Riffed

Portugal. The Man, Editors and The War on Drugs, sound familiar? Probably not to plenty of whom are reading this. But, these bands are just as good, maybe even better than who you're listening to now. 

Starting with Portugal. The Man, an unheard of Alaskan band over here, but back in the states John Gourley and his artisticy creepy band are a real hit. They've played festivals all over the world, but are yet to play one on our shores, nine albums down but still the Portugal. The Man fever is yet to take off in the UK. But we struggle to understand why, despite their rather strange name, Portugal. The Man are a huge and powerful outfit, and with their latest release, 'Evil Friends', of which is packed to the rafters with anthems, now have a catalog of brilliance too perform within a set. All we've seen of Portugal. The Man of late is one date in Manchester. A serious word needs to be put in with festival organisers to get the Alaskan's performing more frequently across the pond, a tour wouldn't go a miss either. 

Listen to Portugal. The Man via Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8e1sSNsf44

Next up, Editors. Fronted by Tom Smith, the husband of radio presenter Edith Bowman, they're a band yet to be rewarded with the recognition they deserve. After releasing their latest album, 'The Weight Of Your Love', last year, Editors embarked on their biggest UK headline tour to date, of which we were lucky enough to see them on, at their Nottingham date on the final night of the tour and still to this day it remains the greatest gig we've ever been to. Editors are a brilliant live outfit, and with a catalog of four albums full of absolute belters, they deserve to be headlining festivals come now. But, unfortunately they're not. Editors are a band who've been dismissed by many, but it's hard to understand why this is the case, hopefully they'll get the recognition of which they deserve very soon. 

Listen to Editors via Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg2vpkGQadM ;

Finally, The War on Drugs. Formed in Philidelphia in 2005 by frontman Adam Granduciel, the band are coming up to their 10th year in the business, but, are still yet to be rewarded the recognition they deserve, likewise with both Portugal. The Man and Editors. The War on Drugs have only released 3 albums in their almost 10 year spell, but upon listening, it's no surprise as to why. If you can find a War on Drugs song less than 5 minutes long, we'd be shocked. Each track of theirs is a powerful mix of riffs and ambience, creating a brilliant sound of which is unlike any other. Although they played the Pyramid at Glastonbury this year, they truly deserve a headlining slot, and you can't help but feel that if their fanbase was that bit bigger, they'd have been rewarded that very thing by now. 

Listen to The War on Drugs via Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H22kHZ-erpg ;

Written by Charlie Ireland. 

RIFFED x