Better than gorilla gigging. Devil’s Son @ Lock 17 bar Camden on Monday night . . . voice, guitar & cajon. Five songs then the last train home. ROCK like a boulder.
x Bob
Crooked songs will never run straight, but some are more wayward than others. Early renditions of Beauties & Beasts contained sections that don’t feature on the version eventually released on the Great Fears & Curious Predictions EP.
Crook struggled with a dilemma. “Are my songs becoming a bit wet?” he mused one June evening last year, as his taxi sped through Chatham. Next time the song was played, there was something different about it. Stuff was missing.
However, a magpie mind won’t let go of its treasure so easily. With environmentally-aware economy, the discarded parts of the lyric and melody ended up being recycled in a darker song that was played a few times at solo gigs last summer.
It soon became clear that this sister song was a sickly Siamese beast, separated to save its healthier sibling. After a period of intensive care, its life-support system was turned off and nature allowed to run its inevitable course.
Coming across it again over a year later, I’m struck by its exuberant melody and the defiance with which it struggled with its dying breaths. Here it is, in all its flawed glory, presented with Mr Crook’s blessing. Nameless twin, RIP.
A few words on merchandise and filthy lucre. A couple of people asked us if there was a way to donate to the band to show their appreciation for the recent free EP. We’ve added a “tip jar” button in the sidebar on the right (and also on the Shop page).
The EP is free and that’s that. The only strings attached are to the guitars. However, to continue the theme, the band runs on a shoestring. Merchandise profits are modest and any money gets reinvested into creative projects and practical necessities.
The next most pressing task is to rescue Hicks, the band’s van, currently parked in a perilous location and in daily danger of being towed away and crushed. Though the immediate plans to tour have unfortunately changed, we need to think to the future.
So, any donations are gratefully received. We reckon it’ll cost about sixty quid to get Hicks to a place of safety. Not to sound like a fucking supermarket advert, but every little helps. Alternatively, you might like to buy some of the band’s fine merchandise.
Stocks of the limited edition Lost Belongings EP with the canvas sleeves are running very low. At the time of writing there are seven left and when they’re gone, they’re gone. There are plenty of standard edition copies left (paper sleeve only) if you miss out.
The hand-made t-shirts are sold out. There are some old-style Kill Cats ones left. They’re a little grubby, but it’s genuine Unawarehouse filth and thus part of the band’s heritage. We thought about washing & ironing them, but that’s not very rock ‘n’ roll.
We still have a few Lost Belongings “paint fetish” posters and some silver puzzle piece charms. Plenty of copies of the Old Books compilation. We have plans for new merchandise to be available soon… we’ll let you know the moment there’s any news.
