The Lottery Winners – “Start Again”
SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 3
Pairs Well With… Imagine Dragons, Frank Turner, X Ambassadors
The U.K.’s The Lottery Winners may soon be playing big North American stages, so if you like seeing a breakout band at a small SXSW venue (and then endlessly reminding your friends when the band headlines your town), you should catch them in Austin. My prediction is based on the band’s catchy anthemic indie rock and pop songs that are radio friendly and arena ready. “Start Again”, from their newest album, Something to Leave the House For, is a good example of a song that will transition to a big stage well. After recounting the protagonist’s bleak predicament, the music builds and Thom Ryland exhorts this sad sack to “get up and start again”. The chorus is made more addictive with female bassist Katie Lloyd’s intertwining vocal line and a crescendo of screaming guitars. “Dance with the Devil” should be on the radio soon. It starts as slinky blues number using piano and reverb to build suspense and mystery leading into the rousing chorus, “If you dance with the devil, you’re gonna’ get burned, burned, burned." This line sounded so meme-ish I was convinced the song was a cover. Nope, is theirs. Thankfully, The Lottery Winners are more than just a strobe and screaming-fan concert band. The new album features a few softer, introspective duets between Ryland and Lloyd, including “Bad Things” and “Overthink Everything” that are also very good. The band also just released the playful “Rockstar Sea Shanty,” which sounds like an old Irish sea shanty until you realize it’s a sarcastic take on rock stars.
Two more things to know about The Lottery Winners. First, this band sounds so tight, probably because they have been together since 2008. However, it’s only since they obtained new management in 2019 that their UK fortunes have changed. They also have some worthy help on the new album. Frank Turner and KT Tunstall are each featured on songs. We can only cross our fingers that either of them shows up in Austin at a Lottery Winners set. Regardless, we’ll catch a show or more and then work on our deadpan, “Oh yeah, I saw The Lottery Winners at Southby in 2022 from the front row in a 100-person club.” (David Zlotnick)