David Gaffney and A Band that was Named King

I previously mentioned A Band Named King when I blogged the West Derby Music Festival back in August. The double-front-man combination of David Gaffney and Joe Rogerson had busked their way to prominence, picking their way from Jersey, through Brighton and London, before finding their musical home in the North-West.  The additions of Pierso on Vocals and keyboards with Tobias Gibaud on drums helped to enforce the Merseyness of their sound, with catchy melodies and earnest lyrics telling the first chapter of their story, which had only just begun....personally I couldn't understand why I wasn't hearing more about A Band Named King with tunes like 'Little Cretin' and 'Not a Soul in Sight' with it's pleasingly punchy guitar work.  Well there is a good reason for that as the guys have since sadly, split up.

That being said, the good news is former front man David Gaffney is doing a solo set as part of The Vexes debut showcase gig in The Hold at The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool on Saturday 27th October.  This is a unique chance to catch why this young mans vocals accompanied by his solid acoustic guitar playing are all that's good about the current Liverpool music scene.  Here's a video of David and Joe Rogerson doing a stripped back version of 'Concrete Trampoline'.  

David is currently writing some new tunes and working on a new project of which I'll bring you more news in the future.....in the meantime get yourself down to The Shipping Forecast this Saturday (27th Oct) 7.30pm - 11.00pm and tickets are only £5 for a night not to be missed!

  

Everyday Goldfish.....scaling the ladder of fame....

Now it's not every day a goldfish brings out an EP so Friday 26th October was a big date for young Manchester band Everyday Goldfish who released their first EP, the aptly named 'Eyes On The Prize' at The Candence Cafe Tyldesley that very night!  The band are Alex Haslam, Jack Binks, (why do I imagine his nickname is Jar Jar) Laiton Price, Lee Whittingham and Lewis Tooby.  They are the epitome of shiny bright young things as they've only recently left school and have their eyes set firmly on climbing the rock ladder (see how I cleverly avoided 'Stairway To Heaven') to fame and fortune.

The 'Eyes On The Prize' EP has three tracks which are now available for download but if you're lucky enough to lay your hands on one of the hard copies there's a 'secret' bonus track.....I forget what it's called.....oh yeah.....'Amnesia' which Ralph has heard and all I'm saying is it's worth getting your hands on the hard copy just for this track alone.....just a hint of The Skids.....

By way of a taster I will give you this little snipette from the EP called 'Uncle Joe'.  It's a hard driving rock track with punk undertones which belies their tender years.




The other tracks are 'Beautiful Girl' and 'Just Smile' which you'll just have to go and download the EP if you want to hear them but I can assure you, you will not be disappointed.  If you were in or around Tyldesley on the 26th and got tickets for Everyday Goldfish's EP launch night, you'll know it was be a stormer - oh and the EP hard copies were on sale.....kaaaaching.....

Well the EP launch has come and gone and thanks to a bit of guest reviewing by Denise and Steve of Creely Photography in Irlam, Manchester.....Ralph can bring you a no holds barred account of the night (they took the pics too).....

The newly opened Cadence Cafe was the venue on Friday of Everyday Goldfish, EP launch - Eyes On The Prize.

We've been working with the band for a couple of years now, photographing them during rehearsals and at various gigs around Manchester, and we've witnessed, at close quarters, how the guys have developed into one of the best new Rock Bands in the North West.  The Cafe was packed to the rafters when we arrived and there was a real buzz amongst the crowd who had turned out to see EDG and were eagerly anticipating the band's arrival on stage.

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This gig sees them come of age with a set list of their own material, with a couple of crowd-pleasing covers thrown in as encores (the crowd were vociferously demanding more & were reluctant to let them leave the stage).   They play with a confidence, energy, swagger & muscianship way beyond their years.  EDG had the young crowd eating out of their hands, the place was in raptures by the end of the set and their was certainly a lot of love in the room for Everyday Goldfish. 

Their boy band good looks, belies their hard rock and indie influences.  Their EP songs, Amnesia, Beautiful Girl, Uncle Joe and Just Smile shows genuine talent in their song writing abilities.  They sound fresh and new amongst so many bands today who tend to sound like everybody else. 

Just a mention on the newly opened Cadence Cafe - it is a great venue for new & upcoming bands to showcase their music and will no doubt become the place to see and be seen on the music circuit.

For sure Everyday Goldfish are a band to keep a close eye on - check them out for yourself and you'll understand why, in our opinion, they are on a trajectory to a stellar future!

Denise & Steve Creely Photography

Big news for today is the lads will performed a 20 minute set in The Marquee Suite of the DW Stadium in Wigan for BBC Children In Need Friday 9th Nov.....and here's a picture hot off the press!

Tom Elias.....Tom Waits meets Paulo Nutini?

T.G Elias is a prolific writer and performer whose distinctive, subtle and powerful voice holds audiences spellbound with his mesmerizing performances. Drawing from his deeply rooted relationship with Gospel, Country and Blues, the result is a collection of candid tales and life stories, served up by a journeyman with an understated raw emotion.

OK now obviously as a Jack Russell I didn't write that but apart from the fact it uses a lot of big words in a music journo stylee it pretty much sums up what this young man's music is about.  His voice is Tom Waits with less bourbon and cigarettes mixed up with a bit of Paulo Nutini in a Neil Young and Jim James way.  

Ball and Chain is a bluesy, mournful, pluck at your heart strings track written and sung by a young man reaching way beyond his years to make the listener feel his pain.

It's on his debut album T.G.Elias and the good news is you wont have to wait long to grab yourself some of this musical niceness.

He releases the album 'T.G.Elias' through Liverpool based Viper Label/SRD Distribution on the 22nd October 2012 and will be gigging accordingly.  

First off on Thursday 11th October he's playing The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge, quickly followed by an album launch on Friday 19th October in the intimate surroundings of The Black Room in the Ducie Bridge, Manchester followed by Sunday 21st October at The Shipping Forecast in Liverpool.

The Dulcie Bridge.....
Home of The Black Room

Finally he's doing 'Pull Up Roots' at The Slaughtered Lamb in London on the 22nd October.  3rd November he's in Bangor at a venue to be confirmed and finally on the 17th November it's The Blue Rooms, Huddersfield. 

" We don't normally review 'Folk', but this isn't just Folk'. It's something devastatingly refreshing. T.G. Elias is creating quite a stir. Listen to his record now!- fRoots

Now I'm guessing I've not heard of this young man previously because he's not what you'd consider 'mainstream' but if the contents of this album are anything to go by everyone will be hearing a lot more of him very soon.  I for one will be pointing those lovely people at Folk Radio UK his direction and I suggest you do the same.....