Picks of 2013 TOY, Citizens! and Swim Deep rock at J.D. Roots shows... Last month, TOY, Citizens! and Swim Deep played hotly-anticipated JD Roots shows in Edinburgh, London and Manchester. Swim Deep were up first, treating Edinburgh’s Picture House to a set largely drawn from their ecstatic debut album ‘Where The Heaven Are We?’. After a vibrant opening from Scottish newcomers Prides, the floppy-haired band worked the crowd into a frothy mass of raised hands during singles ‘King City’ and ‘Honey’. The following night, Citizens! and local boys Night Engine appeared snappily dressed at The Garage in London. Night Engine’s clipped, Bowiethe-fly.co.uk
tinged post-punk proved the ideal pre-cursor to Citizens! indie-disco, which left a room full of sweat-soaked, grinning fans. Finally, at The Ritz in Manchester, much-tipped outfit Young British Artists played a rousing hometown show before TOY put on a typically hypnotic performance. The psych five-piece were lost in their motorik rhythms throughout, and the new songs aired from forthcoming new album ‘Join The Dots’ were menacing. At the set’s climax, lights dappled the crowd and TOY’s wall of noise finally crumbled, bringing an exhilarating trio of shows to a spectacular end.
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The Picks of 2013 shows in October are a continuation of Jack Daniel’s J.D. Roots commitment to local music scenes which in May, saw them take Miles Kane and Maxïmo Park back to play intimate gigs in small venues in their respective hometowns of Liverpool and Newcastle. In addition, they hosted several breakthrough acts, including The Family Rain, The Ruen Brothers, Charlie Boyer and the Voyeurs and Loom, to further support the great music coming out of towns and cities across the land. For more information on JD Roots go to www.jackdaniels.com/music. Know when to unplug. Please drink Jack Daniel’s responsibly. For the facts: drinkaware.co.uk