Robert Scott, Kaye Woodward, Paul Kean, Malcolm Grant
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 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.
p!o!p kombinat berlin & Pop Assistants presents: The Lucksmiths
(AUS) A Smile and a Ribbon (SWE) The Ladybug Transistor (USA) - Gary Olson
live with members of the The Lucksmiths Uni & her Ukelele
(USA)
Sa, 11.07.2009 @ Bang Bang Club Berlin Doors: 20 h Cost: 10
€
Hey guys, We're coming up to Christchurch next weekend to play a couple of shows with our good friends Intergracia from Wellington. On Friday 10th of July we'll be playing at Zebedees with Intergracia & Awakened Inferno then on Saturday we'll be playing at Al's Bar with Intergracia & Dissolution. Hope to see you there! Cheers Osmium
mm... am listening to your "supernova" and " Boogey man" versions made in Amsterdam... You are damned good ! Thanks again for the great gigs in France. Wish you the best...
Few words to say again many thanks for playing in Paris. Your songs are even more beautiful played live... of course, all the boys there, were keen on Kaye ;)
Online Now!
