0121, Do One!
Welcome to B Town!
So what is B Town? Well...
10 years ago, in Digbeth an area of Birmingham there was a kind of mini music explosion. Inspired by four bands Swim Deep, JAWS, Superfood and Peace. The name was a lazy one, these bands were stitched together based on their location. All of them were from the second city. Aside from lazy journalism the scene was a good one.
In 2013 Birmingham was producing some of the best new music in the country, with youth indie anthems in abundance. These songs would connect with a new generation of guitar music fans, many of which had been turned on to this kind of music by the release of 'AM' in the same year. It was a scene that although did enter the mainstream of British guitar music always seemed rooted in the city.
The bands all grew up together, although journalists had tried to manufacture a scene. What was happening in Birmingham was more than a flash in the pan fad. Swim Deep, Peace, JAWS aren't just part of the same scene, they are all friends. They grew up together, live near each other, work together, party together and play together in the same clubs, pubs and house parties in Birmingham.
Musically though all of the B-Town bands were releasing brilliant songs. Peace would release 'Bloodshake' and 'Follow Baby' which would make the UK Indie scene stand up and take notice. A debut album would soon follow 'In Love'.
An album the NME described as a 'headrush of love and romance'
A collection of indie gems, with songs like 'Lovesick' and 'California Daze' nothing they did here reinvented the wheel but they didn't need to. The songwriting is brilliant, quick, witty, soulful. It was made for a generation of new music fans but also for Peace themselves and there friends. Also for their city.
As Eve Barlow of the NME said ' As Britain suffers from youth unemployment and economic crisis, our greatest currency is the chime of a golden tune. Peace have delivered 10 of them. So what if they’re a bunch of pirates and not pioneers?
This is their time.'
A second album would follow 2 years later, 2015's 'Happy People which reinforced the band as one of the countries brightest indie sparks with infectious pop hooks and teenage anxiety, that was the perfect blend to create even more indie anthems. Songs like 'World Pleasure' and 'Lost On Me' ensured the band were sticking around. Difficult second albums, not for Peace! A modern indie classic with an abundance of gigantic songs.
The band moved up to bigger stages, and higher up festival line ups. Peace were the torch bearers for Birmingham at this time but they weren't doing it alone. They as the Beatles once said 'Had A Little Help From Their Friends.'
Swim Deep also released a debut album in 2013 'Where in the Heaven Are We.'
Although the record didn't receive as much critical acclaim as Peace's debut. It is still a brilliant collection of indie songs, with tracks like 'Honey' and 'King City.' Much more synth heavy than Peace with a more commercial sound. Swim Deep were the first B-Town act to be signed to a major label. It has a pop sheen to it but that makes it brilliant.
Swim Deep weren't afraid and still aren't afraid to make pop records and believe me they are good at it. 'King City, Honey and She Changes the Weather' have gone on to become some of the most popular songs of the 2010s being played everywhere from Snobs (an indie club in Birmingham) to TV adverts. Swim Deep really did transcend into popular culture.
'Mothers' followed the debut album in 2015 a change in direction the band had begun to explore new genres including the unexpected influence of Acid House. A huge leap away from the debut album. Critics were on board with though, and so were fans. Following a tour supporting The 1975 in America. Swim Deep would return to the UK and begin to play bigger and bigger stages. They alongside there mates Peace were becoming pioneers of the scene.
JAWS were the younger brothers of Swim Deep and Peace, always on the fringes of the two bigger bands but pretty soon they would too have there breakthrough. With there darker more shoe gaze sound.
We first heard of JAWS in 2016 with two songs 'Just a Boy' and 'Right in Front of Me' they were an important band as that was an important time in our lives. We were just leaving school and starting Sixth Form. Those records remind me of that time.
JAWS were much louder and brash than the other B-Town outfits with more in common with Foals than Franz Ferdinand. Inspired by heavier rock records compared to the indie and dance influences of Swim Deep and Peace. It meant that the band didn't quite reach the heights of the other two but I suppose that what makes them special and significant to us. They are still ours a little bit.
With three very good albums that are underrated gems especially 'Simplicity' the bands second album 'a grunge-infested, kicking and screaming juggernaut' of a record. Which is up there alongside the very best indie albums of the decade.
Swim Deep and Peace would release another album each towards the end of the 2010's. Swim Deep would release 'Emerald Classics' in 2019 named after a Birmingham pub, The Emerald. Released in difficult circumstances, dropped from a record label and after losing two members. The band wanted to make a familiar sounding record. Describing 'Emerald Classics' as having the feeling of a jukebox in a pub where everyone knows everyone. That idea of familiarity and home is one that runs throughout.
'To Feel Good' being the perfect indicator of this homely feel taking things back to a time before they were one of Birmingham’s buzziest new bands, Williams recounting a day in his 18-year-old life as a self-proclaimed “paperweight cruiser” and “heavyweight loser”, when he signed on and ran errands for his mum.
In times of adversity Swim Deep managed to release arguably their best record to date.
Peace would release 'Kindness is the New Rock N Roll' in 2018 a truly breathtaking return. A band that always have something to say, with the bands beliefs and messages always being the centre point of songs. With insecurity being the centre of 2015's 'Perfect Skin' this record saw the band being more outspoken than ever before. A band with so much to say.
Tackling politics, mental health, the refugee crisis. Peace became the voice of a generation on this record. 'From Under a Liquid Glass' is arguably the best thing they have ever recorded a vulnerable affair, that elevates to a heartbreaking yet euphoric chorus. It's the sound of a band on top form. From a band that built their name off fizzing anthems that made you want to fling yourself into a sweaty mass of bodies, they managed to write an album for the ages with this one.
That brings us to the here and now. First things first Swim Deep, Peace and JAWS are all still going strong. Peace are down to a two piece now having lost two members at the beginning of this year but they are preparing to release a new record. JAWS and Swim Deep have EP's out now and are still touring too.
This was far from a flash in the pan...
So why did I write a post about this scene. I grew up 22 miles away from Birmingham. We heard about these bands that were from down the road. Through friends and guys in other bands Sugarthief, and The Clause who are keeping the scene going strong. With indie anthems and festival favourites. It was a scene that we caught the back end of.
Being at Sixth Form and listening to Superfood's 'Mood Bomb' and 'I Can't See' and JAWS 'Right in Front of Me. Led me to explore these great records. It's an important part of my music upbringing.
I wasn't around for Madchester, or even the Indie Explosion in the mid 00s, this was the first scene we were kind of involved in.
It didn't just affect us locals though. I was in Amsterdam recently with a group of friends and Peace and The Clause got brought up, by a group of lads from Stockport. It is an important part of the musical story for our generation
Here's My B-Town Best Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2rY2tFeMZrWUPDAASNF4kn?si=b34dd3fa0e484cd7
As always thank you for reading x