Zoe McVeigh = Voice / Bar Chords Danny Sharman = Beats Steph Angel = Bass
Influences
Sleater Kinney, Gossip, Tanya Donelly, Throwing Muses, Belly, The Breeders, The Amps, Kaito, The Stooges, Dusty Springfield, Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, Bratmobile, David Bowie, Pixies, Excuse 17, Joan Jett, Heavens To Betsy, Gravy Train, Bangs, Partyline, Spider & The Webs, 50 Foot Wave, P J Harvey, Cadallaca, The Butchies, Team Dresch, Electrelane, The Pretenders
(hooker) are a gloriously brash Manchester-based femme-punk outfit. Creating sounds that oscillate between delicate and bruised, and fiercely raw and dynamic, (hooker) are emotive, dirty, beautiful. - 'It's a complete mystery why they are not absolutely massive.' (Manchester Music)
(hooker) are one of Manchester's most engaging and powerful live acts, touring regularly in the UK, supporting bands such as The Slits, The Gossip, Interpol, Le Tigre, 50ft Wave, Uh Huh Her, Katastrophy Wife, Brassy, Television and The Donnas, as well as playing a string of gigs and festivals in Europe, including shows in Amsterdam, Berlin, Bordeaux, Cologne, Leiden, Madrid, Toulouse and Paris.
(hooker) recently took part in the TV pilot of 'The Next Big Thing', winning the heart of the legendary Toyah Willcox, and going on to win the final, and the title of 'The Next Big Thing 2009' at London's Clapham Grand last September.
"Back when (hooker) started out the idea that an emotionally-charged femme-punk trio could crash into the nation's mainstream airwaves would have got you laughed at - but yesterday a performance by the chart-stealing Gossip brought Manchester Pride its most mixed audiences yet. How many of them knew we've got one of our own, and with better tunes to boot?" - www.manchestermusic.co.uk
For bookings and interviews contact zoemcveigh@yahoo.com or message the band on myspace
"There's something primal about Hooker; it's sparse yet powerful; the twin threads of bass and guitar, both rattling away like marbles in a washing machine, combine with the thudding drums to create something immediate and almost beautiful. Hooker are the epitome of the modern punk band; Short, sharp brutal and very good indeed."
- CD Times
"I love Mclusky. I love Sleater Kinney. I now officially love (hooker) as they sound like the two bands combined, and theyre northern, which gives them extra points. Whipcrack smart songs with sass and snarl spew from Zoe McVeigh, her voice a feral cat scratching at anyone standing in its way."
- Natalie Boxall, Plan B
"(hooker), (hooker), how fuckin good are (hooker)? Why arent they big yet? Why do people fall for half-baked Clash / Smiths reheats when serious femme-punk genius is ripping the throat out of sweat-box venues across the land?"
- Tim Proctor, Sandman Magazine
"Singer Zoe McVeighs hugely emotive voice is perfect for their razor-sharp and uncompromising brand of punk but its not just that that makes them. It's not even the fact that a three-piece, playing a bass with three strings and a guitar with four strings, makes as much noise as some six-strong bands. Its the fact that they still seem slightly amazed that the audience loves them, casting little joy-filled glances at each other. (hooker) are without a doubt the most upfront and honest band Ive seen in years, and if you have an ounce of passion in you, see them. They'll inspire you".
- Kev Eddy, God Is In The TV Online Fanzine
"This is better than anything you've ever heard. How does so much power and vitality come from one small body? It's all sex and jealousy and heartbreak, spitting out lyrics with that voice.’ Raw, punchy garage-punk-pop, compared to bands like X-Ray Spex, The Gossip and Sleater-Kinney. As good as anything on Kill Rock Stars, and that's GOOD! Vocalist Zoe McVeigh has passion and power in equal amounts and her vocal talents will astound".
- Moles Club
"(Hooker) are fired-up and full of energy. Their solid melodic songs (think Sleater-Kinney, only harder) are shot through with raw punk spirit, and yet are tuneful enough to sing along to - and in the form of Zoe McVeigh boast one of the best frontwomen in Manchester or probably anywhere. Tough girl cool in jeans and T-shirt she has one fucker of a pair of lungs on her, switching from almost sweet to pretty menacing in a flash whilst thrashing out beautifully dirty guitar lines.
- Manchester Music
"(hooker) aren't supposed to be on for hours yet, but there's no mistaking one of the finest female voices in this city - even if its owner is somewhat hidden behind a packed-in crowd enjoying the last few hours of the bank holiday weekend. Zoe McVeigh has after all been fronting various versions of this, one of Manchester's original grrl-punk bands, for almost a decade now with her trusty and ever shirtless drummer Danny and it's still a complete mystery why they're not absolutely massive. Her voice is a thing of beauty; delicate and bruised in the quieter moments rising to a raw, bleeding holler without losing her fine grasp of melody; whilst her hands thrash out life-affirming powerchords. And the band seem invigorated by (relatively) new addition Steph Walker whose muscular dirty bass is Fugazi-like in its power. Back when (hooker) started out the idea that an emotionally-charged femme-punk trio could crash into the nation's mainstream airwaves would have got you laughed at - but yesterday a performance by the chart-stealing Gossip brought Manchester Pride its most mixed audiences yet. How many of them knew we've got one of our own, and with better tunes to boot?"
- Manchester Music
Lots more media and general stuff will be added to the team section.
There will be many more locations added to the weather forecasts section, let us know if you want your area added and we will quite happily do it for you.
Offset Festival 2009 - featuring The Horrors, The Slits, A Certain Ratio, The Futureheads, Future of the Left, Rolo Tomassi and 150 others.
www.offsetfestival.co.uk
KEVIN BLECHDOM - NEW ALBUM !!! OUT NOW !!!! OMG !!!
GENTLEMANIA!! GENTLEMANIA!! GENTLEMANIA!! GENTLEMANIA!!
An acoustic album chock full of palpitating love songs.
Kevin Blechdom plays piano and sings.
Available NOW on Sonig and on iTunes.
www.itunes.com/kevinblechdom/gentlemania
heyyy just thought i would say thanks to steph and zoe for an amazing day on sunday it was fun hope to see you again soon most probably at pride if your there :) xx
Come join us for our album launch - kicks off at 7pm, will go on till very late, will be very exciting, will be very messy etc etc etc. And not only that, it’s free entry. Recession-busting rock and roll, oh yeah…
