The Tunics formed in Croydon, South London, in 2006. Since then their brand of energetic yet highly literate rock & roll has brought them acclaim from both fans and critics. Influenced by the tradition of British bands that preceded them, elements of the Libertines, Oasis, and even Radiohead can be heard in their music; the Tunics still manage to maintain their own unique take on those influences. Their early following was so passionate that gigs were frequently shut down, and the Croydon Council even tried to ban them from playing locally, although to no avail. After building up a large following and securing a record deal with indie label Manta Ray Music, the Tunics recorded their debut album, Somewhere in Somebody's Heart, with producer James Lewis (Wombats, Arctic Monkeys) in late 2007. Initially released as a limited run, the album spawned the singles "The Cost of Living" and "Shine On." The Tunics then began to develop their live shows, playing gigs where they utilized other musicians and instruments, and even had rappers joining them on-stage. This constant evolution and progress, coupled with their consistently captivating output, brought them to the attention of indie radio stations throughout the world, and the Tunics began to gain airplay in America, Australia, and across Europe. As the Tunics began to play more and more London headlining shows, their following grew and the band began to be mentioned in "ones to watch" stories in magazines including The Fly and NME. The welcoming of drumming prodigy Joe Blanks into the fold in early 2009 brought another element to their music, as his huge sound laid the perfect backdrop for the rest of the band. Bassist Scott Shepherd's intricate and clever basslines gave the Tunics a very danceable groove, and can therefore take a large part of the credit for the band's success as a live act. As displayed on songs such as "Paris, France" and "Whatever Happened," frontman Joe Costello's lyrics were heartfelt and extremely intelligent -- lifting the Tunics above their contemporaries -- while the songs "Fade Out" and "Waiting" showed off the band's power and technical ability. ~ Jack Semmence