Six years ago The Boxer Rebellion recieved a blow that would leave most other bands knocked out and throwing in the towel.

Signed to Oasis boss Alan McGee’s Poptones label, Wanstead-based four piece’s first full-length album, Exits, looked set to propel them to stardom.

“Then we didn’t have good luck,“ says Nathan Nicholson, the band’s Tenessee-born frontman, putting it very mildly.

Just a week after their debut’s release the label imploded, leaving them unsigned. Disaster, right?

“At the time we were just ready to play music,“ explains Nathan. “Eventually we liked the idea of having a clean slate. I look at it now as a blessing.“

Good fortune has been on their side ever since. They remain unsigned, and that’s the way they like it.

“It’s nice to be able to do your own thing,“ says Nathan, looking forward to rehearsals for the band’s biggest gig to date at Shepherds Bush Empire.

“The plus point is you can make decisions far quicker. It’s worked.“

Within days of the release of their self-funded follow-up Union it reached number four in the iTunes UK download chart and topped the US alternative chart – thanks to a stroke of luck no music mogul’s money could buy.

“A guy came to one of our gigs and was a real fan of the music,“ explains Nathan. “A few weeks later he was promoted to head of rock at iTunes. It was great.“

Next, in the audience of their first US gig was a representative of New Line Cinema who got them a significant part in Drew Barrymore’s rom-com blockbuster Going The Distance, starring as themselves.

With a Late Show with David Letterman appearence earlier this year, the band’s third album, the self-released The Cold Still, could be their biggest selling so far.

It’s been a gradual ascendency – but slow, steady and unsigned looks to be winning the race.

“We’ve noticed over the years so many bands that are built up and then kind of burn out,“ says Nathan. “As soon as they come up they’re gone.

“It’s crazy, we’ve been around far longer then say the Kaiser Chiefs and they already seem like an old band. We’ve never been the sound of 2010 or 11 or whatever, I’m glad of that.

“We’ve always had a steady growth and maintained our fanbase, our fans have kept with us for a long time.“

Many of them will pack into Shepherd’s Bush Empire this month to hear The Cold Still performed live.

“London has always felt like a hometown gig and this will be one of our biggest shows,“ says Nathan. “It’s pretty awesome for us.“

With their continued success, surely it won’t be long before big record companies come a-knocking?

“With big companies you can spend a lot without realising it, that’s just the nature of the beast. Now, a lot of bands bigger than us are beginning to do it the independent way.

“It’s working – we don’t need them!“

The Boxer Rebellion play Shepherds Bush Empire on September 29.

The Cold Still is available now.

Details: www.theboxerrebellion.com