Originally published by L.S. Media. January 17th 2011.

If 2010 was a good a year for unsigned young bands like Mercury Midnight and Not Advised then 2011 seems to be carrying on in the same vein. One of the bands to come to the public’s attention recently is the Proxies. The band is an eclectic mix of decent, hard hitting rock and electronica fused with an incredible and justified belief in themselves and their music.

The band arrived on stage as part of the o2 Academy’s ongoing remit to find and nurture the best of young talent. With two other bands having played before them, Jordan Fish, Joseph Todd and Alex Binnington announced themselves to a select audience with hard hitting lyrics and a sound that belied their age and experience. For the uninitiated, they would have been pleasantly surprised by how the three young guys handled the intense pressure of a crowd that’s not necessarily out to see them.

The guys opened up a short but excellent set with Half Time and the interesting and sublime Volcano Haze for which the band played out of their skins.

Such is the power and intensity of the Proxies music that tracks such as Tonight in Red and White and Over Human had a more passionate feel than the other bands that were being showcased during the evening.

Once more it seems the future of live music is still safe if there are young bands of this quality punching through the venue floorboards, a great night of music supplied by one of the bands to keep an eye on during the coming year.

Ian D. Hall