Rock'n'roll, garage rock, surf, punk, blues, alt country, rockabilly, spaghetti westerns, ghost stories, film noir, crime novels, gin, whiskey, red wine, art... and all the other good (and bad) things that make life interesting.
Sounds Like
Darkly poetic tales of intrigue laced with neo blues spirit, a dash of fiery hellbound alt country and blended with a modern alt rock twist.
Please direct any important messages for the band via E-MAIL, not Myspace.
Le Chat Noir are managed by Jason Jarman of Hold 'Em Management. Jason can be reached via E-MAIL or by phoning +44(0)7973479389.
Le chat Noir have released albums on Garage Sale Records and Patchogue Records, but are unsigned. Any enquiries should be targeted to the band's management (see above).
Please visit our ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT for high resolution photos, logos etc for promotional purposes.
All comments left on this profile will be replied to personally by the band if at all possible, so please get in touch, it's much appreciated.
Due to Myspace downgrading the quality of all uploaded MP3s, please listen to our tracks by using the player below for optimum quality. Many thanks, check out our Last.FM page for lots more streamed media!
Le Chat Noir are hard-rockin' Transatlantic duo Teddy Hesper and Eileen Spruce. During the past 2 years the band have gigged solidly all over Europe, their full throttle live performances leaving stages soaked in sweat and blood and littered with broken drumsticks. Along the way Le Chat Noir sold out their self-funded debut release Tales From Silver City and released a follow up, Deadwood. Tales From Silver City was voted Playmusic Magazine’s Best Unsigned Recording of 2006.
Teddy Hesper was born in London, England in 1982, but moved to the Devonshire countryside aged 4. Though he is an experienced musician, being in Le Chat Noir has marked a change in Hesper's musical direction - since picking up a bass guitar at the age of 15, he has played in numerous bands, but it was not until late 2006, when he began his musical correspondence with Spruce, that he switched from bass to guitar and vocals. Hesper is a keen reader and writer and has a degree in English Literature. His guitar style is unusual and certainly influenced by his years as a bassist - he often plays in open D, using an ABY box to split the signal to a bass amplifier and guitar amplifier to flesh out the band's sound - whilst his untrained, exorcism-in-progress vocal delivery has led to comparisons to Kurt Cobain, Frank Black and even Jim Morrison. A mild-mannered character in person, Hesper undergoes a remarkable change upon taking to the stage - he often seems to be wrestling with inner demons, charging Le Chat Noir's live shows with excitement and unpredictability.
Los Angeles native Spruce was born in 1983, moving to England in 2006 to be in Le Chat Noir. Anyone who has witnessed one of Le Chat Noir's live shows will testify that her aggressive style blows any comparisons to other well-known girl drummers out of the water. When on stage, Spruce becomes a woman possessed. She is an irresistible presence behind the drums, thrashing out solid, powerful rhythms as though her life depended on it. People have made comparisons to John Bonham and Keith Moon. She is one of the most animated and hardest-hitting drummers you are ever likely to see, attested to by a trail of broken double butt-ended drumsticks and smashed cymbals!
Carpe Diem @ 4AD, Diksmuide (Belgium) 07-03-08. Her Wicked Smile @ 4AD, Diksmuide (Belgium) 07-03-08.
There's something about seeing Le Chat Noir live, you just get that feeling deep down that you're watching a band that really have something special, and you might just be there at the birth of true greatness. The stories you hear about small venue early gigs of seminal bands, like The Brian Jonestown Massacre starting fights at the viper rooms or Sex Pistols at Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall, The Beatles at The Cavern etc. - where hardly anyone was there but all of them went on to form bands after being inspired by what they saw... you can’t learn the kind of connection this double act have on stage, and the natural aptitude for their instruments. You just know that, and it’s only a matter of time before they do, when this band start playing for big, big crowds they could start a fucking riot... as soon as you put aside those White Stripes misconceptions – and you will as soon as they strike the first note, the first scream and first thunder of kick and snare, you realise your about to witness something explosive - and I for one feel privileged to now be able to say "I was there at the beginning". Noize Makes Enemies live review
Teddy is the man on raw vocal and dirty blues electric, done up like a no-messin shit-slingin' cowboy. Eileen is on drums and sometimes off them... she pounds harder and faster than any female drummer I've ever seen. Think The Kills, The Ravonettes and every other male/female two-piece and double the 'f@$% me' ratio... drumsticks flew, Teddys blood was spilt, guitars were thrown and even trousers were split in the best example of dirty garage blues rock'n'roll I've seen in a long time! Moles Club Website live review
ah, from Belgium to Moretonhampstead. Careful or you may find yourself in Newton Abbot. Fancy a night out at Barometer World? Life can be so exciting. [said in Brummie accent]
Its been a while since I spoke to you guys. Just a quick update I have left Devonport Underground.Shame but I do not think running gigs that often is my cup of tea.I am still starting up a promotions company with a friend though so see how that goes.
Oh Belgium sounds like fun, good luck with that. If my first night goes well hopefully I can pencil in another date and will keep you posted. Oh yeah by the way the burlesque night you played in Torquay is happening at Tiggas bar, Exeter at the end of August! Enjoy... Kal :)
What can I say? We are not worthy!!! You guys are just beautiful - thank you so much for raising the roof at Kinky & Quirky's bash! Happy Camping and talk soon - lotsa love xxx
Guys you really rocks !!!! I have seen you in sjock festival early in the morning and it was amazing ! Thank you both for this show my friends and i will remember it for a long time !