Monday 14th October saw the opening of business for the University of Southampton’s Alterntive and Indie Music (AIM) society’s monthly gig, Frequency, at SUSU. Mr Tom, a local band who describe their sound as ‘indie banger pop’, headlined the pilot gig, supported by student band, Glass Canyons and I Remember Tapes.
Glass Canyons opened the gig, setting the tone of an evening of new music and good vibes, before handing over to I Remember Tapes’ enchanting melodies and impressive electronically-based back-beat. As the bar begun to flow, the docile, head-bobbing huddle gave way to a more energetic crowd, which could mean only one thing: it was time for the headliners.
Mr Tom took to the stage to deploy their signature British twang, high-pitched lead riffs and endearing humour, the very formula that has driven them to growing success over the last 12 months. Earlier in the year, they were picked up by Dye by Design’s MASIF clothing brand and asked to spearhead their brand development alongside names like Plan B and Deadmau5, among more recent mentions from established fashion brand, Fred Perry.
The start of their set was marred by a dead microphone and dodgy monitors, but the lads fought through, lifting spirits quickly with their cheeky humour until the sound wizards resolved the technical faults. The low stage and small crowd made for an extremely social and intimate gig, where the lads put the audience in charge of the set list, asking “So, what do you wanna hear?” Of course, there were no second thoughts – it had to be their debut EP, King and Queen.
The group maintained their authenticity, producing a sound that reflected their recorded tracks, but seeing them live had purpose. Their live performance included unexpected surprises, manipulated riffs and pleasantly unique vocals that were previously unheard. The combination of their classics, and some of their less-known tracks made for an interesting exploration of their musical talent, and made clear to the crowd that Mr Tom meant business.
Mr Tom have just commenced their UK tour, comprising six nights across this week, before they return home to The Joiners on Saturday 26th October. Doors open at 19:30 and tickets are still available through The Joiners’ website. Mr Tom’s four-track debut EP, King and Queen is available to download on iTunes.
AIM present their weekly show on SUSU’s SURGE radio, AIM hour on Mondays from 8pm until 9pm, where they explore up and coming alternative and indie music. Missed their previous shows? Find their podcasts on their show page (linked above). The next instalment of Frequency, complete with the usual £3 entry at SUSU’s Level 2 lands on Monday 18th November, with line-up to be confirmed.
