You gotta take The Beatings

Hailing from East London's trendy media capital Shoreditch, garage punk four-piece The Beatings are ready to unleash their uncompromising sleazy detroit-style punk rock onto Liverpool for the second time (they recently visited with San Franciscans The Pattern). A relatively new band - they've been together for just over a year and a half - it hasn't taken them long to reach the top of the garage punk pile. Putting the UK on a map that is mostly overcrowded by bands from other countries. They were listed as an NME favourite only two weeks after recording their first single, the brilliant 'Jailhouse' out on Fantastic Plastic records. A label they signed to, despite having several offers on the table because of their "no bullshit approach". This no bullshit approach is replicated in their raucos live shows.

The band attribute their fast ascent and acceptance by the mainstream media to being in the right place at the right time and also the good fortune of being based in London's fashionable media quarter. They had started out by putting on their own events in places that weren't usually used as venues. "We put gigs on all over the place, because there aren't many rock 'n' roll venues in London. We even put a gig on in a toilet." Setting up their own events allowed them to play to people who already liked them, ie their friends, who they conned into coming to their gigs under the ruse of throwing a party. They would also book in DJs for their events. Eventually this party scene had attracted the right people who were willing to put pen to paper in support of the Beatings frantic rockin'.

The band had formed over hammer and nail while building the set of B-Movie horror flick 'The Hangman's Head'. They decided that forming a rock band would be the most sensible thing they could do with their time. Although they'd all played in bands before they wanted to just have a good laugh and play any kind of rock music that came out.

"We wanted to meet rock 'n' roll girls and the best way to do that was to be in a rock 'n' roll band," says guitarist Matt, with a sarcastic grin, "I read a book about it and it sounded exciting." The bands party/gig blueprint has been followed on a larger scale by the Sonic Mook Experiment, a nation-wide tour of the UK's and US's best up and coming rock 'n' roll bands. Of which The Beatings have been a part of, along with other young noiseniks such as Camden's Portuguese nutters The Parkinsons and New York City's Liars. Sonic Mook Experiment have also been keen to make their gig nights events and have taken the bands on tour with ground breaking alternative DJs.

The boys will be rockin' live in Liverpool University's Stanley Theatre this Friday, 27th September with Scots indie-rockers Idlewild. Much of the bands sparse recorded work can be found on their website www.thebeatings.co.uk. Their next single 'Bad Feeling' will be out in October. Take some time to download their tracks and then get your arses out of your squat to watch them lose it onstage.