Britain has been a Mecca for rock n’ roll since the sixties, seemingly in an unspoken war with the USA to see who can produce the best new rock bands. While I’d say the two sides remain even, Britain just scored another big point in my book with The Velvet Hands.
The London-via-Cornwall indie rockers aren’t spring chickens – they released their first album back in 2018. But their latest album, Sucker Punch, which is about to get a deluxe re-release, sounds like a band that has synthesized all the best parts of Britpop and rock n’ roll, and filtered it through their own inspired songwriting.
Singles like “Emotion” buzz with the hooky riffs of groups like Kaiser Chiefs, with the punch of early Buzzcocks. The way they play the dual vocals off each other during the chorus gives the track an exciting edge lost in a lot of modern bands. “40 Up and 40 Down” have the big, chunky group choruses that The Cribs did so well, with loud sing-along parts (“You’ll never be alone, never be alone, never be alone”). Yet they also make the quieter parts of the track just as alluring, with sharp, meditative guitar lines.
“I don’t know just how you found me” is shouted with a true rock n’ roll shout on “Telephone Love” before the song rolls into a shuffling, memorable chorus. There’s a reckless cool in the band’s attitude that shines through and never feels forced. It’s all over latest single “Meet Me In the City”, which has a 70’s swagger and Struts-like snarl. “Meet me in the city, keep yourself busy til then” is just one of so many ear worms the band has in their arsenal, it’s amazing the band hasn’t broken bigger across the pond (yet).
The Velvet Hands are carrying on a great tradition of British rock n’ roll groups like The Vaccines, The Kooks, The Cribs and a whole mess of other “The” bands that learned early on that songwriting doesn’t have to be flashy or weird to impress – a great hook and lyrics that cut through the noise can go a long, long way.
Listen to a few of the slapping tracks this band has to offer in our Bad Ass Break-Outs Playlist!
The Indy Review 
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