secret fireworks

"We like to think that a gig (of ours) is more than just a concert where people come and see us play, but that people come and feel like they're a part of it, contributing to the whole event- a bit of idealism, I know." Numerous acts have tried to make this happen over the years, but only the Lowly Knights have taken strides to make this a reality. The twelve-piece provide an unique experience both live and on record with a rich, approachable folk pop sound that warms the soul of every listener from the opening chord to the last gorgeous harmony. The Knights and their debut EP "The Rifles" have been lauded by both national and local media: "Devotion" is rarely absent from Across The Line or Rory McConnell's NI Introducing show, while the band featured in Alternative Ulster's top 50 tracks of their generation. So, how exactly did the Knights come this far?

"Some bands plan to dominate the world from the beginning. Others just make the best music they can, enjoy it, and let what happens happen. That is actually one of my favourite things about the Knights; we've never really had big expectations for ourselves and therefore we were always stunned when anything good happened to us. I remember thinking with everyone, "Wouldn't it be great to actually play in the Empire?", then, "Could you imagine supporting Duke Special?"

It has been a meteoric rise for the Knights. Gary Lightbody has been one of the most vocal supporters of the band, with the Knights supporting one of Snow Patrol's recent Odyssey dates. Indeed, he became an honorary Knight along with Iain Archer and Miriam Kaufman as they joined the choir for their showstopping number "You Can Tell A Man By How He Lifts His Hands". "The Snow Patrol shows were pretty surreal- the taste of the big stage (and all that comes with it) was pretty intoxicating." These performances turned the Knights from the best kept secret on the local scene to the worst kept secret. Since the start of 2009 the twelve piece have been ridiculously busy, playing with And So I Watch You From Afar (live review here) and Foy Vance-"the gentleman with the voice of a god" according to Jon. One of the most memorable gigs for the band (and for me) was the BBC "Do You Remember The First Time?" concert (live review here), as the Knights opened the first major gig in the refurbished Ulster Hall.

Any band would find it difficult to continue such an ascent in the local scene, so it isn't surprising that the Knights are taking things a little easier at the minute. "We've intentionally not taken on many shows so we could spend most of our time writing songs and gearing up for recording again: we're planning on hitting the studio this July and releasing the next recording this autumn. We are extremely excited for this- we recorded The Rifles EP over a year ago and though we are truly proud of it, it is a old recording. We have evolved as a band quite a bit over the past year or so and are excited to get an up-to-date recording out." However, the Knights are planning a UK tour as well as a stellar launch for the new EP. Excitement will undoubtedly ensue.

The band are known for their hooks and their complex instrumentation (the Knights use mandolins, for crying out loud) so songwriting is never an easy task, especially with such a large number of musicians in one group. "We haven't exactly perfected our process yet and perhaps we never will- Cazi and Neil usually write somewhat of a skeleton of a song and a rough structure, play it for us, then we spill our guts. One of the best songs we've ever written took only a few practices to get right but it can take months to get things just right! Our recent practices have been going on all night, and they're pretty intense. But after several hours when it all comes together I can say that writing music with these 11 other people is an amazing experience!"

Hundreds of bands from the North have come so close to breaking through into the mainstream, but no band is quite like the Lowly Knights. With a genuinely unique folksy sound and a knack for creating catchy but deep songs, we are all destined to become Knights. "We've always had the attitude of "this isn't going to last forever so let’s enjoy it and make it as fun as possible while it does last"". Let us hope the Knights continue to march on.

Common Bred Trigger's debut EP "The Curse Of Teflon Don" is an intriguing rock release that never quite hits top gear and leaves me banging my head against a proverbial brick wall. Featuring more melancholy than a widow's never ending monologue, CBT set their stall out in "In Trails" with Nirvana tinged guitars and strong vocals. The lyrics aren't the most philisophical in the world, but there's the occasional memorable line ("In hindsight, things look better, somewhat blackened, somewhat wetter"). This is rock by numbers: there's nothing revolutionary here and it chugs along with ease with some great drumming, but part of me wishes CBT would go out on a limb and try something a little crazy."Lock And Key" is the best track on the EP in my opinion: there's a lovely little guitar riff while Karl's vocals take prominence, with the song switching from tender to bitter within seconds. The backing vocals are a real treat and I can imagine this being a real joy to see live: the question and answer style outro is ridiculously catchy.

"When Will It Stop?" marks a return to the original formula of driving, ominous guitars and perpetual darkness- I've never been a fan of shouty/screamy vocals and this track sadly features them in abundance. Once again, it's rock by numbers. There's nothing really wrong with "When Will It Stop" and indeed there's nothing wrong with the EP. CBT clearly have potential and they will create the deep dark sound they seem to be searching for. Karl's vocals are excellent: very clear, rich and strong. I just wish they'd stick their necks out, be a little bit more adventurous and record the results. The Curse Of Teflon Don is a promising EP that's just not quite there yet.

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