Split Dogs - 'Lafayette'
Split Dogs give a knowing nod to Northern Soul with their new nostalgic single ‘Lafayette’.
In a nostalgic nod to the Wolverhampton Northern Soul scene, Split Dogs with their balsy Brighton punk sound epitomise the energetic appeal of the spit and sawdust Black Country back bar scene on its 1970/80’s heyday. The venomous vocal edge of lead singer Harry Atkins and their lyrics: ‘ Northern Soul is me, I’m alive and you know I’m free’, combined with frenetic tempo changes fuels the track throughout.
“It takes you on a journey through the cobbled streets and back bars of the Black Country, Harry’s hometown Wolverhampton,” explains guitarist Mil Martinez. “From Chewing gum-stained carpets and pints of mild to stone faced locals and tar-stained fingertips. If you fancy a dance? Come out to the club and feel alive!”. This is an apt assessment of the need to the escape the current suffocating culture of country.
The band were formed in 2015 with their name taken from cult classic zombie film ‘Return of the Living Dead’. Selling out venues ahead of their extensive, upcoming UK Tour, which opens on Thursday the 13th of March with one of two Glasgow Barrowland dates, Split Dogs are whipping up quite a storm that will surely see them play bigger dates in the future. The run-in to the release of their album ‘Here to Destroy You’ at the end of February is paved with positivity. ‘Layafette’ named after the Northern Soul club visited by Harry’s mother, is a short sharp track with offers light relief following the deep, emotionally-wrenching December release of ‘Long Shadows’ which delved into Moore’s enduring sense of reflection after suffering a life-changing loss as a teenager.
In the run up to their support with Cock Sparrers at the O2 Islington Academy in May, Split Dogs are not to be missed. Having headlined the renowned Water Rats in Kings Cross last year, the band are bringing their frenetic and raucous live energy to their new releases. All tracks were recorded live directly to a 16 track reel-to-reel tape machine with no auto tune, computers or effect pedals resulting in a distinctive powerful sound.
As the band state “We’re not beholden to the digital age, we don’t want to get famous on social media, we just want to show the world that rock’n’roll is alive and well”.
Words by Brendan Sharp
