To view this content, please click here to download Flash and make sure Javascript is enabled in your browser settings.

Retro futurist beat quintet

Attached to Tooting Leisure Centre, the Lola Jones suite is a conference and function room available for weddings, christenings, bar mitzvahs and satanic black mass. The Lola Jones is also a South London-based beat combo. Born and raised on a diet of pie & mash and Young's Ordinary, brothers Matthew and Richard Swan formed a fledgling band (with a name too shockingly awful to regurgitate) in the dark ages, playing local gigs in a bar barely big enough to swing your domestic pet in. Their uplifting blend of 60's-inspired rock filled the streets of Balham (mainly on nights when Richard got too hot and played solos al fresco). University hombres Bob, Graham and David drifted into the fray at some point and a new gritty and pretty sound emerged, regularly thrilling the fan base (by now, well into double figures) at venues including The Dublin Castle (Camden), 12 Bar Club (West End) and The Half Moon (Putney). Recorded in the bleak midwinter of March 2008, 'Til The Lights Go Up and Checkout Tracey are the latest offerings from the infamous five and display quite wonderfully the diversity and delicacy of their original sound. The Lola Jones next play live on April 17th at Babalou, Brixton - visit http://www.babalou.net/whatson.html#thursdays for more details.

1. Emphasize

   hey everyone, come check out some unique music (rock/rap/funk) here from Emphasize (http://www.roadtov.com/profile/44167). They're a 'history in the making' band from London and just what road to v needs.

2. Trechia

   What a great track! Very refreshing to hear a unique blend of good lyrics, and an equally talented up-tempo band!! It sounds like these guys have hit their stride and are set to kill the stage at a live events!!!! When’s the next gig?? Any festival’s planned in the near future?? Will look out for you this summer. Keep up the good work folks :)

3. weasel

   Great band. Get a tour to come out here to South America!

4. lealea

   love this!

5. stuart hedges

   checkout tracy another call track ( cant wait for rose to tell me your going to V ) shit hot boys keep it up

6. mrsstocksy

   Checkout Tracey. Wicked lyrics. Love it.

7. Hawkin'sTache

   Let's get down to basics people, The Lola Jones really are a solid and tight band with a real groove. I really hope they're doing plenty of gigs this summer so we can all experience them live. If these two songs are anything to go by they should rock... See you there.

8. TallulahPip

   Amazing...................

9. Tanya Hyde

   Wow......heard about it.....great to hear it and thanks for uploading Checkout Tracey. Amazing sound, slightly Policey, gravelly vocals and superb crispy drumming. Best band on this website by far.....

10. Sinclair

    I LOVE all of these, but the best is Checkout Tracey - I can't stop humming it! More please!!

11. play by ear

    A friend of mine pointed me to listen to 'Checkout Tracey' and refreshingly, I am impressed with what I hear. The beauty of this track is it's underlying simplicity - the framework of the song is built around a simple 3 chord (1-4-5) structure with some nice turns and nuances along the way (worthy of discussion in the 'chords' forum!) It begins sparsely but builds steadily to the crescendo that precedes what is a very well put together 'alternative' verse. The bass keeps ticking along beneath the subdued vocal, complemented by harmonised ascending/descending guitar parts picked out on a single string. The chorus that ensues is different again to it's predecessors, the guitar sharing the melody with the vocal to great effect. This chorus really moves along before being punctuated by a grittier, punchier pause, paving the way to the driven f#m in the penultimate line... and if ever there was a time and a place for a fade-out to a song...it's here. A very good effort indeed...and this is the 2nd song? I'm going to have a listen to the first...

12. Lilysmum

    I really like this one too - what a fantastic band! (and I completely disagree with 'Silver street's' comment that the singing could be stronger btw!)

13. Hawkin'sTache

    Really like the new song and the images - this band sounds like they totally know what they're doing and this song demonstrates a mature song writing style, a proper singer, a choice melody and even a fade-out that actually works and doesn't sound like just running out of ideas. Get them on that V stage please...

14. lolajones

    At last! Checkout Tracey is here for your listening pleasure.

15. im.swan@talk21.com

16. dani75

    Nice one! Very catchy tune and perfect for the festival circut. If you ever make it OZ, there'll be a rent-a-crowd waiting.

17. mrsstocksy

    I LOVE checkout Tracey. I saw this band live in south london one night (only critisicm was that the set wasnt long enough). They played this track and I loved it. Really like the band. Would love to see more of them.

18. lolajones

    Thanks again for taking time to comment. Hoping to get the second track up today or tomorrow (bet you can hardly wait!)

19. croutonhead

    First time listening to the track, loved it. Great rhythm and snappy drumming!

20. SilverStreet

    Vocalist good be stronger, sounds like he is shouting rather than singing. Melody wise its not bad, I agree with a previous comment very 'Jam' in feel.

Add your review

Please register or sign in to comment.