Teesside is becoming renowned for delivering first rate bands, who like to split up, and then members spawn off and create amazing new bands, with musicians of other local bands who have also just split up. And then after a few months, they split up again. And it goes on and on. Sometimes it seems like there are only about ten musicians in Teesside, and there have been about 20 bands in the last 2 years. However, in January 2004 Jetpacks For Hire entered the scene, formed predictably out of the ashes of various redundant local acts. 18 months later, and we witness the release their debut mini album “Just For Today” and no intention of splitting up. Yet.
Calling at all stations between indie emo and punk rock, the band once dubbed as “Weezer x Lit + Biffy Clyro = Jetpacks For Hire” have not rushed this debut record, and have there for been able to develop a mature and fresh sound which stands out from the music that many new bands emerging from existing scenes may rush in to replicating. Jetpacks For Hire are a trio which play extremely well off one and other. As individuals they are all exceptional musicians, but unlike so many bands which struggle to blend this into a complete sound, Jetpacks bring it together perfectly, and each song is well structured and shaped before being immaculately delivered. Tracks like “You Talk A Good Lie,” “Nothing,” and “A Tribute To Innocence” are prefect examples of where this band are at their best, bringing in slight senses of Dashboard Confessional and then straightening up to a more rough and tough sound with driving guitars and passionate vocals.
If Jetpacks For Hire have the patience to break the mould set by so many of the more successful bands that have fallen around them in the last 2 or 3 years, then they could have a very bright future ahead of them, definitely on the basis of this record.
Pete Punktastic
www.jetpacksforhire.co.uk