- This is a review from the gig I filmed the final footage of my filming from. It was on 2/3/12 in a local pub in Nottingham called: The Maze. Just above is the review they got from the Kerblammo. Stating that the gig which they performed and I filmed was very good, they 'impress with consistency.'
Review: Dutch Uncles, Infinity Hertz, Boot Booklovers, Rescue Rooms
First up were Boots Booklovers: five young lads from Beeston, who have been getting their name increasingly known around town this year. Earlier this week, they were announced as finalists in Nusic's competition to find a support act for Dog Is Dead at Rock City in December, having finished in joint first place in the public vote stage of the contest. They're a fresh-faced bunch, with neat, buttoned-up collars and instruments that still look a bit too big for their slender frames. The Eighties-slick singer and the Fifties-quiffed drummer have the best haircuts, the lead guitarist and the bassist look like brothers (perhaps they are), and the five-piece comes across as a closely-knit unit with a pleasing sense of purpose. Jangly indie-pop often sounds best when the ideas are slightly ahead of the execution, and if that sounds like a sly dig, then it's not meant to be. It's usually a sign that the band are pushing themselves hard as songwriters and arrangers, and in this case, the signs are already clear: this is a band with a future.
Taking it to the next level
Who are Boots Booklovers?
We are a fledgling gang of five from Chilwell: Jack Kwiecinski (vocals/lyrics); Callum Furniss (guitar); Jack Furniss (guitar); Antony Onorati (bass); and John Wood (drums).
Where did the band name come from?
We came across it on the internet. The Boots Booklovers Library was a feature of the early Boots branches. It used to sell and rent books in order to attract more customers. Our lyrics make a lot of literary references anyway, Tony worked at Boots' factory for a while and because we grew up near to the factory we knew a lot of people employed by Boots. It just made sense to use it.
How did the band start?
Tony is the self-professed bandleader and claims to have masterminded the whole thing. Basically, he told John of Jack's admiration for his striking bowl haircut and ensured that Callum and Jack realised that the record collections of their respective dads bore an uncanny resemblance. Soon after that we recruited another Jack (a friend from school and the brother of Callum) by cornering him during an undignified moment at Leeds festival. He couldn't really say no given the circumstances.
How was your 2011?
We only formed at the back-end of 2010 so we really spent 2011 acquainting ourselves with the music scene in Nottingham. Things definitely seemed to gather pace towards the end of the year. Dean Jackson played one of our songs on The Beat, which was nice. We also had some successful support slots, played at Stealth vs. Rescued (which we all habitually attend) and reached the final of the Nusic competition to support Dog Is Dead at Rock City. This all contributed to a positive first year for us.
You have supported quite a few decent bands in recent months, so who was your favourite?
Yeah, we've supported The Heartbreaks, The Crookes and Dutch Uncles. The Heartbreaks gig was a particular highlight for us as they are very much a band after our own hearts. We're big fans of their melodramatic, DIY pop.
Who are you influenced by?
It almost feels like a cliché but Johnny Marr is unashamedly an influence on the guitars. Likewise, The Beatles seem like an influence that is too obvious to mention. Regarding the words there's probably a bit of Edwyn Collins, a bit of Robert Smith and a lot of Elvis Costello. We also owe something to the songcraft of The Strokes. But in general bands of the ilk of, say, The Smiths or (more recently) The Libertines have qualities that we aspire to. They have lasting substance, which more watery bands don't have… and they've a quintessential Englishness to boot.
What are your hopes and plans for 2012?
To continue building momentum and a fan-base in Nottingham. We also have aspirations to play some out-of-town shows, possibly in Sheffield and Manchester. However, the main aim is to write one or two songs that are capable of taking us to the next level. Songs that could potentially be released as singles.
For more about the band find them on MySpace and Facebook
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