The Chase.

Forged on the south coast in the salt air of Portsmouth, The Chase emerged in 2009 as five young musicians with a shared reverence for classic British rock, the mod aesthetic, and the raw exhilaration of loud guitars in small rooms. Spearheaded by singer, guitarist, songwriter, and in-house producer Michael Turvey, the band quickly became a tight brotherhood: Harry Street’s rhythm guitar bite, Luke Jerome’s melodic basslines, Ralph Humby’s powerhouse drumming and harmonies, and Ben Riley’s saxophone and keys giving the group a distinctive edge among their contemporaries. Behind them, the unsung heroes Kevin Turvey and Colin Emmett kept the wheels — and the van — moving, doubling as techs, engineers, and all-purpose fixers.

Their first big leap came at The Joiners in Southampton, a debut gig that set the tone for everything that followed: sweaty, charged, and defiantly ambitious. Within a year, they released their debut album, 2010’s “Ever, Never or Now?” , a youthful burst of urgency and craft. Its singles showcased the band’s early DNA — the big-riff attack of “Losing Control,” the reflective sweep of “One Day,” and the rousing live finale “The Decline of Mr. Top.” The Chase began carving out a reputation on the circuit, landing stages at spots like the Purple Turtle in Camden, where their sharpened mod-rock sound found eager audiences.

Their breakthrough came with 2012’s “Slings & Arrows”, mastered by Jon Astley — best known for work with The Who, a fitting connection considering the band’s lineage of influences from The Jam, Small Faces, The Kinks, and their other heroes. The album became their most celebrated release: the fan-favourite “You,” the Manics-meets-The Jam punch of “A Different Place,” the punk-fired “Touchpaper,” and the piano-led “Home & Tea.” The hometown launch at the Wedgewood Rooms sold out, sealing their status as a Portsmouth staple. London venues followed — the 100 Club, The Good Ship — as well as festival slots like GuilFest, & Dumbfest all echoing the momentum the band had earned through relentless gigging.

Just a year later in 2013 came “No Damage, But Dirty”, again mastered by Astley and unveiled with a launch show at the legendary London venue The Water Rats. It showcased a band growing in confidence and stylistic reach: “Misspent Youth,” whose music video became their most-viewed on YouTube; the upbeat swagger of “Wantaway,” and the Stereophonics-tinged “I Told You So.” Another run of memorable stages followed — a return to the 100 Club, The Grand in Clapham, and a roaring appearance at the Mod Scooter & Ska Festival at Santa Pod, keeping the band firmly connected to the mod scene that inspired their sharp look as much as their sound.

Their fourth and final album in 2016 “The Answer and The Unknown”, arrived as the band’s most mature and expansive statement. Launched at London’s historic venue The Borderline, it carried standout singles including the punchy and anthemic “Call the Tune”, the brooding, slow-burn tension of “House of Cards”, and the driving stomp of “A Million Miles”. It was a culmination — a document of seven years spent crafting their identity, honing their songwriting, and holding tight to the spirit of British rock tradition while forging something undeniably their own.

The Borderline show in May 2016 would become their final appearance — a last, deafening nod to the stages and fans that shaped them. Though The Chase eventually stepped out of the spotlight, their legacy — from cramped van rides to sold-out hometown triumphs — remains a testament to a band that lived by the volume of their convictions, chasing the sound that first brought them together.