The Parades at Surya

A quick Google search will tell you that The Parades are yet to gather the attention of the mainstream rock mob; without even a Wikipedia mention and less than 1000 hits on YouTube, the boys are still very much an unknown quantity. We ventured down to King’s Cross to discover what their live show had to offer.

Upon arrival at the intensely intimate basement venue it’s striking how young the expectant audience is, with only the occasional dad cautiously looking out for their kid. As the average age rarely rises above 20, it’s clear that tonight will be a youthful affair. The boys kick off with their biggest hit In the Moment and nail it to perfection as the surprise appearance of a saxophone player adds to the hysteria levels already buzzing through the teenage crowd. It’s rare to find a talented three-piece act in modern rock, but The Parades thrive on this aspect of the night – their songs have a swagger that flourishes under the vocals and guitar work of the frontman. Dan clearly provides the driving force of the band: his vocals have a stylish indie flair that is reminiscent of Rob Damiani from Don Broco. Parallels can definitely be drawn between Don Broco and The Parades as not only will they share a similar fan base but they also have a quintessential English indie rock backbone that is steadily taking over the airwaves.

The sauna of the venue doesn’t phase the loyal fans as every song is greeted with drunken dancing and rowdy cheers, despite the fact many of them surely have college the following day. The celebratory atmosphere perfectly complements the set as their sound reverberates around the compact basement, giving every song a buoyant lift. A guest rap appearance mid-set was the cherry on top of already successful night.

Although the boys have yet to muscle their way into the alternative mainstream, it won’t be long until they become the darlings of many a hipster-flavoured music channel.

Keir Smith

For further information and future events visit The Parades’ website here.

Watch the video for In the Moment here: