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Pleasure Island aka Liverpool-based duo Sean Ekins (guitar, vocals) and Sam Pierpoint (drums) make kinetic, cerebral indie-rock for bodies and minds in these post-Brexit, post-Covid, whatever’s-next times.

New single ‘Shallow Grave’ is their first proper post-pandemic release, consolidating their knack for infectious hooks and deadpan wit as evinced on 2020’s ‘Help Me NHS’ and ‘Priory’ (2021), both recorded and released in the shadow of lockdown.

This Pleasure Island story stretches further in time and space than what might initially be assumed: to 2008 and one of the world’s most remote cities – Perth, Western Australia. Here Ekins – a UK ex-pat former miner – founded The Spitfires, a garage-rock trio who blasted onto the local scene when a freak accident during their launch gig after-party blew up half their house. 

Undaunted by what the superstitious may have taken as a bad omen, The Spitfires’ flight path was sent soaring when their raw and wry takes on the absurdity of modern life earned 

support slots with kindred spirits The Cribs and award-winning Melbourne rockers British India. 

Following 2012’s debut album ‘Songs From The Debt Generation’, The Spitfires attracted rotation across Australia on RTRFM, 4ZZZ, spot play on FBi and RRR and national exposure via Triple J radio and television broadcaster ABC. 

Though things were looking up for the band from Perth, disillusionment with the local scene saw them relocate to the other side of Australia and the bright lights of Sydney from where they took ‘Songs From The Debt Generation’ across the vast country as well as treating fans in Japan to the punked-up exhilaration of their live shows. This was a band, after all, whose stage show once included the onstage decapitation of an effigy of Margaret Thatcher – the 1980s PM who ordered the decimation of the UK mining industry and oversaw what many saw as a de facto class war in the country.

After two years of intense momentum on the other side of the planet, Ekins returned home to Liverpool in 2014 with the intention of taking The Spitfires around the now-beleaguered island. The UK of the mid-2010s was harsher, more divided and confusing than the country he’d left a decade before. Something had to give. For a start, The Spitfires had suffered a curse common to bands: a seemingly endless succession of drummers. A total of thirteen sticks-bearers had passed through their ranks, including two recruited from the audience during the same show.

Having met Sam Pierpoint – an exceptional drummer whose chops make him of the best drummers in England’s north west, according to platinum-selling producer Al Groves – Ekins was ready for the rock n roll fight again, regrouping with Pierpoint as Pleasure Island and making their live debut at Liverpool’s Smithdon Road Festival in 2018.

Pleasure Island’s thrilling, volatile mix of punchy indie-punk, crackling guitar riffs and acerbic, deadpan poetics set to chart-ready melodies soon earned the duo a steady stream of festival appearances and live appearances.

When Covid hit in 2020, Pleasure Island made their recording debuted with ‘Help Me NHS’, a dark stomping track which somehow echoed both the bizarre spectacle of people taking to their doorsteps and balconies to bang pots and pans in appreciation for exhausted essential workers but also how the health service’s diminished networks are very literal lifelines for people in times of need and vulnerability. 

That latter quality is partly key to the compelling appeal of Ekins’ songwriting; a craft which uses personal experience to reach out and comment on wider society. ‘Help Me NHS’ was backed with ‘The Game’, a wanton, psychobilly-tinged headspin inspired by a stint of thrill-seeking, breakup-numbing hook-ups and how that behaviour can intersect with the toxic entitlement and sexual predation fostered by pick-up culture. Named for the title of Neil Strauss‘s notorious book, it shows Ekins as a musician whose wit and acuity matches a love of melody.

In April 2021 came second single ‘IRA’, a slab of strident indie-rock produced by Bob Cooper at the Chairworks Studio, near Leeds. Hours after the release was announced, Pleasure Island‘s digital distributors said they wouldn’t distribute the track, perhaps wary of service providers ‘canceling’ the track in the wake of the death of Prince Phillip. In 1979, the terrorist ssgroup claimed responsibility for the bombing of a yacht which killed Phillip’s uncle Louis Mountbatten, his grandson and a teenage boatsman. 

Soon reworked and retitled as ‘Priory‘, beyond metaphor the song had never had anything to do with the bombers nor the Royals; it was instead an indie floor-filler intended to raise awareness of the dire effects on peoples’ lives of outmoded attitudes around mental illness.. It’s been a turbulent voyage getting to Pleasure Island circa 2022. But to a duo this talented and tenacious it’s simply more grist to mill. And with ‘Shallow Grave’ and a clutch of new songs and live dates, Ekins and Pierpoint are standing on the prow, eyes squinting to the future.

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    💥Liverpool Gig alert💥 We're off to Outpost 💥Liverpool Gig alert💥  We're off to Outpost next week courtesy of @laststopsounds on April 1st, with @redwinteruk @rtlpunk Skimmer and some of the best pizza in town xShoutout to @lens_of_a_woolFor the excellent shots from our last show, thanks for making us look cool as fuck 👍Make sure to check out our new video for "Shallow Grave" which is now up on YouTube courtesy of our good mates from @red_visuals who smashed it out of the park as always 🙌#gigannouncement #liverpoolmusic #liverpoolbands #postpunk #postpunkrevial #merseymusic #indierock #independentvenue #independentmusician
    💥Video Release Alert💥 Our music video for "S 💥Video Release Alert💥 Our music video for "Shallow Grave" is now out for streaming. We filmed this last year with the excellent team from @red_visuals and it is looking hotter than an oven with a fucked thermostat.We are going to celebrate this with a shindig this Wednesday with our good friends @ombudsmenukand @weareknuckle at the Jacaranda Basement in Liverpool.So once you've finished drenching your eyeballs in the finest 4k goodness (television resolution depending) head down to Liverpool tomorrow night or engage in some fiery below the line discussion about how happy Sam looks on that bouncy castle.#liverpoolmusic#liverpoolnightlife#liverpoolbands #independentmusician #independentvenue #postpunkrevival #postpunk #myphix #musicvideo #merseybeat #garagerock #spooky
    Instagram post 17986874071890337 Instagram post 17986874071890337
    Big love to everyone who came to last week's show Big love to everyone who came to last week's show at Chameleon, Diablo Furs and Ming City Rockers were immense 👊We will be back in Liverpool to welcome our good friends Knuckle and Ombundsmen to the Jacaranda next Wednesday, which will be our first show in town for the big '23Finally, we shall be dropping the clip for Shallow Grave before the week is out, so keep your eyes peeled for that saucy goodness from the legends at Red Visuals xPhotography courtesy of Dom Gourlay @mingcityrockersofficial @diablofurs @weareknuckle @ombudsmenuk @red_visuals @domgourlay#liverpoolmusic #liverpoolbands #liverpoolnightlife #independentvenue #independentmusician #postpunk #postpunkrevial #indieartist #garagerock #myphix #fendertelecaster
    Back on the road tonight with this shady character Back on the road tonight with this shady character! We are gonna be on with @mingcityrockersofficial and @diablofurs for a big loud evening in Notts, See you all there xx#liverpoolmusic #nottinghammusic #nottinghamgigs #postpunk #indie #independentvenue #independentband
    We are heading back on the road, first up off to N We are heading back on the road, first up off to Nottingham for a show with @mingcityrockersofficial and @diablofurs at The Chameleon on Friday Feb 17th. Lots more dates around the country, so looking forward to seeing everyone again xFeb 17th - Nottingham - @the_chameleon_arts_cafeMarch 1st - Liverpool - @thejacclub w/ @weareknuckle March 2nd - Manchester - @aatmamcrApril 1st - Liverpool - @outpost_liverpool April 2nd - Rhyl - @lateloungerhyl_ We also have a new music video courtesy of @red_visuals coming to you shortly, which features lots of groovy skeleton action and a bouncy castle.#liverpoolgigs #nottinghamgigs #manchestergigs #rhylgigs #postpunk #postpunkrevial #garagerock #independentmusician #liverpoolbands
    Check out the new Lyric Video for our latest singl Check out the new Lyric Video for our latest single 'Shallow Grave' on t'Youtube! Seen as we're always being praised for our extremely poetic writing, we've had the excellent @jmortoza put together a lyric video with a funky bit of animation, to help everyone learn the words or even just figure out what the hell we're on about.#postpunk #lyrics #liverpoolmusic #liverpoolbands #postpunkrevival #liverpool #Merseyside #indiemusic #independentmusician
    💥Gig Alert💥 This Friday we shall be returnin 💥Gig Alert💥 This Friday we shall be returning to Wigan to play The Old Courts as part of this year's Independent Venue Week.Lots of the spaces, where we put on live shows, took a hammering over lockdowns, so make sure to show some support by heading to a show this week.We'll be playing as part of an excellent line up with @shackites@tigersandflies & @the_strangerz_ Thanks everyone for streaming and sharing the new single 'Shallow Grave' this week. We will have a lyric track up shortly xx@ivw_uk #wigan #wiganlive #wigannightlife #wiganmusic #northwestmusicscene #wiganmusicscene #ivw23 #liverpoolmusic #liverpoolbands
    Big thanks to everyone over at @amazingradio & @am Big thanks to everyone over at @amazingradio & @amazingradiouk for all the support they've given to our new single 'Shallow Grave' this week. You can hear us again on Jim Gellatly's new music show this Sunday from 2pm-4pm 👍There is still time to vote for us on the audition show, so we can hopefully get even more tasty spins. We will post how to in the comments.Any bands checking us out are strongly advised to upload their tracks to the site, it's dead simple and been a massive help to us.Finally a big shout out to the DJs @frankie____ @jimgellatly @charlieashcroft who have been on it like a bunch of champs this week xx
    💥New Single Alert💥 Shallow Grave is out now 💥New Single Alert💥 Shallow Grave is out now on all streaming platforms! 'Shallow Grave' is a menacing side-swipe at the dead-eyed emptiness of scenesterism. Recorded with platinum-selling producer Al Groves (Bring Me The Horizon, Paris Youth Foundation) the track judders with psychobilly rhythms and careering riffs - perfect for these anxious, led-by-zombies times. The music crackles with threat, lyrics taking aim at those led by vanity and misplaced pride; the sort of person who thinks they're better than the next because they've read a book or two...#releaseradar #postpunkrevial #postpunk #liverpoolbands #liverpoolmusic #garagethrash #indie #independentmusician
    Time to drop another killer shot from @debbieellis Time to drop another killer shot from @debbieellis_photography for the Shallow Grave release next week. Make sure to presave on your favourite streaming app because algorithms xx#liverpoolmusic #postpunk #postpunkrevival #myphix #merseymusic #garagerock #garagethrash #independentmusician  #liverpoolbands #singlelaunch
    💥 New Single Alert 💥 Shallow Grave will be r 💥 New Single Alert 💥 Shallow Grave will be released on January 25th. We've returned to the Motor Museum and teamed up with the legend Al Groves to bring this tasty slice of fuzzed out thrashy goodness to kick off the year. Al's smashed it out the park with a massive sound that we're extremely excited to share with everyone.You can be the first to listen by following the link in the bio to all the streaming sites. So spread the word and we will have plenty more news in the coming weeks xSean + Sam@algrovesproducil @motormuseumstudio
    January is here so we're bringing in the new, with January is here so we're bringing in the new, with these excellent shots from @debbieellis_photography 💥 This won't be the only new thing this weekend, so keep your eyes peeled for the big announce shortly xxx#liverpoolmusic#liverpoolbands #Merseyside#postpunk #postpunkrevial #independentmusician #garagerock #garagethrash
    So as the year comes to an end, nothing left to do So as the year comes to an end, nothing left to do but say a big thanks to everyone who came to the shows / streamed the songs / checked out the videos... Also the bands we played with and all the great venues around the country,  not to mention everyone who assisted with the recording / photography / videos / press.We will see you all next year with a brand new single to be announced shortly xx#postpunkrevival #liverpoolmusic#liverpool #liverpoolbands #indiemusic #britrock #britpop #independentmusician #independentband #guitarband
    Get back to your Christmas Lunch!! Get back to your Christmas Lunch!!
    More classic Pleasure Island twitter content befor More classic Pleasure Island twitter content before the platform gets destroyed by everyone's favourite uncharesmetic melt... #elonmusk #politics #taylorswift #postpunk #politicalcomedy #comedy
    Head over to @laststopsounds for their review of o Head over to @laststopsounds for their review of our Liverpool show and some ace shots from Richie Yates.#postpunk #postpunkrevial #liverpoolmusic #liverpoolnightlife #independentmusician #indierock #garagerock #liverpool #drummersofinstagram
    Big thanks to everyone who came out to see us last Big thanks to everyone who came out to see us last week, had a great time with everyone. Got something exciting out on January 25th so keep your eyes peeled for that announcement xAnd finally big shout out to @obfusk8_  @music4shoplifters and @ombudsmenuk too
    Set times for tonight's show x Set times for tonight's show x
    See you all tomorrow xx #independentvenue #indepe See you all tomorrow xx#independentvenue #independentmusician #liverpoolmusic #liverpoolnightlife #indiemusic #postpunkrevial #postpunk
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