Sam Poole was just 12 years old when he picked up a guitar for the first time. At the height of the pandemic, the pre-teen used his time stuck indoors isolated from his friends to learn his first two guitar chords, going on to pen his first song – Concrete Bench.
Last night, a little over two years after picking up an instrument, the 14-year-old songwriter seriously impressed as he opened up the bill for Yoodoo Voodoo at The Underground on Easter Sunday.
Despite his young age, Sam draws on his lived experiences to write heartfelt and emotionally intelligent lyrics that feel mature beyond his years. Although a little nervous between tracks, with shouts of encouragement from friends and family in the crowd, the teenager earnestly described the stories that inspired his music, including one called Easy On Yourself, which he wrote about his father’s grief at losing his dad – Sam’s granddad – in 2019.
But the second the soloist confidently strums his acoustic guitar, any anxiousness that was previously present dissipates, his chest voice incredibly strong and moving. He reminds me of a young Sam Fender or Lewis Capaldi, with ballad-like indie influences and a really clean finger-picking technique, too.
Another song narrated living through a ‘weird time of life’ during the pandemic, before finishing with a to-be-released single called Get Your Heart Out Of My Way, which went into a single verse and chorus of Oasis’ Wonderwall – the first song basically anyone that’s ever picked up an acoustic learns to play, right?
I don’t think there was a single person in The Underground that wasn’t transfixed on Sam’s set, and if he’s producing such warm and sincere tracks at this age, then I can’t wait to see how he develops as an artist over the next few years.
Sam is set to play The Honey Box next Sunday, April 16 – you can purchase tickets to the event online, or live stream it from the comfort of your home on the day. You can find out more about The Honey Box in our guide.
Next on was And What!, who describe themselves as a jazz and math rock band. Yeah, it’s the first time I’d heard of the genre, too. Guitarist Roman Glazowski and vocalist Matthew Weaver had been playing in a jazz RnB acoustic duo since college, but last year decided to expand into a four-piece, joined by Peter Holland on drums, and Jalen Doughty on bass.
Dressed as though to play a wedding in black tie attire, Matt puts on his alter-ego persona, Mr Montgomery – a satirical take on ‘the pretentious upper class’.
And What! performed a series of covers from RnB/soul artist, Oscar Jerome, including tracks like Give Back What You Stole From Me and Gravitate. It quickly became apparent that the ‘math’ side of the genre related to the experimental use of time signatures, with complex rhythmic patterns and extended instrumental segments.
Complete with a retro microphone and burgundy velvet blazer, Matt plays the part of Mr Mongomery well and has the jazz-inspired vocals that feel as though they shouldn’t work with the progressive rock accompaniment – but they do, drawing from juxtaposing styles like funk, blues and rock for a groove-driven set.
It’s often all too easy for drummers to become a human metronome within a band, but that is not the case for Peter Holland, who showcases experimental combinations, mind-frazzling time signatures and unconventional fills, with funky basslines added by Jalen.
Before vacating the stage, And What! did treat the Bank Holiday crowd to an original track called Two Can Play That Game, which was actually my favourite from the six-track set, feeling the most vibrant – Roman taking to the mic for a rap verse that adds dynamic and injects further personality into their unusual sound.
You can catch them back at The Underground next month for a headline show on May 12.
Formed in 2021, Yoodoo Voodoo worked remotely on demos during the pandemic before going on to record their debut album, Conspiracy Kids, in 2022 – a record that addresses the wave of misinformation people are fed via social media. They opened their set with Echo Chamber which explores the notion that social media algorithms curate an environment in which participants amplify or reinforce their preexisting beliefs.
All A Man Can Do and King of the Scallies followed, offering a slither of insight into Yoodoo Voodoo’s niche, which blends funk, soul and pop sensibilities with hints of Madchester vibes like Happy Mondays, and Northern Soul twangs. Their sound really is a melting pot of genres that have all come together to form big grooves with even bigger choruses, with lyrics chiefly written by guitarist Mark Bossons, who is a master of funky riffs that are bursting with character.
Poppy Beresford is the band’s larger-than-life lead vocalist, who explodes onto the stage in a red leather bralet and leather trousers, paired with a leopard print belt, long blonde locks and a bold red lip.
Pops by name and pop by nature, she’s previously described the band’s sound as ‘pop music for grown ups’, particularly for fans of 90s culture. Her stage presence is infectious, the music taking over her body as she shows off her moves. Each shape she throws, you feel your shoulders loosening and inhibitions melting away. Oozing femininity, she puts on a stellar performance while delivering high-energy renditions of Really?, Cardiac and Nobody Can Deny.
Each member of the band has put in the hours for their respective crafts, with bassist Dave McKechnie boasting more than 30 years behind the axe, while Scott Evans on keys and tech has worked on a number of projects within the local scene, including Behind The Moon, as well as with soloists like Darla Jade and Mara Liddle, as well as being the events manager for Hanley’s Captain’s Bar. As such, Yoodoo Voodoo have a really well researched and crafted sound that allows them to have fun with their performances.
The band’s most recent single, Spooks, was a set highlight. Released in January, Spooks questions the age-old saying of ‘don’t speak ill of the dead’. The band said it was “inspired by a night out where I bumped into some old friends who had been for a day at the races to celebrate the life of someone who I knew to be a violent bully. The lyrics question why we swap the inconvenient truth for a fairytale version of someone’s life.”
There’s nothing throwaway about Yoodoo Voodoo, their songs tell profound stories to upbeat backdrops and contagious melodies as though casting a spell that multiplies their ever-growing cult-following.
Yoodoo Voodoo will play Your City Festival for the late May Bank Holiday next month. Read more about the festival here.
Absolutely awesome band