By Daffs (TwoDaff)
Formed in Birmingham at the back end of 2021, Champagne Casuals (what a name for a band) are set to release their new single ‘Born Again Tomorrow’ in September. After supporting Shader at The Sunflower Lounge and Kitchen Party Club at the Birmingham O2 Academy along with their debut release back in November ‘Something Kind of Spezial’ the band are now on that upward spiral and progressing nicely. Their debut was backed up with another release ‘Lovers Walk’ a “Columbia – esque” banger and they are set to support Gazelle in October before a headline gig back at the O2 academy later that month.
Champagne casuals are (recently joined) Stuart Howard (Vocals), Alex Howarth (Guitar/vocals), Paul Goldingay (Bass), Jason Williams (Guitar) and Dan Holdsworth (Drums). After following Liam Gallagher on some of his European tour dates in 2020, Alex was inspired to find some band members to play songs that Paul had written.
They make no secret about their shared love of Oasis, drawing influences from the Manc legends along with many others from that golden Britpop era, in my opinion the last bastion of proper music…but its changing, those bands live on in the guise of many bands that are around today…including these guys. Thankfully!
Born again tomorrow, with lyrics from Paul and music arrangement and production from Alex will feature on a new up and coming EP, it is the first release featuring new frontman Stuart. This will follow on from their last EP ‘The Early Demo’s’ which features an accoustic version of the track.
As with their previous releases, their songs are full of crunchy guitars, catchy melodies and songs about everyday life. And Born again tomorrow just reinforces that. Reminiscent of early Oasis, it’s an honest, no frills Britpop classic. Packed full of Gallagher-esque guitar lead riffs, driving rhythms backed with a solid bass and drum beats.
“An honest, no frills Britpop classic”
A real catchy opening lead into the vocal opening line “The worlds alive tonight, I need to find the words and strength to fight” It has a swinging kind of groove, you will find yourself nodding to the beat all moulded in typical Britpop fashion, harking back to that golden era. It’s a steady pace, with bold lead licks and riffs intertwined, keeping everything rolling along. The chorus is anthemic, sure to get gig goers singing along, “Born again tomorrow, that’s where we’ll be” It strikes me as a song of hope, a look to the future.
“Bold lead licks and riffs”
Compared to previous songs, (and this isn’t a criticism of those tracks by any means), I think the addition of Stuart’s vocal adds to their sound, it blends and sounds perfect for the instrumental, a real indie vibe and they have the look. People often remark about bands sounding like this or that, and I will say it again, who cares. All bands take their influences from somewhere, Champagne Casuals are honest about this, yes it does have an Oasis feel…but the same was said about Oasis with the Beatles. The thing is, bands take these influences and “Roll with it” pardon the pun, but make the sound their own these lads have done exactly that. There’s plenty more to come from these lads and I for one can’t wait!
