The music scene surrounding Dorset has finally woken from years of slumber, and in its wake fresh new bands are emerging. On Sunday in local Southampton venue The Joiners, four of these bands came together, joined by another from Hertfordshire. These combined are a perfect example of how the local scene is beginning to thrive, bringing new opportunities for future artists.

 

Kicking off the evening with some old school pop punk Silo 18 take to the stage. Their creative melodies and charming attitudes captivate the small crowd entirely, and even the bar staff are watching the stage with keen eyes. Being from Hemel Hempstead the band aren’t part of Southampton’s local scene, but after a performance of that quality it is clear they will be welcomed back eagerly.

 

Once Hertfordshire’s cheeky caps are done, local band Scarecrow Boat take the stage. Their young faces are deceiving as they dive into cleaver riffs and witty, well thought out lyrics. The vocals switch between Dom and Amelia, creating quirky pop punk harmonies. Their style is like The Pixies meets Taking Back Sunday, something totally fresh to the music scene. The band share a lot of jokes with the crowd between songs, delivering a tight set with great ease.

 

Taking an entirely different approach to the easy going pop punk the evening had delivered so far, Glimpse Of Misfortune open with a Hollywood Undead cover. The band are also part of the local scene, and have been making their mark firmly across it over the past year. It’s easy to be nervous when you’re onstage in a room that’s starting to gain numbers, but nerves are something unheard of to the four piece, who despite having to find a new drummer at three hours’ notice, confidently power through their set. Singer Ellen takes the room down a notch, by asking everyone to sit on the floor while the band play a slower song. While delivering another original, after a strong start the band seem to get a bit lost entering the second verse. No appeal is lost though, as the band wrap up their set with a heavier number.

 

Despite only having a very short set, Home For The Weekend dazzle everyone next with their very early Good Charlotte style pop punk. The band are very charismatic, inviting the crowd into their space to enjoy the few songs they play. Being another local band, the boys are familiar to much of the crowd it seems, with more and more people filling the spaces between the tiny pubs walls. Their appearance is brief, but wildly appreciated by  the crowd.

 

Having left the building to smoke, upon entering again we found we couldn’t get near the front. In the brief ten minutes we had left, it seemed Elements had attracted a rather hefty crowd who were now spilling out the stage area and into the bar. Their efforts making the new album were soon to be rewarded, as the crowd sang along, cheering and celebrating with the band. They promised a party and delivered, filling the venue with their masses of energy, showcasing their EP like it was their new born child. There’s one key thing I have always been saying after gigs since my first ever show when I was 14, and that’s whether or not the delivery of the music was as smooth as the recordings. Elements are one of those bands that are a pleasure to see live, because from the very way each tom is hit on the drums to each vocal riff, the quality of the music never falters. The band even throw a cover of ‘Sail’ by Awolnation in, using guitars to follow many of the synth lines. 

 

All too soon the set is over, and (as people who have only become recent to the Southampton scene and often get lost between venues) we begin our pilgrimage from The Joiners to the station, discussing the promising future for tonight’s bands, and the many variations of the pop punk genre.