Vanadian Avenue are big, big fans of MEMES. We have absolutely loved them since their first single “Blah, Blah, Blah” came out in 2019 (wow, that’s 3 years ago now!) and they seriously cannot record a bad song. Whatever they put out, is a full-fledged banger that is automatically landing on Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music. Their newest offering, “Monday I Looked Like Death” is following the same path. It may sound boring, but yes, we love it to bits.
Official bio: Blah, Blah, F*cking, Blah… Since forming on a Megabus in 2019 with a difficult-to-Google name, MEMES released their self-titled debut EP on Fierce Panda Records in 2020. Their infectious brand of indie-punk has been played on BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Radio X, Sirius XM, KEXP and more, covered by Pitchfork, God Is In The TV, and The Skinny magazine. The band have supported acts as The Parrots, Billy Nomates, KNEECAPS, Sprints and Joe & The Shitboys among others. They also played festivals including SXSW, The Great Escape, Eurosonic ESNS, Mutations, Left of The Dial, Long Division and more. Their latest single “Monday, I Looked Like Death” was released on 30th of November 2022.
MEMES by Dandrew Photography
If you have been living under a rock, or in a covenant and this is the first time you hear of the band, you need to know that MEMES are a family affair. Consisting of John and Paul McLinden, they are a duo that plays catchy, post punk, slightly poppy songs with incredible samplers and politically and socially aware lyrics. They have been described once as a laptop-punk cause they have their faithful laptops on stage with them. Their set up is super simple – just them two, the machines, no drums and a lot of talent and passion. They are raw, hilarious, sincere and very original. Seriously, one of the most unique bands that have emerged on the indie circuit in the last couple of years. They were so good from the beginning that Fierce Panda grabbed them straight after few singles and off the went to woo the mainland Europe. They played to rave reviews at the legendary Paradiso in Amsterdam and at ESNS and recently in Belgium and please mark my words, they will become really popular in Europe over the next few years. European audiences have been in love with Scottish and Irish bands for a while and MEMES will be next on their radar.
The new single, “Monday, I Looked Like Death”, is another stepping stone in MEMES’ accelerating career. I have looked at a few early reviews for it as it has been called psychedelic, trippy and funk-punk – a great name and it’s actually rhyming. If the name doesn’t rhyme, it’s not a good one. Indeed, the song, standing at their usual 2 minutes and 30 seconds, is a bit different than their last single “Leader”. It has this kind of hippy, bass heavy rhythm that would do great at dance parties. One reviewer called it a great soundtrack to the next Tarantino movie and you know, I can actually agree with that.
Single cover
MEMES are slowly leaving their post punk aesthetic behind, they are evolving and changing. They are sounding like a part Warmduscher, part SLAVES and a whole lot of fun. Their lyrics are the best part of their music They play with words, sounds, pronunciation, Scottish slang (they are from Glasgow) and idioms. “Monday, I Looked Like Death” is filled with colours – there is red wine, white lines, green leaves and blues, followed by white noise, blackouts and gold coloured booze. There are weekdays mentioned throughout the song almost like in “Friday I’m In Love” by The Cure, describing the lyrical subject’s state of mind in the last 7 days. It is done in a prima-sorte poetic fashion, makes you laugh yet it is serious in nature as the song deals with themes of loneliness, excessive drinking, partying and diminishing mental health:
“Monday, I was out of sink
Tuesday, out of sorts
Wednesday, I was out of sync
then on Thursday, I was out of snots
Friday, I was out of life
Saturday, I was out of breath
Sunday, I’m out of time
Monday, I looked like death”
MEMES are truly extraordinary at what they do. This is their fourth single released this year and they all have been equally excellent. I hope that outside of constant touring, the band will give us a full debut album in 2023. If they do, then the year will be a perfect one.
MEMES on the world wide web:
https://www.facebook.com/memestheband
https://soundcloud.com/memestheband
https://twitter.com/memestheband
https://www.instagram.com/memestheband/?hl=en https://open.spotify.com/album/3XnSIn5WGtuVvrzFvUbf6G
https://www.youtube.com/@MEMEStheband
Keep your head happy kids. The video to the song will be out soon. From the previews, we know we can expect some Christmas cheer: decorated trees, festive lights and a real police intervention in progress.
I can’t wait.
Rita Dabrowicz
Indieterria 