"Some journeys are straightforward. The span between the beginning and the end has a smooth inevitability to it - there is a sense of predictable satisfaction. Other journeys have no sense - they have diversions and detours and you can never be certain whether there is any ultimate destination, obscured as it is by som many layers of smoke and subterfuge.
George Washington Brown's journey has been of the latter variety. He first came to prominence a decade and more ago fighting the good fight as drummer and strummer in the centre of the whirlwind which was Kenickie. Many have crumbled in the aftermath of that era's extravagances but GWB, or Johnny X as he was then widely known, simply shifted focus and reacquainted himself with earlier passions of a more downhome hue. He reemerged in 2000 with a slew of EPs and singles under the guise of J Xaverre, garnering much critical goodwill and even an incongruous NME SOTW, before releasing a debut full-length, These Acid Stars, in 2003. This melange of psychedelic melancholia betrayed an encyclopedic and wistful devotion to frazzled pop and I, for one, have been waiting for a worthy successor since then.
But a restless mind such as that of our hero can't be expected to chase my crude expectations. J Xaverre proved to be another unsustainable charade and GWB's fingerprints started to appear in all manner places - notably as the chief instigator behind Meet Eric Roberts, a power-pop jam-band supergroup involving Maximo Park's Paul Smith among the throng, and in a vibraphonic cameo on Field Music's Tones of Town LP. The suspicion that a speedily-snapped-up quasi-bootleg of Roberts recordings would prove to be the final music outpouring from a fellow who had acquired cult status in the North East's small and malformed music scene have, thankfully, proved unfounded with this, the release of On The Night Plain. Whether the shape-shifting and charades have come to an end, and whether this release does indeed represent some kind of conclusion or merely another starting point remains to be seen. What is clear though, is that this release contains the finest songs the old man has ever committed to tape - a smorgasbord which encompasses expansive sonic meanderings, unselfconscious indie-rock thrashing, sad-eyed melodrama and the kind of wised-up humour we might expect from a statesman and scholar with such a track record, but which is a rarity in these youthquaking, moronically-earnest and docile times.
Here we have George Washington Brown comprehensively topping his past endeavours, having created a truly cherishable thing - a humanistic modern record, a gift from one adventurer to others."
"A delightful distraction in a world plagued with mediocrity- 8.5" Black & White
" it's just got 'feelgood' written all over it without being irritating or trite. Absolute loveliness" Boomkat
INTERVIEW in The Crack Magazine
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Described by Hydragenic as 'a subtle, widescreen sountrack for the bitter break-up of a relationship', London's Elks are unclassifiable in their unconventional brilliance, a band always evolving, taking chances and refusing to sit still. Following a successful string of European shows, the band are coming to Newcastle tonight, Monday 16 June. Also on the bill are Spraydog, Italy's Three In One Gentlemans Suit, and The Black Static of Summer. This one is at the Newcastle Arts Centre, entry is £4 and doors are at 7pm.
These United States/Vandaveer was one of our favourite shows of the year in 2007, so we're super happy to announce that they're both making a return to The Head of Steam, Newcastle on Sunday 22 June. This Washington DC outfit serve up country-tinged folk sautéed in electronic seasoning; along with artier neighbours Le Loup and Exit Clov, These United States offer melodic and amusing ideas to the post-Fugazi landscape, but they're still tied to thoughtful ones-in this case, mostly protesting heartless romantic antics - Village Voice. A co-promotion with our friends Ex-Libris Records, the bill also features John Egdell and Aaron McMullan. Doors are 8pm and entry is £4.
HI there...thnx 4 the connection ! Took some time to listen to your music and it sounds GREAT !!!!!!! Greetz from D E E Z E L (Belgium) Check out my music if you like?
I *should've* been up to 29 now, but I've just realised it should be 35 (on a technicality) in total and not 30 like originally thought. I really don't think there is enough for that :( Guttingly it'll probably be a third of that.
Good, I'm the music researcher on the CS now so booking the bands for the new series. Lots of gigs to go to so that's keeping me busy. Bumped into Dunc and Archis from Maximo at the Battles video launch last night, nice to see them. Mark and me have both started new bands, expect myspace contact in the near future! Mark has his first gig supporting Mice Parade which is a bit jammy. They are called Drinks and my band is called After Lunch. (which works quite well as a sentence now I see it written down). Are you coming to visit anytime soon? x
the pigeons and skinner boxes were on the tele last night - so i'm not talking gibberish (well not that time) - but these pigeons were white so i think they were either posh or actually doves.
anyway, when's the album release party? i thought there was one?
I CANNOT WAIT for the 6th of June.
George Washington Brown AND Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin!?
EVERYONE needs to make sure they don't miss this gig. I expect it'll be a really good turnout.
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin sound like those people who wrote that one-off hit OC theme tune, BuT ten times better. and the drumming in 'Pangea' sounds like it's from Field Music.
ATTENTION NORTH EAST BASED GEORGE WASHINGTON BROWN FANS!
Seek out the April issue of NARC. magazine, available from 28th March, to get a free compilation CD featuring some of the best bands in the North East including George Washington Brown among others!
Thanks so much for your friendship, John
