The Amplifires

Description:

Name:

The Amplifires

Screen Name:

davidb1001

Years Together:

2

Level Of Commitment:

Committed

Gigs Played:

50 to 100

Tend to Practice:

1 time per week

Available to Gig:

1 time(s) per week

Based in Matlock, Derbyshire the band has been together since November 2005. Four piece band with female vocals - Sharon Clancy, guitar - Steve Rawlinson, bass - David Brunt and drums - Ruth Dobson. Playing a Rock/Alternative/New Wave/Indie mixture of original material and covers.

CD Review

WOMEN GETTING BACK ON TOP

It's official: the female-fronted band is back on top.

Years ago it was Blondie, X-Ray Specx and more recently we've had The Distillers, The Yeah Yeah Yeah's and Beth Ditto's Gossip.

Now Derbyshire has followed suit with a modern take on an old-skool American theme through Matlock's Amplifires.

Feeding on a great trans-Atlantic sound that's been chewed up and spat out, they incorporate belting female vocals backed by ripsaw guitar and beats from red-neck louts.

Kicking off the EP with three covers, including a classic Route 66 and a good stab at The Ramones' Pet Sematary, The Amplifires give you a taste of what can be expected from their own tracks.

The Johnny B Goode riding rhythm of Story Song carries you through and holds you tight in typical rock 'n' roll style.

Windspun Day and Wired are similar in tune and could easily be confused, but are set by Sharon Clancy's virtuoso vocals.

Adding in some rough riding solos to break up the rhythm guitar, The Amplifires add plenty of flavour to the tracks.

Unfortunately that buzz-saw sound can prove a bit too much at times, as it tends to drown out any other sound that is trying to make itself heard.

Mellowing down to a Lou Reed spin-off riff, Midnight Radio compliments the vocal stylings of Ms Clancy, who replicates the unusual voice of Latino pop-icon Shakira.

A true romance for rock 'n' rollers, Midnight Radio adds a touch of calm after the bar-room brawls of previous raucous tracks.

Final song Birth, School, Work, Death rounds off the boot-stompin', partner swingin' EP in a funky fashion, proving The Amplifires are not afraid to round-up some different styles to add to their Americana.

The CD is available from gigs, through MySpace or The Amplifires own website, www.amplifires.co.uk

AKIRA PAUK

DERBYSHIRE TIMES

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2007

Influences:

Blondie,
Weezer,
Pixies,
Sensational Alex Harvey Band,
The Ramones,
Slade,
T Rex,
Donna Summer

Equipment List:

Marshall guitar amps, Ampeg bass amp,
Gibson / Yamaha guitars,
Alembic / Fender basses,
Pearl drum kit

Members Of Band:

Sharon Clancy - Vocals.
Steve Rawlinson - Guitar.
David Brunt - Bass.
Ruth Dobson - Drums.

Audio/Video Downloads

1. Wired.mp3