DARLINGS OF CHELSEA - THE LUCKY ONES (BalconyTV)

  • 5 years ago
PRESENTED BY SARAH RICHES
BALCONYTV TORONTO IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIE WEEK AND THE UNDERGROUND GARAGE
http://www.indieweek.com
http://www.undergroundgarage.ca

"SAVE ROCK AND ROLL"

To say the Darlings of Chelsea's freshman year was a colossal one would be an understatement. It's been merely sixteen months since their inception and they've already exceeded the accomplishments of most other bands. A barrage of admirable press from their debut EP and raucous live shows has landed them tours in Spain and Ireland and showcases at the infamous SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. An abundance of packed shows at home in Canada has earned them coveted slots at CMW and NXNE.

The members of the DOC are no strangers to the music scene. Recruited from legendary Canadian mainstays including The Black Halos, Robin Black and the IRS, (Kill) Cheerleader, The Parkas, Scratching Post, CJ Sleez and more, Darlings of Chelsea talent and experience runs extraordinarily deep. Their debut independent release "The Mimico Sessions" is a stunning collection of tracks ranging from indelibly catchy to raucously engaging, it channels the energy and drive of this quartet into a rousing, powerful display of melody and prowess. The album possesses everything from vocals that scream and spit; to guitar playing reminiscent of the ghost of Johnny Thunders clashing with Angus Young and exhibits a rhythm section with the ferocity of Keith Moon and Stewart Copeland.

"Darlings of Chelsea is the result of stealing your father's record collection before you started to walk, watching hundreds of indie shows, and making records in a DIY atmosphere," declares Thompson. "We breathe rock 'n' roll every day." What will the result be? "Global domination, saving rock music, touring... the usual."

Having played together in some fashion or another over the past decade, the formation of Darlings of Chelsea was almost a foregone conclusion biding its time to strike. "One night we were discussing how there's a huge lack of really good rock bands in the world," Thompson notes. "We listen to similar bands such as Turbonegro, The Clash, The Replacements, Refused, MC5 and so on, so it made sense to play together. What sealed it though were The Hellacopters recently retiring and lots of similar bands fading out before they were really heard. There's a big void in rock music and we intend to fill it."

The range of influences on Darlings of Chelsea - and by default, The Mimico Sessions - is a veritable who's - who of rock 'n' roll. Keenly put, Nova succinctly sums it up: "A fuck of a lot." Regardless, with years of shared experience and inherent musical proficiency, the band easily restructures these inspirations into something entirely inimitable on The Mimico Sessions: uncompromising, driving rhythms, raunchy guitars and darkly sweet melodies.

"Our sound is unique, it maintains the edge and character of the underground rock scene that's been brewing for years but delivers it with a mainstream twist not unlike the Foo Fighters or Queens Of The Stone Age."

With their sights keenly set on obliterating the current onslaught of saccharine pop/rock, their skills honed to razor-sharp perfection and enthusiasm stoked to hyperactivity on The Mimico Sessions, Darlings of Chelsea are primed for action. The question is...are you?

"Darlings of Chelsea are different," forewarns Ruckus. "It feels right already and it's fucking brilliant. Every other band I've been in was just a test. Every other band you've ever listened to was just a precursor."

http://darlingsofchelsea.net

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