Robbo: Vocals;
Michael Rees: Guitar;
Kevin McGrath: Bass;
Simon Steadman: Drums;
Influences
Oasis, Stone Roses, The Smiths, The Coral, Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines, Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Stereophonics, Editors, We Are Scientists, The Kinks, The Small Faces, Bob Dylan & The Pixies
Sounds Like
‘Happy Days’ is the standout cut – the moment the bassline arrives, menacing and urgent like a hooligan firm on the prowl, you’re plunged into a kinetic, twilight world of glassy-eyed slappers and pissed-up geezers spoiling for a fight. The barbed guitar riff that snags in your brain like a rusty fish hook owes a debt to NME darlings like Franz Ferdinand and the Kaiser Chiefs, but in the Avenue’s hands it’s the insistent, white-knuckled jab that drives a cocky, foul-mouthed hit. This is the sound of a band embracing the moment – and kicking it in the bollocks at the same time.
‘Sign Up’ rolls along nicely on a slick groove punctuated by an infectious rallying chorus, with Roberts’s voice at its best delivering a tale of longing for something better.
‘Cheap American Wine’ is the ragged indie ballad that will have the Avenue’s legions of female fans swooning at the crash barrier, a plaintive tale of love gone wrong that closes with a swirling Hammond organ solo that Neil Young would raise a glass to, conjuring images of the barren, spectral plains of the American West.
The production is polished, perhaps too much so – this is a band with a raw edge fighting to get out, like a razor blade in the pocket of a fur coat – but it’s a powerful statement of intent from a band with the guts and the tunes for rock’s rollercoaster ride.
(Anon.-Left on website forum 24/08/05 "Rock Bob")
The Avenue are a four piece band, brought together in Bristol by a mixture of fortunate practice locations and a liking of similar music. With the band hailing from London (Michael and Kev), Southampton (Simon), and the Rhondda Valley (Robbo), the lads fan-base is now both solid and growing.
When Robbo invited himself to sing in front of Michael and Kev, the Londoners were quickly impressed with the Valley Boy’s vocals. Then, after searching for a drummer, a chance conversation about “someone shaking the bloody foundations” below a siblings room (and a quick exhibition of Simon doing just that) meant that the line-up was complete. That was mid 2004, and now a year on, the boys have just played to a capacity crowd at The Camden Barfly, with two demo's under their belt.
Influences aside from the music over there......well suppose their pretty much drawn from the binge-drinking,chain-smoking,jokin& quoting life we all lead.Its more fun that way.
Hello!
Hope all is good, and you've had a good week!
Just reminding you, that it's Guilfest this weekend, and we're playing!
If you can get there, that'd be fantastic.. if not, don't worry! lol.
Have a great weekend!
KB.
Hey! Appologies if this is the second comment we've sent you recently...bit of a mix up in the bands communication :)
Anyway.. we've been a little quiet for the last few months but we are very pleased to announce our new EP is finished and up on our myspace! It's called Bright Lights and has four brand spanking new tracks to blow your mind. Please have a listen and tell us what you think and if you love it, buy it! :)
Details of how to apply for this years festival can be found in our blog or on our website. Check it out!
We'll be hosting our first fundraising party of the year at the end of the month! You'll get to spend the evening in the company of The Ten Pound Suit Band as they rip through a set of non-stop, rebel rousing fun!
That's right! "The best swingabilly band in town!"
Date: Sat 31st Jan. Venue: La Tasca. The Triangle, Clifton, Bristol. Time: 8:00pm kick off. Tickets: £5adv from Bristol Ticket Shop.
The new album 'Welcome To Murraysville' is now available worldwide from CDBaby. You can also get the album from Apple iTunes. Other digital distribution including MSN Music, Rhapsody and Napster will be available in the next few months.
Just to let you know about an extra-special New Root gig on Saturday 31st May @ The Croft, Bristol.
We're doing a headline set featuring Visual Projections from VJ James Bragg and everyone gets a FREE copy of our new 'Sick of Me' EP on the door. Venue Magazine described it as '...an extraordinary sound...a sort of power pop/goth/rock opera hybrid...the most exhilarating thing we've heard all week'.
There also support from Sally-Anne Langton - 'one of Bristol's most promising singer/songwriters' - plus Special Guests. All for £5. You can buy tickets in advance from www. thenewroot. com
Thanks and hopefully see you there on Sat 31st May!
LET'S TEA PARTY are headlining THE CROFT (16+ entry) this WEDNESDAY (23/04/08) as part of the SWS Fringe festival.
It'll be pop, bounce, balloons and bang
There'll be sets from some of our favourite bands and friends: The Volt, Saturdays and Sundays and The Hit-Ups.....wows!
A ticket for said event can be purchased for £6 on the door or ONLY £4 in advance (message us). The ticket also gets you entry into all of the other venues hosting bands for the night and to an aftershow party at thekla, till 4am, including a set from Turbowolf. Indeed!
Online Now!
