TEAM WATERPOLO - event info

Waterpolo is a team sport that requires a large degree of stamina, athleticism and skill. Oh and you spend the entire time trying not to drown. Thankfully, Team Waterpolo’s history thus far has not been quite so much of a struggle. But a team game it most definitely has been, with all the players involved being Premier League quality.

The gods of fortune seem to be smiling on this four piece from Preston, Lancashire. A chance rendezvous of three old school friends in July 2007, all sharing a desire to get back to what they did briefly when they were 14 year olds; playing around in a band. Armed with only a limited amount of equipment and no real idea of what they were doing, their initial sessions gave birth to the off kilter pop gem that is Letting Go. With the tune having been crafted with only a simple Mac computer, a keyboard, a guitar and a microphone, the band’s only real option for getting their music heard was to put it on that contemporary Mecca of instant music access, MySpace. From then on the magic began to happen and just kept right on going like Harry Potter on speed. Within a matter of weeks they were the featured artist on the Myspace Music Page, gaining a huge number of fans in the process and generating a very excited response. It wasn’t long before the industry took notice.

Fast forward to 2008 and we find this band from oh so humble beginnings (having now recruited a drummer) about to embark on a full UK tour with indie hopefuls Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, a single release in February on Moshi Moshi records, future gig dates coming out of their eyeballs, an ever growing fanbase, plays on Radio 1 (well before anything has even been officially released), a video in the pipeline, write ups in the NME and tips for greatness by the local and national press. It’s the most exciting thing to happen in Preston since the industrial revolution.

So what is all the fuss about? If we look past the hype and the buzz, to the music, what do we find? Well, to be honest, it isn’t hard to see why there is so much excitement around these boys. Their music is at once accessible, familiar and fun, yet still manages to sound like nothing you have heard before. Thus far their sound has drawn comparisons with Franz Ferdinand, Abba, The Go! Team, The Beta Band and Weezer, illustrating the extent to which the band has managed to create a sound that is all their own. Closer listening to their songs reveals an innovation and complexity hiding behind the instantly catchy and upbeat surface of the hooky melodies, sparkling synths, dance beats and infectious chants. The sound is an amalgam of a wide spectrum of influences; there is hip hop, dance, punk, indie, new wave, and a lot of pop. The music does not take itself too seriously but still manages to sound rich and inspired. Team Waterpolo are a party for your feet, ears and brain all at once. In a music world full of a seemingly endless supply of serious guitar bands, Team Waterpolo are a much needed splash of colour and freshness.

So where to next? Well, armed with an arsenal of such killer tunes (with the promise of more to come), all the right people on their side, devoted fans and the gods of fortune smiling on them, the ball is firmly in their court…sorry, pool.

www.teamwaterpolo.com