The South London garage rockers are back with this indie slacker gem about seeking out Keanu Reeves as a form of therapy…
– Available now | Impact Date: June 14th –
“The ridiculously infectious Fades” John Kennedy / Radio X
“It’s like someone fired a surf-punk into the sun at warp speed while a heavenly choir rejoices in the shredding with their beautific aaaahs” Fresh On the Net
We’ve all been there at times… losing faith in life, questioning who to turn to for solace and meaning – and this time it’s lead singer and guitarist Dave Lightfoot of South London garage rockers The Fades. Having heard a rumour that Keanu Reeves was filming around the corner from their rehearsal studios just after experiencing a midlife breakup, Dave’s imagination was set alight thinking: imagine bumping into Keanu on the street, hanging out and going back to the studio with him for a jam together – then an amazing lifelong relationship can begin, but before that there’s a song to write and here it is…
Looking for Keanu is a 90’s inspired slice of slacker indie rock that features The Fades at their most reflective and self-effacing.
The naked honesty in the verse lyric is plain to see but even in the darkest moments there’s always hope to guide us through to better times and then comes the chorus: it’s powerful, catchy and you can’t help but be lifted up by its energy. There’s the video too, jam packed with ‘Easter eggs’ from Keanu’s various films, all shot around the area where Keanu was filming in South London when Dave came up with the song.
With DJs like Steve Lamacq, John Kennedy & Marc Riley supporting various releases & glowing write ups in Louder Than War, Fresh on The Net & alike throughout their career, The Fades are a band who’ve consistently turned adversity to their advantage, finding the best in life while not taking themselves too seriously.
Now a bit of history… in true punk DIY style, The Fades recorded their debut single above a chip-shop on the Staines Road in West London. It was quickly picked up by Steve Lamacq who played it on national radio & soon a buzz was building around the band. Then explosive gigs with bands like Ocean Colour Scene, Bloc Party, The Mystery Jets & German rockers Art Brut gained them a reputation for raucous mayhem, including a penchant for multi-band clothes swapping on stage! Next up, US indie label Cranky Girl Records arranged for an East Coast tour of the States alongside some American releases, which all culminated in a whirlwind of gigs, parties & scintillating scotoma!
Buoyed on by a new-found enthusiasm when they sold out of their vinyl album Ragnarok in 2021, and embracing the reality of working from home during the lockdown with many a remote writing session, the band went back into the studio to do it all again when conditions allowed with their latest album Night Terrors. Copies of which are still available in lurid green vinyl!
With upcoming gigs at Ailsa Tavern, (Twickenham) on 10th May, RutsFest (Merton. South London) on 26th May and an appearance at MTN Bushfire Festival (Eswatini, Africa) on 1st June, The Fades (and of course Dave too) have much to look forward to as the summer unfolds. Now where is that Keanu… have you seen him?
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Live Dates
May 10th | Ailsa Tavern (Twickenham)
May 26th | RutsFest (Merton)
June 1st | MTN Bushfire Festival (Eswatini, Africa)
July 4th | The Good Mixer (Camden, London)
