This past weekend, I attended the Reading Festival, featuring some of the best bands the world has ever seen. Green Day, System of a Down, Nine Inch Nails and Deftones all returned to Reading and played exclusive sets for the UK festivals circuit. Some unknown acts were given the chance to play bigger stages than they're used to. Bands like While She Sleeps and Mallory Knox were to open the Main Stage.
There was one band who played on the Sunday, playing 4th from the bottom of the bill, on the Main Stage, called Don Broco. A Bedford Quartet, these boys play Rock music, which has been called both 'Jock Rock' and 'Lad Rock' singing tunes about life, love and everyday occurrences.
These guys are going to be HUGE. Jump on while you can, this band are one of the fastest growing I've seen, and they're growing in the right way. They've been a band since 2008, and have played literally everywhere this country has to offer. Having played venues like the Barfly, supporting Glamour of the Kill for the Sonisphere Secret Sessions, to headlining the Hit the Deck Festival in Nottingham, playing Rock City, these guys have the work ethic to match the tunes they write. Having released 'Big Fat Smile', their 3rd EP, in 2011, they finally began to gain some attention from the media, having their single 'Beautiful Morning' gain them more fans and attention. They took bookings whenever they could get them and travelled for hours from show to show.
The anticipation for their debut album reached a fever pitch, but the boys carried on touring. Their debut album 'Priorities' was released in 2012, having been recorded whilst on tour in their van, putting speakers and recording equipment under the seats and wherever they could fit it! The band had signed to Sony and released their debut album on a major label. 'Priorities' reached number 25 on the charts, which is massively impressive for a proper rock band these days. This led to the 'Priorities Tour 2013' in which they headlined venues gradually growing in size, and they managed to sell them all out. A tour of over 15 dates, featuring 2 legs, had every single ticket, sold. They managed to sell out Camden Koko (Capacity 1400) and branded the night 'Broco At Koko', which was their crowning achievement.
This week they played Leeds and Reading festivals, on the Friday and Sunday respectively. Now, I don't know how they went down in Leeds (what I've read, they were good) but Reading they were on fire. They absolutely smashed the Main Stage. The best part of the set? The sheer enjoyment, happiness and shock on the boys faces. The shock from how the crowd reacted, because they played a hell of a show, while smiling and enjoying the hell out of it.
The Thursday before the shows, they released a new single, 'You Wanna Know', a heavier than normal guitar based song, with a few more synths than their other stuff, it features a huge chorus, and some clever lyrics & guitar work. This was well received and you could tell there were some diehard fans there, as the words were already being sang back to them. The band's connection with their fans is incredible.
In the crowd at Reading, I overheard some guys talking about the band. One said and I quote: "These guys are the perfect summer band". I wholeheartedly agree with that, Don Broco write feel good tunes, that you can listen to whilst having a barbecue in the back garden, drinking the day and night away. Easy listening, easy to relate to, and superb guys. I've seen them 6 times and once acoustically, and they're absolutely quality both ways. Touring for so long on many different types of bills has honed them into a well oiled machine.
Zane Lowe has been a huge supporter of them for ages, and he's usually right with finding the bands who are going to break through and get big. He was right about The 1975, and they've not even released an album, at time of writing. He's also supported the likes of You Me At Six and Enter Shikari, both bands have chosen Don Broco to support them numerous times.
Don Broco have announced their biggest tour yet, playing venues like Birmingham Institute , Manchester Ritz and culminating in the the biggest headline show of their careers at the legendary Camden Roundhouse. A 2000 capacity room, which houses the iTunes festival, these boys will sell it out, I have no doubts about that, and I am quietly confident they will sell out the entire tour again. They've worked too hard to not to. They deserve all the success in the world, as well. Here's hoping the second album does send them to the stratosphere, because they've got the drive to go all the way to the top.
They're here to stay, taking over the airwaves, smashing the live shows, festivals and putting the mainstream acts to shame with a work ethic which is second to none. Jump on the Broco train now, these boys will go as far as they want to go. Don Broco are my pick to be the next big thing.
Check out:
Don Broco - You Wanna Know
Don Broco - Beautiful Morning
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