Some creative people ‘make’ uncontrollably. For many musicians, one outlet is just not enough. These people have music oozing from their pores and dripping out of every orifice. When you are so utterly saturated with music that one band is just not enough, you need a side project.
But who are these compulsive song-writers? How are you supposed to know when a band you like is having a go at something a bit different? God knows…
In any case, we at HTF have compiled a list of our 10 favourites for your enjoyment, Aren’t we nice?
10: Zombie Apocalypse
Taking the frantic melodic sound of Shai Hulud and making it even more awesome by throwing the undead into the mix, Zombie Apocalypse write short thrashy songs concerned with zombies…and the apocalypse (shockingly).
‘Zombiecore’ was an excellent fad in extreme metal, and I have fond memories of going to Send More Paramedics shows where everyone in the room was covered in fake blood.
As with many bands in this list, Zombie Apocalypse are included because they are a whole lot of fun. That’s not to say they aren’t also a great band, though: ‘Tales Told By Dead Men’ still holds up as an outstanding split EP.
9: Mongol Horde
Those of us who remember Million Dead were ecstatic when Frank Turner announced he would be returning to his roots and launched a new hardcore side project.
Things have been a bit quiet from them since Mongol Hordes initial run of festival shows last year, but we at HTF are looking forward to their return. While you’re waiting, why not watch the lads prancing about with iPhones sellotaped to their faces in the video for ‘Casual Threats From Weekend Hardmen’?
8: Daytrader
Although not technically a side-project, I’m including these guys because of the strange circumstances surrounding their birth and death.
Featuring members of Crime In Stereo and Bridge The Tunnel, Daytrader arrived on the scene shortly after post-hardcore legends Crime In Stereo announced they were calling it a day. They survived just long enough to release their debut album ‘Twelve Years’ – a flawless emo revival record, and probably one of the best albums of 2012 – before fizzling out of existence again in November last year.
Now, Crime In Stereo are back playing shows and generally ripping things up again. It’s sad that Daytrader weren’t more long-lived, but at least this way I can use them in my list. They do sound a bit like a side project, don’t they?
When Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro) teamed up with JP Reid (Sucioperro) the duo really let this predilection for oddity run riot and Marmaduke Duke was born. As a conceptual rock outfit, they create soundtracks that apparently go with a trilogy of unreleased manuscripts written by a friend of theirs, and perform under the pseudonyms The Atmosphere and The Dragon.
When it wants to, ‘Duke Pandemonium’ unleashes feral earworms that are every bit as vibrant and full of life as anything Biffy have ever produced. Elsewhere though, they just sound like they’re being strange on purpose.
6: The Postal Service
Not content with his contribution to music in his immensely successful emo outfit Death Cab For Cutie, in 2001 Ben Gibbard teamed up with producer Jimmy Tamborello to form Sub Pop legends The Postal Service.
The project – named after the courier service the pair used to trade song ideas while living in different parts of the US – created one album ‘Give Up’ before the pair went on an indefinite hiatus to focus on their main projects.
Now, they’re back! The guys will officially reunite for 12 tour dates in 2013, and have released their first new track in 10 years ‘A Tattered Line Of String’, prompting speculation about the possible arrival of their long-awaited second full-length.
5: Them Crooked Vultures
A true rock supergroup, Them Crooked Vultures are John Paul Jones (ex-Led Zeppelin), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) and Josh Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age). Need I say more?
This wet dream of a lineup originally came together in the summer of 2009 and promptly embarked on a World tour.
Because these men are all rock stars in their own right, a follow up to debut album ‘New Fang’ has been a long time coming, but we’re assured it will one day reach completion.
4: The Horrible Crowes
When Brian Fallon isn’t busy churning out Springsteen-inspired hits with The Gaslight Anthem, he works on dark, stripped-down “hymns for lonely people” (his words) with his guitar tech, Ian Perkins. The pair released their stunning full-length ‘Elise’ in December 2011 and it really is essential listening for any rock fan.
To the relief of some (and the despair of others), Fallon has said that The Gaslight Anthem remains his baby and will continue to get the lion’s share of his attention. However, this project is not dead yet, and when a second The Horrible Crowes full-length drops it will be a very good day indeed.
3: City and Colour
Dallas Green’s acoustic side-project grew so big it destroyed Canadian post-hardcore titans Alexisonfire.
Whenever a new side-project is announced, my excitement in anticipation at hearing what the band will come up with is always balanced by the fear that something like this will happen – that the new band will be too good.
You could almost see it coming when City and Colour released ‘Little Hell’ and we learned that Dallas had augmented his beautiful acoustic love songs with a full band for his third studio album. When Wade MacNeil was offered the opportunity to replace Frank Carter as the frontman of Gallows, that was it – one of the most respected and influential acts ever to come out of Canada disintegrated into nothing.
If City and Colour weren’t making such incredible music, this would be a tragedy.
Dressed as superheroes and performing under pseudonyms rooted in hardcore culture, (bassist Ian Grushke’s alias ‘Sgt. Soy’ is a reference to the prevalence of vegetarianism/veganism in the community) these nutters were active and playing shows from 2008-12.
This is punk at its best: Totally stupid. Totally awesome.
1: Mariachi El Bronx
The Bronx are one of the most legitimate punk bands in existence. ‘The Bronx IV’ is a frantic masterwork that must be listened to at maximum volume and will make you feel invincible.
All this is important. If a lesser band donned silly costumes and opened for themselves by performing mariachi covers of their own songs it would be ridiculous – not so with Mariachi El Bronx.
This project was born when the guys were invited to perform an unplugged version of one of their songs and quickly realised that when stripped down to just acoustic instruments, their brand of gritty and aggressive punk does not sound very good…
Mariachi El Bronx is a stroke of genius, and their albums are more than just novelty items. These records should be in everyone’s collections.
