Sly Antics - Worth a Listen

This blog is obviously starting to get read by musicians as well as just music fans. I was recently messaged on Twitter by a relatively new Manchester slash Hebden Bridge band by the name of ‘Sly Antics’ inviting me down to their next gig at the Band On The Wall and suggesting I might want to write a review of the gig. Unfortunately on the night in question I had another commitment so couldn’t make it, however their approach piqued my interest and I did a little digging to find out who they were and (more importantly), were they any good? So here’s my findings:

Sly Antics
According to their website, “Sly Antics are cousins Sam and Lee Hudson plus Chris Allen, and they make noise described best as “feeling like being hit hard in the face with a box of stale cereal”.

Since releasing their debut EP, they’ve been pioneering their dirty pop rock sound to the world receiving a massive response from national radio and press including BBC Introducing and Radio X.

Their live shows are described as ‘Raucous and ear blistering’ following a heap of huge festival appearances such as Kendal Calling alongside acts including Catfish And The Bottlemen plus sold out tour dates across the UK.

In 2018, Sly Antics released singles Bin Juice and Sunday Fear which featured a music video starring Misfits and Line of Duty’s Craig Parkinson.” So all sounds good, lets have a look at these recent releases:

Bin Juice
They might have ‘bin’ in the title but this track is anything but trash. First thing I noticed is that they’re not your traditional ‘Manchester’ sounding band, if anything the vocal has an ‘Arctic Mondays’ feel to it, which is no bad thing while the music itself has echoes of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. 

The sound is very energetic being part funk whilst retaining an indie feel to it, in particular the abrasive funky bass is strong and forward in the mix which really gives ‘Bin Juice’ its virulent sound. There are a few, shall we say interesting and unpredictable instrumental parts of the track which all add to its enjoyment.

The single was released in June and it certainly has a summer vibe to it, you could see this being played at back-garden barbies across the North during the fabulous summer we’ve just had. ‘Bin Juice’ is also a very radio-friendly track, you can understand why Radio X have picked up on it. Be good if it were to hit the Six-Music playlist and get it out to a wider audience. 

Sunday Fear
Sorry, I know I should be talking about the music but there’s this video they’ve made for it! What’s that all about? Don’t get me wrong, it’s good, if a little disturbing video – especially the dog!! There again it’s a walk in the park compared to the video they made for their debut EP, Captive City which is off the scale weird - go watch it on YouTube.

Anyway back to the music. ‘Sunday Fear’ has a far heavier rock sound to it than ‘Bin Juice’ and this gives it a very different dimension.  The track itself is all about the dread of how big your Saturday night hangover is going to be on Sunday morning. It’s that wish to just stay in the drunken state forever rather than the knowledge of what’s coming.
  
The track kicks off with a fairly laid back, easy going feel, this doesn’t last though as its not long before a far punchier, heavier sound hits you between the eyes. The vocals sound layered contrasting lower and higher voices which certainly add a different, engaging sound to the track. ‘Sunday Fear’ does still has the bands trademark nods to the Chilli Peppers funky rock sound. Despite its lyrical darkness it’s still a fairly upbeat commercial track with some mature depth to it.
  
Who Are They Like?
A difficult one this. You can detect a number of diverse influences, all indie, just different. As mentioned above, the vocals have a definite Arctic Monkeys feel whilst the musical influences come from various indie directions; from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers through the likes of The Courteeners, Kasabian even elements of Franz Ferdinand.

Do I Like Them?
Yes, definitely, they grow on you. Sly Antics bring something new and a bit innovative to the Manchester music scene. With a mix of smooth vocals, and a gritty yet energetic, funky sound that all merge together to create a unique offering.

Do I Recommend Following Them?
Oh yes! Although I haven’t seen them live, I’ve read the reviews. It seems that Sly Antics are one of the more exciting bands on the Manchester circuit at the moment with a sound that could fill far bigger venues than they’re currently playing. If you enjoy a blend of energetic yet fun indie rock with a bit of funk thrown on for good measure then Sly Antics are worth a listen.