The Fireflys

If you were reading my blog last year, in May 2014 I wrote about a great band called The Fireflys

A year later and I still consider them one of my favorites! Besides being really talented they have a wonderful relationship with their fans (and bloggers!) and seem to love what they do. And they have Andie, a female drummer, which is very cool!

You know how on certain streaming sites you can pick your mood and genre? Sometimes I pick alt-rock 90s and I think The Fireflys could be best described as a 2015 throwback to that great time in music. But why not check out a collection of their best songs on Soundcloud in the player below and see if you agree that there’s some fine music coming out of Runcorn, UK.

Follow @thefireflys on Twitter to stay up to date! Also, Happy Birthday, Lee!

The Fireflys – Release Repeat

Every now and then I come across a band worth spotlighting. Today it’s The Fireflys.

Their amazing new single Release Repeat, from their upcoming album on Canadia Records, is available May 26th. You can stream it now through the link above. All proceeds will be donated to the breast cancer awareness campaign, inspired by the “no-make up selfie” movement, the band wanted to contribute, and felt this way is the most appropriate.

Bio:

The Fireflys are a 4-piece independent rock band that formed in Runcorn, Northwest England in 2007.

The Band’s current line up comprises of:

Lee Wylding (Lead Vocal/Guitar)

Stephen Roberts (Bass/Backing Vocal)

Andie Packer (Drums)

David Packer (Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocal)

Based on the songwriting of Lee Wylding, the band are sonically indebted to the British Invasion, crafting ringing melodic 4-minute guitar driven songs, featuring melodic harmonies and constantly changing genre sensibilities.

Driven by the DIY approach of punk, although not a punk band, the manifesto of independence and loyalty looms very large in the execution of the bands music and ethos.

The band, whose influences include The Smiths, REM and Pearl Jam, are advocates for Animal Rights Activism (PETA) and Vegetarianism.

I briefly interviewed Lee Wylding to get a better understanding of the Fireflys influences and causes.

JillyPopMusic: Are you really into the Seattle grunge bands?

Lee: I was a fan of Mad Season and Screaming Trees back in grunge’s heyday, but a huge Pearl Jam fan and I still am. I loved Nirvana but I was a also a bigger Pearl Jam fan. I was 12 when grunge hit big here in the UK, and it shaped my musical tastes and influenced me.

JPM: I was a huge fan of the film “Singles” and the grunge bands on the soundtrack.

Lee: Me too, I like Cornell’s cameo too! Brill film, Citizen Dick ha ha! Grunge lead me to the Smiths oddly enough, and they’re very local to us.

JPM: What are your current influences?

Lee: My new fave, well I say new 7+ years is City and Colour, totally in love with Dallas Green’s songs.

JPM: What is your favorite cause?

Lee: We try and promote vegetarianism. Seems not many bands are using their voices to do so.

JPM: So no leather, either?

Lee: I’m a pleather kind of guy.

It’s worth noting that there’s a connection between the US and the UK, especially when it comes to musical influences. Interesting that The Fireflys are from Northwest England and the grunge scene was based in Seattle, in the Northwest US.

Find The Fireflys on Social Media:

Facebook – www.facebook.com/thefireflys

Website – www.thefireflys.co.uk/tourbookings.html

Soundcloud – twitter.com/thefireflys

Youtube – www.youtube.com/user/thefireflys