Chris Murphy - vocals, guitars, piano, harmonica /
Richard Klonowski - lead guitar /
Jav - bass, backing vocals /
Dave Webb - drums, backing vocals /
Influences
A lot, among which are:
Bob Dylan, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Neil Young, Led Zepplin, Nina Simone, Rufus Wainwright, REM, Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley, The Doors, Cream, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Richard Thompson, Nirvana, Guns N Roses, Bert Jansch, Richard Hawley, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Marillion, Queen, Talking Heads, The Police, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Bob Marley, Queens Of The Stone Age, Ryan Adams, Leonard Cohen, Jarvis Cocker, Cat Power, Crowded House, Sufjan Stevens, Adem, Anything at all by Abbeydale Breweries
Chris Murphy & Boxer Genius are a four piece band based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire that have got something beautiful to share. The band, formed by Murphy, have developed a powereful, epic, folk-rock sound that has arrested the attention of the city and surrounding areas to the fact that current indie rock has a major successor in-waiting.
Murphy is coy about his songwriting abilities - and it's a clear distinction to the common sound of much of the charts. He conceded in a Sheffield Star interview in August that "It's sad fact that there is still a lot of stuff in the UK that sounds like it's been cut from the same cloth. I don't really want to be a part of that."
The band comprises Murphy on lead vocals, acoustic guitar, piano and harmonica, Richard Klonowski on lead guitar, Jav on bass guitar and Dave Webb on drums and percussion.
The genesis of the band goes back to 2004 when Klonowski and Jav were recording Murphy's first solo album 'Passions of The Wise' at Red Tape Studios in Sheffield. "It just seemed peculiar that two great musicians, interested as they were from an engineering and recording perspective - were not contributing parts to the album or a live sound - I was delighted when they agreed to the idea of coming along with me". Drummer Dave Webb was recruited through an advert and the "frankly ridiculously good skinsman" has become a solid feature of the band since he first performed on 'Back to Optimistic' and 'Worthier' during the course of the album. "He's the perfect drummer" says Murphy "he's even a bit mental". Tommy R. Jones was an additional member for a period of a year; "a true all-rounder" who helped a great deal on the most recent album.
After toying with the lightweight 'The Greenlovers' name for the band, Murphy decided to shake up the competition with a tougher moniker 'Boxer Genius' - inspired by the former three-time world heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali.
So what next?
Fantastic feedback has always followed the band around and following in the wake of the single 'Brighton' released in February, and the newly released album 'Another Reunion' it seems the band is finally on it's way... With a full-bodied, beautiful, honest and sweeping sound it's little wonder that the City's Exposed magazine called them "ridiculously accomplished".
The album 'Another Reunion', featuring 'Brighton' is available now on iTunes and will be available in CD format at the beginning of September in selected shops/at gigs...
What they say:
"Ridiculously accomplished" - Exposed Magazine
"Maker of epic songs and muscular ballads'' - Sheffield Star
Chris Murphy & Boxer Genius's Friend Space (Top 8)
This beautiful super-heavyweight LP, which comes packaged in a sweet full-colour sleeve reunites the UK's premier free drummer Alex Neilson, who's played, amongst others, with Motor Ghost, Directing Hand, Trembling Bells, Tight Meat Duo, Josephine Foster, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Jandek, MV&EE, Richard Youngs, Baby Dee and Alastair Galbraith, with Nmperign member Greg Kelley, whose reinvention of the trumpet is as crucial now as Anthony Braxton's reinvention of the sax was 30 years ago. A screeching, soaring, scattergun array of noises come maniacally out of Greg's horn, unlike anything we've ever heard and, with the addition of random stabs of electronics, he successfully straddles no wave, concrete and free jazz in a way that makes those genres seem like trite pigeonholes.
Buy your copy now from www. myspace. com/goldenlabrecords
March 25th is the first night of The Wagon's Wheels @ The Grapes on it's new date of the last Wednesday of each month. To ring in the change we have 3 of our favourite bands in the shape of Chris Murphy & Boxer Genius, Tsar Nicholas III & The Exiles plus the return of Lomas with an acoustic set. Doors open at 8pm and entry will be £3.
Hey, how are you? we have uploaded 3 new tracks and would love for you to check them out. Especially our track "In Memory". we wrote this song in dedication to the legend Phil Lynott. Thanks for your time :) Stainless
We are playing our first headline slot at West Street Live on the 19th of January and we have picked an amazing line up, it would be grand if you could pop in. Cheers Russ
It was sooo good to see you live again last night! best performance I have ever seen you lot do by a long shot and I hope you really enjoyed that gig in the end (I'm sure you did :-) )
Thank you so much for your interest! I want to warmly invite you to join my mailing list to be informed of the release of my album and more... You can even join the street team to spread the music. It's free and it's just here: http://join. spleenarcana. com
Thank you so much for your interest Peace - Julien
I’ve also just uploaded FOUR New Live Guitar Videos of me playing ‘iHeart Guitar’, ‘Second Chances’, ‘ThunderLightningBolt’ & ‘Welcome To The World’ onto YouTube!!!
Les Sons du Nord returns to the UK! An exchange programme of sorts between Northern France, Belgium and Sheffield established since 2006. The event takes over the excellent Shakespeare pub, Gibraltar Street, Sheffield, from the 28th - 30th August. Expect top bands, amazing sausages and nice booze. Sheffield is represented by Nat Johnson, Champion Kickboxer, the Yell, Yo-Yo Static and Rotary Ten whilst Curry & Coco, Frank Shinobi, Soy un Cabalo and the Appleseeds cross the channel.
hello matey, yes I'm currently a vragrant of no fixed abode. well, residing in a 4 star hotel in Malta for the next couple of months actually! hope all's well, will get in touch with a longer communique when I get back to Blighty.
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