Robert Scott, Kaye Woodward, Paul Kean, Malcolm Grant with occassional guests, Alan Starrat and Mikey .. on viola or violin.
Influences
love contemporary 2009 psychadaelic folk pop and still drawing from wide influences way back - 50's Roy Orbison to Desmond Deker, 60's Velvet Underground to Troggs, 70's CAN to Neil Young to Gram Parsons, .. in the 80's we loved Cure, Smiths, New Order etc. 90's Stereolab to the 3D's. Now we like all sorts - Ladybird, Sambasadeurs, Daft Punk ... hard to pin point what makes us sound the way we do. Some people say we're like REM (but more bent funk punk folk pop!?) - we were developing around the same time - probably with a similar broad pelette of tastes to create from. Go check out http://www.myspace.com/sambassadeurtheband They've recorded a great version of Claudine and have some excellent songs of their own.
Sounds Like
sounds like? The Bats ...
kind-of a stupid obvious answer - people say other bands sound like us more than we sound like other bands. Maybe you could help us out! Who do we sound like? Send us a message or post a comment. There are a couple of old vids below - and a brand new animated one by Christian Carruthers
Flowers and Trees ..
....>......
The Bats -
with the same line-up since conception in 1983, have been playing their distinctive style of melodic infused pop folk/rock for long enough to have drifted in and out of fashion several times without even trying. They top the Best Unknown Band list of many music officianados around the world .. and still spark for savvy initiates into the music world of now. Here's a recent email message from a young fan to Bats, Kaye and Paul's daughter Rose ---------
"hey darl thought ud be interested in this... i was searching the nzmusic.com site coz a girl here is doing a study on nz music and im helping her, lol, and found this written about the bats in a message board, under the final bdo (BIG DAY OUT) line up
'//////haven't seen yet: ... The Bats.
you are in for a treat. they are like the bestest live dance boogie Git-Down! live act in the history of kiwi music. they have one of the finest rhythm sections ever. i'm lucky enough to have seen them around half a dozen times in the last decade - they really kick out the jams more than 90% of the bands half their age......
lol cool or wat! and ive listed them on the 'famous nz bands' list that ive got here lol.
neways, hope ur being gud in nz, miss ya
xox"
--------
The Bats toured UK and Europe in May/June 2009 to celebrate the Northern Hemisphere release of their new album, "The Guilty Office". MOJO gave the CD a 4 start review and Magnet Magazine online June issue features it on a top ten releases POLL - GO VOTE
The Guilty Office is OUT NOW IN AUSTRALIA on Mistletone, USA through Hidden Agenda/ Parasol, UK/EU through YesBoyIcecream and Scandinavia through Kning Disk...
NZ release on Arch Hill was selected as John Campbell's (TV3 ) top 5 for 2008, Album Of The Week in Groove Guide and rave reviews all over the show from Exclaim in Canada to METRO in NZ.
WE NOW HAVE PayPal with Pocket Music (Bats and Minisnap's label) for selling CD's, Postcards, T-shirts etc - Go to The Bats homepage for Merchandise to see details or EMAIL with your order and address and we'll quote postage.
North By North features as theme song to Australian politcal satire series, The Hollowmen.
some news from us: Playing The Ottobar in Baltimore on Saturday, December 12, seven song EP set for release in February. Hope all is well with you! -Sin 4 Sin
Greetings. I just wanted to thank you for your continued support and invite you to have a first listen on myspace to the tracks off the new EP "Monster & Minstrel" due out later this month. Bright stars to you! Ahmond
alright, so people always say happy hump day for Wednesdays. I think its just as strange to say happy Uphill on Tuesdays, or happy Downhill on Thursdays, but i've never ever seen or heard anyone wish that. -Brandon
Ever wondered what to do in the event of a nuclear threat?
A while ago I found stuff that inspired me to make this film:
Living Under the Shadow of the Nuclear Umbrella
Both artistic (ensure you get the background music!) and educational, it primarily comprises official British government civil defence advice.
Though source materials are quite aged, much remains relevant today.
I encourage all to visit the YouTube page to learn more (Show support! Rate! Comment!) and responsibly circulate as widely as possible, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaIim3Rj7L4
Hey Paul, Nice to know everybody there is fine... and to notice you always feel like a million bucks To play in Dunedin in november sounds great... Especially if you didn't for a long time. I'd like to be present I didn't see The Pains of Being Pure playing (some told me they have been good) but they'll be back soon i guess... so i'll try later... Enjoy your holidays in Sydney ! Kisses to everybody. Mik
Good to have you as a friend! So great to see the internet in action this way, shortening distances between people.
I hope all's well with you and that you enjoy checking out my web site some time.
For occasional, new, refreshing, insightful and (possibly?!) valuable content, I encourage you to sign up for my free newsfeed/email newsletter (using the form on site at page right - high quality, low quantity, no spam!).
You might enjoy watching some of my films (use the on screen controls to skip between them):
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