BRAND NEW

NEW York alternative rockers Brand New hit 02 Guildhall Southampton tonight.

The Hampshire date opens their April and May 2014 extensive European tour as the first of eight UK dates.

Formed in 2000, the band currently consists of vocalist/guitarist/lyricist Jesse Lacey, guitarist/vocalist/lyricist Vincent Accardi, bassist Garrett Tierney, and drummer Brian Lane.

Although the members of Brand New cut their teeth in various hardcore bands, the group take a more melodic approach to their own work, embracing pop-punk on their debut album Your Favourite Weapon and incorporating aspects of indie rock in their projects since.

OF MICE & MEN

OF Mice & Men open their UK tour in support of new release Restoring Force at Southampton’s Mo Club on Wednesday.

The album is the follow up to the band’s 2011’s acclaimed release The Flood, which solidified the California-based fivepiece as a leading force in modern heavy music.

Restoring Force was recorded at House of Loud in New Jersey and produced by David Bendeth (Paramore, Papa Roach, A Day To Remember, Breaking Benjamin).

“What happens after a disaster?

What happens after The Flood?”

asks the band’s frontman Austin Carlile. “You return to normal. You find balance again. That’s what we felt like we were doing with this album. We wanted this record to bring equilibrium back to our band and music. We’re letting everyone know that we’re here to stay. We’re Restoring Force.”

THERAPY?

THERAPY? close the 20th anniversary celebrations for their seminal Troublegum album with a gig at The Mo Club in Southampton tonight.

The set will feature that album plus a host of other musical treats from that era of the band’s recording career.

Expect to hear much-loved B sides plus Short Sharp Shock, Face The Strange and Opal Mantra among other tracks.

As well as the recent release of a career spanning boxset, the band are currently working on a new studio album due for release late 2014.