It’s far too easy to jump to conclusions, given the ease at which bands can pass in and out of the public consciousness, but it’s fair to say that SHEAFS are making a bit of a racket in Sheffield and the gritty rockers are starting to amass a bit of attention.
Their rapid rise has not come as a surprise to followers of the band, with a sell-out headline slot in February coming just months after their formation at the back end of 2015. Evoking memories of some of the noughties’ finest indie rock, it’s becoming apparent that the band are eager to reignite a sound that seems to have slipped out of the musical domain over the years.
Despite citing acts such as The Libertines and Dead Sons as some of the catalysts behind their musical melodies, the comparisons to pre-2009 Arctic Monkeys fail to relinquish. However the band are reluctant to ride on the back of such hype according to lead guitarist Chris Goodacre. “When people start making links to other bands it can quickly kill them off. People are too interested in wanting them to be like someone else rather than just letting natural progression take place.” But regardless of their comments, such bold comparisons are backed up with songs that scream similarities in abundance, which makes it hard to shy away from such statements.
After a period of relative inactivity from musicians within Sheffield, the rapid emergence of The Sherlocks has brought life back into a city that has produced the likes of Drenge, Reverend And The Makers and Milburn, and it appears that SHEAFS are ready to follow in the path of such esteemed footsteps. With a driving passion for music and a willing desire to take on anything that’s thrown at them, the band are currently in full-throttle and their support continues to grow. After gaining airtime on Steve Lamacq’s BBC Radio 6 show, there’s an air of confidence around the camp that the next few months are going to be particularly fruitful.
Their upcoming performances will be a firm indicator towards the direction in which they are headed, but with their electrifying riffs and galvanizing lyrics, there seems to be no stopping the quintet who’re currently setting out their path for success.