The Runners - Get in line.
What is it with bands winning competitions and releasing debut singles this month? It's becoming a bit of a trend, that thankfully The Runners haven't got too caught up in. Recently entering the "Red Stripe Music Awards", hundreds of acts were said not to be as good as these guys- according to a variety of top music boffins. Debut single "Get in line" released on the 16th July appears to serve the judges and the band well, note to self Broken Dolls.
It's all a little bit shaky at first as the opening sequence reminds me scarily of Lil Chris' "C-c-c-c-hecking it out", which in itself was a masterpiece- let's just hope the bands objective pointed quite clearly in the opposite direction to that of the young'uns. A British take on Hot Hot Heat seems only fair- fun, fast Indie pop rock. It's a tough market at the moment, with bands releasing albums packed with 10 or more singles, but The Runners first go has most definitely seen the influence of the bands they have recently found themselves supporting- Pigeon Detectives, The Maccabees and The Blood Arm shining through.
Dancey Indie I would call it. A straight to the point feisty three minutes full of infectious, head bopping, crowd pleasing music. Comparisons to We Are Scientists and The Hoosiers can be made, as the Hertfordshire four piece manage to make a marvellous concoction- the blend of neat drumming and uncomfortable thumb twiddling lyrics allows the guys to spread themselves across the board and aim not only at the niche market, but also the singles charts audience. Reverend and The Makers appear to have done it- why can't these guys? After exploring German territory, the boys will be back to play many live dates in July, including what started it all off in the first place- The Lovebox festival slot they won thanks to that little competition they entered that may have changed their lives.