Spiders live at Islington Academy December 06th

Spiders by Paul Slattery

Spiders first ever London show was a resounding success, in fact I can't remember the last time I have seen a support act get such an enthusiastic response and the band were unlucky not to be allowed to play an encore that they richly deserved. Spiders are currently opening for fellow Gothenburg based rock outfit Graveyard on an 18 date European tour that is taking in Holland, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria as well as England, Wales and Scotland. The dates coincide with the release of their stunning debut album "Flash Point", which has just been nominated for the P3 Guld Swedish Music Awards in the Rock album of the year category.

Photo by Paul Slattery

The results will be decided in January next year, and I will be popping down the bookies very soon and putting a bet on it winning outright! Their label Crusher Records, seems to be doing a great job promoting the band and the album has had a high profile Japanese release. I can really see the band going down a storm over in Japan if they can get some gigs sorted. Anyway, this was my first time to see Spiders live and they did not disappoint. Vocalist Ann-Sofie is a super-cool pint-sized bundle of energy with an amazing, powerful voice. She plays a mean harmonica too, and adds some tambourine and maracas into the mix as she swirls her hair, and stalks the stage. Of course on the surface Ann-Sofie is the main focal point, but Spiders are a perfect mix of individuals that makes this a really top group in the true essence of the word. The rhythm section of bassist Matteo Gambarcorta and drummer Ricard Harryson lay down a cool groove that underpins John Hoyles' mean and lean guitar playing. Actually, I think it's that rhythm that gives Spiders the edge and made them stand out for me in a genre of music that I am generally not so enthusiastic about. Bassist Matteo swings his Rickenbacker, immersed in the music. After the show he talked to me about his love of Soul music and mentioned that he has played in a band with that master of the Psychedelic groove, Mattias Hellberg.

Spiders by Steve Worrall

Compared to his band-mates, Drummer Ricard looks pretty impassive behind his kit, there's no headache inducing bashing and crashing of cymbals that seems to come with a lot of heavy rock bands. He keeps that crisp and steady beat, more Charlie Watts than Keith Moon. John Hoyles is a really great guitarist, and again why I love Spiders is that there are no unnecessary and excessive guitar noodlings, it's concise and heavy on the catchy riffing. They kick things off with the headlong rush of "Hang Man" and then slam straight into one of the album's highlights, "High Society", it's a breathless start. If like me, you prefer your heavy rock in the vein of the R'n'B groove of early AC/DC or the Punk energy of Motorhead, the power hooks of Cheap Trick or the Glam stomp of Slade, then you will love this band. However, I don't want it to seem that I am reinforcing that "Retro Rock" tag.

Ann-Sofie by Paul Slattery

I must add that Spiders are very much of the now, the sheer quality of their song writing and the energy that they exude both live and from their records, means that they could develop into a classic and timeless band. "Rules of The Game" from the album, is certainly one of my songs of the year and that hasn't even been released as a single, and tonight it sounds awesome. They play the storming single "Weekend Nights", a joyous Runaways style stomper and "Love Me" starts off with a raw bass intro that winds around a stabbing guitar line. The set finishes way too soon with the  brilliant new single "Fraction" and I am pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic reaction from a very happy crowd. I am sure Spiders will be back again very soon, and next time I can pretty much guarantee they will be headlining.

Photo by Paul Slattery

John Hoyles by Steve Worrall

Spiders by Paul Slattery

Don't forget our Retrosonic Podcast Swedish Music Special Edition featuring an interview with Spiders vocalist Ann-Sofie, is still available to listen to or download free at the Retrosonic site.

Spiders - New Album "Flash Point" and UK Tour dates

I was over in Gothenburg recently, and everyone was telling me that I had to check out Spiders, a local, female fronted retro rock band, there was a real buzz about them. In fact when I met up with Mattias Hellberg for an interview, the very first thing he did was hand me a copy of the band's "Fraction" 7" vinyl single along with their contact details and a glowing recommendation. Then, yesterday, Friday October 05th, saw the release of the band's debut album entitled "Flashpoint" on Crusher Records, which is available to buy from their on-line store or direct from the Spiders web-site. Intrigued to find out more, I got in touch and met up with vocalist Ann-Sofie Hoyles for coffee and a chat. This interview, which is soundtracked by some storming Spiders tunes, will be released very soon as part of our Retrosonic Podcast special editions about the Gothenburg music scene. Other episodes in the series feature Ian Person from The Soundtrack of Our Lives and Psychedelic rock band, The Movements with a Mattias Hellberg special coming soon. Keep a check on the Retro Man Blog or Retrosonic Podcast site for  news. 

As any regular readers of the Blog will probably guess, I'm not much of a Hard Rock/Heavy Metal fan, so when I saw that some of the Spiders' used to be in bands with names like Graveyard and Witchcraft, I feared the worse. However, thankfully Spiders are what I consider to be a "genre-busting" band and they certainly live up to all the glowing praise. I'm not any great authority about the band's influences, reference points, or how they fit in to the Heavy Rock scene, as it's just not my thing at all. The only "Rock" bands that I have ever really gotten into have been the ballsy groove of early Bon Scott-era AC/DC, the power of Led Zep when they rocked out or channelled their Blues influences, and then the young Punk Rocker in me was smitten by Motorhead...well when I say smitten, I meant to say bludgeoned over the head by Lemmy's awesome bass sound. But thankfully, writing as a music fan and putting aside talk of categories and genres and what-have-you, Spiders have released a truly exceptional debut album in "Flash Point", it's packed full of excellent songs, and after all - that is what it is all about.

Ann-Sofie - Photo by Steve Worrall

The songs are short, sharp, melodic and perfectly formed. There are no overblown histrionics or excessively boring guitar noodlings. Sure, Guitarist John Hoyles does break out with some nifty fret-work, but generally he reigns things in with some superbly raw Garage rock riffing. Added to this the supercharged rhythm section of drummer Ricard Harryson and bassist Matteo Gambacorta and they create a sound that will appeal to any music fan, even those like me, who might have been a bit wary of any Heavy Metal connotations. Of course, a big factor in the band's appeal is Ann-Sofie's vocals, she has a raw, powerful voice that transcends genres, reminding me of "White Rabbit" era Grace Slick with flashes of Patti Smith. In fact overall, the band do have a bit of a retro vibe about them, maybe it's that late 60's rock sound where trippy psychedelia fuzzed into the slightly darker and edgier strains of the MC5, The Stooges and Alice Cooper. The album cover photo probably sums it up nicely, as you can imagine pretty much any Spiders song rubbing leather clad shoulders with Steppenwolf on the "Easy Rider" soundtrack. There are also hints of the Glam of The Runaways and the underrated Girschool, but the album certainly sounds extremely fresh and timeless thanks to Don Ahlsterberg's powerful production.

The band was formed in Gothenburg, Sweden, in early 2010 and a few months later they appeared at one of Sweden’s most successful music festivals, Way Out West. It was around this time the band stepped into the studio with producer (The Soundtrack of Our Lives, International Noise Conspiracy) and started recording. By the end of January 2011 Spiders released their debut record, a 10” vinyl E.P. on Crusher Records containing four tracks. The self-titled release was very well received and noticed in Record Collector as well being played on Sweden’s largest radio channel P3. In March 2011 those four previously released tracks came to be released in the USA as two separate 7” singles, one on Kemado Records the other on Valley King Records, the latter featured cover by the well-known Alan Forbes. Around this time drummer Axel Sjöberg, left Spiders to work full time with fellow Gothenburg band Graveyard and he was replaced by Ricard Harryson who was previously in Fox Machine, and The Maharajas.

Here's a video of "Hang Man", a track taken from the "Flash Point" album:

Spiders play at Strand in Stockholm on October 12th and then travel to Truckstop Alaska in Gothenburg on October 13th before heading off on a European tour supporting Graveyard.

 

29 NOV – Germany, Hamburg, Markthalle

30 NOV – Belgium, Antwerp, Trix

2 DEC – UK, Bristol, Bristol Fleece

4 DEC – UK, Glasgow, 02 ABC

5 DEC – UK, Manchester, The Ruby Lounge

6 DEC – UK, London, London O2 Academy2 Islington

7 DEC – UK, Brighton, The Haunt Brighton

9 DEC – Holland, Amsterdam, Melkweg

11 DEC – Switzerland, Zurich, Mascotte Club

12 DEC – Austria, Dornbirn, Conrad Sohm

13 DEC – Austria, Vienna, Arena

14 DEC – Germany, Munich, Backstage

15 DEC – Germany, Dresden, Strasse E

16 DEC – Germany, Frankfurt, Batschkapp

17 DEC – Holland, Groningen, Vera

18 DEC – Germany, Cologne, Essigfabrik

19 DEC – Germany, Berlin, C-Club

Here's a video of a great acoustic performance that shows the versatility of the band but also highlights Ann-Sofie's stunning vocal talents.

Band photography courtesy Spiders. Ann-Sofie photograph Steve Worrall (copyright 2012).

 With many thanks to Ann-Sofie.