When The Rifles returned with their long-awaited recent single ‘The Kids Won’t Stop’, it felt as natural as if they had never been away. Always supported by a loyal fanbase that has made them one of the UK’s most enduring cult bands, the single prompted strong ticket sales for their May UK headline tour as well as igniting pre-orders ahead of the April 26th release of ‘Love Your Neighbour’, their first new album in almost eight years. Their return has been highlighted by NME, This Feeling, whynow, Stereoboard and XS Noize.
Swooning vocal harmonies, jangly guitars and an addictive hook built for boisterous singalongs at live shows combine to make ‘Days of Our Lives’ a typically uplifting Rifles anthem. Joel Stoker’s lyrics capture nostalgia and a little longing for those special moments that are now firmly in the past, including the relatable question, “Did we get old or did we grow up?” But this isn’t a case of complaining that the past was better than present – like the upcoming ‘Love Your Neighbour’ album, it’s overwhelmingly positive as those days make us who we are now. The song was produced by The Rifles during sessions at Joel’s home studio in Walthamstow, east London.
Joel says, “The song is ultimately about nostalgia. Looking back to a time in our lives where everything was a bit more care free when there was a lot less to think or worry about.”
The accompanying video reflects the song’s playful take on nostalgia. It cuts between Joel and his young son both dressed identically as they take a stroll through Soho. The location adds another playful perspective to the theme. Joel remembers when the area when it was almost unrecognisable compared to today, yet in the decades to come his son will think of the present day as the classic Soho era.
‘Love Your Neighbour’ is a record in which the band – completed by Lucas Crowther (guitar), Rob Pyne (bass), Grant Marsh (drums)and Deano Mumford (keys) – take stock of where they are at their lives and celebrate the positives: the community around them, family, friends and fans. Sure, maybe the demands of day-to-day life makes planning band activity a little more challenging, but all the more reason to make the most of this opportunity to expand upon their near 20-year career. And what they have achieved before makes what’s to come exciting – the highest chart positions of their career with previous studio albums ‘Big Life’ and ‘None The Wiser’ and a constant array of sold-out shows, including big London venues such as Brixton Academy and The Roundhouse.
‘Love Your Neighbour’ is available to pre-order HERE. The band’s own store offers some very limited physical formats, which include a marbled red transparent vinyl with a signed art print and new merch designs. Three retailers also stock exclusive editions: Amazon have a digisleeve CD with a signed insert, Assai offer a blue vinyl, and HMV are selling a sunflower yellow vinyl.
Strong public demand for tickets for The Rifles’ upcoming headline shows has resulted in Nottingham being upscaled to Rock City after the initial venue sold-out, while the tour has also been extended with an additional show in Stockton. Remaining tickets for their headline shows are available HERE. The Rifles’ upcoming shows are:
MAY
- 9th – Glasgow, Oran Mor
- 10th – Manchester, Academy 2
- 11th – London, O2 Forum Kentish Town
- 16th – Bristol, The Fleece
- 17th – Nottingham, Rock City (UPGRADED VENUE)
- 18th – Stockton, KU (JUST ADDED)
AUGUST
- 31st – Sheffield, Don Valley Bowl, Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus (with Milburn)