summer Is A Curse’ EP, but with their rhythmic sections on current singles, it shows that the crowd is going to love them all the same.
Tickets cost £13.20.
Other Tour Dates:
August 2019
27th – Dublin Academy 2
28th – Belfast Oh Yeah
29th – Edinburgh Sneaky Pete’s
30th – Liverpool Arts Club
31st – Sheffield Corporation
September 2019
1st – Norwich Epic Studios
8. Skunk Anaise. O2 Academy Leeds. 30/08/19
Support: Queen Zee
Skunk Anaise are a once in a generation band but unlike some older and well-respected bands, they’re one of the most consistent groups who are still in the scene and that’s just the only reason people still enjoy them. But it’s more than that here, as they’re continuing the experience and going further with their latest headline tour as they visit more cities following the release of their 25th anniversary live album, 25LIVE@25. As they’re hailed as one of the most exciting and greatest live acts across the globe, these shows will see the band hit a huge milestone in their career, so don’t miss out.
For fans of Local Natives and The Japanese House, the new outfit Talk More are heading over to The Fulford Arms in York for the release of their two brand new singles, ‘Planned Fights’ and ‘Heart Again’. With the three-piece band all collectively being involved in the scene for a while, this will be a true test to see what the band are capable of.
Getting in on the local gigs this week, I’m always excited to head over to The Fulford Arms and see the exciting local talent York’s always been great for. This was Pray For Hayden’s EP launch show to celebrate the release of Second Chances, the follow up to their debut EP which was of course called… Chances.
Opening up things were Lyon Estates, a band which does share one thing in common with the headliners, their member Jonny Gill but here, they do prove to be something grand and I generally hope they’re able to get there more on the touring cycle, considering the talent they have behind them. They’re arguably the strongest band on the scene tonight and always favourite’s to play on York and hopefully, we’ll see more of them during the course of 2019.
Up next, trekking all the way from Glasgow were the lads from Wrthless which says one thing, they’re nothing if not loyal to the scene and to their friends down in Yorkshire.
It’s bands such as this is why I love coming down to shows and will keep coming to them in the future. With such a dynamic range in their set, they’re showing that the Scottish bands are coming up in full force and their focussed sounds are one that’s also refreshing.
On the main support slot were Huddersfield’s own, Mr Shiraz who were able to fill in at the last minute for Blueprints whom has to cancel after one of their members fell ill.
I don’t know if it’s their charisma, their vocals or their range of their performance, but they were just hard to take my eyes off. they’re a pure gem in the scene that you don’t get to see very often and they’re one I hope is still around for years to come.
Onto the headliners now. I do have to say, how long could they have their jackets on for?! It must’ve been boiling up there! You had to be there to believe it, but from start to finish Pray For Hayden’s set was a welcomed one and especially with them, they’re a band who’ve been truly missed within York.
But in all seriousness, they just showed us why they’re headliners here tonight. Hitting the stage with a fresh new sound, you can see their energy electrify their performance where this is the new Pray For Hayden, ready for new heights with this dream of an EP showing us that good things come to those who wait. They’re a band that are fantastic to see one the scene once more and hopefully we’ll see a lot more of them within the next few years.
The North East. Full of industry, Football and music. It’s no secret that this region of the country is dependant on its influx of musicians and of late, the Think Tank, O2 Academy are the most common venues for fans of the Rock and Pop Punk communities. Some are slow starters but these days here, everyone comes down early to get the full experience of the shows.
The first band of the evening are Heartsink but there’s a twist to their set. It’s all acoustic and it’s their frontman Zac Roughton playing solo. His performance is a charming rendition of the tracks which have made the Yorkshire band what it is but acoustically, there’s just something more which makes it as charming and basic as it can be. I don’t mean to make it as if it’s a bad thing, it’s a wonderful thing and just opens the gig to so much namely, that everyone else on the night has to step up.
Wrthless do just that on their sets. They do help elevate the atmosphere to an extent but one that does get people excited for what’s to come later on the night. Not to say that it wasn’t the best performance that was given but it’s a brightly polished view of what the Scottish Pop-Punkers can do and from here they help showcase that Scotland has a lot to offer than the usual Pop-Rock which is exported from the isles.
Northern Horizon, on the other hand, are just beaming with confidence and for good reason as well. They deliver through their set, a performance that’s entertaining for everyone, especially with their news that they will be disbanding soon. It’s one that’s a shame because they have the makings of a great band. They have chemistry with each other, infectious music and a crowd who just want to see more. Nevertheless, they don’t let that fact impact the performance in any way as they storm through their set, even getting the crowd involved at certain times when they invite two members who know their track as well. Their performance is one that people won’t forget too soon, that’s for sure.
Northshore have had numerous setbacks in recent years. I think they said it’s taken them about four years to get their debut EP, ‘For What It’s Worth’ made because of numerous setbacks and a few lineup changes. But now, it’s out there upon the world and the band couldn’t be happier and for fans on the night, they had the same feeling as well. For tracks such as ‘Be Heard’ and ‘For What It’s Worth’, (the title track of the EP) they prove to be real crowd pleasers where you can feel just how long they’ve been waiting to play live. What’s more, is how well the tracks were received as a few tracks have been released as singles to tease everyone for the full product, smaller bands don’t usually get the reception they deserve when playing a release show. In this case, it couldn’t be anything but as they show just how much of a force they are to be reckoned with. What’s for sure is you’ll be hearing a lot more from Northshore in 2019 as they continue to make this their year.
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