Who: Remarkable Upstart
What: Our First Demo
As I slipped Our First Demo into my CD player, by Wigan’s up and coming pop-punk band Remarkable Upstart, a wave of expectancy flew over me as I had heard many good things about them.
The CD didn’t disappoint; containing three beautifully constructed songs from the Wigan-based quintet.
The members of the band have normal names, except that is for the guitarist “Nutter”. One wonders whether his parents had the foresight to give him this name? Was he just extremely lucky? Or more likely, it is an alias to fit in with the radical stereotype that being a rock and roll star entails?
House kicks off the demo, and it isn’t unlike the Black Sabbath hit Paranoid at the beginning. The bass comes in, the drums really start, and then in come the vocals. It seems to be a parody of all the great punk band songs of the last few years, influenced by groups such as Alkaline Trio and the big eyebrow teen band Busted.
Saying that though, House is a good song in its own right, which will no doubt capture the hearts of any pop-punk craving audience.
Third song which is crazily the second song on the demo, is another excellent demonstration of pop-punk at its best. The vocals of lead singer Adam Holt are shouty and energetic to begin with, following some exceptional guitar play.
Holt keeps the song constantly exciting and the drumming is also amazing. This is a superb song, with good vocals and lyrics set to the background of several guitar solos. It encapsulates the teenage angst, which punk usually tends to do, and it works to great effect.
The final track on the demo, What’s the point? is a great end track as it is punchy and contagious. With the singing possibly at its best here and the bass having a raucous effect on the song, it’s a suitable song to end the demo.
The only criticism here is the way it actually ends. You expect another verse or, perhaps, some solo work but you are left wondering whether your CD player has been smashed up internally by tiny invisible men.
Overall, this is a great first demo and Remarkable Upstart are sure to be on the big scene in a year or two if they keep working hard. Keep it coming boys!
By Jamie Clark
Wigan Music Archives 