Premiere: Cheatahs – Get Tight

Live at Dropout...

Nathan Hewitt and James Wignall first met some seven years ago, immediately bonding over two things: Seinfeld and hardcore punk.

In a way, their world view hasn't really changed. The pair now steer rising four piece Cheatahs and, if anything, those influences are becoming more and more.

Fusing melody and a sense of world-weariness with hardcore's sonic assault, the band's material sits alongside Husker Du's mid 80s peak or even those frenetic early Redd Cross sides.

Yet there's a British sensibility here, too. Cheatahs new single 'Get Tight' – out in all good record shops on February 24th – is inspired by life in East London's creative community.

It's about those who push too far, those who work all day and play all night. As the band themselves explain: "'Get Tight' is about the weird circus that is the part of London that we live in, that as much as it's fun and inspiring and a great place to do yourself gentle harm, you see too many creative people who get sucked in to the 7 days a week party life and forget to do the things they're good at and should be doing. There's more than one way to rage against the dying of the light."

Ahead of this, Clash have been handed a live video of Cheatahs blasting through their new 45. There's a ragged energy, a rawness to the performance which is matched perfectly by the shoot itself – veering in and out, it's like some 120 Minutes clip hard-wired for 21st century use.

Watch it now.

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'Get Tight' is set to be released on February 24th. Cheatahs have confirmed the following shows:

February
12 London Birthdays w/Primitive Parts (NME Awards Tour show)
15 Sheffield The Harley
16 Brighton Prince Albert
17 Leeds Brudenell Social Club
18 Glasgow Broadcast
19 Liverpool East Village Arts Club

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