The Veils / New Rhodes

There is a certain familiarity to New Rhodes. They manage to blend together distinct 80’s vocals with calming, melodious harmonies not a million miles away from the guitar pop that epitomised the 90’s.

There are hints of Joy Division in their music, and if you felt so inclined you could probably make a more contemporary comparison to Editors and their style of music. The influences are plentiful, and New Rhodes are definitely a product of the many indie guitar bands that have trodden the same path before them.

However, through all the glaring similarities and obvious influences they emerge with their heads held high, and manage to put on an exciting and vigorous performance, elevating their music to a new level.

I’m not sure if it’s the classic waistcoat, the retro vocals or the polite gracefulness with which they perform, but there’s something quintessentially British about New Rhodes.



‘You’ve given me something’ is a fantastic gem, based around a great little riff and hum-able melody. ‘She said no’ corners the market on indie pop, but isn’t quite as catchy as a lot of their other songs.

The single ‘History of Britain’ sounds rather like a song that Delays would have recorded in their back garage and then probably slapped on the b-side of a much better single. Not to say ‘History of Britain’ is poor by any means, it’s great, but it just sounds a little too similar to a lot of other bands.

The strength, like much of New Rhodes material, lies in their choruses and the polished sound they seem to have created. Each song is extremely radio friendly and the group have an uncanny ability to cook up some rather tasty melodies.

It seemed to be going down well with tonight’s crowd, who were all standing rather respectfully apart from one another; it was more like being in a church choir than in a poky little indie venue.

It had filled up a little more by the time The Veils came on, but the atmosphere didn’t kick up a notch as it often does when the main band steps on stage.



Brooding bass lines and atmospheric singing are characteristics typified by The Veils. The all too familiar sounds of Pixies (the band, not the mythical little Cornish people) can certainly be heard creeping through into The Veil’s songs.

The Veils also borrow certain musical elements from Joy Division and The Smiths, still belonging to the same 80’s school of indie as New Rhodes. Lead singer Finn Andrews may as well be taking fashion tips from that same era, sporting a ridiculously oversized floppy sombrero.

There was a time when sexy bass guitarists were available as standard with your own quick fit band kit. They seemed like an integral cog in any new bands marketing ploy, especially if that band were crap. Step forwards Sophia Burn, returning a sense of indie sex appeal to the bass guitar. If it’s a competition, The Subways should be worried.



The Veil’s are a bit like an old black and white 50’s movie; stylish and classy, yet dated and not engaging enough to grab the audience of today. They are more experimental than New Rhodes and it’s the sort of thing that’ll make pretentious Edinburgh art undergraduates foam at the mouth.

The band doesn’t make all that much noise for a five piece. Their music is subtle and quietly thought evoking. It’s easy to become lost in it, but I get the impression it’s music that will either touch you or wash over you depending on your engagement with the songs.

‘Jesus for the Jugular’ is a great tune, opening like a modern day interpretation of a classic western movie. ‘Advice for young mothers to be’ is a sickly sweet song that could have been delivered equally well by The Beautiful South.

Two good bands on tonight’s bill, both from the same school of music, but both taking very different angles. New Rhodes specialised in radio friendly, nostalgic guitar pop, while The Veils went for a more experimental sound, creating more atmosphere, but perhaps not delivering their music with the same level of conviction.

FUTURE GIGS

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