“They have the raconteur’s knack of painting pictures in the mind of the listener which are no less vivid for all the intervening years since the words were first written. Giant Killers are doing their bit to make all of our lives a little happier.” Louder Than War, February 2024
The indie-pop band are song writing duo Jamie Wortley (guitar, keys, lead vocals) and Michael Brown (bass, keys, brass, vocals). They were signed to MCA Records in 1995 where they released two singles, however the album never saw the light of day. After a momentous 3 decades long struggle the band got their rights back and their songs have finally been getting a chance to shine…
The work has received a rapturous reception the band were not expecting with one review describing ‘Around the Blocks’ as ludicrously catchy and “surely the best song the Lightning Seeds never wrote!” A result which influenced the band’s decision to make the song their choice for second single and became a case of life imitating art – the band have been added to the line-up of 90s legends at Shiiine on Festival in November on a bill that includes… the Lightning Seeds!
The duo has also become a hit with BBC Radio 5 Live – presenter Patrick Kielty invited the dup back to the BBC’s live lounge for the second time this year for a Euros special ahead of the England v Spain final, in which the band fielded song requests by Spanish and English fans. A special invitation to film a video from the Teddy Rocks festival in Dorset resulted in a very special performance piece live from the main stage and in the crowd with the revelers.
So far so good - The band’s 90’s sound has struck a chord with the modern-day music press. Multiple outlets have acknowledged Giant Killers’ ‘timeless appeal’ and ‘deft songwriting charm…
QUOTE FROM GIANT KILLERS
“Around the Blocks is our love song to the kind of communities we grew up in, and that shaped our outlook – it is an opus to the overlooked, and for those whose endeavors are more likely to end in failure, because they weren’t born with the right kind of head start in life, but pressing on anyway because there is no other option. To us, thematically it’s both personal and universal. This song was a live favourite back in the days when we were opening for Blur on their Country House tour or touring with Dr Robert (Blow Monkeys) and Nick Heyward, which makes it especially thrilling for this song to get a 2024 makeover to bring it (hopefully) to new audiences.”
Separately and together, Giant Killers have remained gigging musicians and in other musical projects. Over a wide history they’ve played Glastonbury, at Proms in the Park in Hyde Park opening for Lionel Richie, toured with Squeeze and in support of Motown legend Edwin Starr. They were even once given away as a sticker in Smash Hits!
‘Around the Blocks’
- Around the Blocks
- Normal Service (Will Not Be Resumed)
- Fighting in the High Street
LISTEN TO AROUND THE BLOCKS HERE:
https://promo.awal.com/TaLVmSxeY2gTGzfHM5ve
BANDCAMP LINK: :
https://giantkillers1.bandcamp.com/album/around-the-blocks
Also available on all platforms: Amazon, Apple. 7Digital, Spotify etc
https://www.facebook.com/GiantKillersSongs4theSmallPlaces/
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