The Hackney Gazelle is proud to be aligned with the following assisting angels: Smartrocker - 'putting the S & M back into art'... Steve Lacey - engineering skills ... El Falcone & Thee Clapton Hawk - DJ's of ill repute ... Lilly Novak - the Peter Grant of N16 ... Axel - the transgender burden-carrier ... Lord Ptarmigan of The Splendid Hand - channeling of glorious stereo
Influences
non-musical: Tove Jansson, Hayao Miyazaki, Kurt Vonnegut, Phillip Pullman, Lenny Bruce, Oscar Wilde, Bill Hicks, Primo Levi, Spike Milligan, Christopher Guest, Charles M. Schulz, Joe Orton, Raymond Chandler, The Onion, Nathan Barley, 'The Migration Atlas', maps
Sounds Like
The antithesis of piss-poor rip-off promoters and venues
The Hackney Gazelle was born of frustration under a bad (estate agent's) sign somewhere on the 'Mare Streets of Hackney, London, on New Year's Day 2007, and exists purely to promote the magick of beautiful live music in her native neighbourhood.
The Hackney Gazelle is especially concerned with bringing out-of-town and international artists to the neighbourhood, organising international exchanges to spread the good seed of underground creativity. Genres are unimportant, and in the first year of events, The Gazelle has hosted such disperate styles as Danish americana, Swedish indie-pop, English rockabilly, Irish alt.folk, and Italian garage rock.
If you harbour a temptation to play an intimate show in Mother Hackney, and think you deserve more than a deflating memory for your troubles, then please feel free to step forward.
The Hackney Gazelle has also recently morphed into an accidental record label, with the debut release already on the streets. 'GREETINGS FROM ABNEY PARK, N16' by locally-based torch bearers of lush, darkly glamorous Anglo-Americana MORNING BRIDE, was released on Good Friday 2008.
A limited edition, live mini-album with individually screen-printed covers, 'Greetings....' is described in PLAN B MAGAZINE (March 2008) as..... "Semi-acoustic versions of live favourites from the north London stalwarts, including the bittersweet 'Stepping Out In Front Of Cars'. New stompers and weepers showcase Amity's extraordinary vocal range, whipping up an angelic confection spiked with melancholy in a shimmering slice of Anglo-Americana to drink and die for".
A second release is planned for later in 2008, showcasing many of the wonderful acts who have worked with the Gazelle so far.
Please note: The Hackney Gazelle will only except friend requests when accompanied by a personal message or when there is good reason for a connection to be made.
Previous highlights:
Penny Century (Ostersund, Sweden) August 2007
Noland Folk (Clare, Ireland) February 2007
Sean Riley & the Slow Riders (Portugal) May 2008
Homesick Hank (Copenhagen, Denmark) June 2007
The Bed (Blackpool, England) June 2007
Andy Wilson & Yvonne O'Grady (Cork, Ireland) February 2007
The Dublo (England) February & July 2007
David Mysterious (Cymru) July 2007
Abraham & the Ditsy Blondes (Gothenburg, Sweden) July 2007
The Cesarians (England) July 2007
Christmas Special featuring Morning Bride (US/UK), December 2007
upcoming events: THE HACKNEY GAZELLE presents NOLAND FOLK - summer 2008
Greetings from the Fringe Yep got some new kids on the block this year!he he local indeed 2008 We love Morning Bride&their song coming out on a promo cd for the fringe! Keep it real! xxxNat
This Saturday - 19th - Holly Golightly and The Dublo Thee Boathouse...Springfield Park, bottom of Spring Hill, by the canal/river Lee in Hackney E5..a fantastic venue, less than a mile from StokeN ewington close to Camden etc - great line-up, great DJ's, on a summer evening by the water with a bar till v late...it's a snip at £6.50, she's the queen of the British Blues and The Dublo are playing..what more do you want! see ya there X PS. -there's a map on the dublo myspace
our last show til February, to thank our local comrades and supporters for a fine year... with free T-shirts and Morning Bride gingerbread people (performing edible voodoo is optional while we play)
Morning Bride's new single 'Stepping Out in Front of Cars' is released this week -
*FREE to download at www.morningbride.co.uk/music *FREE with this month's issue of THE WORD magazine - on the covermount CD *FREE to listen to on the myspace page
of the single:
"Spellbinding" - Rock n Reel magazine
"Utterly gorgeous - one moment the vocals are breathy, frail... next thing they're kicking ass and taking names. Not sure whether it's the most uplifting song ever, or the saddest" - Freq.co.uk
"Stirs up emotions of love lost, long since forgotten. As uncomfortable as this can be, a better sign of a great record I don’t think you’ll find" - Noizes Makes Enemies webzine
"Simultaneously thrills and saddens, like the last drops in the bottom of the glass when closing time is long gone" - N16 magazine
*The critically-acclaimed debut album LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES available now - www.morningbride.co.uk
*next show - The Faversham, Leeds, 07.10.07 with The Broken Family Band
our last local show for a long time, with our brilliant swedish labelmates supporting... spread the word!
new reviews at www.morningbride.co.uk/reviews,
'Stepping Out In Front Of Cars' to be released as free-download-only single soon, also available on the covermount CD of THE WORD MAGAZINE (out early September)
In 7 days, Morning Bride's label Letterbox Records & Penny Century will be sending out a very special gift. All you need to do to receive this wonderful present is to let Letterbox Records know your e-mail address and you will be sent your FREE surprise.
And, while you're there, if you're one of the few people yet to pick up a copy of Morning Bride's critically acclaimed debut album, 'Lea Valley Delta Blues' you may wish to take this opportunity to purchase this stunning album.
Penny Century press quotes...
“Between A Hundred Lies is a glorious debut from a Swedish act displaying a disproportionate amount of talent for such a young band. Inspired and absolute pop perfection. 5/5 stars”
MORNING BRIDE play The Drones Club 'Roadhouse' at RYAN'S, 181 Stoke Newington Church St., London N16
FRIDAY 10TH AUGUST 2007
ADMISSION FREE - 8pm til 11pm
also appearing - OWLLS and Nicky Taylor
for latest news, recent national music press reviews of their critically-acclaimed debut album 'Lea Valley Delta Blues', upcoming tour dates and awfully pretty pictures, see the myspace page and www.morningbride.co.uk
"THE BEST THING TO COME OUT OF HACKNEY SINCE THE WHITE STRIPES RECORDED 'ELEPHANT' THERE" - THE WORD MAGAZINE (july 2007)
"SPELLBINDING" - ROCK N REEL MAGAZINE (june 2007)
"GLORIOUSLY BEAUTIFUL" - THE ORGAN (april 2007)
"MUSIC WHICH BEGUILES AND ENRAPTURES" - PLAN B MAGAZINE (april 2007)
"A BRILLIANT ROOTS ROCK BAND WITH SOLID GOLD TUNES....EVERY SONG IS A TRIUMPH" - THE WORD MAGAZINE (july 2007)
"STEEPED IN TRADITION AND WHOLLY UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE... YOU DESERVE TO OWN THIS WONDERFUL ALBUM.... IT'S PERFECT." - SUBTER.COM (march 2007)
THE BED PLAY RYANS CHURCH ST STOKE NEWINGTON N16 TONIGHT 9PM
“Rumours of my demise are somewhat exaggerated...”
The town is Blackpool, New Years Eve.
I pick mark up outside the specified Chinese takeaway, he won't tell me his address, I don't ask why. He's carrying a battered acoustic and a large plastic laundry bag full of sheets of paper. We stop for cigarettes and to drop some bottles of wine off at his brothers house. He isn't answering. I end up climbing over the gate to put them in the alley, but the dogs bark at us constantly. We keep the wine.
At the house the old lady smiles and lets us in, she makes tea. The room is time-capsule late 50s; fake stucco ceiling in turquoise and white, plastic candle chandelier, real wood effect wallpaper, cocktail bar, electric log fire, criss-cross shelves full of nick-knacks from family holidays, a photo of a young girl in ballet outfit, faded black and white – the old lady? Plastic double glazing keeps out the sea, a well used piano adds resonance.
Mark sits down and starts playing a medley whilst I fiddle with the recording equipment. Finally I nod to him and hold the 2 stereo mikes up, one to the guitar, one towards his face, he rustles in the bag, pulls out a dog-eared page of words and begins to sing. Song after song. An hour and a half later, when my arms are numb, I'm glad when the old lady interrupts with more tea. There are sheets of paper strewn all over the floor but we've hardly touched the 20 years worth of laundry in his bag.
We open both bottles of wine.
“So what do you call yourself these days?” I ask.
“The Bed.” He replies, making a roll up.
I see all 6 foot 2 of him sprawled out, smiling, imaginary royalty cheques cashed into consumables, contented as a Tudor fat-cat.
“Yeah - like a four poster?” I say.
He stares at me.
“Like a bed of nails....”
'THE BED' LIMITED EDITION EP AVAILABLE NOW falconerecords.com myspace.com/falconerecor
Thanks to you all for making our first weekender a total success. Lush Rimbaud left this morning at 3am, beers in hand, tired but very happy. Very special thanks to the following: The bands. Steve Lacey for his superb work at the sound desk and stage management. Anne & David Kennedy - accomodation, Sam st Leger & Rowan Lambourne Gibbs - publicity, Groundbait, El Falcone, Clapton Hawk- turntables, Hot Viruz - organisation and last but certainly not least, Maggie at Stage B for providing a great venue. See you next time for some more smartrocker action.
THE SMARTROCKER "All Todays Parties" WEEKENDER presents:
...2 gigs for your diary next weekend
~Friday 27th April~
RYANS , CHURCH ST, STOKE NEWINGTON, LONDON N16:
"It's garage Jim, but not as we know it..."
SKULL DISKO - 9PM - sonic skull justice Area 51 style..
LUSH RIMBAUD - 10PM - From Italy Launching their UK debut album "Action From The Basement"'Lush Rimbaud buzz up a billowing duststorm of staccato punkified electro in full-throttle collision with math rock precision' - PLAN B
Dj's THE LAST MONKEY AND SPECIAL GUESTS £3
~Saturday 28th April 2007~
STAGE B, 98 CHURCH STREET, STOKE NEWINGTON, LONDON N16 DOOR 8PM BAR TILL 2AM
free/donations to bands-get there early..please note stage times!
THE VENOM SEEDS ...new single launch - writhing churning girl/boy/girl maelstrom now captured on vinyl - on stage 10:15
LUSH RIMBAUD...debut album launch..see above! - on stage 9:45
THE DUBLO...anarchist hymns - suburbia on sea shanties - shit kicking rock 'n' roll - filthy blues boogie - on stage 9PM
DAVID MYSTERIOUS..one man psychedelic noise box - on stage 8:45PM
Dj's EL FALCONE /THEE CLAPTON HAWK plus special guests
