World News

World News at Soda Bar

21+ event w/ valid ID at Soda Bar - San Diego.

Heartbreak, night shifts, and the claustrophobia of London life in a windowless room–World News’debut came out of their lowest point: lockdown during the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020. Restless, disillusioned, and yearning for more, the quartet set into overdrive in the years that followed, releasing three EPs and a dozen singles and committing to a fiercely independent DIY ethos.

Originally performing under the name Tinman, brothers Alex and Rory Evans cut their teeth in Brighton’s grassroots scene back in 2018, relentlessly chasing opening slots in the city’s thriving music community. Following a case of mistaken identity–when gig-goers arrived expecting an Austrian DJ of the same name–and a chance meeting with drummer Malte Henning over pizza at Dead Wax Social, they found their final form as World News. They were gaining momentum fast, having sold out their first headlining show in London at The Shacklewell Arms, when the pandemic hit and brought it all to a halt.

With an eclectic set of influences from the ‘70s and ‘80s dipping into post-punk, indie-rock and shoegaze alike, World News combines addictive atmospheric guitar riffs with seductive, nonchalant melodies. Moody, punchy, and nostalgic, they’ve called comparisons to iconic British bands that have come before them– from The Smiths to The Clash to Dire Straits.

2020 saw the release of their debut EP Job and Money, a raw and pensive collection written by Alex during a time of personal turmoil, followed by highlight singles “Wrapped in Gold” and “The Tinman” in 2023. Riding that momentum, 2024 brought the rapid-fire release of two EPs, Escape and Mindsnap, and the addition of rhythm guitarist Jack Tollman. Escape expanded on their signature jangly sound, while Mindsnap dove into darker, gothic territory and marked the first body of work co-written by Alex and Rory.