Alannah Webb, Evan Armstrong , Luke Ashton and Sam Bowery on bass by Kiera Davies
The anonymity of the nighclub dancefloor where your name and your stories beome about as memorable as the discarded empty cups. This power, this pride you have in your new identity, how will you use it? Stun passersbys by owning a dance circle, chugging on a two for ten pitcher? Or chatting up some girl that doesn’t want to notice you? She laughs politley as she fidgets with her bag, you may thinks it’s cute but she’s under attack. She turns away but you tap her back, still not getting the message she requests a song from the DJ. Don’t Ask by The Facades starts playing and you learn to leave her alone.
The Facades
Boys feel it too, sometimes they don’t want to know you, they don’t want to buy you that drink. They want to dance and let go too. So stick Don’t Ask on and keep respecting others and respecting yourself.
This track hosts harmonies evocative to a black and white powerpoint film, photos that show a summer stroll, a rowing trip, a floral dress and a beach hat in the sand but it’s message has so much meaning. We’ve all been on nights out where we have either witnessed to or been the victim of a person that will just not let you go, what’s your number, what’s your name, are you here alone? Don’t ask because you don’t need to know.
The Facades by Kiera Davies
The facades, made up of Alannah Webb on vocals and guitar, Evan Armstrong on guitar, Luke Ashton on drums and Sam Bowery on bass, from Wigan formed in early 2020 are renowned for poignent lyrics and foreboding instrumentals especially in their debut single, That letter which is dominated by a dark drum beat, allowing for an enigmatic atmosphere that fits with the narrative of the song.
They have already been featured on BBC introducing and they’re on This Feeling’s one to watch list in 2022, so look out for them and head to their gigs, defend that dancefloor you came their to party.
This weeks episode of the podcast features funny impressions, colourful characters and a duck named Paul. For your chance to see Paul, and the talented Facades of course,head to the links below to buy tickets for their gigs.
Genre defying powerhouse with anthemic chords and live gigs with the enthusiasim of a child faced with a limitless ballpit, Salt The Snail define difference.
Tracks like Lazer Quest nod to the fun the band have with their music. The powerful vocals paired with rapid instrumentals are sure to have a crowd bouncing. The contradiction of cheerful themes paired with the raging tone makes for a chaotic but carthatic experience.
Salt the Snail
This entertaining energy extends to their live gigs where fans are encouraged to bring, small inflatables and toys to just maxmise having a good time and letting go.
Get to know the band below in my Q and A
1. Who is everyone in the band? The Wildcard – Vocals The Baron – Bass The Wardrobe – Guitar The Stray – Drums The Captain – Guitar
2. Is the snail called salt or do you want to salt the snail? Tell me about the origin of your band name. These days, to appease the PETA crowd, we say its a Snail called Salt, which is a bit of fun but originally it was neither of the above and we certainly don’t condone violence toward any living creature
Its a reference to, collectively our favourite TV show; Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia. In that show, they are salting a snail called Gail who is actually a person
3. How would you describe your style? We’ve been described as many things over the years, hardocre punk seems to stick the most but I’m sure some chump with Refused tattooed across their chin would have something to say about that
We actually came up with our own style which we like to call ESCAPISM MEOWSIC which is essentially us having a ton of fun whilst trying to distract you from your problems for a brief moment all channelled through our admiration of cats
And if youre thinking ‘WTF is he on about’ then I dont blame you
Salt The Snail
4. What are your biggest musical influences? There’s loads in there. Our live style is pretty lively and madcap and that was heavily influenced by seeing The Hives once in Glastonbury which was the best live show I’ve ever witnessed
McLuskey for sheer genius lyricism, Helmet, Rueben, Clutch, The Jesus Lizard, SPQR, Sweet Deals on Surgery and of course Limp Bizkit
5. Who would you be without music? Colin
6. What’s your favorite moment in the band so far? This one time we were at Charnock Richard services and our bassist The Baron taught us that its much cheaper to get the wrap of the day, fries and a drink all separately at Maccies rather than getting a meal. Never looked back since
The Wildcard The Baron The Wardrobe The Stray The Captain Taken by Ben Rogers
7. How did you all meet? We are all from Widnes/Runcorn except our Bassist who is from Swanley.
We’ve all been in different bands for years and we have put gigs on for years too, we all got to know each other because the Liverpool music scene is really inclusive and friendly like that.
We started out as a 3 piece and The Baron was someone who we thought was a genius because his previous band Jazzhands were one of our favourites, he wanted to play Bass for us one time and we said hell yeah and he never left. Our 2nd guitarist The Captain, he joined not too long after, initially as a stand in for The Wardrobe but The Captain is a pure human so we kept him forever.
8. How do you prepare for Live gigs? Check the inflatables for punctures, scour my garage for random shit to give away as a joke prize, write the song titles on some shit we can throw into the crowd stuff it all in a suitcase with some CANS and get on it
We used to just go Poundland but it was getting too pricey
9. Why do you want people to bring toys to the gig? Cos our M.O is to have loads of fun and hope our audience join in. Toys are cool so the more the merrier
10. What makes you different? We are an all straight white male, 5 piece, playing guitar music and im pretty sure thats never been done before
11. What advice would you give to those trying to get into the music industry? 1. Drop your inhibitions 2. Do it because you love it and don’t lose track of that 3. Have a plan 4. Don’t let some tupenny wideboy with a Canada Goose coat and a big a1 poster of Leeds Festival 2016 on the wall of his £200 a month office space that doesn’t even have a private toilet sway the artistic direction you take as a band based on a promise to get you on a Spotify playlist that only unimaginative drones listen to 5. Buy Wolf Cola
12. Do you have any hidden talents or jokes you can share with the reader? I did write a joke once when I was younger which I think is quite good, I use it sometimes in a tight spot like if a guitar string snaps or The Stray forgets that he’s at the gig, here goes;
Did you hear about the hearse that got pulled up on the motorway? It got done for undertaking!
Side note, you could say ‘i wouldn’t be seen dead in one of them’ if you ever see a hearse…but that’s not one of mine so don’t come at me if it goes the wrong way
Listen to the band on the new EVOLVE Spotify playlist and follow them on Instagram
Music is consistent. Listeners are able to control what they hear, what emotion they want to immerse themselves in in order to understand what they’re going through. Archy has said that “Each new song is a culmination of what [he] is at that point in time. Although some songs discuss personal themes I aim for most to be accessible so that my audieince can resonate with them”
His latest single, “Tectonic”, for me is an ode to the beauty and brutality of a tense relationship, may that be a platonic or romantic one. It showcases his talent and maturity as an artisit as usually he overworks his music whereas this time he responded to feeback from friends and was able to produce soemthing with combined perspectives. Tectonic echoes that of Monkey wrench by Foo Fighters and Figure it out by Royal blood.
Archy describes the music he releases as ” rock music with anthemic, thick walls of sound. I love layering up loads of layers and harmonies to fill each song to the brim”
From the age of nine, he spent most of his time playing any instrument he could find and by 12 he was writing his own songs. This effort and commitment led to him having his first self-produced single played on BBC Music Introducing when he was just 16.
Although he is a solo aritst, producing all his own music music, when performing live he enlists the help of friends to serve as his band. He’s been friends with his drummer Ian since secondary school and went to the same music college as his bassist Nathan.
“They both have a powerful stage presence which resonates throughout. Not only are they my band but my best friends too” Archy
Leeds, Reading and Boardmasters festival almsot served as an opening ceremony for the return of live music. Archy was able to perform at Latitude in July of this year, which he described as being a “surreal” and “hectic”experience. He also shared with me the importance of live music “It unites people. You’ll never find anyone friendlier than those people off to see their favourite artists”.
Despite how far he has come in a short period of time, seemingly sprinting toward success, Archy describes himself as “still at base camp at the mountain of the music industry”. But he’s working with a small managment label, wearecetera, in the hopes of gaining more gigs and festival slots,
Evolve Music 