International Clash Day London Broadcast Preview: Avalanche Party

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of The Clash’s landmark album London Calling, KEXP will travel to London for a 4-day live broadcast and online event, featuring live performances and exclusive interviews. Avalanche Party will take the Studio 9294 stage on Monday, February 4 alongside fellow British bands JOHN, Ibibio Sound Machine, and Big Joanie. Get familiar with the band before their performance below.

Hailing from the sleepy shire county of North Yorkshire Moors, Avalanche Party are brimming with energy and angsty viciousness. The five-piece was founded by brothers Joe and Jordan Bell, who wear their influences on their sleeve – The Stooges, Magazine, Mission of Burma – anything that kicks and sneers. The past couple of years, the band has been raising hell on stages around the UK and Europe following the release of their 2016 self-titled debut EP. Since then, they’ve dropped a string of singles including “Solid Gold,” “I’m So Wet,” “Porcelain,” and this fall’s “Million Dollar Man.” Next month, they’ll hop the pond play The New Colossus Festival in New York and SXSW in Austin.

KEXP spoke to Avalanche Party about the significance of The Clash in a brief interview. Read below.

KEXP: What does the Clash mean to you and have they inspired your music at all?

Avalanche Party: I first heard The Clash at about eight years old, I think. There was a lot of Ska/Reggae played in the house, bands like Culture, The Skatalites, Lee Scratch Perry, The Upsetters... so The Clash synced in with that pretty well in my head. London Calling was the album. Really liked the album cover. I was only into the classics at that age so I listened to "Guns Of Brixton" and "London Calling" a lot, then later grew into liking "Brand New Cadillac." That's probably still my favourite. They're part of a rich tapestry of bands with an attitude you can feel and see and hear, and that definitely inspired what we want to do with music.

Do you find there to be parallels between the lyrical content and ethos of London Calling and the current state of England?

Yes, since they redeveloped Skelton ALDI I've been lost in the supermarket many times. Just when you start to get used to the change, some smart alec moves the Bombay Mix to aisle three. Precisely the kind of persistent meddling which Mick Jones prophesied all those years ago. The lyrical content of London Calling definitely still has relevance today, very little has changed. People still have the same concerns, of course.

What can audiences expect from your performance for KEXP's International Clash Day London broadcast?

By way of respectful homage, we intend to smash bass guitars up non stop for 30 minutes. No music. Our keyboard player's only coming cos he has big, strong arms. Drummer's not bothering (more of a 101ers guy). Will sound smashing (ho ho) so get those radios dialed in and crank the juice.

Avalanche Party will perform at KEXP’s International Clash Day London broadcast at 7:00 pm on Monday, February 4. Check out the full schedule of performances here. Watch the video for “Million Dollar Man” below.