Hey. Hope your New Year has gotten off to the start you all wished for.
Outward silence from me whilst indulging – recording and mixing – finding rooms, peeling back distractions whilst delving into the night lives of North London. ‘Tis a period of shadowy experimentation, the results of which will be with you at some point soon(ish).
If you already haven’t, here’s the material that I released last year, still available as download and physical -
Much thanks for all your support during 2011. Top of this post is one of my latest paintings ‘Festival Of Light’ which is currently being exhibited in Rochester’s Nucleus Art Shop, alongside some other pieces of mine and a whole host of other artists work. Worth a trip in you’re in the Kent area, if not head over to www.brokenarts.co.uk to see my work – new stuff to be uploaded soon.
Lastly, though I’d share some photographs taken by Ian Rook, who’s worked with a whole host of interesting artists in the past – and is official photographer to Buzzcocks. I met Ian in Hull late last year, and before my gig we took a trip out into the old town. Many thanks to him for allowing use of these photos. Here’s a few from that shoot ….
… and whilst on the subject of photographers, you’ll notice a few changes around the site, one of which is the back ground – a live shot taken by Phil Dillon last year at The Slaughtered Lamb in London. Many thanks to him for letting me have use of it.
Last Saturday I headed to Medway where Beast Reality Presented its second official night to mark the release of ‘Waiting For The Post-Man‘. I was really excited about this one, we’d put together a cracking line-up and the The Barge is a beautiful setting. The night exceeded our expectations …. thanks so very much for everyone who came out to support us, and to BOAT OF GARTEN, THE SANS PAREIL and WOLF HOWARD for putting in amazing performances on the night.
Quote of the night has to go to Wolf Howard, who had us all hanging on his every word - “I’m terribly sorry about my language, I realise there are some children here in the pub tonight. This next one’s called ‘Cunt’…”
Sara Norling kindly donated the footage for this video which I’ve edited into a little snap-shot of the evenings proceedings. Below are a set of photos also taken by the wonderful Sara Norling and a shot from photographer Phil Dillon at the top of this post. Many thanks to them both for documenting the evening.
Also ….. The Slaughtered Lamb, which held my London Album Launch night in June, have invited me back to support BAXTER DURY on the 16th August. Should be a great gig for those of you around London or anyone who fancies the trip into the City. Lots more gigs soon to be announced and other pretty exciting stuff happening.
A few weeks ago we asked you to give your support to Jenny’s work in regards to the NME Photography Competition. Thanks to your response, she has secured a place in the Finals! I’m pleased to say that of the 2 photographs that have made it into the final stages of this competition, one is the tarred and feathered picture of us, taken earlier this year (see right thumbnail below).
Once again, we’re asking for a moment of your time, so if could spare a moment and place your VOTE for Jenny in this final stage of the Competition, that would be bloody marvelous.
As most of you will know, she has been a avid supporter of our work for over 5 years now, providing documentation both on and off the stage, as well as her always enthusiastic response to the prospect of shooting something a little bit weirder, so its great to return that support – and thats where you come in! Voting ends on the 12th October, so please spread the word far and wide!
Please help the wonderful Miss Jenny Hardcore in the NME photo awards by voting for her pictures.
She has five photographs entered in the competition including the tarred and feathered shot of yours truly.
Last week she had three photos all in the top 10, one of which was in first place. Please help give it one last push by voting before the competition ends.
Thanks so much.
Tom
xXx
Ps Dan, if you’re reading this, I got your email about the tattoo. Sorry its taken me so long to reply, I’ll be in touch soon.
I’ve just added a few new pics from the recent photoshoot to various areas of the website. Here’s one that everyone loved, but we weren’t sure about using as a “press” or a promo shot.
We might have appeared a bit quiet recently, but as ever much is going on behind the scenes. Not all of it’s “band” stuff, but everyone’s gloriously up to their neck in it one way or another.
Right now, on this Wednesday evening in early June, Mr Crook is writing, researching old movie posters and (in his own words) “dicking around”. Clayton’s drinking in a pub on Oxford Street.
The brothers Langridge are incommunicado… batteries fully charged, but diverting to voicemail. And I’m sitting at my desk, full of Indian takeaway and beer, spinning the story and weaving the web.
Mr Crook played a couple of solo sets at Rochester’s Sweeps Festival on Friday and Saturday night. Here are two songs that you’re going to hear more of over the next few months.
World’s End:
Devil’s Son:
Various photographers were in attendance. This is what’s been posted to Flickr so far (will automatically update with anything new):
(You can view the full-screen version of the slideshow here.)
The first time I’ve seen a British seaside in fucking years, and so began a haphazard Crooked Family trip down to the south coast, armed with loose ideas, a few bottles of wine and our battered guitars. The plan was, film a video for World’s End. Seeing as resident anarchist and Medway bred filmmaker Dave Wise had offered his services behind the lens, away we went. The usual chaos come creative blagging ensued, near drowning on my part and armed guards less than happy with our presence, all making this chilly yet sunny April day well worth the trip.
All hail Dungeness for she is a bitter dream, where nothingness grows like wild fire and all alive dies like a desperate death . . . . pure joy for the lost and lonely spirits of our godforsaken world. And on that note, here’s a fine selection of photographs taken by Hg, merry moments stolen during our inglorious day down at the World’s End, aka Dungeness, enjoy . . . . x
(For the larger version of the slideshow, click here.)
A few photos from last Friday, our last day in the studio.
For some reason every photo was a close up of our hungover and weathered heads. I’m not sure what was going on with our camera phones that day… so not much of an insight really. Sorry. However, there was one massively gay group shot… who would have thought that only eight hours before we were all rolling around on the floor having a band fight.
Anyway,
We’ve now finished recording and mixing the Album! It’s a whole lot different from the EP’s we’ve released this year. I want you all to hear it now!
