Seems appropriate that I should finally get round to writing about Leeds’ best labels’ Christmas shindig on Christmas day.

For those not familiar, Brew Records is Leeds’ top independent label, and home to some of the hottest new alt-rock talent. Castrovalva, Blacklisters, Hawk Eyes (formerly, and better known as Chickenhawk) and Kong are just some of the impressive names on their roster.

This year they had their Christmas do up at The Brudenell, and featured a broad spectrum of what the city has to offer. Unfortunately I got to their just as the night’s openers – Double Muscle – were finishing their set. Thankfully I still managed to catch another three quality bands. Firsty electro-grunge, alt-shoegaze mishmash Hookworms. Very experimental stuff, which basically consisted of a consistently strong bassline decorated with shed loads of samples, feedback, wailing, and guitar that was driven and distorted till it barely sounded like a guitar anymore. I might not make it sound good, but it was spectacular.

The third band of the evening was quite a treat. A Leeds band that have been around for donkey’s years, but I’d not seen them before – That Fucking Tank. To explain the premise of the band would severely undersell it, but I’m going to try. Essentially it’s two mates from school. One of them beats the shit out of a very minimal drum kit, whilst the other one goes off on one on a baritone electric guitar. No vocals, just guitar and drums. See? Sounds shit, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not. far from it. A combination of well-chosen effects pedals, amps, and awesome fret play combined with a truly pounding rhythm makes for a sound that gives so much more. Quite how guitarist Andy gets so many sounds out of one guitar I’ll never know, but it was good. Really good. Definitely my highlight of the evening.

The final act of the band was Brew’s newest offering, Holy State. Hailing from Leeds and Norwich (ah-haaa!) They have all the look of a clean cut, nme-worthy student pleaser. That sort of band where you expect them to have more keyboards than hands, and you could almost guarantee there’d be laptop somewhere with a fuck-off glowing apple on the back of it. Thankfully, they flatter to deceive, churning out a gutsy, weighty rock thats tough enough to be credible, yet melodic and catchy enough to hold Jonny Average’s attention. On to a winner, I reckon.

Spent a lot of time in the Brud this year, and seen some ridiculously good bands. Not many better ways to sign off than by watching some top local talent, mind.

Hookworms:

That Fucking Tank:

Holy State