A
gig
held at Mr Wolfs
on Friday 14th June. The event starts at 20:00.
In 2010, four rock'n' roll loving, chicken eating, cider swilling Bristol boys came together out of the ashes of Fortune Drive, pumped with a need to play the music they wanted to hear; pure, unadulterated rock influenced by real life, make believe and everything in between.
In an age where singers and producers not kickass, guitar-playing bands top the charts, record deals are handed out at the press of a buzzer and music has morphed into an all-consuming brand, Yes Rebels have emerged a pioneering force on the Bristol scene, and are ready to remind the world of the passion, the drive and the talent real music can produce.
Fuelled by the DIY ethics of the likes of Superchuck and Fugazi, frontman Bobby Anderson, drummer Des Rogers and stringmen Tom Kuras and Steve Handover have made their music accessible to all, touring tirelessly for free across Bristol and beyond, and emerging with'The Mixtapes' debut in spring 2013.
Word of mouth is everything to these boys. And the concept of'The Mixtapes' was simple: the fans get free music and Yes Rebels get a word of mouth reputation for being kickass.
The foursome posted YouTube videos of new tracks'Sailor J Serenade', 'Them's The Breaks', 'Who Wants To Be An American' and'Out Of The Gun' online, and everyone who shared them got the track sent to them for free, not only spreading the Yes Rebels love but also giving their dedicated and ever-growing fanbase something back.
The band's influences span a multitude of decades and genres, from 50s and 60s pop writers like Santo & Johnny and Motown legend Berry Gordy, to the melodies of The Beach Boys and Sinatra, and a smack of grunge and soundscapes from the likes of The Pixies, Sonic Youth and Nirvana.
Pint-sized powerhouse soul man Bobby is the driving force the son of Young Disciples and Brand New Heavies singer Carleen Anderson combining a lifetime of good, old-fashioned songwriting and strumming knowhow with the ability to spit out a monster chorus one minute, and then wrap you in sweet, sing-along harmonies the next.
Gentle giant Des punishes the drums with the same unstoppable force that keeps a gleeful smile upon his face throughout an entire set, while Tom and Steve kick out the catchy hooks and storming solos that stick, keeping crowds coming back for more.
Yes Rebels measure their success by the number of new faces in the crowd singing along to their songs, and with an innovative debut, rave live reviews and cover feature on Fear of Fiction already under their belts just six months after their first performance and endless gigs, festival appearances and a free acoustic album lined up, there's expected to be a whole lot more to pick out in 2013.
Like a fuzzy medicinal charm for those made sick by the invasion of synthesizers and laptops, Yes Rebels' sound occupies a space where the dark shades are darker and the light shades are brighter. It's that good old fashioned, city-fried rock'n' roll we've all been missing.