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Writer's pictureHOLLIS

Sports Team: Rock's Rogue Scholars of the Mundane


Sports Team is an English alternative rock band based in London

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, here we find ourselves on the precipice of a grand revelation, an electric revelation that goes by the name of Sports Team. For in this dreary and mundane world of popular music, where we've been force-fed a steady diet of autotune and calculated formulae, Sports Team has emerged like a beacon of brilliance, like a gang of rogue scholars wielding their guitars as swords, ready to hack through the musical wasteland. Tonight, we delve into the mystical realm of Sports Team, a band that's setting the world on fire with their unadulterated wit, raw energy, and their fierce embrace of the glorious, mundane absurdity of life.


First and foremost, it's imperative to understand that Sports Team is not your run-of-the-mill indie outfit. They didn't burst onto the scene with grandiose promises of changing the world through music. No, they stumbled in through the back door, arms full of sarcasm and tongues firmly planted in their cheeks. And in doing so, they managed to capture the essence of something profoundly human, something that's been lost amidst the glamour and gloss of modern rock 'n' roll.


Sports Team's lead vocalist Alex Rice

Fronted by the enigmatic Alex Rice, a man with a vocal delivery that's half snarl, half sneer, and 100% captivating, Sports Team is a band that invites you to join them in their adventures through the mundane. Their songs, with titles like "Kutcher" and "Here's The Thing," may sound pedestrian, but in the hands of these musical alchemists, they become anthems for the disillusioned and disaffected.


Sports Team's music is an exquisite concoction of post-punk, indie rock, and a healthy dose of sardonic humor. When you listen to a Sports Team track, you're not just listening to music; you're embarking on a journey into the everyday madness that surrounds us. It's as if they've taken the mundane, polished it up, and handed it back to us with a wicked grin, saying, "Isn't this absurdity beautiful?"


Sports Team live and alive

But it's not just their music that sets Sports Team apart; it's their live performances. Ah, yes, their live shows are a spectacle to behold. Alex Rice, a frontman with the charisma of a rock 'n' roll shaman, is a whirlwind of energy on stage. He climbs speakers, writhes on the floor, and leaps into the crowd with an infectious zeal. You'd be hard-pressed to find a performer who exudes such a potent mix of vulnerability and bravado. When Rice sings, you feel like he's baring his soul to you, all while winking at the absurdity of it all.


Sports Team at the Brixton Academy

And let's not forget the rest of the band. The guitar work of Henry Young and Rob Knaggs is sharp and angular, cutting through the air like a serrated knife. Oli Dewdney's basslines provide the groove that keeps you moving, while Al Greenwood's drumming is the driving force that propels the madness forward. And then there's Ben Mack on the keyboards, adding layers of sonic texture that make Sports Team's sound a rich tapestry of sound and fury.


But what truly sets Sports Team apart is their lyrics. Oh, their lyrics are a revelation, a testament to the fact that you can sing about the mundane and make it sound like the most epic adventure. Alex Rice's words are a whirlwind of clever observations, biting wit, and a deep understanding of the human condition. When he sings lines like, "We'll share some kebabs, and then we'll have some more," it's not just about kebabs; it's about the shared moments of absurdity that bond us together.


Packing out the house

In a world where so many bands are preoccupied with grand themes and cosmic significance, Sports Team unapologetically revels in the everyday. They find poetry in the mundane, and they invite us to do the same. They're not afraid to sing about the trivialities of life, and in doing so, they elevate them to the status of art. It's a reminder that there's magic in the mundane if you're willing to look for it.


Perhaps what's most refreshing about Sports Team is their refusal to take themselves too seriously. They're not here to preach or pontificate; they're here to have a good time, and they want you to join in the fun. Their music is a celebration of imperfection, a rejection of the polished facade that so often dominates the music industry. In an era of carefully curated personas and image-conscious musicians, Sports Team is a breath of fresh air.


Live at the Brixton Academy

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must confess that I've seen my fair share of bands in my time as a rock 'n' roll enthusiast. But there's something about Sports Team that feels different, something that sets them apart from the rest. Perhaps it's their unabashed embrace of the mundane, their willingness to sing about the ordinary and make it extraordinary, or maybe it's the fact that they're just damn good at what they do.


So, in conclusion, let me leave you with this: Sports Team is not just a band; they're a revelation. They're a reminder that rock 'n' roll is at its best when it's raw, unfiltered, and unapologetically human. They're a testament to the fact that you don't need grandiose narratives or cosmic significance to make great music; you just need a keen eye for the absurdity of everyday life and a willingness to embrace it.


Sports Team new album 'Gulp' out now

In a world that's become increasingly obsessed with superficiality and image, Sports Team is a beacon of authenticity, a band that reminds us that there's beauty in imperfection, and that the mundane can be the most extraordinary thing of all. So, my friends, let us raise a toast to Sports Team, the rogue scholars of the mundane, the poets of the everyday, and the rock 'n' roll saviors we never knew we needed.


Hollis w/ Sports Team @ The Eighth Room - Nashville

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