"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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey there :) How are you? My name is Kaci and this here is where I post all of my photography. If you could take just a second to comment one of my photos it would be greatly appreciated. I also run a non profit organization called Open Your Eyes. myspace.com/changetheworldd It's to spread the word about depression and suicide so if you could check that out and add it that would be amazing. I would love to talk to you, message or comment me anytime and we can have a nice little conversation. Much love! -Kaci
The Sunderland Music Forum cordially invites you to an evening of music,
networking and discussion at The Place on Atheneaum Street, Sunniside,
next Wednesday 11th March at 6pm.
It's a chance for the music community within the City of Sunderland to
get involved and air your views. A discussion of current relevant
topics will be followed by some live music and a free buffet, drinks
and networking session.
Please try and make it along and share your thoughts, ideas or queries about
Music in Sunderland.
Minutes to previous meetings are online along with our Constitution and a list of
Committee members and all forum members. Check out our Blog for details.
It's the SMF monthly meeting next Wednesday at the City Library on Fawcett St at 6pm. Please try and make it along and share your thoughts with us. If you have any ideas, initiatives, suggestions, grumbles or queries and you are attending the meeting please send them to us beforehand and we'll discuss them with you next week.
Hello there, Please try to make it down to our next SMF meeting at the City Library, Fawcett St, on Wednesday October 8th at 6pm. There's loads of interesting topics on the agenda and a chance for you to raise any topics or ideas you have. After that, we're having a showcase gig at The White Room from 7.30pm with Indoor Fireworks, Angloform and Our Imaginary Ben there to entertain you, and playing for nowt! It's free in, so get yourself there even if you can't make the meeting. Cheers.
Online Now!
