Infrared: The New Standard for ‘Cool Underground Band’
Photo Credits: @daniel12conroy on instagram
Having caught a gig of theirs a year before in Manchester, I was pleasantly surprised not too long ago when I found out Infrared were performing at The Washington as a supporting act. As five-piece rock groups go, this band is a refreshing new addition to the scene with a fun dynamic between them all, coming across chiefly as a group of talented friends who realised they worked well together rather than being lumped with each other for the betterment of the business. I also admired the way they had a finger on the pulse of important issues, having performed a charity gig for Palestinians currently affected by the conflict in Gaza a while back. If nothing else, they are a lovely bunch to chat with in a smoking area.
If you’ve ever attended an Infrared gig, you may notice that they tend to bring with them a packed and totally invested crowd. I noticed this when I went to their set last year, and I was glad to see this energy stay strong when they came to Sheffield for their first performance away from Manny. It’s not hard to understand why either. The lead singer, Lucy Bevan, has a soulful, genuine voice that blends spectacularly with the guitar tones that Tom Clark and Joe Tarry have of their choosing. She’s also the coolest lady I’ve ever seen, embodying the rockstar look like it’s second nature, and the red hair really does cement in my mind the ‘red’ part of their name. But what’s particularly magnetic about this band is the mood they set with the techniques they employ. There’s something quite melancholic underneath the explosion of drums, undertaken by Harry Richards, and riffs employed by the guitarists and bassist, Sam Eddlestone-Rose, alike. It’s almost like they want you distracted by the outstanding musical motifs on first hearing the song, and then you must only consider the meaning of it all later on. It’s cheeky, but I imagine it’s what’s drawn lots of people in to their sound. One friend of the band, a friend of my own who happens to have known one of the members since their school days, theorises that they can outperform the headliners if they don’t hold back. If that’s not a testament to their skill, it’s hard to know what else could be.
At the time this is being written, the band are currently working on an EP, with hopes to return with the finished project to their local Manchester, and Sheffield, in the near future. They’re also working on making an official presence on Spotify. I await anxiously for them to upload their tunes on there, as many of them will be a welcome presence to my daily cycle of music, and I’m willing to bet they would be for your ones too. For the time being, they’ll be doing gigs here and there, so if you ever come across their name on a line-up, rest assured you won’t regret getting a ticket.