"it's in the air I breathe"
As the story goes, Sapphire Blues was born late in 2016 "over four pints of wasted living, a pre-brexit post-punk outfit from Bristol" and those formative years since have honed and darkened their sound. Their first single on Blitzcat Records, the absolutely full charged post punk "Ourselves Forgotten" feels like a feral battle cry of a song, dirtied up and in the streets. Sam Lance Jones' sandpaper vox and big wall of sounds guitar tones push anthemic tones while Harry Beaver's thumping bass and Chris Tompson's furious drumming both contribute to and help contain, anchor the storm. I thought of an amalgam of sounds all smashed together, flashing on Bloc Party, The Cult, The Jam, Dead Kennedys and The Murder Capital.
From the band:
"Ourselves Forgotten" is a post-punk lashing inspired by an urge to get away from the memories under the skin of every street. Based off a voice memo Chris (percussion) randomly captured from a drum and bass night we hardly remember, it's about hanging onto your daydreams as a means of escape from small-town monotony. -
If you think of Sapphire Blues, think blood, sweat and spit passion.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
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Sam Lance Jones (vocals, guitar)
Harry Beaver (bass)
Chris Thompson (percussion)
Late 2016. Wide asleep. How else kill this time which no longer passes? Sapphire Blues are born over four pints of wasted living, a pre-brexit post-punk outfit from Bristol. After a promising year, the fourth pint went flat; a line up change was in order. The remaining members of the band moved into Chris’ cramped bedroom to develop their sound inspired by sinking into the sofa. With the upbeat keyboard out the window and the curtains closed, the direction of the band took a darker turn with more focus on the rhythm section layered with a smoke-filled guitar lead and skittish vocals.
‘… their bullish aggression melding perfectly with the punk-laden overtones of their catalogue. There is a looming skittish fog that encompasses their otherwise masculine vitality, adding an impressive layer of depth to their unapologetically catchy tracks.’ - Bristol in Stereo
In need of sunlight, a long year later the band resurfaced and set out to play as many gigs as possible in 2019, releasing single ‘Good Morning Britain’, selling out local venues and supporting the likes of Talk Show, Lumer and Deadletter.
Currently the band is finishing up their next singles due to be released mid to late 2020 in light of the current circumstances.
“More than anything, the band is our therapy. If we didn’t start the band, I don’t know how each of us would manifest our emotions” - Sam
not a blues band
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