Neil Young and that Tom Waits fellar. The Lemonheads and that Sparklehorse type. Pavement and those Sebadoh buggers. Mr Gram Parsons and the John Prine and the Bob Dylan and the Grandpa Jones and the Roy Hogsed and the Neutral Milk Hotel and the Hefner and the Smog and the Jules Hatfield and the Silver Jews and the shit:
Sounds Like
"strange noises and weird spun out moments of quiet noise... "
Now, as you may know, Blackpool is a town built on disappointment and despair.
Growing up on these windy shores, Benjamin Shaw had an awful lot of time on his hands. Years and years and years.
After a period of particular awfulness, and a short descent into madness, Ben fell for a whimsical fair lady on the other side of the planet, and promptly set about a plan to move his life over to Melbourne, Australia. It was around this time that making up songs finally became important to Ben, and although not fantastic, they were still good enough to make a few friends in the blossoming Preston music scene, and help woo his internet beau from across the water. Before setting sail, and with help from other local gloomers, Ben made a short 7 song CD to take on his way.
After a year in Melbourne, playing gaggles of shows and being involved in some frightfully hot bondings with the hip and dandies of Melbourne, Ben returned to Engerland with a wife and a woollen sock full of new songs and recordings.
Now living in the woods of North London, Ben has recently been seen playing all the main dives you've never heard of, and continues to be making mountains of his molehill recordings.
Neil Young and Tom Waits, mixed with the Neutral Milk Hotels, Jeffrey Lewises and Sparklehorses of today have become the diet, and with all the agility you would expect from a gangly, pale, washing line of a man, Benjamin Shaw is coming at you like a wet duffle-coat.
luckily (or rather unluckily for me) i managed to fall over on my way home from work (possibly through excitement at playing so close to the sparrows of tottenham) and twisted my wrist and thus have to cancel the gig. i am now typing with one hand :/
i shall have to apologise to the promoter some more, i left her an answer message but i shall try all avenues to get another gig there. accidents sadly seem to happen to me alot, i should really stop walking under ladders, breaking mirrors and setting fire to tortoise shell coloured cats
i will try and get another gig down the road from you (possibly with some assistance as to where is good to play near you?)
Tune in to episode 12 of the Lantern Society Radio Hour, featuring the creme de la creme of the capital's most comely crooners. Stunning live performances beautifully captured for your listening pleasure, at London's Finest Folk Club, The Lantern Society.
And, why not join us for the next Lantern Society - Thursday 18th June.
The Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon Rd, London. EC1R 3BL
Hello Benjamin Shaw. This is our first headline London show for a very long time, to celebrate finishing our new album which will be out later this year. So come on down and have a good time with us.
...and of course don't forget London's Finest Folk Club, The next Lantern Society - Thursday 7th May at the Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon Rd, EC1R 3BL. Neartest tube Farringdon.
partly inspired by your comment, i'm putting together a little EP of some of the recordings i've done so far. warts and all. i think i'll have something together somtime this week for a free download.
later, dress up like a hooker, i'll be charlie sheen
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