Keep The Change
The chaps in Keep The Change recently got in touch, letting us know about their EP, Until You’re Gone, to see what we thought of their three tracks. Drawing influence from the likes of Green Day, All Time Low, Blink 182 and Simple Plan, the band are setting out with their own take on pop punk, working to get their name out there and get some recognition. Having already achieved slots around the Midlands and Warwickshire, the band have also supported Stakeout at the O2 Academy , so are on the road to achieving their goal it would seem! I figured that since they’d gotten in touch, and seemed such a nice group of chaps, the least I could do would be to check out their music for myself!
Opening with Hang It Up the pop punk tone immediately takes the lead, opening with a catchy tone before hammering out some accomplished guitar and drum work – the whole mix immediately harking towards their influences and showing why pop punk is so damned popular. Catchy, powerful and full of moments which are sure to get you singing along, this is the sort of track which is going to sit happily on a stage, get everyone involved and give everyone a good time, it’s feel good and fun music designed for a good time. Matching the slamming guitar work with soaring vocal lines, a rumbling sense of bass and those simple but effective drums, the sound here is of a band which has been on the go for a hell of a long time, something which is testament to the ability of the three youngsters setting out on their journey in music. As an introduction to a band you can’t go far wrong here, the track showcases the ability, the song writing and the sheer level of catchiness incorporated into the tracks on offer here, and set the scene for a solid EP.
Following on with Parachute the catchy theme continues, this time launching us into an upbeat melee of hammering guitar work, more soaring vocals and hammering drumlines, this time incorporating a sense of emotion into the lyrical content to add further depth to things. The track which results is another which is going to find its true power on the live scene, the sort of thing which has the potential to become a live anthem that people cry out for when seeing the band. Again, it’s striking just how accomplished a track this sounds like, it sounds refined and well put together, something which you don’t often come across with a debut EP, and something which sets these guys apart as a force to be reckoned with.
It’s almost a shame then when Until You’re Gone comes around and signals the end of the EP, this is the sort of band that you could happily sit back and listen to for hours without it bothering you in the slightest. The closing moments of this EP show off the bands heavier side, showing that they’re perfectly capable of hammering out some heavy riffs when they want to, only this time choosing to combine them with a sense of old school rock n roll or blues in the way they progress. The result once again is a sound which is crisp, clear and well put together. Catchy, powerful and once again perfectly crafted for the live scene, this is a great finish to a great EP, suggesting that Keep The Change could have a very bright future ahead of them indeed.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned since setting up Loud-Stuff it’s that you come across bands in the strangest places, and (unless I’ve gotten my bands confused) then I came across these guys in possibly the strangest way I’ve ever found a band (it involved a car dealership in Stratford, my car breaking, a carton of orange juice and some brake lights…), yet the result is one of the most accomplished EP’s I’ve heard in a hell of a long time. These guys might only just be setting out but there’s so much potential here in Keep The Change that as far as I can see, the possibilities are endless. The key’s going to be keeping level headed, working hard, and letting things develop – and after that I’ve got a feeling that we’re going to be seeing a lot more of Keep The Change!
To find out more about Keep The Change, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Hang It Up the pop punk tone immediately takes the lead, opening with a catchy tone before hammering out some accomplished guitar and drum work – the whole mix immediately harking towards their influences and showing why pop punk is so damned popular. Catchy, powerful and full of moments which are sure to get you singing along, this is the sort of track which is going to sit happily on a stage, get everyone involved and give everyone a good time, it’s feel good and fun music designed for a good time. Matching the slamming guitar work with soaring vocal lines, a rumbling sense of bass and those simple but effective drums, the sound here is of a band which has been on the go for a hell of a long time, something which is testament to the ability of the three youngsters setting out on their journey in music. As an introduction to a band you can’t go far wrong here, the track showcases the ability, the song writing and the sheer level of catchiness incorporated into the tracks on offer here, and set the scene for a solid EP.
Following on with Parachute the catchy theme continues, this time launching us into an upbeat melee of hammering guitar work, more soaring vocals and hammering drumlines, this time incorporating a sense of emotion into the lyrical content to add further depth to things. The track which results is another which is going to find its true power on the live scene, the sort of thing which has the potential to become a live anthem that people cry out for when seeing the band. Again, it’s striking just how accomplished a track this sounds like, it sounds refined and well put together, something which you don’t often come across with a debut EP, and something which sets these guys apart as a force to be reckoned with.
It’s almost a shame then when Until You’re Gone comes around and signals the end of the EP, this is the sort of band that you could happily sit back and listen to for hours without it bothering you in the slightest. The closing moments of this EP show off the bands heavier side, showing that they’re perfectly capable of hammering out some heavy riffs when they want to, only this time choosing to combine them with a sense of old school rock n roll or blues in the way they progress. The result once again is a sound which is crisp, clear and well put together. Catchy, powerful and once again perfectly crafted for the live scene, this is a great finish to a great EP, suggesting that Keep The Change could have a very bright future ahead of them indeed.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned since setting up Loud-Stuff it’s that you come across bands in the strangest places, and (unless I’ve gotten my bands confused) then I came across these guys in possibly the strangest way I’ve ever found a band (it involved a car dealership in Stratford, my car breaking, a carton of orange juice and some brake lights…), yet the result is one of the most accomplished EP’s I’ve heard in a hell of a long time. These guys might only just be setting out but there’s so much potential here in Keep The Change that as far as I can see, the possibilities are endless. The key’s going to be keeping level headed, working hard, and letting things develop – and after that I’ve got a feeling that we’re going to be seeing a lot more of Keep The Change!
To find out more about Keep The Change, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls