My Vitriol

My Vitriol

My Vitriol is a London alternative rock group that forms in 1999 and remains active. Its line-up includes Som Wardner on vocals, guitar and lyrics, Ravi Kesavaram on drums, Seth Taylor on guitar, Tatia Starkey, and Carolyn Bannister. The group also uses Lauren on bass in later activity, while Bannister has previously played bass and backing vocals.

Formation and name

The band starts after Som Wardner and Ravi Kesavaram meet at UCL in early 1998, where they live opposite each other in halls and study similar subjects, with Som studying genetics and Ravi studying biochemistry. They are both part of the local music scene before they begin playing together. The name My Vitriol comes from Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock, where the central character carries a bottle of vitriol, meaning sulphuric acid, for protection.

Early recordings and debut release

Wardner and Kesavaram record an early demo project with help from a friend studying studio engineering. They make the Delusions of Grandeur EP in two days using free studio time, with Wardner playing the other instruments. Around 250 CD-R copies are pressed, though only about 30 work properly because of technical problems. One copy reaches Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq, who plays a track on the Session Unsigned slot, helping to increase attention on the band. The track “Grounded” also appears on the Organ Radio 5 compilation.

The group’s first release is the double A-side single “Always: Your Way/Pieces” on Org Records. Seth Taylor joins after being met at a Mint 400 gig, and Carolyn Bannister is recruited after being seen playing bass at another show.

Finelines and label success

At the end of 1999, My Vitriol signs to Infectious Records. Their first single for the label is “Losing Touch”, followed by “Cemented Shoes”, “Pieces” and “Always Your Way”. “Cemented Shoes” reaches number 65, “Pieces” reaches 56, and “Always Your Way” becomes their first Top 40 single, peaking at number 31. Their debut album, Finelines, follows and reaches number 24 in early 2001.

The band supports acts including Feeder, Placebo and the Manic Street Preachers. They also appear on television, including Top of the Pops, and play major festivals such as Glastonbury, V Festival, T in the Park and Reading and Leeds. They perform widely across Europe, including at Roskilde, Festimad, Rock am Ring and events in Holland and Norway, and they play Summer Sonic in Japan, where Sony Music releases their debut. Their first and only headline show in Tokyo sells out quickly and needs to be upgraded twice. The group also gains exposure through mainstream television and is offered film roles and modelling work.

Later activity and hiatus

In 2002, after several years of touring, Som Wardner announces a touring hiatus and says the band will take a break to write a new record. Despite this, the group keeps a cult following. A secret show in Islington sells out in advance in 2005, and another one-off show follows at KOKO in Camden, London, in 2006, supported by The Cinematics and Pure Reason Revolution. That show introduces Lauren as the new bass player. New songs are also played at the time, though no release follows in the available information.

In 2007, the band releases “This Time” under the name A Secret Society on Org Records, as a limited release that also includes a cover of the Lemonheads’ “It’s a Shame About Ray”. Another single, “War of the Worlds”, is also planned for release in digital form, and further festival appearances are listed for that period.