Gig review: Echotape – Album Launch Show – Sebright Arms – 28th July 2016

Last night was Echotape’s launch gig for their excellent debut album “Wicked Way”. The Sebright Arms was packed to capacity by the time the band took to the stage.

There were two great support bands. I didn’t know what to expect from them as I hadn’t heard any of their songs before, but I enjoyed both bands.

Morrissey and Marshall

First on stage were Morrissey and Marshall, from Dublin, Ireland. There were some fans of the band in the audience, but as they were on early there were not many people in attendance. They put on an entertaining show. Their music seems very Beatles inspired. Crisp and clear vocals, and I enjoyed a few of their songs. They are releasing a new single “Stand Down” on the 24th of August, from their forthcoming album.

You can find out more about them on their website: http://www.morrisseyandmarshall.com/

Purple Heart Parade

[Photo credit: Debbie Ellis (Asupremeshot)]

Next up were Purple Heart Parade, from Manchester. This band really impressed with their psychedelic rock music and overall passionate performance.

The singer reminded me a bit of Justin Hawkins of The Darkness. He really gets into the music. I love that type of thing, where the singer just gets carried away. He stepped off the stage a few times, kneeling on the floor in a prayer-like position. He did appear to be high or inebriated; I’m not sure whether that was part of the act or real, but whatever it was it made for a mesmerising performance. The music is quite dancey too. This band have some amazing tracks. The first one they played, in particular, really drew me in; I don’t know the name of the track. After their show I went to the merch stall to see if there were any CDs, but there weren’t any. I did get a free badge though 🙂

I’ve since searched online and found an excellent free download of their single “The Room”, and a 3-track EP, which I’ve downloaded from Bandcamp. You can also stream their music on Soundcloud.

Find out more about them on their website: http://www.purpleheartparade.com/

The main event of the evening was of course Echotape. I’d been looking forward to seeing them play the album live. It was also lovely to briefly meet the singer, Marc Burford, before the show. I’d interviewed him online for the UK Arts Directory blog last year (you can check that out here if you missed it).

Echotape are one of the best bands out there at the moment. There was a definite party atmosphere when they got on stage last night. They played their debut album “Wicked Way” in its entirety, as well as playing a couple of other songs. No one wanted the evening to end; the crowd was chanting for an encore 🙂

“Wicked Way” was released today. It’s a wonderful collection of rock and roll tracks by this talented band. There are ballads and high energy rock songs. Fans of the band will be familiar with many of the songs on “Wicked Way” as the band have made them available for streaming online for a while, but there are a few new songs on the album too. The combination of Marc Burford’s perfect vocals, the thought-provoking lyrics, and the melodic and memorable tunes make Echotape a band who should easily rise to the top. Their contemporary music and lyrics should appeal to anyone who likes good music. They have the type of sound that transcends genre. Their songs are addictive, original, and have a perceptive and introspective quality to them.

The live performance was brilliant. The audience were dancing and jumping around. If you get a chance to see them play live, I’d highly recommend it. I don’t think they will be playing small venues for long. There is definitely something special about them.

“Wicked Way” Track listing: