Greg Rees - Vocals & Guitar
Emily C Smith - Bass, Harmonica, Percussion & Backing Vocals
Mark Slater - Guitar
Andrew Hall - Guitar
Benjamin Thomas - Drums & Percussion
Laura Dinham - Percussion & Backing Vocals
Nick Briggs - Saxophone
Influences
Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, Jeff Buckley, Richard Thompson, Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Wilco, Woody Guthrie, The Band, The Byrds, Tim Buckley, Joni Mitchell, Patti Smith, R.E.M., Leonard Cohen, Gene Clark, Fairport Convention, Ani Difranco, Uncle Tupelo, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Josh Ritter, Sandy Denny, Ben Harper, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, Steve Earle, Gram Parsons, The Clash, Nirvana, Big Star, Billie Holiday, Leadbelly, Gillian Welch, Nina Simone, Tim Hardin, Phil Ochs, Tom Waits, Loudon Wainwright, Warren Zevon, Randy Newman, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Alim Qasimov, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Nick Drake, Vashti Bunyan, Television, Buzzcocks, The Who, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Van Morrison, Bruce Cockburn, Lucinda Williams, PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, John Prine, My Morning Jacket.
Music has always been part of my life, even if it took me a while to take notice. My maternal grandfather sang Caruso and Lanza in old working men club's along the Garw Valley. He did it for the love of it, and not to put coins in his pocket. He was the local cobbler and mended shoes for a living. My paternal grandfather was a competition-winning ballroom dancer. He graced the polished halls of the Llynfi Valley. He was a miner and spent most of his time underground. Again, he danced out of adoration and not for it. My father is an engineer. He once walked the best part of thirty miles to see The Who in concert. I need say no more.
I started writing words at a young age, probably six or seven, began my first novel at eleven, and wrote my first song at sixteen. I believe in the heritage of music. I believe in a shared history, the highs and the lows and the in-betweens. I could say I play folk music but I'm not sure what that means. I could say I play country but I don't wear a hat. I don't play the blues 'cause it's too much fun and I'd never try anything else. Maybe Townes was right and it's all just zippedee-do-dah.
I write songs with words. That is, the words don't merely serve to punctuate the vocal but formulate it. Phrasing is the most important aspect of the art of singing in my eyes and ears and I strive to make each performance disturbingly fresh. My work is as much influenced by Dostoevsky, Pessoa, & Keats as it is Dylan, Van Zandt, & Thompson. I play under a pseudonym 'cause I've never been able to deal with the fact that my first band didn't last forever. I confess that the name comes from a Josh Ritter song. I hope he doesn't sue me.
I run a monthly night at The Half Moon in Herne Hill called "Folk At The Moon" that features the very best artists I encounter on the road. They fall on the first Friday of every month and if anyone out there wants to pop down and buy me a guinness I'd be most grateful.
Thomas was so impressed with your performance last Saturday at the New Angel that he has been mimicking you on his piano with his mic! He started with a one, two, one two, sang a song and then said thank you! He is obviously looking to follow in Uncle Greg's footsteps with the music!
Great set last night Greg. It was particularly nice to hear a hushed audience when you were introducing your new song TREE OF LIGHTS. I'll say it again, you've really hit your stride with some great songwriting. Well done!
Well, where to begin...? Today I sat in on some recording with my buddy Benjamin Folke Thomas who was recording some backing tracks over at a fella called Tony Harris' who was one of the engineers on REM's Fables of the Reconstruction album in the 80's. I've always been a big fan of REM, the song Driver 8 from that album being possibly my favourite REM song of all time. A song I've always had trouble playing on the guitar all because of a weird D chord that guitarist Peter buck plays which I have never managed to get right somehow. Now get this..., Tony Harris lent Peter Buck his guitar for that track on the original recordings and today got it out of it's case and passed it my way. I told him I knew the song and when I started playing the intro I could feel that it must be the real deal because when I reached the chord I had always had trouble with it sounded perfect. After playing the song and being congratulated by Tony I got quite emotional that the universe had provided me with the gift of this bit of wood with strings on that had by a small miracle somehow come my way. Man, the world is strange...!
The deXter Bentley Hello GoodBye Show returns to the airwaves on Resonance 104.4 FM this Saturday 5th September between noon and 1.30pm. Today's broadcast is in conjunction with PESTIVAL * With contributions from the Mosquito expert Dr. James Logan, an essay from the author Tim Burrows (on the subject of insects in rock and pop), plus live music from the London based alt/art duo Plug, who will debut new insect related material especially written for Hello GoodBye.
* PESTIVAL is a festival celebrating insects in art, and the art of being an insect. Pestival 2009 runs from 3rd-6th September @ The Southbank Centre and is jam-packed with insect-inspired talks and debates, as well as comedy, music, walks, workshops, installations and experiments. For further information, please visit: http://pestival.org
Tune in and turn on. Episode 18 features the long awaited return of Ben Folke Thomas, from his hidden island lair to continue his evil plans to take over the world, an interview with, performance by, exclusive album track play, and give away, by noir-folkists 'Juniper Leaf', and many more goodly musical gifts to be bestowed upon you dear listener by the noble Lantern Players.
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howdy, if you've got nothing on, we're opening a showcase of UK Americana at Bush Hall tuesday 11th august. With Lana, The Green Rock River Band and The Cedars. Reckon it's gonna be alot a fun. cheers mark & graham the henry brothers
Lookin' in to see what you're up to...and to leave some love on your page!
.. Today is the day for best friends to soar Today is the day for spirits to erupt with fire Today is the day for friends to complete their dream Today is the day for friends to shine beyond the stars Today is the day for friends to share and open their hearts
Today has the song sung upon the wind Today the dream comes alive from within Today the word is about to be spread That friends like you are the best in the world And that you show that you do truly care
So soar like the Eagle Dance with the stars For you are a friend And you shine with the Spirit of Love - unknown
Thanks for putting up two of your finest yet, Harrisburg. Eyes on the Clock is perhaps the saddest and most beautiful tune you've written, and that last third of Ravens and Doves leaves me with a lump in the throat.
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