The band has a new line up with Paul and Huw being joined by Mat Court (bass/vocals) and Tony Richards on guitar. New songs and a new sound.
Dai Godwin is now concentrating on Owls (fantastic band) and Darren who hasnt been around for 2 years playing with Boomtown Rats on guitar.
Now some history.
The band got together two years ago after the demise of Bigelow and feature David Godwin on vocals and guitar, Huw Rees on drums and Paul Battenbough guitar/vocals, joined by Darren Beale on bass.
Paul says: "We decided to change the name too as we felt that Bigelow had run its course.
"The name comes from a small clay figure I found in a junk shop. It was a crude, sad-looking king that was probably once part of a chess set.
"It made me laugh so I bought it for five pence.
"I carried it round with me for a couple of years and he quietly wormed his way into my consciousness and when a name was needed a small voice piped up.
"So the king became 'The King of Despair' and became our logo too. It's perfect really. Sums up our miserablist approach and adds a touch of humour."
The band are influenced by country rocker Gram Parsons as well as the grand-daddy of grunge, Neil Young.
"We're really a songs band and we're into harmonies. The sound can be country but we've also a harder edge."
They switch between acoustic and electric guitars, depending upon the mood required.
"Everything is subservient to the song," says Paul.
"I'm not into political rants or forcing opinions on the listener - but we are without doubt a political band if you pick up on the subtext."
David adds: "I think people respond to us as a live band because of the different dynamics we have.
"The harmonies are really important to our sound and Paul writes some of the strongest songs I have heard.
"There is a lot of space in what we do, so the audience can pick up on the lyrics easily."
King of Despair work the Swansea scene and have just got back from playing the Nozstock Festival in Hereford last month.
"We're gradually leaving the nest, moving further afield."
The band have put down a 15-track demo and are due to start work on an album soon.
"After the last Bigelow album we wanted to go for something a bit more sophisticated so we've got the Super Furry Animals producer on board and as soon as we raise the cash we're going into the studio. We have plenty of songs and we want to make a killer album," says Paul.
He is happy with the band's ever-tightening sound and the level of musicianship.
And David and Darren are honing their skills, doubling up as part of another Swansea band that is tipped for the top.
"David and Darren are in The Caves so sometimes the King of Despair has to take a back seat.
"It's always exciting when we get back together, though, everything just slots back into place."
Currently recording a new CD at Rhondda Street Studio, http://www.rhonddastreet.co.uk/ and you should too!
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Contained therein are Paul Draper from Mansun's Words of Wisdom. Mansun dared to go against the unimaginative, recycled, Britpop zeitgeist. They took some influence from the sophisticated pop conceptualists of the 70's and 80's, bands like Tears for Fears, Talk Talk and Magazine, when such bands were generally deemed to be unfashionable, and Mansun managed the difficult trick of combining such originality and ambition with no small amount of commercial success.
Associated Minds are a kite mark of quality and ideas in British hip hop and they treat us to their second audio blog.
Our poet in residence is Bangor-based student, Nick Major.
As part of our ongoing series looking at people who work with new musicians at a grassroots level in their communities I talk to Dave Mounter from Deeside's Panic Promotions. And we hear from a selection of the bands that Dave's organisation is encouraging.
Huw Pooh brings in something old and Welsh in the shape of Llanelli's boisterously entertaining Andy Pandemonium. Which brings about an embarrassing revelation for me... but you'll have to listen to find out what that is. I'm not going to spell it out here, too. ;)
Soundhog trawls Pete Townshend's demos for something with which to inspire us.
And there is new Welsh music. Not as many different artists as usual, perhaps, but that's because of the two phenomenal tracks bookending the show.
** If you have any new music for the show, regardless of wherever you are in Wales or what genre your music falls under, please send 1 or 2 of your best tracks as a high quality .mp3 to: themysterytour@gmail.com with a short biography and a contact number.
YELLOW MOON BAND polaris HELEN LOVE calm down dad ANTI VIRUS alliance NIA MORGAN [session track] rhyfedd bridd THE JOY FORMIDABLE cradle SOWNSHADOW FOX miniature CIRCA REGNA TONAT atta CRAIG WILLIAMS set in stone THE FOUR HORSEMEN rockin' is ma' business PARMA VIOLETS set sail [with me] KING OF DESPAIR king of despair THE AIRBOURNE TOXIC EVENT sometime around midnight HOUDINI DAX run run run SIBRYDION coupe de grace RIDINGHOOD meant for me CARTOON VIOLENCE teresa NIA MORGAN [session track] too close to call GALLOPS windows fx KIM FOWLEY bubblegum SEAN PARKER above the warzone SON CAPSON Ghost Train GLITCH [demo of the week] panties ii DAMIR BOJANIC* [demo of the week] hahahehehoho AVAN RIJS in reality JOY OF SEX roland THE ROYSTON BOYS maybe i'm right MEG AND MARK then i met you MARKS SET GO the best of you KASINO hit or miss BLACK TELESCOPES telescopes NIA MORGAN [session track] hold the line KIM FOWLEY inner space discovery PETE LAWRIE the penny drop
I'd love to hear what you think about the show & the other 48 songs / artists featured in it.
Please keep your music coming.
We start a new feature on the show next Sunday night [4th January] -- the F.A.Q. where we get authoritative industry people to answer *your* questions about any aspect of music making / recording / mastering / distribution etc. etc.
For example, next week, a representative from the Glastonbury Festival will be telling you how *you* can play there in 2009.
Other questions we will be answering over the weeks will include:
What is publishing?
What is PRS / MCPS?
How do I get my music onto iTunes?
How can I make a home recording sound 'professional'?
What are the do's and don'ts of sending a demo to a record label?
Hope all is well with you. Thought I'd drop by and let you know I have just uploaded a new acoustic demo called Scream And Shout. Hope you like it. Have a listen anyway, see what you think....
Also last night: an exclusive session from The Lizzies, Martin Carr and Mary Wycherley came & performed 2 songs and talked about the wondrous new album 'Ye Gods [And Little Fishes]' and its planned release on 'Bandstocks' [ see http://martin-carr. com & http://www. bandstocks. com ]. Huw Williams talked about 'The Iveys', Soundhog mooned Rod Stewart. We had a Demo of the Week from 'The Short Timers' & Bethan Elfyn gave us a preview of her Radio 1 Introducing show this coming Wednesday night [ 12- 2am ]
Here's the playlist. Check the show out and let me know what you think: themysterytour@gmail.com [ also the address for music / gig info etc. to for next week's show ].
MANK pwll ceris SOFT-HEARTED SCIENTISTS man overboard WARRIOR CHARGE memories of a lake THE PENNY DREADFUL 13 bones THE WORLD INDIE EMPIRE penetrate my sky KING OF DESPAIR like a sign THE SCHOOL and suddenly THE LIZZIES [session track] who's up who's down? THE ABS same mistake twice THE IVEYS maybe tomorrow GRAVEYARD JOHNNYS excerpt I AM AUSTIN excerpt HEMME FATALE excerpt ROD THOMAS excerpt TELEGRAM FROM THE QUEEN excerpt SAMUEL VICTOR featuring BIZARRE Who 'Who The F**k Are You? EUROS CHILDS autumn leaves HELEN LOVE calm down dad OK magazines UNION SUNDOWN ignition MARTIN CARR the dead of winter MARTIN CARR bear lake [live in cardiff n.c.a.] THE LIZZIES [session track] come together NIA MORGAN on the hillside *DEMO of the WEEK* SHORT TIMERS ten foot monkey ROD STEWART good morning little school girl THE READS love or be loved THIS HIDDEN SWITCH a new regret MARTIN CARR goldrush '49 MARTIN CARR darwin's tree [live in cardiff n.c.a.] ROD STEWART i don't want to discuss it THE LIZZIES [session track] lonely inside
Cheers, look forward to future projects and that. Meantime we're down Whitez every thursday for the open mic, and looking for some proper gigs in the near future.
The show featured an interview with Dave Eringa [Manics producer] & Roger Morton [Razorlight's manager] about a new band competition that offers a proper record deal as a prize; Huw Williams is in to talk about Andy Fairweather Low; Soundhog inspires us with Roxy Music; Ann Matthews inspires us with her monthly audio blog; Marcus Warner joins us to enthuse about his favourite new recordings from the South Wales metal and punk scene, and there is plenty of excellent new and Welsh music.
Here's the playlist:
GENOD DROOG genod droog theme DAYBLYGU cÂn y mynach modern BLACK CESAR dogfist MARTIN CARR darwin's tree BIRFMARQ gun luk pt. ii TIGER, PLEASE lights and sounds RYAN MULLIN the splint KING OF DESPAIR common courtesy JOHANA trampoline girl JOHANA boris KICK SUPERB quit the ordinary FAIRWEATHER natural sinner THE GET OUT CLAUSE untitled 2 BIG BLACK kerosene HOTEL MOTEL my song on the radio THE RAMONES rockaway beach TEXAS RADIO BAND pass yu phone CATSKILLS likes of you META abucyduh ROXY MUSIC editions of you LITTLE ERIS don't stop til i say go NICK WARD and the fire burns AKIRA THE DON the death of beef as a viable marketing strategy THE AUTONOMY WITHIN there will be blood KICK BOX RIOT fear of change MEA pethedine ANTHONY REYNOLDS AND CHARLOTTE GREIG like the sun feeds from flowers BLACK CESAR breakneck ROXY MUSIC in every dream home a heartache JOY OF SEX december month of plenty
Send .mp3's, comments, news & gig info to: themysterytour@gmail.com
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