Waterford-based Anna-Liese have released their new EP ‘Stand On My Own’. The four piece which consists of members Emmet Conefery (vocals, guitar), Mark Walsh (vocals,guitar), Eddy Blake (drums) and Sean Carey (bass guitar) have fabricated a collection of tracks that takes their sound to a new level. The ‘Stand On My Own’EP marks a serious more sophisticated and refined venture into their alternative rock. ‘Standing By The Riverbed’ is the first track on the EP and it screams their new tighter more competent sound. With a Green Day-esque feel mixed with a massive anthemic chorus, crashing guitars and punchy drums, it’s one hell of an introduction to the EP. Showcasing a substantial growth since their previous EP ‘Chasing and Fading’ it’scrisp compact and oh so catchy. This quartet have learned to take their time pacing each track out building and brooding with the verses with little chorus bursts teasing and leaving space for the crescendo’s to soar and excite. ’Oh Me Oh My’ is perhaps my favourite track on the EP. It jingles and sways with sweet sharp guitar melodies while a soft punch on drums adds a shot of grit. The vocal melody glides with bright melty smoothness while lush backing vocals coo with tender delicacy. It’s melancholic and gentle but those guitar lines are sublime- sharp and zealous adding splinters to the breezy sombre track. ‘Scrappy Boy’ adds a bit of heaviness to the EP. It’s slick swagger soaked and gritty. Once again shredding guitar lines lift the track into legendary status while a driving rumble on bass adds a ripply foundation and flexibility to the track. The vocals are strong and expressive. ‘First In Line’ lightens the tone of the EP, again it’s energetic and instrumentally snug. The tracks run along balancing heavier soundscapes with light airy indie seamlessly. Now ‘Stand On My Own’ brings us to the end of the EP with a cocktail of sounds and tempos. Beginning jangly and almost tropical before the vocal line brings a slower cruising tempo, with twinkles of warm guitar. The feisty chorus is catchy and assertive. The track returns to the brisk peppy tropical tone before resting on a swayable weaving hazy crescendo.
Anna-Liese ‘Stand On My Own’ EP exudes passion. It feels like they let go and poured themselves into this EP wholeheartedly and it pays off. They have grown up and with that have taken a strong command, honed in and refined their sound. It’s a joy to listen to. They flicker and fluctuate between different musical styles seamlessly creating their own unique style which is hard to do without sounding choppy and rough. There is something for everyone. It’s so melodic, luscious and well crafted. Anna-Liese are coming into their own.
Its Saturday night and we have been invited to see Waterford band Anna-Liese rock the socks off the ever so cosy Bosco’s Café in Kilkenny. Having not seen the band since last year I was curious as to their progress and development. Casually beginning their set with a new tune the four piece showcase their naturally affluent knack for sweet toned slick riffs and melodies leaving no doubt there is talent behind these lads. Mark Walsh (Guitar/Vocals) and Emmet Conefery (Guitar/Vocals) effortlessly glide from infectious crushing heavy riffs to creamy melty licks while Sean Carey’s ductile Bass, like putty holds each track with a flexible elastic bounce. Eddy Blake’s Drums venture from hushed tap-tap-tap to rapid skin-pounding attacks for various tracks. They take a little time to warm up fully to the assemblage but before long they are bantering back and forth, blasting through tunes from their EP ‘Chasing and Fading’. Walsh’s vocals and writing style tends to steer more to a country or traditional style which adds a little depth and unique quirk to the bands alternative rock genre while Conefery’s vocal style adds a funky groovy quality. Most of the set is made up of tracks from the EP with a sneaky smattering of some new tunes which sound extremely promising as they showcase positive substantial and even sophisticated growth in their writing style and musicianship. Throwing in some covers here and there the foursome land a slick rendition of Talking Heads ‘Psycho Killer’. The heavier tracks like ‘Green’ perhaps deserving a larger venue never the less Anna-Liese take it in their stride and fulfil their promise for “loud hits and sweet rhythm” all in the comfort of this intimate charming Café.
Anna-Liese will be playing a few gigs in February and March in pubs across Waterford, Kilkenny and Cork, with two big events coming up in Cork, The CIT Battle of the Bands and a gig on the 11th March in the Bru Bar and Hostel. They will be heading back to the studio before the summer to record another 5 track EP. So keep an eye out and head down to see these guys.
Stream Anna-Liese EP ‘Chasing and Fading’ below
We headed down to Brewery Corner Kilkenny, a lovely vintage style pub in Parliament Street, Kilkenny. The outside of this little blue building will be forever imprinted in my mind as we spent a good half hour going round and round passing the venue each time, trying to find parking as its a little scarce when its raining. Once inside this charming pub we found lovely helpful staff amazing pizza and fantastic music! Also they have the best range of craft beers and ciders on draught in Ireland, as well as a huge selection of international craft beers and whiskeys, and specially selected wines, or so I’m told. But that is not why we are here, its Anna – Liese’s EP launch.
Support came from Beautiful Corruption which is a band Indie Buddie is no stranger to. We have written features on their live shows before and this one didn’t disappoint. Even though the boys had done a show the previous night they were a bit tired but still bursting with energy. Showcasing their signature style of infectious riffs and mosh worthy tracks. They gave us a sneak peak of some new tracks which were amazing live. Finishing with ‘Snakes and Ladders’ as frontman Oisín Wolfe descends into the crowd for the massive final track. As usual a strong performance from Beautiful Corruption.
After a short intermission filled with tuning and setting up while the crowd topped up their drinks Anna- Liese take the stage. Beginning with the massive fast tempo ‘Break The Chain’ with its heavy guitar riff it gets the crowd moving, followed by ‘Pyscho Mask’ an upbeat funky beat that is infectious and sounds amazing and fresh live. Watching these guys play you really get a sense of their musical talent, all members of the band have a strong understanding of their instruments and a tight relationship on stage. They take us through some melodic tunes which have the crowd swaying along to tracks like ‘Storm’ with its smooth airy drive time vibe. Finishing with two dynamic rock tracks.’Green’ which is a crowd favourite, its a proper mosh pit tune with slick guitars and pounding drums followed finally by ‘Chasing and Fading’ the EP’s title track which is a riff based track that is infectious and trance like. They build to a heavy end with a strong final note, that leaves the crowd wanting more. After a little persuasion Anna – Liese play two more songs before finishing as the crowd begin a frenzy of dancing moshing and pushing. A strong way to end a brilliant gig.
Anna Liese have released the final two tracks from their début EP ‘Chasing and Fading’.’Chasing and Fading’ the title track is a riff base rock track heavier than the other songs we have heard so far.With an intense Radiohead vibe. The vocals have a mysterious tone to them which really adds to the atmosphere of this track. There is a call and response between the guitar and the vocals which is really effective. The song builds to a heavy end with a strong final note.
‘Green’ is my favourite track on the EP it again starts slow with melancholy vocals and then kicks straight into a rock song with full sound and a proper mosh pit tune, with slick guitars and pounding drums and even a scream in vocals. The vigorous guitars are amazing and really show the skill of theses guys. This is a zealous, blazing track and I can imagine it is magnificent live.
Looking forward to the live gigs!
You can catch Anna Liese at the Thirsty scholar, Waterford on the 27th April and in The Brewery Corner, Kilkenny on the 21st May.
Stream ‘Chasing and Fading’ and ‘Green’ below
Anna Liese are a four-piece alternative Rock, Irish band based in Waterford. Mark Walsh (Vocals, Guitars) Emmet Conefery (guitarist), Sean Carey (Bass) and Eddy Blake (Drums) have just released their début EP ‘Chasing and Fading’.These guys give us a variety with their slow tempos, melodic guitar passages, beautiful vocal harmonies in ” Storm” which has a smooth airy drive time vibe, compared with the fast tempo and heavy riffs in ” Psycho Mask” and “Break The Chain”.
” Psycho Mask” is an upbeat funky tune with some distortion which adds a hint of psychedelic rock as they lead into a instrumental break. “Break The Chain” is a rock and roll style track and my favourite of the three with it slick guitar and punchy drums its an animated track that’s bound to sound good live and get everyone up dancing. This particular tunes heavy riff and use of guitar licks is very effective.
‘Chasing and Fading’ is a strong début EP that shows promise and with a number of gigs under their belts and preparations for their EP launch gigs which will be taking place over the next few months we can look forward to some high energy shows.
Stream “Storm’ and ‘Break The Chain’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
massive final track. As usual a strong performance from Beautiful Corruption.
with slick guitars and pounding drums followed finally by ‘Chasing and Fading’ the EP’s title track which is a riff based track that is infectious and trance like. They build to a heavy end with a strong final note, that leaves the crowd wanting more. After a little persuasion Anna – Liese play two more songs before finishing as the crowd begin a frenzy of dancing moshing and pushing. A strong way to end a brilliant gig.
