The Rifles :: Top Boys

Thumping pints-aloft-singalongs from Chingford's finest The Rifles made for a heated Saturday Bonfire Night at Glasgow's Garage.

Longtime friends Joel Stoker and Luke Crowther have delivered a couple of albums of classic guitar driven Power Pop but the there's always been a hint of something more sensitive going on with this band than just the rousing terrace anthems; much like early Paul Weller, at his best, they're not afraid of showing their more tender, melancholy side or slowing the pace and digging out the acoustics.

The Rifles' first two albums, No Love Lost and The Great Escape switched seamlessly between well-crafted, gently bittersweet numbers with beautiful harmonies and stirring guitar-driven English indie rock-outs reminiscent of classic Setting Sons period Jam.

The band mature their sound further with the more complex arrangements and textures of new album Freedom Run, and it's no surprise to find in the liner notes that they continue to get the respect and support of a certain Mr Weller.



Freedom Run Tour/remaining dates;

7 Nov Birmingham Academy
8 Nov Thekla Bristol
9 Nov Wedgwood Rooms Portsmouth
11 Nov HMV Forum London