The Sunshine Underground (TSU) are an alternative band based up North. Their genre has been classified as alternative and electronic music, to date TSU have released three full-length albums; 'Raise the Alarm' (2006) and 'Nobody's Coming to Save You' (2010) and their most recent self-titled album.
TSU, named after a song from the 1999 album 'Surrender' by The Chemical Brothers.
First Album 'Raise The Alarm', released in 2006. Following the release of the album the band embarked on several UK and European tours. Clocking up various festivals including Glastonbury Festival, T in the Park and Reading and Leeds Festival (Radio One/NME stage).
The success of the album in the UK was mirrored in the Far East, Japan in particular, which saw the band complete two Japanese tours and various festival appearances including Summersonic and British Anthems. TSU were chosen by the NME to be part of the NME New Rave tour alongside The Klaxons, CSS and New Young Pony Club.
Early 2009 saw TSU release a 5 Track EP called 'Everything, Right Now'. The EP featured the track 'Coming to Save You', which was eventually included on the second album.
The band released the follow-up to 'Raise The Alarm' in February 2010 called 'Nobody's Coming to Save You'. To coincide with the release of the album the band embarked on a three-week tour of the UK, which included their biggest hometown gig to date at Leeds Academy.
2010 saw the band play at Reading and Leeds Festival and the Radio 1/NME stage at T in the Park from where they went on to support LCD Soundsystem at Ibiza Rocks.
Early 2012 saw the band commence a tour for two weeks in April, basically to road-test material for their as yet titled third album. The tour started at Club Academy, Manchester and saw them perform 12 gigs across Britain including sold dates at King Tut's (Glasgow), XOYO (London) and The Sugarmill (Stoke), before rounding off the tour with a homecoming gig at Leeds Metropolitan University.
In 2013 the band announced their return to recording and performing live with a small gig at The Old Blue Last in Shoreditch, London - to coincide with the release of a limited edition single version of 'It Is Only You', which was available as a 12" vinyl and download.
TSU returned to the fore in May 2014 with their self-titled third album, produced by Ross Orton. The album was preceded by first single 'Don't Stop'.
On a dreary Wednesday night the last thing I wanted to do was get up out of a warm house and got to a gig. But I dragged my sorry ass to the O2 Institute and got to the venue a bit later, I missed both support acts, found a snazzy place right at the front of the stage.
TSU were due on at 21.20 but as with all bands they were late, only by ten mins though.
The room at the O2 was rammed, especially when front man Craig told everyone to move forward and have a good time. There were a few die- hard fans on the barrier whom obviously follow the band with a passion as a couple of the lads out of the band acknowledged them through the show.
TSU haven't played Birmingham for seven years, bloody hell, where has that time gone!
I couldn't miss this show, especially as I saw the guys at Victorious Festival last year and they blew me away, I had actually forgotten how good they were live and that particular festival refueled my passion for the band, so this is why I'm here tonight.
Tonight was a short set, and it whizzed by way too quickly for my liking. The band kicked of with 'Start', from their current album and it was a stonker of a track live. Most of the songs tonight were from the first album, 'Raise the Alarm' and the third album – self titled, I felt like I'd stepped back in time when tracks from Raise the Alarm were aired. 'Commercial Breakdown', 'Borders' 'Somebody's Always Getting in The Way' and 'Put You in Your Place' were all epic, this band are so under-rated and I just wonder why they aren't bigger and why they don't have a bigger following?
'Nothing to Fear', 'Nightlife', and 'In Your Arms', the set just got better and better throughout.
The stage was a tad small, I was half expecting an accident, and especially as the guys in the band are so passionate about their playing, that they thrust their guitars here there and everywhere.
I'm so glad I actually bothered to see TSU again, they showed they still have it and I look forward to their new offerings in the new year. They have already announced a few live dates for 2016, don't be a fool and go and see them live.
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.