Grassroots

Grassroots are a Indie, funk rock,  hip-hop, rap-metal, grunge  infused band from Wigan, tilting towards Rage Against The Machine, The Beastie Boys and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, whilst offering their own dynamic, funked up 70s sound. Comprised of Kev on vocals/guitar, Macky on bass/vocals and Sandro on drums/vocals. Grassroots are a band which break the typical North West mould, travelling further a field with their influences and whose idiosyncratic vocals help redefine the songs blueprint .  Along with their dual, banton rapping, Grassroots step into their guitar–laden zone whilst creating a hybrid of rock sounds. If you imagine having a great time at a music festival, where everyone is just chilling, perhaps having a few dances in between and swigging those beers, then you get the kind of atmosphere that Grassroots emit. They are a great band, whose chilled out, guitar intervals and prominent bass, emphasise their impressive guitar dexterity and musical fluidity.

With its funky, clicky 70s guitars, and dude rap, “Get Up”, takes on a  pseudonym Americano persona, which is chilled by the side walking mandolin riffs and rumbling bongos. It’s a refreshing, and catchy song, whose head swinging chorus comes at you with its fierce bass, drones and cartoonish rap.

With “Over The Moon”, the song is just urban cool personified. With its hammering drums and muffled vocals, you hear how those funky, psychedelic riffs backtrack and soar against the more jangly and reverberating riffs. It’s a belter of a song which highlights the band’s guitar craftmanship and musical diversity.

Again with “Visions of Wonder”, you hear how Kev’s vocals become embedded into classic 70s funky riffs, whilst submerging deep against the scrapey, scrambling and relaxed riffs, aside the subtle farista organ tones. Along with its impressive prolonged interlude of mutating riffs, “Visions of Wonder”  preens with a showmanship that pulsates against the adrenaline infused beats.  Like a more sedate Madchester song, “Visions of Wonder” vocally sounds like a hung-over Happy Mondays and Stone Roses song, which hasn’t quite come around just yet.

With “Lady Never”, you hear how Grassroots embrace a heavier guitar sound, whilst dabbling with a token Country Western sound. It’s also through the drone of reverberating riffs and digital beats that “Lady Never” tilts towards a post-Smashing Pumpkins sound, whilst remaining  true to the bands musical roots.

“Queen Kate” stage dives into a rockier stadium, showing us once again Grassroots’ robust guitar presence and proving them as established live performers. With its terrace chanting and bashing drums, “Queen Kate” exudes a raw showmanship that resonates against the scrapey and zig-zag riffs. Along with the curving bass, “Queen Kate” delves into grittier depths, proving their diversity as a band.

Again with “27”, Grassroots illustrate their staying power as a live band and skill at unhinging an array of sky-scraping solo interludes. With fragments of early Nirvana, “27” grinds out grunge, whilst remaining true to traditional rock. Along with the signature vocals and backing vocals, “27” oozes a youthful post-punk energy that disperses throughout.

“All Over Your Face:” illustrates Grassroots’ skill at creating a smooth and spacious soundscape that elevates and transports you to some exotic place. With its Spanish riffs, shuffle beats and almost dream sequence interludes,  “All Over Your Face” bounces with a breezy pace, whilst coming back down to earth with its street style vocals and gritty lyrics.

With “Chilli Fingers” you hear the band’s skill at meshing up a whole range of sounds creating an awesome jamming session before your very eyes. It’s like an invite into their musical zone, a  concentration of  70s grooves and choppy riffs that bounce and flicker against the bashing drums.  It’s also a song whose ascending drones resonate against the wiry undercarriage  of metallic fuzz.

You can catch Grassroots at the Kaff, Wigan on 18th May, where they headline a charity gig in aid of Autism.

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