Tribes: Love From London

Hometown: Camden.

The lineup: Johnny Lloyd (vocals, guitar), Jim Cratchley (bass), Miguel Demelo (drums), Dan White (guitar).

I do not know a band that define Camden and its current scene in a more up to date, upfront way than Tribes. Taking their cues from Elliot Smith, The Pixies and Nirvana these boys know how to play a true rock and roll gig.

They are clearly inspired by American early 90’s influences – you can hear the REM and Pavement shine through the tracks — but they are fundamentally a Brit band, a Camden band, they know their roots and they also know where they are going, as do I – worldwide.

I absolutely adore this video, filmed in Camden on a shoestring it sums up what people in the area and the rest of the London feel like when they play. Bring back the euphoria I say, theseboys are ready to rock!

I also love that that the NME in the UK published the following facts about the band:

• Dan and Miguel met five years ago after Miguel caught Dan stealing his wallet at his own birthday party

• Jimmy was arrested for fraud at the age of 12 for selling stolen videos

• Johnny once got drunk with Juliette Lewis in Texas and woke up with the cosmos tattooed on his arm.

–Izzy Lawrence

(Love From London is an ongoing series where correspondents Alex Kenning and Izzy Lawrence introduce us to bands generating excitement across the pond.)