Deaf Havana are a young english band from Kings Lynn. Formed by James Veck-Gilodi, Ryan Mellor, Lee Wilson, Tom Ogden and Sebastian Spitz (who was replaced by current member Chris Pennells), the band now has 6 members, with James' brother Matthew coming in, along with Max Britton, whilst Ryan Mellor left after the first album was released.
Meet Me Halfway, At Least, was released in 2009 and featured the singles Friends Like These and Nicotine & Alcohol Saved My Life, both of which became favourites with the fan base, Deaf Havana were creating. Mellor's harsh screams coupled with James' clean harmonies, created a mix which bands of a simliar genre were unable to touch. Along with the actual content of the songs, the lyrics showed that Deaf Havana are a band who are able to tug at the heartstrings just through words, but when sang with as much passion as their 2 singers, showed they were on the road to being something special...
Having lost Mellor, just after the release of their debut album, James Veck-Gilodi was tasked with writing their second album, whilst also growing into the frontman role. When Ryan was in the band, James took a backseat, contributing clean vocals and guitar in the live set up, so this was a big change for him personally, as he had to come out of his shell. But when he did, boy, did he write a cracker of an album...
Fools & Worthless Liars, was the first James led album and marked a very big change from their first. No longer were they the brash hardcore band with a magnetic screamo frontman. Now they were a more mature rock band, with a wide range of influences, and soaring choruses. Choruses were always a strength of Deaf Havana, but these songs had more character, more soul and a lot more magnetic pull relying less on a live show to get their songs across. Songs like Little White Lies, Hunstanton Pier, I Will Try & I'm a Bore, Mostly, bringing in a more mature sound, the band went from strength to strength, getting critical praise from the media, Deaf Havana embarked upon hitting as many stages as possible, supporting You Me At Six & Skindred on their headline tours, headlining 2 of their own tour and opening the main stage at the Reading & Leeds festivals. FAWL did so well for the band, they were able to rerecord the whole album a year later and rerelease it as a deluxe album, using many different influences and instruments. Mandolin, Banjo, Piano and a box were all featured and used. What is incredible about this, is that Deaf Havana created a whole new album, which was just as universally praised. Flexing their muscles as songwriters, the band are about to embark on the most exciting part of their careers.
Old Souls is due to be released in September 2013 and will pull from many many different influences. Carrying on from where FAWL left off, Deaf Havana released their first single, Boston Square in May 2013. Sounding like an English version of The Gaslight Anthem, and moving their sound to an American radio rock band, the band claim this is the most complete they've ever felt. Boston Square is a 3 and a half minute tune with driving guitars and great vocals on show, and a classic Deaf Havana chorus which doesn't go amiss. It's since become a staple of Radio 1's playlist, gaining daily play.
They followed this by releasing Speeding Cars in America, another well written song, giving a more complete sound to the band, offering a slow intro, which builds into a pulsating rock song, led by an acoustic guitar and backed up with one the best choruses I've heard this year, whilst being built up with heartfelt lyrics which tug at the heartstrings. This could be the best song Deaf Havana have written in my honest opinion. Now, earlier this week, Deaf Havana decided to 'leak' one of their one songs, and it was one which had the fans very excited about hearing. Titled Kings Road Ghosts, it carries on where the alternative version of FAWL left off, being led by a mandolin and with lyrics harking back to Hunstanton Pier, due to the love for their hometown, it's a breezy rock song, you could easily throw on in the car and envision driving into the sunset to.
So why have I written about Deaf Havana today? Because now is the time to jump on the bandwagon. Having been a fan for many years, it is now the time to get really excited about them. Deaf Havana this year have become more prominently featured on festival stages throughout the country, including a supporting slot to the mighty Bruce Springsteen at Hard Rock Calling. This set in particular was very exciting, due to Springsteen apparently having a say in who supported him on the day, which if true, is a major endorsement, from one of the world's biggest artists. They've also announced the biggest headline tour of their careers, culminating in a show at the legendary Roundhouse in Camden, the biggest headline show of their lives. They also do something which isn't very evident in the charts these days; they write their own music and lyrics. And they do it well too. Deaf Havana are one of the resurgent UK bands who are trying to write music the old fashioned way, and music that they want to hear on the radio, let alone that they want to play. They're only going to get bigger, they have the fanbase, they have the backing, (Zane Lowe will be playing them on his show as his 'Hottest Record in the World' at some point this week according to Twitter) so it's about time to accept that they're here to grow and take over the airwaves.
Essential Listening:
From Meet Me Halfway, At Least:
- Friends Like These
- Nicotine & Alcohol Saved My Life
From Fools & Worthless Liars:
- Anemophobia
- Hunstanton Pier
- Little White Lies (ft. Portia Conn)
From Fools & Worthless Liars (Deluxe) (All alternate versions):
- Youth in Retrospect
- I Will Try
- Times Change, Friends Leave, and Life Doesn't Stop For Anybody
From Old Souls:
- Boston Square
- Speeding Cars
- Kings Road Ghosts
Deaf Havana are:
- James Veck-Gilodi
- Chris Pennells
- Lee Wilson
- Tom Ogdon
- Matthew Veck-Gilodi
- Max Britton
Catch Deaf Havana on tour here:
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