Market Drayton's Social Confusion talk ahead of E.P recording sessions - unsigned interview

From T’Pau to soprano Izzy Cooper, Mott The Hoople’s Ian Hunter to Shrewsbury-educated voice of underground music John Peel – there is much to shout about when you dig a little deeper.

While one member of this band was educated here or so and so’s mother grew up there, not since T’Pau saw the top of the charts has Shropshire truly had a big-hitting band to celebrate.

So it is pleasing to see one group of lads trying to change that, precisely to put Market Drayton up there with the likes of Wolverhampton and Stourbridge on the musical map of Britain.

Mat Spence, Rob Flynn, Will Blase and Chris Symonds are a four-piece alt-rock group from the market town, spinning vibes from The Verve to Superheaven, Oasis to Lightning Seeds into the melting pot to create songs light in nature but with enough gravitas to hold a room live.

Swirling choruses and pained riffs combine for some real heartfelt moments, all held together by the soft vocals of Spence, 26, and a stock controller, and Flynn, 41, a ground maintenance operative – who also share guitar duties between them too. Bassist Blase (what an ace name for a bassist by the way), a 25-year-old tyre fitter and drummer Symonds, 28, a truck driver, complete the line-up, and they look the part too.

“Being a band based in Shropshire we have found there aren't many outlets for original rock music,” says frontman Spence. “Forming in 2012 we began writing songs, finding our sound and practicing in an upstairs function room of a pub in Market Drayton,” ¬- The King’s Head on Shrewsbury Road.

“Pretty soon we found ourselves gigging all around Shropshire in pubs, venues, charity events and local festivals. In 2013 we were the main support for former Oasis guitarist Paul 'BoneHead' Arthurs and his band Parlour Flames, as well as performing on the local heroes stage at Shrewsbury Fields Forever festival and also owning the stage at our local festival, Market Drayton's Rock and Bowl Festival.”

“Supporting Bonehead, being Oasis fans, was a brilliant gig for us,” Spence added. “It made us feel like we were actually making an impact and he was a gent. At first he told the promoter to tell us that he wasn't scared of us and to bring our best, and we did exactly that.

“Then when we finished he was waiting backstage and told us there are so many bands today claiming to be the next best thing and wanting to be Oasis but we were something different and he loved our set. It was a very eventful night all round.”

But it couldn’t continue full throttle like this, as Spence continues.

“After constant gigging and songwriting the band decided to have a break to recharge our batteries and enjoy some family life,” he adds. But they eventually missed their lifestyle and got back together in 2015. “We were stronger than ever, playing newly written material that sounded so much stronger than anything we had previously done.”

And after getting back into the swing of it, 2016 would see previously unbroken territory for the group.

“We set out to do our first recording session of what would be our self-titled debut EP, recording tracks Your Life Is Waiting Outside and You Give Me Everything,” adds Spence.

“Being asked what kind of music we play is a difficult question, there’s so many things that inspire us - ¬ times, people, love, life. Different genres like baggy, dance, shoegaze, indie, blues and rock, too. There’s so much stuff we like and we want to do.”

Their eclectic sound is working. Last year they headlined at Fordhall Farm’s Fordfest, as well as gigs as far afield as Stoke and Birmingham – both areas that pull in big sounds from the current indie scene.

“This year we went into the studio to finish the EP which saw new tracks Reflection and Keep On Trying come to life. The tracks on the EP have all been seen radio play with massive support from the guys at BBC Shropshire, independent radio stations in Shropshire, Manchester, London, Stoke and even the US.

“All the feedback we have had from these songs have been amazing and we feel very proud to have created not just as a band but as brothers in arms.”

They have just returned to Rock and Bowl on Bank Holiday Monday last week ‘it was great for us and we loved every second of it, such a great little festival’ - and have a busy summer lined up.

“We’re currently writing more music, planning the next recording session and a few gigs, no exact dates yet but they are coming. Some are being organised in Birmingham through Birmingham Promoters. We’re also in talks about doing some film work with an independent company and just planning things that are right for us really.

“We want to focus on us as a band and the songs rather than rushing things and doing half-arsed sets on a Friday night in pubs - we want more.”

Social Confusion can be found across social media platforms. You can catch them on Facebook: www.facebook.co.uk/socialconfusion or Twitter: @socialconfusion and Instagram: socialconfusion.