1996
The Crayons were born when Mark came back to Hastings in the Autumn fresh from music college looking for musicians to play his songs. He recorded several songs on a 4 track tape machine and under the pseudonym of Bulldog, touted the tape to local musicians who showed enthusiasm and fitted the shape of Marks sound.
After months of auditions and conversations with local musicians, Mark announced the first rehearsal for early 1997 with Chris Burton and Jim Poulter.
Mark had met Chris over the previous year whilst working at McDonalds. Mark would ask Chris whilst on his break from his job at the cinema what was on his walkman...not realizing Chris even played guitar, happened to over hear him bragging to someone nearby at The Crypt in Hastings how many songs Chris could play off of the new R.E.M album New Adventures in Hi Fi. Peter Buck from R.E.M has a very sixties west coast but modern edge to his guitar playing and therefore gave Mark the confidence that he was right for the job. Chris was given the tape and liked what he heard and joined in...
Meanwhile, a co worker of Marks at Mc Donalds, Jim, played drums. Again, an oversight that musicians were under his nose, it came up in conversation after several years of working with him that Jim played drums and wanted to get playing in a different band. Again he took the tape and liked what he hear and was able to give a raucous punky energetic rhythm to the band.
The band had no name...
1997
The band rehearsed the songs from the tape in early 1997 in various rehearsal rooms and their families living rooms and started very very loose and rusty sounding whilst they found their sound. In the meantime, ideas for band names were at the centre of many a conversation and (heated?) debates. When none could be decided, each member at one point was to turn up to rehearsal with 10 names and all 30 names were to ba place into a hat to be picked at random. Names considered were "The Mystery Machine Gang"; "East of Eden"; "Fenn St"; "The Press Darlings", "Toy Dog"; "Mr Man", and "The band your about to hear!".
As it happened nobody brought their names on bits of paper to the rehearsal and the name was produced as a cue from a complaint letter written in Crayon from Marks car to the owner of a rehearsal studio for not being there 5 mins late to let the band in to rehearse. It WAS Chris who suggested strongly "The Crayons". Mark and Jim agreed and "The Crayons" had arrived.
Very prematurely, The band entered themselves into the local monthly music publication "Hastings Alternative" into the demo review section. Unfortunately with no hindsight...or any thought at all the tape that was received was a rushed recording taped with Marks 4 track extremely basically and of a recording session which was...dreadful! Though at the time The Crayons thought it was great and wondered why their first write up was received so badly. However it helped them decide on their next strategy...
In the Spring, they added a fourth member ..boards, named Claudia from Denmark who didn't say much but added the sound that was to help trademark The Crayons sound for the next few years. She played a basic early 80's style keyboard and against the jangle of Chris's guitar and the energy and melody of the bass and drums, it was felt that this was worth doing and persevering with. However after only a few months, Claudia returned to Denmark and replaced by Sara Emery, who Mark had been hanging out with since the Autumn of the previous year though again did not realise that she played keyboard/Piano(and violin) until the talk of the fact that Claudia was to go back home.
Sara had a matter of weeks to learn the material before The Crayons first ever gig...This was at the request of Mark's friend Charlie Ridding and to play at his annual Catsfield festival in July named cunningly "Ridding Festival".
After much rehearsing and nerves, The Crayons felt ready to perform a 20 minute set to a happy festival crowd....however the weekend seemed to be heading for a disaster....it RAINED all morning! Several bands equipment was ruined and had to cancel their performances! It wasn't looking good! Some of the band took advantage of some suddenly available substances in order to calm themselves down, despite this being against Marks rules...though it kinda worked!
Suddenly, the rain eased off. bands started to play and The Crayons arrived on stage as the sun came out! The set went well and featured the early songs: She's Not Evil, Stranger Than Me, Sister Sophie, My Last Rolo (when it was announced that the lyrics were written by Marks bear Leon) and Chris's composition Walter Crayon. They also covered Daydream Believer and Strumpet by My Life Story.
Everyone seemed really happy, the band the crowd, the families of The Crayons and all had good supportive comments and The Crayons were egged on to "Go For It".
So they did and went on to play a gig in August at Harpers Wine bar in Hastings.
The second half of 1997 up to 2003! - Currently being re written.
HAPPY! 2003 –2004 – Content at last!!!?Mark felt that James needed some more practise in front of an audience, so he wrangled his way in to play an acoustic set supporting "TAPT" at the Drunken Sailor in Chatham about April time. The gig was supposed to be a fifteen minute set, played by Mark and James only. However, as Carl Rodrigues (Marks brother) was in the headlining band and knew most of The Crayons songs from observation, Carl suggested that Mark add bass, and he play drums. It actually somehow got mistakenly billed as The Crayons performing at the time, and it was the night that England played Turkey for Euro 2004, which was being broadcast at the venue! Consequently, the venue was filled mainly of skinheads wearing football shirts, who during soundcheck, were throwing abuse and giving dirty looks. The trio were due to play during half time and were a little frightened how this might go down...But to their surprise, through playing a rock set, they went down very well and annoyed no-one!Actually, people were feeding back and applauding. Even better, they managed to finish seconds before the second half.??This fuelled Mark with a new found confidence, and from that day, he was willing to play anywhere possible with whichever of his band members could make it.And so was born...The Crayons parties, where Mark accompanied by either: James and Chris, James and Carl, Chris and Carl or just one of them, would play at friends barbeques and parties. This too went down extremely well and helped gain an interest in Crayon songs. The band were excited again, and for the first time in a long time, really happy.?Unfortunately though around this time, The Crayons parted company with Jim, and used Carl temporarily, whilst finding someone suitable. However, after a few months, Carl agreed that he could play in his original band "TAPT", and commit himself to The Crayons full time also. And things have continued to excel ever since! At the end of gigs, people ask more about the band and seem really interested and enthusiastic about The Crayons.?This period was especially exciting for the band, which has seen them support Clearlake, Longview, Delays, The Vessels and biggest acclaim to date - The Bluetones. They also released the made to order CD, THE CRAYONS SO FAR...consisting of most recordings to date to put a cap on the end of their “bubblegum pop sound”. This is still available for £4.50 by emailing: heythecrayons@yahoo.co.uk
NEW RECORDINGS – AND ANOTHER DRUMMER ON THE WAY!
One of advantages of having Carl in the band was that it was possible for The Crayons to record their new sound with confidence and excitement. They recorded in two studios: ICC in Eastbourne and The Granary in Tunbridge Wells with a guy called Guy on the desk. These recordings plus home recorded acoustic tracks are for the forthcoming album, yet to be released.
However sadly for the band, though exciting for Carl, during his time with the band, Carl met, fell in love etc with a girl named Alison who was visiting the UK from the USA. In September 2004, Carl decided to jump country and join her in America and get married –a set back for the band who put the album on hold having no drummer to showcase it live. However The Crayons appreciate his work on the songs and wish him the best of luck in America. A farewell show took place in "Heroes" in August amongst a fun moshing crowd and he was given a great send off from friends, family and soft toys.
And so, auditions commenced for the next drummer to take stool residency in the band.
2005
After rehearsing with The Crayons for around five months, Dean debuted on Hastings pier on 9th February. This gig was in aid of Tsunami and a battle of the bands in which The Crayons came joint third. Dean proved himself with the band and was given the job permanently – He became a Crayon! We’ll update this biog with how he gets on with his induction tasks in the next few weeks – he’s gonna like the hot coals best!!...
Later that year, around the Spring, The Crayons released "...Nightime, Daytime, Nightime..."
, their first longplayer on the Bumpercar label consisting of two halves: a louder side...and a quiter side.
The louder side featured songs recorded at The Granary near Tunbridge Wells and also at ICC in Eastbourne and were recorded with a garagey sounding feel to the songs and proved to be the best recordings so far with edge and depth to the songs all round. The quieter side consists of acoustic songs recorded on a basic home studio set up and were recorded to give a feel of the garden parties and acoustic shows that The Crayons were playing.
The Crayons played a show at Stringbendys in Eastbourne to showcase the songs in the Spring and played a string of gigs all the year selling the album at gigs, mail order and in local indie record shops and a limited number of T-Shirts were produced to help promote the album.
The Crayons received great reviews in the local paper, indie websites, and local radio stations, where The Crayons were quoted as "spunky" on one occassion from Squeeze's Chris Difford!
In the Autumn The Crayons were to play and win the last ever Hastings Pier Battle of the Bands again the highlights being the new songs from the album.
2006
The Crayons continue to play gigs up and down the country and add the new song here and there.
In June, The Crayons returned to the NME as a best new band (!) in a new band feature run by the magazine...despite appearing in the paper previously, The Crayons year 2k sound disguised the fact that they had been a band since 1997!
Mark and Chris demo several songs towards another album and experiment with home recording. Though songs were completed, none from this period seeing light of day due to them not being...quite right yet!
They ended the year with a Christmas Eve gig at The Crypt in Hastings...Spirits so high that each song sped up by approximately 10%. Highlights of this show were The Crayons covering "Christmas(Baby Please Come Home)" and free cakes given(or thrown) to the audience by Chris's sister Giulia!
2007
Again, more gigs, new songs and at last a new recording that could be heard by the public...."Hide Behind a Rainbow". A different slant to the NDN album, slightly laid back though with an edge to it.
An otherwise slow year production wise though fun was had when together. Several Crayons now playing together and doing covers for fun and pocket money!
July saw a secret gig featuring the return of Carl on drums for a show with James and Mark whilst on a visit to the country.
2008
The Crayons aim to record songs for a new album! Yay!
Played Beatles day in April with Deans girlfriend, Keren on vocals too in the White Rock Theatre in Hastings amongst a picturesque outside landscape of a snowy day in Hatings...a Christmas Cards dream!
Will update you as and when....meanwhile, look out for gigs advertised and sign up to be a friend to be invited to a show near you!
..
..This profile was edited with MySpace Profile Editor
A final call to get your music uploaded to www.topoftheox.co.uk and list / update your gigs. Win one of the biggest prizes in UK music today. Win an album deal, UK tour, merchandise, radio play, music video and much more
To help you keep recording during these times of economic crisis and price rises we would like to offer all our myspace friends a 40% discount on all bookings for band recordings from the 24th August to the end of September 2009. This means an hourly rate of just £25.
The heart of our recording studios is a Pro tools HD 2 system (x2) with C24 control surfaces together with an Allen and Heath 32:8:2 analogue desk for analogue mixing. We provide a mixture of classic, analogue audio equipment and cutting-edge digital technology. see our website www.altrecordingstudios.com for further details.
please mention myspace if booking, this is a one time offer prompted by our recent studio refurbishment
DEADHEADS GET READY TO PARTY HEARTY WITH FAMILY GROOVE COMPANY~ROOTSTAND~IFDAKAR,AND MORE! Hey now! The 3Gs ('aka Grateful Garcia Gathering), is returning back to the Camp NCN Venue in beautiful Black River Falls Wisconsin July 30th though August 2nd 2009 where it all began over 6 years ago! A grateful place where Garcia fans will be gathering! It also marks the celebration of Jerry Garcia's 67th Birthday, plus the 14th Anniversary of Jerry's untimely passing. We have leased the campground venue for July 30th though August 3rd 2009 for our 6th annual music festival.
Other great music festivals have hosted at this venue such as Weedstock, Farmapalooza, Big Wu Family Reunion, Campout Roots Festival,just to name a few!
Artists included: Family Groove Company, Rootstand, Ifdakar, Boney Fingers, Baghdad SCUBA Review, Fungus Garden Reverb, Jam and the Playground Kids, In the Dark, MMC Trio, Elf Lettuce, Vinny Weible & Soul Logic, Groovitational Pull, The Reggie, Grateful Beth and the Volunteers, The Bar Tab Band, John Statz, Mr. Cab Driver, Brok'n Arrow, Greyleaf, and more Jambands to be added soon!
Our friends at Mystix Toyz will be on board at the 3G's for tons of family fun with juggling demonstrations, including juggling workshops, face painting, kids parades, plus drum circles and fire dance jams every night
Thanks for the Add!!!!! We just got our Recordings from our Debut EP Back, We would really appreciate it if you would take a listen to our songs now on out myspace page!!!
Yep we're still alive & have upcoming gigs! We're gonna take a wee break from gigging after that so we can work on old stuff & finish the new songs so these will be our last gigs for a while! Make sure you come along & support us before our self imposed exile:
27th FEB - THE PIGS BACK ROOM
12TH FEB - THE ROOMS (ACOUSTIC)
Come & join the path, stop by & comment us & we'll comment back!
I'm pleased to announce that my debut EP for Antimatter is released today. Magnolia Lane EP is available on CD and as a digital download.
"A gritty club monster that Tom and Ed would swap Lily Allen for ... it'd take a brave man to bet against this being a cult club smash." - News Of The World 07.09.08
Hi guys, how's it goin? thanx for accepting our add, welcome to the Radial Path!
When are you guys gonna be out and gigging, had a listen to the tunes a while back and likede them v.much!
Hope you like the tunes on our page, we have the usual gig vids up & also one from ted. com about creativity + education thats really good so let us know what you think about that.
We'll have some newer/better recordings up soon but all our music is & always will be free to download so spread the word! We'll be booking local electric & acoustic gigs soon so look out for us in town! Drop by & say hi,
It's still in the debating process. Strange isn't it, you can write loads of songs but you can't think of one bloomin' word to call your band! Any ideas would be gratefully received!
Online Now!
