Two Door Cinema Club
Biography
Two Door Cinema Club is an indie rock band from Northern Ireland that formed in 2007. The members consist of Alex Trimble on vocals and rhythm guitar, Sam Halliday on lead guitar, and Kevin Baird on bass. Trimble and Halliday met in school, and they later connected with Baird through mutual friends. The band's name originated from Halliday's mispronunciation of the name of their local cinema, the Tudor Cinema. After gaining popularity on social media, the trio decided to pursue music instead of attending university.
Musical Career
The band released their debut EP, "Four Words to Stand On," in 2008, which garnered attention online. Their first studio album, "Tourist History," was released in 2010 and was a significant success, winning the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year. The album featured popular singles such as "Something Good Can Work," "Undercover Martyn," and "What You Know."
Their second album, "Beacon," released in 2012, debuted at number one on the Irish Albums Chart and number two on the UK Albums Chart. The band continued to evolve their sound with subsequent albums. "Gameshow" (2016) incorporated disco and synth-pop influences, a departure from their earlier indie-rock sound. This was followed by "False Alarm" in 2019, which was inspired by new wave music, and "Keep On Smiling" in 2022.
Musical Style and Influences
Two Door Cinema Club's sound is characterized as indie rock and indie pop, with elements of dance-punk and post-punk revival. Their early work on "Tourist History" was noted for its fast tempos and clean guitar riffs, drawing comparisons to bands like Bloc Party. With "Gameshow," they experimented with a sound influenced by artists like David Bowie and Prince, incorporating more funk and disco elements. Their music often features melodic vocals from all three members and has been described as having "oceanic" guitar riffs and "pulsing" rhythms.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Tourist History (2010)
- Beacon (2012)
- Gameshow (2016)
- False Alarm (2019)
- Keep On Smiling (2022)
Extended Plays
- Four Words to Stand On (2008)
- Changing of the Seasons (2013)