Roxy Music, Neutral Milk Hotel, Harry Nilsson, Rolling Stones, David Bowie, ELO, Beatles, Pulp, T.Rex, Olivia Tremor Control, Brian Eno, George Romero, Tony Visconti, Fatboy Slim, Smashing Pumpkins, Led Zeppelin
Sounds Like
This is always difficult.... On the Colin Murray Show (Black Hole of Radio 1), a listener texted in: "Sounds like Pulp getting stoned with the Arcade Fire in a really really good way". One promoter described the band as Roxy Music meets Neutral Milk Hotel. Rather prefer the second one....
FALLING REVIEW: "'Falling' feels like an old friend even listening for the first time, like I must have danced along to it a thousand times. Some Belle and Sebastian strings (although don't let that put you off) add to the catchiest chorus I've heard in ages and one that I'm sure people will be singing to in clubs this summer."
FALLING REVIEW: (Single of the week) "They’re from Pittsburgh originally, London now and he does have an impressive Steve Harley, Bryan Ferry quality -- lush, rich, warm, dramatic, fine fine songsmithery and this is nothing short of a timeless classic single – lyrics to lose yourself in, penetrating lyrics, clever tunes – oh yes, proper clever real timeless English pop (from Pittsburgh), just how it should be -- wonderful two track single."
FALLING REVIEW: (Track of the week) "The Outside Royalty are a six piece of international proportions. Blending the elegant layers of the Arcade Fire with the lyrical whines of Pavement, they shift from epic soundscapes to gentle harmonies to driving beats in the flick of a violin bow."
FALLING REVIEW: (Single of the week) "They’re a Pennsylvania band who’ve relocated to London, and this is their debut single release. And it’s great. It’s even got a crescendo that could rival Pulp at their most Pop. Absolutely my most exciting discovery of the week"
FALLING REVIEW: "The Outside Royalty are very much an antidote to the current swathe of pubescent street poets littering CD stacks across the land. Devoid of metronomic banality and the antithesis of chord structures you could count on one hand, they’re dramatic and engaging."
FALLING REVIEW: "With an intro that reminds us of Joy Division, we get totally blindsided by some almost Sparks-esque vocals. Then the strings come in, and all we can think of is Roxy Music before Bryan Ferry became embarrassing. Y’know, with all that fox-hunting and Bob Dylan covers. This is power-folk. Glorious."
FALLING REVIEW: "From the Joy Division-esque opening seconds, through the stomping, powerful beat to the sweet swirling violin and cello and clear concise vocals, this is definite National daytime radio material"
FALLING REVIEW: "Lead-singer Adam Billing has something you can’t manufacture - the pomp and poise of a truly great frontman in the vein of Ferry or even Jarvis"
The Outside Royalty are a 6 piece indie electro chamber rock band formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band moved across the water to England in the summer of 2006, and has ever since been attracting attention in all the right places.
On May 12th 2008, they release debut single ‘Falling’ as 7” on Bloody Awful Poetry records, produced by Phil Vinall (Radiohead , Pulp, Placebo, Elastica). Aside from the single release party on 28th April at Madame Jo Jo’s, a series of other live shows and in-store performances across the UK and London will celebrate the release.
So then, the story so far: cutting their teeth in the few live music venues that Pittsburgh had to offer, an article ran in a local music magazine ‘The Front’, which talked of the Pittsburgh music scene's demise, and cried out to any talented bands: ‘get out now! Move to New York, move to LA!’ The piece led with a picture of The Outside Royalty.
Luckily for the UK public, they chose none of the above, arriving recently in London with 4 original members remaining. Tony Visconti, who was corresponding with Adam at the time, warned of the perils of London living - saying they'd need a "bucket full of money and a barrel full of work visas" to make it work. Having neither, they set off regardless - following little more than a "gut feeling". After picking up a new bassist and cellist, and despite all living under each other’s feet in a drafty and squalid Victorian terrace (just off the Archway Road), they remain intact and making highly revered music.
They’ve toured with Young Knives, played with Babyshambles, The Duke Spirit, The Holloways, Juliette & the Licks, Spinto Band, The Shins, Good Shoes, been championed by Colin Murray with repeated spins on Radio 1, Gideon Coe, Tom Robinson and Steve Lamacq on 6music, and had 2 ‘sell out’ Club NME shows at Koko. Along with this, guest musician Rick Nelson from Polyphonic Spree has featured live with the band on numerous occasions.
With such a storming live show to boot, it’s finally time for the The Outside Royalty to be invited in.
The Outside Royalty are: Adam Billing (Vox/Guitars), Echo Wu (Violin), Frederique Legrand (Cello), Paul Crawford-Smith (Bass), Eizan Miyamoto (Synths), Brandon Paluzzi (Drums).
"I fell in love with it immediately... How are these guys not signed?"
"...with such a strong and tight musical backing, it's a positively storming number, with wave after wave of crashing orchestration...You must get hold of this"
"Their cover of Eleanor Rigby is the stuff of legends, amazingly epic, and brings a new dimension to the Beatles. This could be one of the covers of the year."
Outside Royalty play the 26th of July at Dex club with Top Shelf Jazz- Matthew Robins in the Death of Fly Boy- El perro Sucio- Ms Honey Vontrapp Jacuzzis hammocks accoustic tents tap dancing and more! Special guest DJ Kobayashi! 467-469 Brixton rd. Brixton tube above KFC! £10 advance-£12 door info- www.myspace.om/gypsymadness 07956 210 454
