London Folk Magazine and News
Man the Lifeboats EP Review
Man the Lifeboats are a promising folk five-piece fresh on the scene. Galvanised after a particularly potent Skinny Lister gig in 2016, the band got together with a view to deliver “tonic for these troubled times.”
Their new self-titled EP certainly delivers the “sound that would not be out of place at a party at the end of the world” that they aim for. Catch, jaunty and refreshing, these are songs for a crowded London pub.
Their music is evocative of the Pogues and Frank Turner, both self-professed influences, and even New Order, in that they can pair ennui-riddled politically-charged lyrics with tunes that demand to be danced to.
They might not be able to “write a happy ending to this wasted life” as frontman Rich Quarterman sings, but they can write a relentless hook to go with a pint in the meantime.
Dan Gilroy on the violin does a wonderful job providing just enough poignancy to the songs; particularly towards the end of the EP.
The record as a whole manages to feel fun and modern, without losing sight of a few of the more traditional aspects of the folk genre. If you feel at all disenchanted with your life, your love, or the current political climate, give these guys a try.
Watch Man the Lifeboats here
Visit their website here
See their gigs listed on Folk and Honey here