Elmore

Elmore on SellaBand Elmore found it much eaiser to ingore all the band bravado bullshit that was going on. The real paradise is losing yourself in the music, rolling with it so when you hit that vibe you just keep going, and the problems just fade away.Big Steve K, the indomitable front man behind up and coming indie dance acte Elmore is a man ready to let the music do the talking once again. On the drums is animal himself Worjcek Biesek, a man caught up in his own little world of synthesisers and big beats. Abishek Joshi, the percussionist with the plan...laying down the funkiest mother beats that would put inder goldfinger to shme. Derek Seymour provides the keys and synthesiser which really take the dance edge to a new level and finally Andy Mcsweeney on bass, literally funking the house down.The band first met in Glasgow several years ago before relocating to London 5 years ago. After many demos and different line ups the band finally found the desired line up which you can hear and see in venues such as the Clapham Grand, Hoxtons Bar and Grill, PUNK and 229. By creating a very different take on a very overdone indie discipline, actively influenced as it was by the distant tide of dance indie acts such as stereo mcs,..happy mondays and the infadels, Elmore have created what no British group is doing at the moment. They have produced a credible Dance indie sound which is able to appeal to the masses. It is an in your face, hormonally charged, rythym blasting, percussionist fuelled, indie rocking rollercoaster of a ride. If you dont believe it then you will just need to come and see it for yourself at one of their live shows. If theres one thing that is certain about Elmore, they are a band who really go with the flow, that is what gives them the emotionally charged persona onstage. People seem to react well do what they do simple because they enjoy what they do. Along the way they have supported Ian Brown(of Stone Roses fame) in the summer of '98, carried out a Scottish tour in 2007, appeared on Scottish digital television S2Live, which went out to an audience of approx. 60,000, and have played many festiveals including the Simmer Dim Rally in Shetland and T(ins) in the Park. What do you get if you see this band live......tracks such as chemically assisted, Rocker to Raer and up on high are delicious dance tunes that you just can help getting down to.Elsewhere tracks such as Makin Sarge and daytripper display a refreshing rawness and rock sound. The fun(k) that coats track Killa on the loose and daydreamer is fuelled with crisp beats and a funky bass line to boot. From the studio rehearsal base affectionately referred to as "Kettenackers pad" to blitzing gigs at some of Londons hippist venues, Elmore, writing again with a refreshed sense of creativity, seem to be going from strength to strength. With their trademark throbbing bass lines and healthy doses of dance rock and soul, it is now unmistakably an Elmore sound. In the bands own words "it touches on a certain catchiness without becoming pop". It has an intent and walks a line which feels right for the band. Cited by many critics as one of the most exiting unsigned band in London at the moment Elmore really do let the music do the talking.............................(@93 FEET EAST on 27th July 2007)...."He’s probably bored of hearing it, but my God, Steven Keenlyside is one of the most unlikely looking musicians in the business. With his broad shoulders and tattoos, you’d back him as an American surfer-type, when in fact he’s the Scottish lead man of indie-funk-dance hybrid Elmore. If you can recover from the shock, you have a very decent live proposition on your hands. It’s the percussion and synth sections that help Elmore stand out musically: the former adding an element of flair and funk to the proceedings, the latter lending the band that all important dance factor. Unfashionable for sure, but there’s nowt wrong with missing out on the NME crowd. If you think that music peaked when the Stereo MCs and the Happy Mondays were in their prime, fear not, for Elmore might just rekindle your passion."Alex Olorenshaw........www.gigsonair.comSunday 23rd of September'2007(Dundee Doghouse)"As I got there. the evening had started - and it was only just after 8.30!! Not a huge crowd around either, which was a shame as the ones not there missed this fantastically tasty band called Elmore. Not had a chance to look up where they're from yet, but they consisted of players on synths/keys, bass, guitar and vocals, drums and a percussionist. What they played was a solid, tight and flowing blend of funk but with a real difference, the synths giving the whole sound added depth and texture, while the percussionist provided a whole Santana-like empetus for the main body of the rhythm section, of which the bassist was playing some seriously funky stuff. Above all this, as clear as a bell, the guitar player provided a set of crisp, lean leads and sang the band's original material to perfection. There was an unmistakeable air of '80's to it all as echoes of Thompson Twins kept popping up in my head, a comparison that anyone who saw the TT's 2nd live video will understand. But there was also a modern feel in there too which made it all the more unique. With a real finesse, a cutting edge and a whole sense of class, not to mention the irresistibility of movement on behalf of the eye-widened concert attendee, the band were mesmerising. Wherever they're from, if you like quality funk-pop-indie, they've gotta be seen." Andy G..............................Dundee Concerts(lemon Rock) (REVIEW OF "ROCKER TO RAVER" IN THE MAG) A very slick funk beat underpins a fantastically quirky pop track.This is the audio equivalent of an it-girl, grabbing your attention in a constant barrage of stunts that culminates in the obligatory x-rated video.First it's the intense delayed guitar, next it's a bongo-backed rhythm section, a toned down Robert Smith vocal and a smashing melody.The money-shot would normally come from some kind of massive chorus, but this track slides between parts that aren't distinctly verse and chorus elements. The song returns to the hooks sparingly and adds layers to them to create a nice bit of variation.A great track from a talented band........................................."THE MAG""(REVIEW OF "ELMORE-LIFE ON A BARGE EP") Mood swings. While they can make partners, parents and work colleagues unbearable to be around, when it comes to pop bands, they’re often highly entertaining. That’s why London five-piece Elmore have stumbled onto a winner here. The six tracks on this ep veer violently from indie to rock to jazz to the outer reaches of the universe.Opening salvo “Rocker To Raver” takes the neo Baggy vibe of The Twang and Reverend & The Makers and gives it a technicolour makeover. Snaking guitar, boinging Happy Mondays beats and a monumental chorus all conspire to create a laid-back anthem that deserves to be downloaded by the thousands. It would appear that acid indie is back.“Up On High” adds to the fun with a taut, edgily addictive bassline that’s not a thousand light years away from The Rolling Stones’ “Undercover Of The Night”. It’s pleasantly surprising, though, when the next tune is called “Killer On The Loose”, yet it slinks around with some very cool John Squire-style guitar trickery.“Parting Shot” is yet another entertainingly random excursion; all twinky effects, skittering beats and spoken word self-help voice over, but the revs go back on the catchy, funky and rather dark Kasabian-like “Chemically Assisted”.The closing “My God Has Seen” trumps everything, however, by changing style mid-tune. From the quirkily charming jazz reggae of the intro, it evolves into something akin to the modern folk of The The’s ‘Soul Mining’ album. But then, if you have to end a song, what better way to do it than by suddenly locking into a monumental ‘70s-style prog rock ending. Elmore seem to effortlessly manage one of the hardest things in music. There’s never a dull moment. ....................Overplay.co.uk (Review of Elmore in TOURDATES magazine on 14th jan '08) Flair. Funk. Tattoos. Ian Brown. These are the key themes in the story of London’s latest troupe of rock wannabes indulged at tourdates.co.uk, Elmore. Anyone who has seen the indie-dance quintet do their live thing can vouch for their flair, while they themselves confess to ‘literally funking the house down’. Lead singer Steven Keenlyside has a laudable array of patterns on his skin, and one of the highpoints of the group’s short career has been a support slot with the former Stones Roses frontman.Having struck a chord with audiences all over the city in venues such as 93 Feet East and Hoxton Bar and Grill, Elmore are now to try their luck with the Clapham Grand, where they perform on 18 January. When you hear the term ‘indie-dance’, you might think Happy Mondays or Stereo MCs, and while the influence of both is prominent with Elmore, there’s an added swagger with a distinctly soulful flavour. Extra kudos for taking their name from a Sesame Street character, too. Oh no sorry, that was Elmo.................Tourdates magaine(tourdates.co.uk)(suface unsigned heat@Boston Music Rooms on 2nd of March)Elmore delivered an energetic performance of their unique funky rock. Singer Steve Keenlyside’s confident voice led the way to four well-prepared and great-sounding tunes, as the 2-year old band looked like it was enjoying every minute of their act. The synthesiser and percussions gave a fresh touch to their superb performance, making every song a surprising and upbeat experience. Percussionist Abishek Joshi was on fire, and the crowd was quickly convinced of Elmore’s talent by the end of the first song. Going from funky to bluesy, the gig finished on an energetic rock with salsa beats. Catchy and perfectly delivered, it proved to be very popular with the audience.A nifty English funk/pop/indie band that supported the Francis Rodino Band in London last Friday and performed really well. Their studio tracks are well recorded and demonstrate their bass fueled and percussion driven grooves with some smart guitar and keyboard touches. Vocalist/guitarist Big Steve K is a strong personality and there’s a lot of professionalism about this band that appear to be going places.Profile edited with CricketSoda's Myspace Editor