The Strand Arcade

Most people think that The Strand Arcade is a historic shopping arcade built in 1892 in downtown Sydney, Australia. But to those of us in the know, The Strand Arcade is also the name of one of the best unsigned bands in all of the United Kingdom. Hailing from Derby, the quartet rocks out these perfect three minute gems that are chock full of energetic riffs, pounding beats, and that frenzied wailing style of singing that makes girls like me weak in the knees. Stylistically, The Strand Arcade falls at the intersection of indie rock and post-punk though the songs are so poppy that just about anyone will like them.

If you're British, check out their webpage for tour dates (apparently, they're electrifying on stage) and addresses for a free demo. Everyone else, go over to their Myspace for additional downloads and a picture of the band from back when they were mates in grade school.

Myspace: The Strand Arcade
Audio: "Get Knives"
Audio: "Fisticuffs"