Dexter Dextrous and the Fingersmiths

Dexter Dextrous and the Fingersmiths Radio

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General Info

Genre: Funk / Ska / Swing
Location Leeds, Un
Profile Views: 21664
Last Login: 1/4/2013
Member Since 1/13/2009
Website www.dexterdextrous.co.uk
Type of Label Unsigned
Bio
So you want to know more eh? Fair enough. Dexter Dextrous and the Fingersmiths started off as a four-piece two years ago, playing funky covers and a selection of songs written by our very own Jim Halloran, or Dexter Dextrous as he now likes to be called. Since then we've added two new members, creating a brass trio that can blow the socks off the most seasoned listener and even be heard from space! We also changed drummer, saying goodbye to original Fingersmith John Bryan, and bringing in the funky and dynamic Aled Jones in his place. Over the last few years we've played all over Leeds and beyond: most notably at The Elbow Rooms, Carpe Diem, The Mad Hatter's Tea Party at Santiago's and a trio of gigs at the wonderful Brudenell Social Club. We also regularly play at festivals over the summer season, often touring with The Ladybird Project - a community based skill-sharing workshop and entertainment group. Our band mantra these days revolves around writing and playing songs that are unique, upbeat, theatrical and entertaining. Basically, it's all about the funk – music that makes you get up off your booty and throw yourself around on the dance floor. For us, it's just as important that we have fun playing the music as it is for the audience to enjoy listening because, ultimately, one thing translates into the other. In a review of our 2010 E.P. '5 Fingers', J. Attenborough finished by saying that "if there's one thing confirmed after listening… it would be a slightly bashful craving to go and watch this show on the stage". Amen to that. For bookings please contact us via our facebook page.
Members
Jim - Lead vocals / Rhythm guitar, Alex - Bass, Aled - Percussion, Joe - Trombone, Phi - Trumpet, Orde - Saxophone
Influences
Sublime, Bedouin Soundclash, The Blues Brothers, Cat Empire, The Eels, Flight of the Conchords, Frank Zappa, James Brown, Jamiroquai, Johnny Cash, Kool & The Gang, Paul Simon, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, Toots and The Maytals, To name just a few...
Sounds Like
Frank Zappa on mescaline, touring with the Blues Brothers...

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Latest Blog Entries

Feb 5, 2012 8:24 AM New Tour!
May 30, 2011 5:30 AM Our 1st UK Tour!
May 19, 2011 8:46 AM Pictures from Landed Festival and more besides...

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Bring Dexter Dextrous and the Fingersmiths to your city!

Meet the band...

Is Dexter ill?

Is Dexter ill, is Dexter ill, is Dexter ill today Mrs Fishbourne??? F**k no! He's right as rain and ready to take on all that 2012 has to offer! So welcome, welcome, one and all, to Dexter Dextrous and The Fingersmiths' myspace page. Here to meet all your dexterity needs.

Biography:

First of all, to answer the question on everyone's lips, first posed by the venerable A. Schwarzenegger: "Who is your daddy and what does he do?" You might well ask.... Dexter Dextrous & The Fingersmiths are a six-piece funk & ska band from Leeds who have been causing musical havoc together for four years. We aim to bring a fierce and funkified intermingling of musical styles, served with a healthy dose of enigmatic theatricality, that’s so far left people up and down the country wiggling their hips and moving their lips in praise. Funk forms the core of our collective creative spirit and, as the band has progressed, it’s become our bread and butter; laced with a sonic weave of reggae & ska, old-school r’n’b and dance hall swing. Certainly, there’s a handle for anyone, and if our crowds over the years have shown us anything, it’s that they love to dance. We’ve played at numerous festivals, including Kendal Calling, Solfest and Landed, so the summer circuit is always a highlight of our year, and 2012 promises to be no different. We also put on an extremely successful ten-date, thousand mile tour of the UK in July 2011, to promote our first, self-titled, EP and a second tour in February this year to promote our new EP, “All Talk”, which is included here for your listening pleasure. You can also follow this link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj5-y6-Px9w) to watch our brand-spanking-new music video and see the band in action.

Finally...

We hope that you enjoy what you hear, and make sure you watch this space for upcoming shows, new band info, and new tunes! Please feel free to add us, and check out our website (www.dexterdextrous.co.uk) for free downloads! May the funk be with you. Much love, Dexter & Co.

Members:

Jim - Lead vocals / Rhythm guitar, Alex - Bass, Aled - Percussion, Joe - Trombone, Phi - Trumpet, Orde - Saxophone

Influences:

Bedouin Soundclash, The Blues Brothers, The Cat Empire, The Eels, Flight of the Conchords, Frank Zappa, James Brown, Jamiroquai, Johnny Cash, Kool & The Gang, Paul Simon, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, Sublime, Toots and The Maytals. To name just a few...

Sounds Like:

Do you really have to be told? Use your ears and thank me later.

Reviews

- No-Title Magazine, Leeds, Feb 2012

“Dexter Dextrous and the Fingersmiths are a band who fully embrace both mischief and melodrama... and have built a formidable reputation thanks to a good debut EP and infamously chaotic live shows.”

- Kendal Calling, July 2011

“A downright funky outfit, full of true entertainers with great songs to boot. Anyone with an ounce of rhythm in their bones will dance to every beat… So check them out now!”