EP review: THE SPITFIRES – Live EP

THE SPITFIRES – Live EP

Hatch Records [Release date 15.03.19]

The Spitfires hail from Watford and have released three albums to date. The line-up is Billy Sullivan (guitarist, vocalist), Sam Long (bass), Matt Johnson (drums) and George Moorhouse (keyboards), along with on the live shows Alistair Welsh (horns). This EP features five of their most popular tracks, and comes in a rare ‘white rabbit’ coloured 7” vinyl.

They certainly recall the halcyon days of the late 70’s and early 80’s ska and mod sound, with vocalist Billy Sullivan sounding uncannily like Paul Weller, in Weller’s Jam days. To be fair you’d have to have no pulse to not want to get up and bounce around to ‘Stand Down’, with its driving keys and crashing guitar chords.

The instrumental ‘Year Zero’ is another foot stomper, whilst ‘On My Hand’ adds in horns to the frantic guitar and rhythmic piano riff. The vocals are raw and passionate, whilst the drums threaten to break out of your speakers – the band’s live sound is perfectly captured on this song and the other four on this EP.

Live this band must be something special to witness as this EP is full of passion and damn fine tunes. Part revivalist and part their own musical movement, the Spitfires are on a music roll. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January


Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply