Chappaqua Wrestling and the heavy rock catharsis, dire tension of "Full Round Table" (Official Video)

 

"you and me both feel the world's too weathered..."     photo by Iona Lily

From the very onset, the dense sinewy bass walls of "Full Round Table" by Manchester, UK based four piece Chappaqua Wrestling has a huge stadium sized anthemic sound. Adding to this opening sound, the evocative tambourine and, of course, Charlie Woods full rocker / romance wave vocal aesthetic that lends a weightiness to the big alt rock rebel yells. Add in the dreamy, punchy support of John Paul Townsend on the anchoring drums, Coco Varda on keys and percussion and Jake Mac's screaming guitar embellishments and "Full Round Table" does like a cathartic battle cry. The kind of big rock sound that seems to eschew pop rock, blues noir, surf punk (sounds of the day) for a bit more classic rock heaviness makes me think of iconic old school artists like Scotland's Big Country or Welsh alt rockers The Alarm and newer artists like Constantines or Metz or maybe an amalgam of all of them. 

The song is totally relatable as the youth of today from all walks of life are facing raising inflation, ever shifting economies and a bleak outlook at least as painted by past generations that act like they have the answers but clearly do not. I suppose every generation is suspect by the last as each of us older folks and especially those in power do a sufficient job of fucking things up.    

The band explains: ‘We wrote Full Round Table as a reaction to the endless negativity put in our faces about our generation’s future. So much news is greeted with the response of how screwed we are - hopeless views from unhelpful people. Negativity about youth is relative per generation but today it feels stronger. We want to ignore the cynicism, get together, appreciate what really matters, and not let people tell us what we can't do. The Full Round Table is full of our friends, and that’s not changing.’

Hey, I have faith in today's youth, and besides, it is always the youth, if given the respect they deserve who are our only hope for the future. 

-Robb Donker Curtius

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:

https://www.facebook.com/chappaquawrestling/

https://www.instagram.com/chappaquawrestling/

https://open.spotify.com/album/6gptW1eODnspT3YYkcVfTf

Chappaqua Wrestling was formed in Manchester in late 2017 by songwriters Charlie Woods & Jake Mac. Since moving back south, they have been joined by John-Paul Townsend & Coco Varda. They now live in South London.They have been championed by BBC Radio 1 & Radio 6 DJ's including Annie Mac, Phil Taggart, Steve Lamacq, and Radcliffe & Maconie. Support from BBC’s Huw Stephens & Jack Saunders saw the band being invited to play sessions at Abbey Road & Maida Vale Studios. The band have toured with numerous acts around the U.K, and in January 2020 they supported Mark Ronson, Kurt Vile, & Anderson Paak at 4xFar Festival, in Coachella Valley, California.

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Chappaqua Wrestling, post punk, alt rock, heavy guitars, dense sound, romance wave, indie rock, Manchester, UK, "Full Round Table", politico rock, youth of today,