Introducing: Sid Sings - a Deliciously Dark and Dirty Blues Explosion...

Making their first appearance on the Blog, I'd like to welcome Sid Sings, a great band who I've only just discovered through singer Nikki Brook's radio show, where she recently had The Fallen Leaves in as special guests. I got hold of their excellent album "Notes From Underground" and equally good E.P. "Make Me Howl", which both came thoroughly recommended, and I've been hooked. The E.P. features one of hell of a stand-out track in "Caught In Black", where Nikki sings the verses in French before it explodes into a chorus to die for. It's one of my tunes of 2013 so far and a must to add to the playlist for our next episode of Retrosonic Podcast. Anyway, I got in touch with the band to find out a bit more...

Sid Sings are "a deliciously dark and dirty Blues-explosion for the True Blood generation"...
One vocal, one guitar and pounding drums is all Sid Sings need to create their raw Alternative Blues sound that has lead critics to describe them as "...a female Robert Plant fronting The Black Keys". Known for their full-on live show, they have headlined many London venues including The Blues Kitchen, The Barfly and The Borderline and have also shared the stage with The Jim Jones Revue, Hugo Race and The Fatalists, Mama Roisin, Yat Kha, Nine Below Zero, Eli Paperboy Reed, Johnnie Bassett and Ten Years After. They have even supported Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler as From The Jam at The Forum in Kentish Town. 

They have also appeared at various Festivals including Guilfest, Gold Coast Ocean festival, Nozstock, Avant Garde Blues Festival in Italy and Cognac Blues Passions Festival in France where they were named band of the day and stars of the "Nu–Blues". The local press described their performance as "mind blowing".

The title track from Sid Sings' E.P. "Make Me Howl", was recently named "Best on the Net" by Tom Robinson on his BBC Radio 6 show. The band comprise vocalist Nikki Brooks and guitarist Sandy Michie as the core duo, but are sometimes joined by drummer Dan in larger venues. They have recently come back from  France supporting "Ten Years After" and played for the first time in Paris at a great little venue called La Feline.

“With the help of sultry Nikki the band is going from strength to strength, bringing together their own sound punctuated by Nikki’s teasing and sexy voice and interpretation. Not only are they talented musicians but they are also great songwriters as demonstrated by the twelve songs they wrote for this album, taking inspiration from the likes of Robert Johnson, Seasick Steve, White Stripes and The Sex Pistols. Here you have a hotter Blues Rock, adding spice to the current delights in the Blues Kitchen" - Blues Matters Magazine

"Dead good and dead sexy" - Unpeeled Magazine

"Mixing PJ Harvey's archness with Debbie Harry's sultry caress. Shining a bright light into the typical murk of swamp blues and revealing its cross-over potential into mainstream pop"

- Whisperin'an'Hollerin' website.

Here's a great video for "Death Rattle Boogie" from the album "Notes From Underground".

Nikki also hosts her own Alternative Blues radio show on Resonance 104.4fm called "House Rent Boogie". She was asked to do her own show after Sid Sings were guests on Resonance a couple of years back. Nikki gets Bands to do a live set and then asks them to bring in songs from their childhood that inspired and influenced them. Her playlist can range from someone traditional like Mud Morganfield, but then branch out into Garage Rock, hence her recent session with Retro Man Blog favourites, The Fallen Leaves. Nikki also has her own "House Rent Boogie" Blog to go along with the show, so please check it out for news and reports and photos from the sessions.

Sid Sings will support the great Killer B's at The Half Moon in Putney on Thursday May 09th, and I hope to get down to the show to do a review. Check out the band's official Sid Sings web-site for further news, gig dates and where to buy the album "Notes From Undergound" and the "Make Me Howl" E.P.