Fronted by songwriter Daniel Sweeney, Smart Soutane toil to distill the essence of pure songmanship through soaring vocals and liquid guitar textures, underpinned by full-bodied bass and 24-carat kit-work courtesy of Phill Ward and Russell Collins.
Having met at the University of Birmingham in 2005 whilst studying music, they were quickly drawn to one another through a shared passion for all things sonic, literary and artistic, and, realising they had something original to articulate, began their music journey together.
Since cutting their teeth in Selly Oak in those early days (TC's, Bristol Pear), they've enjoyed success not only in Birmingham (Barfly, Bar Academy, Jug of Ale) but also in London (Clapham Grand, Fiddler's Elbow, Dex), Manchester (Dry 201) and Bristol (Electric Presence), as well as further afield (here, there and everywhere...)
Their music has been described as being akin to the epic pop of Doves, with the tenderness of Turin Breaks and the sardonic English wit of the Smiths. On stage they meld the vibe of the Verve with the flow of the Floyd, whilst on record they blend the hard-won cred of early Elbow with the production values of 90's Radiohead.
The band's talents have been infusing gently over the last four years, much like a good cup of tea, as they've honed their songwriting skills, sharpened their stage work, and tweaked their studio output. Now 2009 sees the boys taking matters to the next level, with their return to the annual Pritchattsbury Festival to support none other than the Zutons, and the release of their Debut EP on iTunes, along with major upcoming gigs in the nation's capital at the Dublin Castle and the Good Ship.
Outside the band, Danny, when not rubbing shoulders with the likes of Guy Garvey and John Power, is currently tutoring a new wave of guitar heroes through Leicester Arts. Phill is painstakingly adjusting the ribbon microphones in Moseley's Artisan Audio as he learns that in the world of audio, millemetres matter, and Russ is busy making waves in the music scene of Bristol and Somerset, armed only with his mind boggling piano skills and a rather large collection of djembes...
The Soutane hope to reach you soon, at a gig, on the net, or simply out and about! In the meantime, enjoy our songs here on Myspace. Much Love; Tane Out x
Influences
Many, including: The Beatles, Grizzly Bear, Bon Iver, The Smiths, Radiohead, Elbow, The La's, Dylan, Portishead, Spike Stent, John Updike, Tom Waits, Benjamin Britten, Garcia Lorca, Philip Larkin, Baudelaire...
"Finely crafted songs with a keen sense of pace and emotion powered by gentle guitar hooks, tight percussion and tender vocals... undeniably compelling" Surface Unsigned
"Smart Soutane have been pulling at the heartstrings of their audiences with their well crafted, intelligent songs... ...so individual that they defy attempts to be confined to a single genre..." Glasswerk Westmidlands
"They've got some cracking tunes... musically, very strong" The Hearing Aid
Hey Danny! Long time no see! So so glad you and James are coming to the show, really appreciate the support. Been meaning to get intouch about doing some music, just very busy organising the show at the mo! Look forward to catching up though after the gig. Cya soon, x
Hey guys! Great set last Friday! Congrats for getting through and good luck in the next round! If you ever up for a gig let us know, maybe sort a gig out over our way and do one over your way too?
Hey, great to hear your amazing keyboardist at Suffolk Songwriters the other week. Mesmerizing stuff! Come back soon! Thanks for the add and if ya get a mo check out more Beatles inspired stuff here... www.thelullabys.com
hey guys, Really looking forward to playing with you again on Thursday, had so much fun at the Rainbow the other week, hopefully we can all recreate it! Thanks for the add as well, The July Days xxx
A currently shite MySpace page for Midlands bands only.
The point is to use this page to advertise your gigs, wears and to keep in touch with other likeminded bands in the area without feeling like a complete arse for filling fan pages with junk mail. You know who you are!.
Promotions companies may also join so that if they're looking for bands to play a venue in the Midlands, all they have to do is visit this page for local bands to choose from and they have a full spectrum of sounds.
So if you're a new, up and coming talent in the midlands, whether you're a generic Indie band or Cock Rock band get your name down on the list!!!!!
Hi guys, Just listening to your cd you gave me a couple of weeks back at the Grand, Clapham. Really, really good. Hope you'll come back to London soon.
