If you think about it, the 90s wasn’t a bad decade for music. In fact it was probably the last decade where music had a strong identity which defined youth culture through a multitude of mediums such as music programs and music magazines. There was no music streaming back then and the way we interacted with music was fundamentally different. We never experienced the instant gratification of downloading music. Instead, buying music involved a process of excitement and anticipation, which gave us a great appreciation for the industry. Music was less manipulated and thrived off individuality, quirks and which contained a raw quality that was accessible to all.
From the Madchester scene, to the Grunge explosion to the Riot grrrl movement, to the Brit-pop movement, to the start of third wave post-punk, music for the Indie kid back then was in the bucket-hat loads. It was also a time for the great guitar-laden band, that experimented with a range of techniques picked up from punk and glam rock and created a spectrum of murky, free-wheeling and pogo-jumping riffs.
So when you come across a band like Blue Vulture, who are reminiscent of quintessential 90s guitar bands, you can’t help being sparked by nostalgia and stand up and listen. Re-emerging from the grunge-noise pit, whilst bouncing into the Brit-pop arena and carrying the protest baton at the Celts-folk fest, Blue Vulture are a band without any pretensions. They are that bona-fide alternative rock band, who are in it for the music and tinkle their heart strings from a philanthropic perspective.
With Bainy on vocals/ guitar, James on lead guitar/vocals, Dave on guitar, Paul on bass and Phil on drums, Blue Vulture are a band with a political conscience, with a guitar fluidity that dips into the sub-genres of alternative rock with ease and conviction. They are a band who are testament to all that is real, raw and they still sound fresh and youthful throughout the passage of time.
Having released a new EP “Live to an Audience of No One”, on 16th January 2021, Blue Vulture have been making the most of the lockdown, recording in isolation, whilst gaining a solid fan base. With all profits from the Bandcamp release going to Broxtowe Community Projects, a charity that supports food banks, it’s an EP worth checking out.
The opening track “Why Can’t We All Just Get Along”, echoes from the melodic chambers of Oasis, The Seahorses, Bluetones and Shed Seven, in a stream of looping riffs and sing-along lyrics. It’s the sort of track you can imagine hearing at the end of an outdoor gig, swaying in solidarity in a flicker-light ambience. Again, with the second track, “Waste of Time”, Blue Vulture gallop in unison, aside the unhinged vocals. It’s a track whose strumming riffs are reminiscent of 90s grunge, which have been through rehab. A sort of unplugged Dinosaur Jr, Throwing Muses and The Breeders, which remains robust and raw in equal measures. With “One Last Chance”, Blue Vulture bridge the gap between hard rock and Brit-pop, creating a more gritty and sinewy sound. It’s a great track, whose jagged riffs cut through to its metallic core, whilst softened by the tender vocals. What could be a hybrid of The Manic Street Preachers and third wave Post-punk, this EP offers a portal back in time, to when the guitar-laden band took centre-stage and dominated the charts.