Steven Ansell and Laura-Mary Carter are pleased to announce the release of new single “Light It Up” on November 29. Taken from their sophomore album Fire Like This, “Light It Up” is a trademark BRS track and firm live favourite.

Fresh from a Summer of gigs and festivals, BLOOD RED SHOES blew away many a crowd in the UK & Europe, and have been touring heavily since the release of Fire Like This back in Spring. The next couple of months see no slowing down in their touring schedule with a stint of shows in the US throughout October, and the same in Europe in November.

With two Radio 1 B-Listed tracks already under their belts, “Light It Up” is set to be another smash hit, the tracks uplifting melodies and blazing guitars create a perfect rock song as Steven explains: “to me “Light It Up” is like our pixies formula song, just groove on the verses then smash the distortion up full on in the chorus. It’s about feeling like everything is about to explode and that you want it to explode as well as craving for chaos, upheaval and destruction because it might actually change something.”

Steven Ansell says about the striking concept behind the video: “the video is based on a youthful tribal destructive gathering, like a pagan celebration or explosion of collective energy. We shot it outside and the night before it snowed like crazy so we ended up with this really beautiful combination of fire and snow.”

Words by Brendan Monteiro / photo’s by Marcus Maschwitz

The Lexington is pretty much crammed tonight but as the two piece noise-mongers from Brighton take to the stage the reception seems a little dull, and with that the silence is broken with set opener Keeping It Close from their new album ‘Fire Like This’ which is due for release on the 1 March 2010. Keeping It Close is a brazen kick in the jaw to this zombie-like crowd, unfortunately not to any fault of the band or the song itself, but it doesn’t seem to have much affect. Boring By The Sea gets big cheers from adorning fans (one of which watches every step Laura-Mary Carter makes like a stalker) and is only 1 of 2 songs that they play from their debut ‘Box Of Secrets’. Light It Up is BRS latest single and I have to say that it’s the first time I have heard it, but hearing it live made me want to buy the album right then and there just to get another fix of this song. Steven’s vocals fuse to the quirky lead riff, bending and folding only to come back at you again like a spider monkey, then the chorus bashes through with a knockout blow and leaves the chorus line embedded in my skull for the remainder of the evening.

When We Wake is yet another new track, with it’s scuzzy underlying riff paving away for Laura to lay down some amazing melodies while Steven builds the rhythms up around her. Live this song really comes to life with the percussion shifting every so often to reveal a different rhythm. Eventually time starts running away and with an almost forced/option of cutting one song out from their set list the duo twist the crowds arm to play another new song to close their set. Don’t Ask has a certain urgency about it, Steven’s arms are a haze through most of the song. It’s also has one of the down right coolest riffs in it, which reminds me of The Automatic’s ‘Monster’ and Bloc Party’s ‘Hunting For Witches.

Blood Red Shoes might occasionally be compared with White Stripes and this little bit of info bugs me constantly throughout the night. The fact is yes their is a similarity – they are both a two piece. Other than that I don’t really share the same thoughts. Personally I see BRS as a more raw and natural band. The songs are real and the passion that is exuded from both Laura-Mary and Steven make for one hell of a performance, and if you missed it or were one of the punters who couldn’t muster some appreciation for them, well it’s your loss in the end anyway. I have a strong feeling we will all be hearing more of BRS in the future … I look forward to it.

Set list: Keeping It Close, It’s Getting Boring By The Sea, Light It Up, When We Wake, Say Something Say Anything, It Is Happening Again, Don’t Ask

Footnote: I Wish I Was Someone Better was on their set list but had to be cut out due to time constraints.

Fresh from an intimate gig at Londons Cro-Bar, where the band played some eagerly awaited new material, Steven Ansell and Laura Mary-Carter are keen to hit the road again. “Having a record finished and waiting to tour is like being a caged animal” says Steven, and to celebrate the completion of their second album the band are making available a free download of a brand new song “Colours Fade” on their website http://www.bloodredshoes.co.uk

Blood Red Shoes will release their second album in February 2010, dates in support of the release are below:

MARCH 2010
02 – Academy 3, Birmingham
03 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
04 – Thekla, Bristol
05 – Komedia, Brighton
06 – Cockpit, Leeds
08 – Electric Circus, Edinburgh
09 – Doghouse, Dundee
10 – King Tuts, Glasgow
11 – Academy 2, Newcastle
12 – Academy 3, Manchester
13 – Garage, London

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