Simon Kitchener (Guitar, Vocals, Melodica, Xylophone)Tim Mullineaux (Bass)Tom Greenhalgh (Drums, Hands, Sticks & Things)(Studio tricks and things - Dan Hahn)
Influences
Jacques Brel, Morrissey, Frank Sinatra, Scott Walker, Lee Hazlewood, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Ray Davies, Jonathan Richman, , Serge Gainsbourg, The Turtles, Velvet Underground, Jarvis Cocker, Neil Hannon, M Ward, Hawksley Workman, Jean-Luc Godard, Patrick Hamilton, Francois Truffaut, London, Nostalgia, Love, Fear, Beauty and the unfathomable complexity of human emotion.
The quintessentially English Kitchener cast an observant eye over present-day life in a collection of sometimes witty, sometimes nostalgic & ever infectious pop melodiesBorn into the infamous Kitchener Travelling Circus family, 1 of 15 children, Simon was wowing audiences at the age of 3 with renditions of The Beatles “White Album” on the kazoo, while being fired from a cannon into the waiting arms of his brothers and sisters.
Aged 10, following a near fatal unicycle incident, he ran away from the circus to an English country boarding school where he learnt about Lou Reed, guitars and how to get out of a fight.
His first band The Soft Undergrowth sent Valentine’s cards to every girl at their school. They were consequently barred from the playground and labelled as sarcastic.
While at art college and made-up like a girl, Simon formed a glam rock band that toured France. After being misquoted in the French press as stating “Rock’n’Roll is my life”, he quit that scene and headed for a fresh start in London.
Rediscovering a love for the storytellers Brel, Hazlewood, Walker, Reed, Bowie, and Morissey, Simon started touring his own brand of storytelling around the clubs of London.
In 2005 Simon met Dr Gwilym Johnston who played double bass and really helped to get things going properly. Only a few months later a chance meeting with jazz drummer Tom Greenhalgh at a party in Essex completed the line up of a full band - KITCHENER. A Musical Circus family of their very own.Recently Gwilym moved on and now Tim Mullineaux of Lucky Face fame (?) plays bass for the band.
Go and see them sometime. I'm certain that you won't be disappointed.
"Tunes so cathcy you can hang your coat on them" Lobster Quadrille Magazine, August 2007
"An eccentric troubadour.." The Guardian, July 2006
“So cool I'm getting goosepimples just stood by" PI Music.org, June 2005
Hello! Thanks very much for last night, was a great evening and we really enjoyed everybody - great set by the way, really like your sound, was even better live! Great venue too. Thanks again! Nadeen
CONDOMINIUM CLUB
FRIDAY 20th MARCH
THE ROYAL SOVEREIGN
NORTHWOLD RD E5
8 TILL LATE
LUXURY CONDO + DJ’S FRITZ AND NICE SEAN (playing 50’s rock n roll, rockabilly, ska, exotica, 60’s garage)
Hi Simon, Thanks for having us. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and I can honestly say that was the warmest reception we have received yet! We'd love to play for you again. Karen xxx
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