Loom (band)

Loom (often styled as LOOM) are an English rock band formed in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire in 2012 and based in London. The band consists of vocalist Tarik Badwan, lead guitarist Joshua Fitzgerald, rhythm guitarist Matt Marsh, bassist Harry Badwan (Tarik's brother), and drummer Samuel Lister. Harry Badwan and Lister joined the band in 2015.

This article is about the English band. For the American band, see The Loom. For the plastic loom for rubber bands, see Rainbow Loom.

Loom
LOOM performing at The Barfly, Camden, London
LOOM performing at The Barfly, Camden, London, 15 June 2015.
Background information
OriginLeamington Spa, Warwickshire, England
GenresRock, alternative rock, grunge
Years active2012 (2012)–present
Members
  • Tarik Badwan
  • Joshua Fitzgerald
  • Matt Marsh
  • Harry Badwan
  • Samuel Lister
Past members
  • Neil Byrne
  • Filip "Todd" Zieliński

Tarik Badwan has been called "the angriest man to stalk a stage in ages and the owner of the best death stare [sic: in] London."[1] He is commonly noted as having a malevolent stage presence: staring, jumping into the crowd, and other confrontational mischief.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

History

Loom released their first single on 3 December 2012, a three-track cassette-only single through the label Heart/throb, including the tracks "Bleed on Me", "Lizard", and a cover of the Misfits' "She". The cassette sold out in hours.[7][8]

On 25 March 2013 the band released a 7" single "I Get A Taste" with a B-side cover of the Zombies' "She's Not There".[7] Later that year they released a limited edition cassette of only 200 copies containing five covers of songs that have influenced them, including Bad Brains, Warsaw / Joy Division, the Pixies, GG Allin, and the Jesus Lizard's "Seasick".[9]

Their first digital EP Lice was released on 2 December 2013,[10] which included a re-recording of the single "I Get A Taste" as well as their cover of "Seasick", plus three new songs "Acid King City", "Lice" and "Salt". "Acid King City" was promoted prior to the EP's release and received critical acclaim.[11][12][13] The Line of Best Fit said it was the band's "best crack at mapping the crunchy, sleazy garage-rock genome thus far."[13] Clash Music crowned the song 'Track of the Day' and called it "perhaps their most perfect moment yet."[11]

On 5 May 2014 they released a 7" vinyl single called "Yosoko" with a B-side Wire cover of "Lowdown." Loom also released an accompanying music video for "Yosoko."[14]

On 8 June 2015 Loom released a double-A side[15] 7" vinyl single "Hate" with a re-release of "Bleed on Me" on the opposite side.[16]

Musical style

Loom have been classified under the genres of grunge and punk and have been compared to early 1990s bands such as Nirvana. Loom's motivation is not to copy the sound and style of other grunge bands, but instead to be "a credible rock band with personality"[17] in its own right.

Badwan has been critical of other bands who he thinks are not "aggressive" enough to be called punk or grunge.[17] He also told Q Magazine Loom exists because they are dissatisfied with the quality of current indie bands in the British music scene.[2]

In an interview with The Guardian, Badwan has said he is a fan of cassette tapes because the quality of the cassette suits the kind of music they make. He prefers cassettes because it takes more work and creativity to create the tape and the artwork for it, and because a cassette can also be stored and is more difficult to lose.[18]

Band members
Current
Former
  • Neil Byrne – Drums
  • Filip "Todd" Zieliński – Bass

Discography

Albums
  • LOOM

EPs
  • Lice EP (2 December 2013)

Cassette release
  • Covers (19 August 2013)

Singles
  • "Bleed on Me" / "Lizard" / "She" (3 December 2012)
  • "I Get A Taste" / "She's Not There" (25 March 2013)
  • "Yosoko" / "Lowdown" (5 May 2014)
  • "Hate" / "Bleed on Me" (8 June 2015)

References
  1. Wilkinson, Matt (27 November 2012). "Track Exclusive – Loom, 'Bleed On Me'". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 7 August 2015. The angriest man to stalk a stage in ages and the owner of the best death stare London.
  2. Mackay, Emily (25 March 2013). "Radar Band Of The Week – No. 127: Loom". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 7 August 2015. Badwan is a "magnetically malevolent frontman"
  3. Butcher, Simon (27 July 2013). "Loom Debut Inspired By Nirvana". NME (Print). Time Inc. UK. p. 18. The band is described as seeming "completely nihilistic onstage"
  4. Rodgers, Katherine (22 March 2013). "Loom: Old Blue Last". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 7 August 2015. Badwan "catapults" himself into the crowd
  5. Grant, Jules (7 June 2013). "Charlie Boyer and The Voyeurs play Jack Daniels JD Roots Homecoming Gig". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 7 August 2015. Badwan "wades into moshpit"
  6. Neely, Alex (6 September 2013). "Loom / Bloody Knees / Polterghost, Black Heart, Camden (04/09/13)". Live Review. University of Nottingham. Retrieved 7 August 2015. Badwan wrestles
  7. "Loom Are Set To Release New Single 'I Get A Taste' On March 25th 2013 Along With A UK Tour" (Press release). Contactmusic.com. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2015. Loom ready to release "I Get A Taste" single
  8. Abbott, Johannah (12 February 2013). "Introducing: LOOM". Hooting and Howling Magazine. Retrieved 7 August 2015. Single sold out within hours
  9. "Loom Announce Limited Edition Covers Cassette" (Press release). Contactmusic.com. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2015. Loom releases covers cassette
  10. Murray, Robin (24 October 2013). "Exclusive: LOOM Prepare New EP". Clash Music. Retrieved 7 August 2015. Loom release Lice EP
  11. Clash Music (28 May 2013). "Track Of The Day 28/5 – LOOM". Retrieved 14 August 2015. Perhaps their most perfect moment yet.
  12. Chadwick, Chris (6 June 2013). "RFB Exclusive: Loom – 'Acid King City' (Video)". Rock Feedback Magazine. Retrieved 14 August 2015. Loom "performing at their chaotic, cacophonic best"
  13. Carson, Dan (28 May 2013). "LOOM – Acid King City". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 14 August 2015. their best crack at mapping the crunchy, sleazy garage-rock genome thus far
  14. Murray, Robin (25 April 2014). "Exclusive: Premiere: LOOM – Yosoko". Clash Music. Retrieved 7 August 2015. Loom release Yosoko music video
  15. Picadilly Records. "LOOM: Bleed On Me / Hate". Picadilly Records. Retrieved 7 August 2015. Double A-side 7" vinyl single
  16. Scott, Ella (17 April 2015). "New Track: LOOM – 'Bleed on Me'". Gigslutz. Retrieved 7 August 2015. Loom re-release Bleed on Me
  17. "Who? What? Why? Where? When? Loom". Q Magazine. Bauer Consumer Media. 15 May 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015. Interview with Tarik Badwan
  18. Rogers, Jude (30 August 2013). "Total rewind: 10 key moments in the life of the cassette". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 August 2015. The quality of cassettes lends them to the music we make.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.