Every Sunday, someone is asked to write about a band that they feel hasn’t quite received the recognition that they deserve as part of Scattered Pearls. An ongoing series, this week sees Jake May of blog Basement Fever state his case:
When I was asked to write a few words about my favourite underrated band, it took me all of 5 seconds to decide that I’d pick Saturday’s Kids. They’re underrated in the sense that almost nobody beyond south Wales have the slightest idea who they are, and even the vast majority in south Wales are clueless. But they’re also underrated in the sense that, a few months back, I excitedly tweeted Matthew a download link to some Saturday’s Kids songs. I even watched them scrobbled onto his Last FM account, and was sure I’d be seeing a blog post in the next few weeks. Alas, there was no post but here I am making sure that they do get some Pigeon Post love, in one roundabout way or another.
The thing with Abergavenny (near Cardiff) based Saturday’s Kids is that they can be a little easy to dismiss. First of all, there’s a good amount of that shouting/screaming vocal approach, something usually synonymous with bad music (or at least music not to lots of people’s tastes) which can put people off. Secondly, it won’t be the tightest or most flawless piece of music you’ve ever heard. The odd bass-drum kick will be slightly off, and the vocals won’t be note perfect. Thirdly, they aren’t easily categorisable. Loosely punk, the four-piece also wander off into heavy post-hardcore and noisey post-punk – sounds even changing dramatically two or three times mid-song. But I love it.
I’ve seen Saturday’s Kids grow from a perfectly acceptably scruffy (albeit sometimes 7 minutes long) punk racket to making some of the most interesting, clever and complex post-punk sounds that I have ever heard. They refuse to stick to any one sound, constantly challenging themselves by delving into previously unexplored styles, incorporating it with their own – passionate, angry, honest and exciting.
If you don’t like it on first listen, I implore you to stick with it a few more times, or try a few different songs. And if you still aren’t quite feeling it on record, go to see them live. It will click. There’s not even much of an excuse not to, given they’ll be touring the UK (Kingston, Brighton, London, Manchester, Leeds, Basingstoke, and Sheffield – I think) in the next month.
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Basement Fever is the work of Jake May and claims to be a ‘fashionably late music blog’, which far from does it justice. Hot on the most interesting sounds around, Jake manages to cover both his local scene whilst capturing the best of new acts from around the globe, relaying his discoveries with an excitement that is almost palpable thanks to his excellent prose. Updates are frequent and the amount of talent to be discovered is vast – definitely worth adding to your bookmarks.
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