Based in both Omagh and Glasgow, Don’t Shoot aren’t your typical indie band. With influences such as Frightened Rabbit, The Killers and Arcade Fire, this synth-fuelled 5-piece have been making waves in both the NI and Scottish music scenes since 2013 when they released their debut EP Please.
Playing a mix of indie and alternative rock, the band have since fully relocated to Glasgow, but are no strangers to sharing a stage with well known NI bands such as Empty Lungs, More Than Conquerors and Gascan Ruckus and were the only Northern Irish band to get through to the knock-out stages of the Red Bull Bedroom Jam in 2013. Having just been announced the winners of Glasgow’s Soundwave Music Competition, Don’t Shoot are now signed to Broken Road Records and are releasing a remastered version of their latest EP The Wonderkid next month.
Opening with the instrumental The Sound Of we are introduced to a gentle, mysterious and somewhat relaxing side of Don’t Shoot; the music washes over you like a summer breeze and before you know it, the real opener Panic is filling your ears with nostalgic indie-synth-goodness. This is our first real taste of frontman Jonny Kirwan’s stunning voice – a perfect fit for the wistful yearning of this track and as he sings “let this be old fashioned’ you can’t help but be hooked on this very special kind of old school indie style. Just as the track gets set to trail off into a synth-filled close it comes back again with marching-band drums and charmingly confident vocals.
Title track The Wonderkid starts slow with some quiet guitar plucking before cymbals kick in and guitar comes punching through. This is a more mainstream track than the previous one, and the vocals remain wonderfully crisp and clear throughout, never getting drowned out in the music or lost in the background. Hollywood takes things down a notch and we’re back to the laid-back indie feel that Don’t Shoot embody so well. The synths are back too and it’s clear to hear that this is the perfect song for a summer’s night and definitely one of the best on the EP. The lyrics “We built it in the night and destroyed it in the morning” have a delicate poignancy that brings me back to my angsty teenage days which I love.
Obviously a lover of the atmospheric and instrumental, Scarecrow is another sort of ghostly, almost underwater sounding interlude supplied in the middle of the EP. It has tones of Brand New’s later work and I have to say, might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s definitely mine. Finally, Rules stays on the more laid-back side of things. With folksy influences at the start and Kirwan’s clear strong vocals being backed up harmoniously by Anna Doody this is another favourite for me. The more acoustic beginning really hits the spot, yet towards the end I feel it loses focus, trying to cram in more instruments than are necessary. However, this is still a very enjoyable track overall with its storytelling style, scintillating cymbals and the introduction of piano.
The Wonderkid EP is an enchanting and captivating record from a relatively young band. Don’t Shoot may be mainly based in Glasgow at present, but we’re definitely claiming them as our own. Follow Don’t Shoot on Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud.
