After a riotous night at The Underground when they last played, Plymouth once again welcomed THE VELVET HANDS as they showcased tracks from their new album SUCKER PUNCH

It was a cold February evening and Mutley Plain was buzzing with activity, as we walked up to The Junction, I could hear music playing, we were late, only by 5 minutes but late nonetheless so we quickened our pace to make sure we didn’t miss anything more of the first support bands set.

Tickets were presented, names were checked, drinks were purchased and we shuffled into the pub to catch a few songs from Falmouth by Bristol 5 piece FACTOR 50 who were kicking out an angular racket reminiscent of late 70’s art rock acts and wearing coloured boiler-suits to finish it all off. Their sound was somewhat haphazard but the more I listened, the more I got into their off-kilter groove and Franz Ferdinand styled approach to the stage. What looked like a box of toys on the stage was intact full of instruments and as they pulled them out, it gave the impression that they were conjuring ways of using them as they set progressed, this was very much not the case as I caught up with the band afterwards and they explained that each instrument played a part in their music, even the funny looking mini keyboard with a mouthpiece attached to it, yes, I know it has a proper name but I’ll be screwed if I know what it is! Their later tracks reminded me of a young SQUID, a band that are very much at the helm of art-pop styled music these days, which is never a bad comparison and I feel that now the lads have made the move from Falmouth to Bristol, they should start to get noticed a little more and I hope to see them supporting major acts enlarger tours in the not too distant future. Definitely an act to watch out for this year.

Keeping the stage warm for therein act was the next act called THE RHODES, a full on 4:4 indie rock n’ roll act complete with solid grooves, soaring guitar solos, beefy beats and fat licks. I could hear elements of early Arctic Monkeys in one track but they added a harder edge to proceedings which flushed my thoughts as a killer solo crept in, knocking any likeness to the teenage chip shop scallywags from Yorkshire to the curb. One particular track kicked off and disappeared down a grunge rock rabbit hole, emerging a few minutes later, gasping for air, with the solid backline keeping things together as the guitars caught their breath. This is a band that I’m not familiar with at all and from tonight’s performance, I can safely recommend that you check them out when you can, you won’t be disappointed.

With drinks refreshed, it was time for the main act.

As they took to the stage and finalised their pre-show checks, I couldn’t help thinking about how many bands had fallen fowl to the dreaded ‘second album syndrome’, (This means that the bands are stuck playing their old songs for hours on end and any ideas for new material are not developed into the hits of tomorrow, rather they wind up on the back burner and when the time does come to make a second album, artists crumble under the immense pressure put on them to create a quality album…) This is something that has plagued acts such as MGMT, Kaiser Chiefs and The Stone Roses and made a real mark on their careers. Fortunately, this ISN’T the case for London via Cornwall 4 piece garage rock act The Velvet Hands who this week, released their sophomore offering Sucker Punch to the world. 

Their latest single to be released form the album is ’40 Up 40 Down’ which is a heady, feel good anthem which could well have been plucked from the riotous glory days of the indie rock scene some 25 years earlier than it’s release date.

I can’t help noticing acts that could possibly have shaped the band and names such as Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, The Hives and The Libertines instantly pop up in my mind, the way that Dan and Toby share the limelight is akin to how Messrs Barat and Doherty did so well in the day. Combine this with the frantic energy and fast pace of their music, you just can’t help letting go, dancing like nobody is watching and singing along as though nobody is listening (well, in my case anyway!)

Written by Toby Mitchell and Dan Able, recorded and mixed in Cornish studios prior to being handed to the great John Cornfield (MUSE, Supergrass, Stone Roses), Sucker Punch is a body of work that carries on from their debut release but with more polish and rounded edges, whilst still managing to sound a little rough and raw around the edges.

Throughout the set, they showcased offerings from the new record as well as classics which had the audience leaping about like Tazmanian Devils, their stage presence shone through as Dan and Toby provided the guitars, whilst Louis and Sam laid on elastic baselines and solid drums to keep the micx together. 

Faves for me from the night included ‘Holiday on my Head’ which went down really well with the Plymouth audience as well as older bangers such as ‘Everyone is Dead’ and ‘Only Blame Myself’ which sounded as fresh today as they did when first released.

If I had to sum up the night in one sentence, I would say that it was full of well written, infectious tracks that burrowed into your heads, leaving many ear-worms that you’ll be humming and singing to yourself for days to come.  

With Sucker Punch available on all platforms, you’d be a fool to miss this band live and you can see them in London at The Lexington on February 22nd, tickets available NOW….

If you wish to dig deeper (and you’d be a fool not to), here’s some links to their socials

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