China Rats giveaway free track after triumphing in unexpected 'headline' slot at Benicassim

Last wednesday, Leeds-band China Rats headed over to Benicassim to play the Villacamp stage the night before the festival officially started. Little did they know that the next night, they would be playing in front of thousands and thousands of people when Bat For Lashes was forced to cancel her appearance. A terrifying prospect for most bands in their infancy, but China Rats stepped up and delivered.

One of the festival's bookers happened to be in the crowd when the band played in the campsite, he loved what he saw on stage and witnessed a mosh-pitting crowd going mental to the band's short, sharp punk-tinged pop songs. When Bat For Lashes' bus broke down, forcing her to cancel her headline slot on the 2nd stage on the Thursday night, the booker asked China Rats if they fancied filling in.

For a band that formed less than a year ago, the four-piece have already started making waves. Their debut EP was released in April, followed by a great performance at Live at Leeds and a week on the Radio One Introducing playlist with their frenetic and catchy track N.O.M.O.N.E.Y.

They've been busy in the studio recording their next single which is due to be released in September, but in the meantime, they're giving away 'Fly Solo' which has been a much loved track in their live set for a while now:

http://soundcloud.com/chinarats/fly-solo/

https://www.facebook.com/chinarats
Twitter - @ChinaRats
http://soundcloud.com/chinarats
http://www.youtube.com/user/chinaratstv
http://chinarats.co.uk/

Article posted by Musicmafia

MusicMafia presents....China Rats

MusicMafia presents Leeds band China Rats

China Rats are a four piece rock 'n' roll band from Leeds, inspired by a love of punk’s riotous guitars, 50's pop and classic British guitar bands. Formed in 2011 and comprised of four friends who met while studying in Leeds, the band are already picking up early fans including Alan Raw (BBC Introducing in West Yorkshire), Huw Stevens (BBC Radio 1) and Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music). They also, very recently, spent the week on Radio 1’s Introducing playlist, which saw day time radio plays from the likes of Fearne Cotton, Scott Mills and Greg James of their possible future single ‘N.O.M.O.N.E.Y’.

 The band’s debut EP “To Be Like I” was released on 30^th April and features three tracks: “To Be Like I”, “Take No Prisoners” and “She Never”. It was written, recorded and produced by the band. “To Be Like I” is an exhilarating whirlwind of teenage angst and given true meaning by intertwining crashing guitar sound snippets of truth.

 China Rats write songs about real life encounters and experiences. Of lead track ‘To Be Like I’, singer Graeme says “its about getting your best on for a Friday or Saturday night and being convinced all the girls are into you when really they aren’t interested at all; they hardly even notice you. I’m sure everyone feels like that sometimes”. On ‘Take No Prisoners’ he says, “I suppose it’s about those trendy kids who only ever seem to 'hang out' and get wasted. It was the first song we ever wrote and the lyrics are pretty self explanatory!”

 Live, the band pack an entertaining set full of 2 and a half minute pop songs and perform them with so much energy and charisma. They recently played a great show at Live At Leeds and have just returned back from London Calling in Amsterdam after treating the crowds to two sets in the same day, the only band to have done that at the festival. You can catch them supporting 
The Crookes at The Borderline on the 29^th May.

Soundcloud - http://soundcloud.com/chinarats/tracks

 China Rats are:

Graeme Thomson – Lead Vocals / Guitar

Luke Smith – Lead Guitar / Vocals

Jedidiah Allcock – Bass / Vocals

George Riley – Drums

Article posted by Musicmafia