Very few things unite fans of different football teams, even more so when those teams are city rivals or the adversaries are both challenging for honours. That's just part of football and why it will always make it very special. On the occasions when some common ground can be found, it will normally be part of the culture and trends that have illuminated the terraces for generations. From the football fans of the 1960s singing songs from the steps of the vast sweeping terraces, to the modern day Ultras, updating lyrics from chart songs for fan favourites while lighting up the stands with pyro’, noise and colour. The link between football and music has always been, and that will never change.
As the football season comes to an end, there is a seamless migration from the stadiums to festival fields and concert venues across the country. The rivalry is paused while the musicians weave their magic on stage and unite a fanatical culture under the strobe lights. This is where bands like Skylights come in, the diehard Leeds United fans have all the swagger that goes with the casual football culture, and they have the songs to back it up with a heady mix of indie rock anthems bound together with guitar riffs and air punching choruses.
Skylights inaugural album What You Are, landed on all the usual platforms in May this year through Manchester based 42’s Records and has been climbing up the charts, riding high in the UK top 40 as well as sitting at number 11 in the Vinyl charts. One listen and it’s easy to see why there is so much love out there for this ten track work of art. The four lads hailing from York have launched an absolutely storming debut release filled with a raw and crisp sound that simply consumes you from the opening chords.
The boisterous intensity delivered through Outlaw, Nothing Left to Say and What You Are combines seamlessly with stripped back acoustic tracks on the album. Julia Violinista adds a touch of magic on violin through her unique Indie/Classical sound for Darkness Falls and Driving Me Away, showing the bands range and maturity.
YRA is the longest song on the album and is an instant classic, you just know this track will take the roof off any venue, it has all the strut and swagger of the very best of Indie music. Take Me Somewhere produces that unmistakable bass led punk melody, again displaying the versatility of the sound the band produce.
The record is laced with influential sounds throughout, with a nod to bands like Shed Seven, The Cult, Jesus Jones and Primal Scream, but the band stamp their own mark all over the album and keep the sound fresh all the way through. With Rob Scarisbrick on vocals, Turnbull Smith on guitar, Jonny Scarisbrick on bass and Myles Soley on Drums, the group are ready to expand on their passionate support in the Yorkshire heartlands and introduce themselves to a wider audience.
With the hard work done in the studio it promises to be a busy couple of month for the quartet as they hit the road over the summer with live shows in Dublin, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and their biggest gig to date at Leeds O2 Academy.
Upcoming gigs
18th June – Whelans, Dublin
9th July – O2 Academy, Leeds
29th July – Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh
30th July – The Tunnels, Aberdeen
Twitter - @SkylightsYRA
