#4 Abandon Ship! A nostalgic indie rock band

Hampshire, UK-based Abandon Ship! are a nostalgic indie rock with anthemic group vocals and catchy hooks. The band was born in 2017 when old friends Luke Burywood (Vocals/Guitar) and Jordan Baggs (Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals) reconnected in the hinterland of Basingstoke, England. Drawn to the spit, grime and alternative music scene of now-defunct rock bar Sanctuary, the pair were soon to co-opt Martin Sylvester (ex-Mary Kelly) to drumming duties with Clayton Deakin (bass) completing the line-up. Taking inspiration from the music and ambitions of Foals, The 1975 and Japanese House, while absorbing influences as diverse as Death Cab for Cutie, Sticky Fingers, American Football and PUP, Abandon Ship! are determined not to place limits around their emerging sound. The band have been busy raising their profile at live dates throughout 2019; at Tramlines Fringe Festival where Noel Galligher headlined and most recently on tour alongside TUYS. Previously the band have provided support to Larkins, Milk Teeth and Muncie Girls in front of sold-out crowds. Their songs draw on first and second-hand observations of the pleasures and disaffections of post-millennial Britain modern tales which oscillate in an emotional wasteland between swagger and self-doubt. A self-produced de-but EP mastered by Robin Scmidt (The 1975, Everything Everything, Blur) will gradually come into focus by early 2020. Whether the lyrics are using The Mezingers as inspiration to create the character Casey on Say The Word or having the realisations of coming to age on Wrong Again “so I’ll get my haircut and start using my first name”, two things are always present- real-world youthful observations whilst remaining fun and infectious.