March is a popular month, and with good reason. Even with rugby matches taking over, pubs full of Guinness bores, international football, and the loss of an hour’s sleep, March still holds its own. And why? It’s full of hope. We’re not basking in the warmth yet, the summer bangers haven’t started dropping, and only the hardcore are going taps aff – but those glory days are getting closer. You can hear that same hope and optimism in the latest batch of SNACK Bits, so can we get a hell yeah?
And yes, ‘Hell Yeah’ is the latest single from Jason Riddell, with an EP on its way. If that is in the same vein as this clanking Crazy Horse-esque guitar workout, lurching and jolting in and out of wailing vocals, it’s going to be a favourite of Bits, and more than likely something that needs to be seen live.
Alice Faye doesn’t need much of an introduction round here, and she’ll have a new EP for you by the time you read this. Single ‘Bitter Minded Lover’ sets the tone for Silly Little Fool, and it’s a swinging number packed with humour, knowing winks, and lyrics for those who’ve been on the wrong side of love but are more than ready to move on.
There are no guarantees in life but when Shears drops something, you can guarantee we’re down for it, and that it’s going to be good. ‘Bad Dream’ might suggest bad vibes, but this is another effortless burst of shimmering pop with a measured rhythm section. You’ll dance, you’ll bop, and you might even smile knowing there are acts who have ‘consistency’ as their middle name – even if they only go by one.
Another act we’ve high hopes for are Bottle Rockets, and yet again, they haven’t let us down. ‘Video Call’ is brighter, poppier and flashier than before, further proof this band is made for big stages and adoring crowds. Lead singer Kenzi Murray continues to deliver in the manner of nonchalant indie singers that generations lose their minds over, even when the lyrics see her on edge and calling a lover out. The summer is coming and you’ll hear this a lot if you head to the right places when the sun shines.
You’ll also find ‘Golden Hour’ by Cloud House spirals upwards to the sun. Guitar bands could well be making a comeback – still packed with ambition, but this time swapping cockiness for reflection. This means we’ll still be hollering lines into the sky but without the need to spend the rest of the day swaggering around spoiling for fights. A win-win.
And if you’ve been round this way before, you know we run a little faster as we reach the end of the column, trying to squeeze in as much as we can.
‘Circuits’ from Poster Club leaves a boot in, its thrashing chorus hitting hard after verses that never slack. The ending is a joy, so give it a whirl. If you’re hankering for clearer, cutting guitar lines, ‘Said It All’ from Livingston’s Non-Applicable is a classy number with a 00s indie strut.
Dubinski trail their new album What Is Your Definition Of Happiness? with the breathless blast of ‘Feel It’, containing a chorus sure to have 80s hair-rock lovers nodding in delight. ‘Cara’s Song’ by PVC feels like an EP in a single track, such is the flow of ideas and change-ups. If you can keep pace, you’ve got a lot to like.
For those more into hip-hop, Kryptik blends Scottish flow with Asian influences on ‘Tokyo Drift’. Neev leads us somewhere different, ‘My Own Back’ sounding smokey, beguiling and a lot of fun in a torch-song type of way. The weight of emotion might cause you to buckle, but you won’t break, making this a fine song with a lot to dive into.
And then there’s The Rooks, bringing us back to upbeat and cheeky guitar pop. ‘Get Up’ has the chantalong chorus you expect (and want) from the title, a song made for sunny mornings and small, sweaty rooms. Hopefully not at the same time, but hey, Bits doesn’t judge or question.
And if you’re not looking forward to hearing new music after all that, you never will be. Then again, there’s always next month, and we’ll see you there.
