Peter Watts, Matt Byrne, Ruth Rogers (aka - Jack Nasty Face), and Tyrannosaurus Alan Cannings
Influences
Brian Wilson, Robyn Hitchcock, Byrds, Beatles, XTC, Gram Parsons, Syd Barrett, Pixies, Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, Smiths, Tom Waits, REM, Velvet Underground, George Harrison, Crosby Stills and Nash, Buffalo Springfrield, Rolling Stones, Woodie Guthrie, John Barry, Neil Hannon, Andrew Sisters, Burt Bacharach, Roger Manning
"Spygenius - an electric 4 piece band who use a 60s vocabulary to craft 21st century music with a postmodern twist."
Inspired by bands like The Beach Boys, The Beatles and Robyn Hitchcock, we offer great original music with a light 60s influence. We play original guitar based pop music for people with an appreciation for harmonies and complicated lyrics.
If you appreciate the jangle-meistering of the Byrds and Beatles, the harmonies of Crosby, Stills and Nash and the lyrical wit of Robyn Hitchcock, you'll love SpygeniusPOWERPOPAHOLIC REVIEW JULY 2009 (reviewed by Aaron Kupferberg)
"Sometimes you get lucky and a great band just pops up, like Spygenius.
"This electric four piece from London, starts with a Beach Boys a capella opening ("Dumb Angels") then gets all hippy funky, similar to the 1910 Fruitgum Company with "The Ballad Of Dr T.F. Bundy & His Hirsute Sweetheart." The next track "I Want That Girl" sounds like Jack Bruce (Cream) fronting for a Doors/Jellyfish hybrid. The band mashes together some diverse 60's and modern influences, in a very original way."
"Songwriter Peter Watts does a great job here mixing the psychedelic stew of chords and harmonies on "Gilgamesh" as well. The album highlight here is the quirky masterpiece "Pineapple Drive" where it's jammed together in a party atmosphere. The humor here is akin to Bonzo Dog Band, without being too over the top silly."
"Then the album's serious side appears on "13 Years (May Song)" where they channel Crosby/Stills/Nash. As the album progresses the sixties influences fade. The softness of the "A Bottle Of Reds & Two Good Friends" will remind many of Rick Gallego and Cloud 11. The latter tracks have a more modern feel ("Wintergarden Summertime") sounding a little like Green and Yellow TV."
"Overall an outstanding album that is sure to hook you in and keep you humming. I will go out on a limb here and say this eclectic mix deserves a spot on our year end "best-of" list."
www.powerpopaholic.blogspot.com/
GIG GUIDE REVIEW (Feb 2009):
"Take a lot of funk, some good old fashioned no-nonsense rock and mix in a little cheese-laden synth playing and you're close to the unique, energising sound of Spygenius."
"I mustn't forget to mention the excellent vocals that fit perfectly to this mix; something that's not easy to pull off, though when you analyse lyrics such as; "Jesus is alive on Pineapple Drive", all becomes clear! That's not to say all of the songs are quirky peices, songs such as 'A Bottle of Reds and Two Good Friends' are very warming with their calming sweet melodies and gentle vocals."
"The album is great for feeling good and my favourite song has to be 'The Ballard of Dr T F Bundy and his Hirsute Sweetheart' for it's simple funk-filled obscurity!"
www.the-gig-guide.co.uk
WE NOW HAVE THE NEW ALBUM OUT!!!
SONG'S FROM THE DEVIL'S TYPIST IS AVAILABLE TO BUY HERE!
(also available on i-tunes and Amazon)
Dumb Angels
The Ballad of Dr T.F. Bundy and his Hirsute Sweetheart
I want that Girl
Gilgamesh
Pineapple Drive
13 Years (May Song)
A Bottle of Reds and Two Good Friends
Closest thing to Heaven
This Heart was Truer Than You Cared to Believe
Wintergarden Summertimes
Conybeare's Island
Mr Misdirected Woo
BUY DIRECTLY FROM US ON OUR WEBSITE USING PAYPAL:
--- http://spygenius.co.uk/shop.php ---
Or buy through CD Baby: (ships from the USA)
hi pete & ruth.. good to see you at W/horse session.. Cornish fest sounds a good one, ..feedback received from LotF from my sprog is that it was mostly a wall of meaningless noise! Let em keep it! See you at Brewery with our musically literate sprog in tow with similar minded gang! Ken/Den
Ha, ha! Our plan is working; to batter you into submission with our cunning stuck-in-you-head-chord technology. Resistance is futile...
Lovely to see you guys the other eve in the sauna and the thump. Very chuffed at the thought of recording and we shall all have to have a sit down over powerful and intoxicating beverages.
Hope to hook up soon and sorry to miss the 4th of July knees-up.
hi guys - been a while since i saw you at orange street - i hope your new album is going well. We've got our debut gig coming up if any of you are free next thurs (23rd) - it would be great to return the favor of entertaining you!
hi guys Hope all is well.. Ruth where do we get the CD..? We have anew track online - take a listen and feed back please.. Ken AKA Dudley K Shade The Devotees CANTERBURY/LONDON England
hi Ruth & Pete & co...! Belated New Year 2008 wishes.. sending best wishes for creativity and music in 2008.. Ken AKA Dudley / The Devotees CANTERBURY England/FRANKFURT Germany
I've removed it altogether. Our banner's gone, and the page effects and all the contact details too. How peculiar. It's as though someone had been fiddling with Jen's particulars.
