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

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In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)


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