I’ve been following Doncaster’s Laurel Canyons for two years now and I can safely say they are one of the best bands currently active in Yorkshire. The two EPs they released under their previous of In Fear of Olive blew me away. They reference bands such as Mumford and Sons, Ocean Colour Scene, Counting Crows, Blind Melon and Embrace, and produced astonishing songs such as Saluting Magpies and the perfect Led Me Astray and now, under their new name Laurel Canyons, they release the first single from their forthcoming debut long player.
Youth Blood is instant – a festival hit waiting to happen. The beat and the guitar have the same feel as OCS’s You Got It Band yet the band blatantly have their own distinct voice. They manages to balance a laid back sound of Americana with a distinct British feel. When vocalist Jake Cope sings the chorus of ‘I’ve got that youth blood’, you know they have exactly that in what is a fresh, energetic and perfect summer anthem.
Jake has an amazing voice that is equal parts Adam Duritz and Miles Kane. Backed by an unbelievably tight band who can be as angry as The Them one minute or as laid back as Nick Drake the next. If this is the taster of things to come, then expect big things in 2013 for Laurel Canyons.
Youth Blood is released via Wire-Sound on April 15th.
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Alternative Barnsley 