Bio

The Vials started back in 2016 as a way to bring a selection of loops to life. These musical ideas had been created by Tom Phelan throughout various flatshares in London, collected on a Boss RC-50 that had seen life during a previous musical outing.

Tom met guitarist Matt Knowles through a mutual friend, and Matt amusingly recounts their first meeting like a 'first date' where they shared their musical tastes and experiences over weeknight pints.

Tom then recruited longtime friend and musical collaborator Mike Ruane to play drums, who in turn brought in Jonny Rankin on bass.

After a few gigs in London, the band – at that point called Phelanto & The Vials – recorded an entire album as their first release. Perudo, coming in at nearly an hour in length, showcased a band that were still exploring their sound, and produced early fan favourites Cloud of Steam, My New Girl and Arctic Defender – songs that have been live stalwarts since their release.

The band would go on to win a media industry band competition, organised by digital advertisers Captify, and held at Omeara. This put them in front of a judging panel that included Mumford & Son's Ben Lovett (who told the band to quit their day jobs) and Communion's Mazin Tappuni, who would subsequently play Cloud of Steam on his Radio X show. A gig for Communion's New Music Nights at Notting Hill Arts Club followed, then further gigs supporting Low Island, Martha Ffion and other rising artists.

By 2018 it was time to get back in the studio, so the band decamped to Cambridge to record the Still EP, again calling on Matty Moon who produced Perudo. The EP contains the diverse sound palette heard on the preceding album, but it is more focused. Songs Microdosing, Best of Us, Black Sheep and Mute Slate have seen many-a live outing, the band often ending on Still, with its rousing, bouncing finish.

It was at this point that Phelanto & The Vials became simply The Vials. No longer was this one man and a few loops. It was a democratic, mutually creative group, and the name change reflected that.

The extent of The Vials does not end at the four band members though. Fiercely independent, the band have put on several gigs entirely themselves, bringing in artists that have a similar ethos and – of course – create interesting music. Such acts include Organised Scum, Oh Man The Mountain, Videocean, Foxes & Hedgehogs, China Bowls, Lethargic Phoenix, and more. All these artists are part of the Vials' journey up to now.

And what now? The band thankfully survived a Covid-induced confidence wobble and is now back writing music again. Self-released single Tinted Lenses dropped on 1st January 2023, and was celebrated with a show at The Castle in Aldgate, London.

If you've read this far, thanks for also being on the journey with us. We hope to see your face at a gig one day :)