TTS Lists: Top 5 Bands Under 1000 Likes

5 bands with fewer than 1000 likes

In the current climate, it’s very difficult to avoid the relentless click-bait articles that pose a threat to your own sanity. With the formulas Facebook seem to have imposed upon our News Feeds, you’re oblivious to what your family, friends, and colleagues are accomplishing, and are instead shown that the girl you met once at Freshers Week 5 years ago has a cousin whose best friend liked a post entitled Top 24 Cats Who Are Celebrating Shark Week.

We genuinely prefer something with a bit more meat.

With that in mind, feast your eyes on some of the best underground bands going; ranging from Shoegaze Math-Rock to Post-Punk greatness, and maybe even give them some support to push them over that fabled 1000 like mark.

HOLY

A year-old band that’s making waves in the West Midlands area, HOLY have been smashing out gigs all over the shop. Their strong rhythm section is the foundation that allows stringsmen Dan and Aaron to shine, infusing delays and distortion to bring your ears the call and response techniques foolishly ignored by their peers. The vocals across the band don’t just gel well when recorded, but are tighter than my dads wallet when live as well, giving you a straight-from-the record delivery that’ll knock your socks off.

Listen To: Firebreather
For Fans Of: Foals, Brian Jonestown Massacre

Declan Mckenna

‘Who is Declan McKenna? Who was Declan McKenna? Who will Declan McKenna become?’

So goes the description on this young man's YouTube channel, and they’re three very intriguing questions. If you like your Ed Sheeran with less polish and more grit, this guy’s your man. After rightfully earning a place at Glastonbury 2015 through the Emerging Talent Competition, this chap’s on the up, especially since having his latest single played on Zane Lowe’s Radio One Show. Fusing loop pedals, a drum machine, and his own hauntingly gruff vocals, Declan McKenna is on the cusp of hitting it large.

Listen To: Brazil
For Fans Of: Django Django, Jeff Buckley

False Grails

The members section for this band list them as ‘ALIVE’, and it’s that tone and attitude they carry through to their music. Elements of The Fall, among others, are channeled through richer vocals, and it’s no wonder that they are getting a lot of attention with relatively little output. With a sound that harkens back to the glory days of post-punk (punctual guitar riffs, invasive breakdowns, and a bare but solid rhythm section), False Grails continue to prove that the old school’s still got it.

Listen To: Bag Full Of Snakes
For Fans Of: The Damned, The Horrors.

Lusts

Having seen Lusts when they supported Coves in early March, I can more than attest to their powerhouse live set. It’s not aggressive, nor is it in your face; they capture your attention with the guitar loops and delays, and a steady, reliable beat. The double vocals provided, as well as cleverly devised keyboards, mask the fact that there are only two members in the band, and it’s this reason that blew me away. The only thing more difficult than looping multiple instruments live is having to sync it with another musician.

Listen To: Mouthwash
For Fans Of: Coves, Echo And The Bunnymen

Enquiry

Pioneers of the Noise-Rock scene in the Birmingham area, Enquiry have recently finished their nationwide tour, and are continuing to grow their dedicated fan-base. Focused, driven, wailing guitar fills the space between a devastating drum line and heavy bass, generating a vibrant atmosphere live. Lead throat Joe Parker interjects his lyrics sparingly, allowing the listener to savour the twists and turns that are commonplace in their tracks.

Listen To: Stop Wasting Time (You’re Going To Die)
For Fans Of: Johnny Foreigner, Jimmy Eat World