• About
  • Coupons
  • History

The Andersonian

The Anderson University Student Newspaper

Anderson University’s Student Newspaper

  • Campus News
  • Audio
  • Video
  • Features
  • Arts & Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Raven Watch
You are here: Home / Opinion / Brit bands can be the best

Brit bands can be the best

April 24, 2016 by Preston Grimes

On Sat., April 9, I drove three hours to Columbus, Ohio for a concert. Playing at the show were The Kills, The Joy Formidable, BAIO, and Everything Everything. I had only heard of one of these groups, and had driven this entire way only to see the latter.  Everything Everything are a four piece alternative rock band from Manchester that rarely play in the U.S., so I saw it as a golden opportunity.

Frontman Jonathan Higgs was both on key and on point, with his near universal use of head voice and falsetto taking him into territories not often tread by male singers. Guitarist Alex Robertshaw provided everything from worship-inspired, reverb-laden droning to arena rock soloing. A solid rhythm section by bassist Jeremy Pritchard and drummer Michael spearman rounded out the sound, with Peter Sene, their touring keyboard player, jumping up and down and banging his head in a great manic display.

Everything Everything seemed, at least from my vantage point in the very front row, to receive the most enthusiastic reception from the crowd. The radio promoters from the Columbus radio station which hosted the event seemed utterly surprised that a small-time (at least in their mind) group could be so well-put-together. What they lack in U.S. exposure, they more than make up for in their popularity overseas, as well as their near-universal acclaim amongst critics. This seems to indicate that the music scenes of the U.S. and the U.K. seem more separated than ever.

While large-scale pop groups like One Direction have no trouble gaining a foothold in the U.S, and certain groups like Florence + The Machine have managed to break through the Atlantic barrier, the excellent dance, R&B and electronic music being produced by the Brits such as Everything Everything and London Grammar, as well as rock groups like Biffy Clyro seem to go wholly unnoticed by American audiences. Whether this is due simply to taste or poor marketing on their behalf, I’m not sure. What is sure is that the hosts at Side B Saturday night didn’t know what they had their hands on. The Joy Formidable, the Kills, and BAIO seemed wholly unprepared for the night, likely writing it off as another small time gig and lacking all showmanship. Everything Everything seemed to take this for exactly what it was: their audition to Middle America. If the reactions from the crowd are anything to gauge, they succeeded wholesale.

 

 

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Opinion

Watch

AU tennis alum and head coach Bryant Beard previews the return of Anderson’s tennis program with the Raven Watch crew.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch reporter Alec Brown sits down with newly hired football coach Steve Rock to discuss the upcoming football season and his new program.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Video

Listen

Phoebe Mangas

AU senior Phoebe Mangas has traveled to 34 different countries so far in her life. This past summer, she was able to experience Cuba as she studied abroad for her major.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Libby Durbin

Libby Durbin, a 2017 grad, used her Mocha Joe’s management experience to become an Orr Fellow.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Jackie Grondahl

Jackie Grondahl, a visual communication design major, discusses her photography and missions work with a school in Peru.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Dave Nolan

A resident of the Christian Center in Anderson, Dave Nolan talks about this life and work in radio.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Audio

Follow

andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
9 Apr

What an honor to be part of a great division of college journalists!

Reply on TwitterRetweet on TwitterLike on Twitter7Twitter
andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
27 Mar

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper will speak at AU tomorrow: https://t.co/4BM4gvpPwW

Reply on TwitterRetweet on Twitter1Like on Twitter2Twitter
andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
19 Mar

A week of worship and the arts combined begins tomorrow at AU: https://t.co/aW6lXkDl2K

Reply on TwitterRetweet on Twitter2Like on Twitter2Twitter
Load More...

The Andersonian, the student newspaper of Anderson University, Anderson, Ind., publishes a print edition and maintains this website. As a matter of institutional policy, the University administration does not review or edit Andersonian content prior to publication. The student editors are responsible for both print and online content. While the administration recognizes the role of the student press on a college campus and in journalism education, the views expressed in the Andersonian are not necessarily those of Anderson University.

© Andersonian 2017, All rights reserved · Site by Mere
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.