Two Wounded Birds

Two Wounded Birds

Two Wounded Birds are an indie pop and dream pop group from Margate, United Kingdom, active from 2010 to 2012. The band is associated with lo-fi, surf rock, pop and indie pop, and centres on singer Johnny Danger. Their sound draws on a wide range of older styles, with references in the band’s outlook to doo-wop, late-1970s New York punk and classic rock and roll.

Background

The group forms in Margate, where its relative isolation helps shape a close-knit local identity. Johnny Danger amasses a large record collection there, and the band develops from a broad enthusiasm for the music of the last six decades rather than from a specific trend or scene. Their music emphasises melody and songcraft, and they present themselves as outsiders working outside mainstream music industry expectations.

Career and early recognition

Two Wounded Birds write hundreds of songs over a few years before wider attention arrives. The Drums first approach them via Myspace, and Jon Pierce later refuses to play on NME’s Radar Tour unless Two Wounded Birds support the bill. Their first EP, Keep Dreaming Baby, is released through Jacob Graham’s Holiday Records. Among the songs mentioned as examples of their style are All We Wanna Do and Night Patrol.

Reception and associations

The band builds a dedicated following after its first releases. In a songwriting trip to Los Angeles, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys telephones Johnny Danger and praises his sense of melody. Debbie Harry and Tracy Emin are also said to respond to the band, alongside Spongebob Squarepants. The group is presented as rooted in a timeless pop approach, with a strong emphasis on hooks, melody and romantic rock and roll influences.