By Daffs (TwoDaff)
Southampton indie rock band, Pioneers , released their eagerly anticipated new single ‘Hit and Run’ on July 15th 2022. The four-piece band consists of Sam Watts (Vocals/Rhythm Guitar), Toby Gathercole (Lead Guitar), Sam Over (Bass Guitar and backing vocals) and Dan Johnson (Drums).
The band were initially formed in 2017 and since inception have gone on to take the music industry by storm after their single ‘Take Time’ was picked up and played on BBC Radio One by Dev, Scott Mills, Greg James and Clara Amfo and the band were further interviewed on air by Alice Levine. Other releases include ‘What Can I Say’ and the EP ‘The Leftovers’ to name but a few.
Breaking away from making music that they see as being expected of them and actually recording what they want to record, giving them a chance to explore and expand. Front man Sam explains “I think Hit and Run see’s us expand our wings a little bit more as artists. It’s always been that our live shows are where we think we resonate the best, and with this new single everything is a little louder and more anthemic”
The track was collaboratively written by the band with the lyrics coming from Sam Watts and the music being produced as a collective. It was recorded at Smokestack Studios in Gosport and was Mixed and Mastered by Joe Lewis-Brown.
Don’t hit and run, hit play and repeat…this track shows a real level of maturity and is definitely a step up from previous releases, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with them, there isn’t, its just that this track is (in my opinion) well…better. It has an air of authority over their previous stuff. A showcase of their undeniable talent and this is evident in the skill not only in their musicianship but vocally and lyrically.
“It has an air of authority”
From the beginning it is a continuous guitar driven anthem, screaming lead licks overplay a chugging, rock and roll rhythmic bassline, broken by pummelling drum beats. Its gloriously heavy, lots of reverb and a fantastic throaty vocal gives it a definitive bluesy edge. The hooks and riffs really grab you, a real anthemic track that will be a crowd pleaser for new fans and old…add me to the former.
“A fantastic throaty vocal gives it a definitive bluesy edge”
I can tell this band are a tight unit, everything gels, the vocal is immense, and it has to be as the instrumentals are loud and heavy without distorting the melodies. The think I love about this track is the mid-section solo, bluesy almost sleazy rock n roll. This builds to a fantastic crescendo that carries to the end of the song.
“Bluesy almost sleazy rock n roll”
I really do hope that they continue in a similar vein, making music that they want to make instead of conforming to what is expected, because this song is tremendous.
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