Formed in 2008 by frontman and songwriter Piers Eccleston. The band’s breathtaking musicality owes much to quality of its members. Latin drummer Mannie Mazzeo grew up in Argentina, finishing a tour of Australia and New Zealand to join the band on drums and backing vocals. Unusually for a drummer, he doesn’t hit hard, instead bringing a Latin sophistication to the sound, which is all underpinned by Tim Dent on bass – the stock-still indie understatement that brings it all together. On lead guitar, South African Uncle Dunc delivers a harder rocking sensibility that can flip a Fleas song from intimacy and heartbreak into something that sounds like a building falling down. This is why at every gig, there’s always a cluster of EMO boys gazing in awe at his fretboard. Finally, Bernadette brings an extra shimmer and groove to the sound on percussion and backing vocals, giving the band a distinctive three-part harmony that’s unmistakably Fleas. The band also boasts the artist Malcolm Neill, who produces artwork for an alternative flea universe – a kind of sixth form exercise book answer to Gorillaz. The Fleas have played a number of festivals, including Hamswell, Stanstead Abbott, Uplands, and before 2,000 people at a race day in Devon. They have also recorded a BBC session for 6Music’s Linda Serck and played a set at In the City in Manchester. A couple of songs have even made it onto a PlayStation game. So far, so good. With 2011 marking the band’s first official release, it looks like an exciting year for The Fleas. Catch them live and be forever bitten.