The First Annual Bravery Remembrance Day

Ok so this all started with a Spotify endorsed trip down NME-fad memory lane. For those too young or too sensible to remember the Summer of Ska, The Others and general appreciation of Alex Kapranos’ fringe these were the sprinkles of fairy dust on a weekly publication that often carried the sublime and the ridiculous within the same bi-line.

Unsurprisingly time has fared some bands better than others. The Dead 60s have and always will be abysmal. Pioneers of the New Yorkshire scene Milburn still just sound like a lesser version of the Arctic Monkeys which is pretty embarrassing considering they came first. One band stand crouched above the rest though, The Bravery despite holding an imaginary spat with The Killers and the bassist being made out to be a New Wave Revival equivalent to Michael Douglas were pretty damn amazing.

By amazing, I don’t mean to imply the usual usage of the word, more the ‘for a hype band they had three really good songs’ usage. Such an outstanding statistic makes them one song better than The Twang, two songs better than The Horrors and three songs better than ¡Forward, Russia!.

Unconditional, Honest Mistake and Swollen Summer were all anthems for a generation who never bought Hot Fuss. If you’re wondering what happened to Sam Endicott and co after their debut , then they went on to have a minor hit in the US with the ‘sounds a lot like I Will Follow’ smash Believe. They’ve also got a new single out soon called Slow Poison which is much worse than Shakira’s She Wolf. Ironic considering the song is part written by the band.

Anyway, in honour New York’s Thirtieth Best Ever band then The Counterfit decrees the 28th of September will be forever known as Bravery Remembrance Day. If this blog makes it past its first year we will commission a world record breaking dominos attempt to mark the occasion. That or a Mike Hindert face cake.