James Rea plays everything he can. he can't play drums. live he plays with a guitar and vocals. and sometimes a keyboard.
Dom did some drums. Nigel did some drums. Marcelo did some drums.
Influences
T.K. Maxx and Vintage Clothes. Pop when it was good, New Wave when it was new, Punk before it died. Not getting ones hopes up. optimism, pessimism, cynicism. giving advice when in no place to. expressing oneself through the medium of dance. Prenzlauerberg. Barnt Green. Mousse and diffusers. Soy Sauce. Calling tasteless kitsch, and possibly pulling it off. Wishing I could play Jazz properly. Taking the best bits and sticking them together.
Sounds Like
Major chords plus minor chords plus inquisitive chords plus words. Hopefully nothing from the last decade.
In a musical climate in which every songwriter and their dog is touting themselves as an “urban poet”, the classic art of songwriting is oft forgotten. 22 year-old singer/songwriter James Rea bridges the gap between these two extremes, penning songs that, although of their time, have a true timeless quality. The Birmingham based performer’s Jazzy, New-wave influenced indie-pop has prompted favourable comparisons to archetypal British songsters such as The Kinks, David Bowie, Squeeze and Elvis Costello. 2008 saw him gaining top support slots with reformed 90s Britpop giants Dodgy, as well as being chosen as a finalist in Radio 2’s New Songwriters Academy, being invited to a master class from top-songwriters and industry figures, whilst 2009 sees him set to continue this roll.
James’s ever willingness to perform has seen him playing anywhere there’s a ready ear, from busking on the streets of Birmingham and Berlin to notching up a couple of impromptu live appearances with some big names, specifically 60s legend Donovan and current indie-darlings The Mystery Jets. “With Donovan I went to see him opening an exhibit on psychedelic art,” explains James, “we got chatting, I told him I was a singer-songwriter and next thing I knew I was on stage, guitar in hand, singing my songs to all these 60s art luminaries and former hippies!” This desire to perform demonstrates James’s dedication to getting his music heard, as well as his music’s crossover appeal, from adolescents who can relate to James’s witty takes on modern day life, to older listeners harking back to the glory days, while James’s melodic sense lays waste to the claim that “they don’t make ‘em like they used to”.
Yer back in a ditch again, the band is going wicked, yeah i decided it was time for the pletrum round as i've managed to lose my last batch so quickly, as they do, yeah have to go out for a drink sometime! Saw the mischief brew tonight in cheltenham i thought they were pretty amazing live
Hey.Just to let ya know if you have any gigs coming up I'm still doing gig photography for only £30(not for too much longer though).Also doing portraiture/promo and documentary.I've added some new examples recently so have a look to see if you like it.Let me know if ya want owt doing.Cheers.Thanks for the add if I havent said so before.
we still are playing yer, i work there man have talked them into it :) wanna play, let me know and if you do you can play on the opening night of the live side of bar 98 :) hub of uk night life i hope not hahaha imagine, even more nobby's to put up with.
Hello long time no speak, went to the music shop in redditch yesterday and saw your face on the wall then i noticed it was just your record and not actually miniature james come to say hello so i thought i'd say hello. "Hello" hope everything is going alright.
arggghh sorry, how very rude of me not to reply sooner!. generally i use facebook as my socialising network these days. howeverrrrr, yeah the tattoo went wondefully thankyou. i felt the dog was a little too intricate and thus went with the original plan. everyone thinks she looks like me though. anyway how the hecky peck have you been?xx
Myspace is where my alliance lies. Lifes much easier when less people know ya unlike facebook where practically the whole world has got their eye on you, no thanks. Its all about myspace James.
Hey hey hey! We have a new song on Our Space and want to ask you a favor, can you tell us what do you think about it!? ;D Thanks for the attention! Much love! Cheers, RedHead Outdoors
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