ANTO O'KANE
Strat and Vocals
RAY LAWLOR
Tele and Vocals
SHAZ MORGAN
Bass
BRIAN STEENSON
Drums
Influences
The Clash, The Jam, The Saw Doctors, Wire, Sly and the Family Stone, Dylan, The 13th Floor Elevators, The Futureheads, Amon Tobin, Radiohead, Rory Gallagher, The Specials
Sounds Like
Here is a list of the bands we've been told we sound like
The Libertines, The Clash, The Jam, The Levellers, The Saw Doctors, Supergrass, Billy Bragg, XTC, Gang of Four, Thin Lizzy, The Hives, Iggy Pop, Belle and Sebastian, Stiff Little Fingers, The Specials, My Morning Jacket, The Ordinary Boys,
It's getting longer everyday.
BELOW IS THE NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR OUR NEW SINGLE "SITTING THERE"! ENJOY!
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BELOW IS THE NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR "BLACK EYE"! ENJOY!
Breaking rules comes easy to the Tin Pot Operation, whilst many of their contemporaries were finding simple niche sounds that were out-of-the-box ready for plastering over that oh-so-touching scene where the new pretty-but-quirky doctor loses her first patient, the TPO were locked in a old Linen Mill in West Belfast hammering out a sound they wanted to make, a sound that defined their own experiences and that felt right.
Keeping it simple, stripped to the bone; guitar, bass and drums and just building songs from the bottom up. The members draw influences from Motown, Bowie, The Clash, Talking Heads, Hendrix through to Radiohead, The Pixies, Aphex Twin and Spearhead.
Their approach needed some serious hard work and nerves of steel to pull off. The early gigs left audiences confused and struggling for comparison, so it was necessary to beat them into submission. Clocking up almost 200 shows in 2 years debuting new songs and sounds at every one, the cream started to rise to the surface. The audience began to become fans with the songs stuck in their heads and on their lips, something was clicking.
Next TV appearances on local, regional and then beyond: being featured in a documentary on the Franco-German arts channel Arté resulted in a whole new audience for their music
An early 14 track sparse and fractious debut album "Manufacturing Dissent" staked their agenda fair and square. No-nonsense, uncensored and passionate. The TPO just bared their souls.
Followed by a more melodic pop-centred EP "Here!" which started whispers that this band had something special - reviews noted "Melodic riffs and emotional commitment it's impossible to ignore." Culture Northern Ireland. Starting to earn descriptions like the Belfast Clash the TPO released their most accomplished release to date, the download single "Blackeye". A blistering, foot to the Floor tirade borne from the killing of a brazilian electrician following the London bombings.
Again the reviews were glowing identifying the band with the sounds of Stiff Records circa 1982 and declaring "[Blackeye] is nothing short of monstrous"
Still building on a tremendous live reputation the last 18 months has seen support slots with The Stranglers, The Damned, Aslan and a slot at the Belfast NYE celebrations alongside David Holmes, Foy Vance and Ocean Colour Scene as well as a tour of some great venues in France alongside local heroes Tchiki Boum.
At present the TPO are locked in a studio crafting their 2nd album entirely of previously unreleased material. The LP to be titled "Human Resources" is destined for release in Late Spring 2008 and is already being eagerly awaited.
QUOTES:
"...if there was ever a band that summed up the true rebel-rousing spirit of Belfast then it's TIN POT OPERATION. They adore putting noses out of joint, have wound up more people than Jeremy Beadle and best of all they're not afraid to talk about Politics... Their self-released slab of wax 'HUMAN RESOURCES' is a beautifully battered sonic manifesto and it sums up their hometown better than any empty-headed politician ever could." - NME.
"...A-Bomb On Botanic AvenueDefinitely a reminder about what's good about the Libertines here..." Roadhouse Mag
"...It has a lot of appeal for a lot of people, with hints here and there of The Police (cough), and their pop rock is colourful and bouyant. As the band poised to take the classic NI complaint-as-lifestyle into the 21st century of music they have potential, given that everyone loves nothing more than a west belfast missive..." Ciaran Tracey, Fastfude.com and Metal Ireland.
"...this is a gang of four observing the anger of a post ceasefire Belfast youth who arent just concerned with The Troubles. The war in Iraq, the media and racism all get a kicking on stage through some upbeat and well crafted songs. To mix music and politics in the North is brave but in the TPOs case not stupid." Charlotte Dryden, The Fly
coming across like a hybrid of The Jam and The Levellers Politics seemed to be the central theme to their songs They finished off the set with a rousing self-penned punk stomper called Bored With Belfast which met with mass approval from the audience, and rightly so. Bored is a killer punk tune and if TPO keep coming up with material on a similar par, then I reckon they have a bright future indeed. Definitely one to watch out for. PunkandOIUK
I saw this band from Belfast first on German television. Believe me, it was short. 10 seconds in their rehearsal room. But I was thrilled to hear more... Undoubtly influenced by bands like The Clash, they have the power to transport emotions without being emo or too trendy. It..s the genius simplicity, the two sided vocals, combined with heartful lyrics, a kid like me can mirror in. Music reduced to the must haves. I hope to see these guys live real soon. Until then I play their songs as loud as I can. On my ipod, my stereo and of course on my German Punk Rock Radio Show... Adde Neumann, FM Radio FREI, Munich.
"Unifying the band's sound, of course, is their unmistakeable passion. You get the impression that there has never been a group of people happier to be angry. But what really matters, I suppose, is the fact that the Tin Pot Operation can take R & B riffs, mellow Radiohead-like melodies, occasional bluesy-folksy rhythms, and bursts of punk speed, shake it all up, and produce a record as thoroughly enjoyable as Human Resources, a disk I have been humming and singing along to all weekend." - Sobriquet Magazine
hey
thanks for your valued friendship and support, big love!
if ya have a minute come check out our new home demo 'Dinosaur Eating Man'!
drop us a line, let us know what you think!
jilly xx
no mean city
Happy Martin Luther King Day .. be happy the larger majority of us are all free and united as one spieces. if your white ..hug ur black friends and if ur black hug ur white friends ... this goes for spanish, german, turkish, and all other types of people across the globe lol i fux with em' all
CS Recording Studios in Donaghcloney (between Banbridge and Lurgan) have fully equipped rehearsal space available to rent for £10 per hour. Discounts for block booking. Contact us for further information Drum Kit Guitar Amps Bass Amp PA Provided
07743655361 Andrew Coggan 07922685807 Barry Steenson
Heya. Just wondering would you guys be interested in playing a gig here, in The Magnet Centre, Newry maybe this friday ? Or Next friday? Sorry for the short notice xo
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what it is pep. today my birthday so along with celebrating it with my label family at the new house i HAD to come fux with my myspace family too. leave me sum birthday wishes on the page if u can and jam a song while ya there. appreciate it!
Ya boy back off my personal hiatus and back to work in the studio and promotion so expect new music ASAP and i need ya support still so come thru and fux with a bruddah.
some massive news on the dolphin front weve actually started rehearsing and iv managed to wangle i would say the best guitarist in the country not gonna boast or blow about him but when weve recorded ill make sure your one of the first to hear especially you anto for sticking by us when the fuders had me by the neck in the fastfude playground,,seriously im that excited i could shag ma dug.. iv been thinking about it for a long time,,,,cheers x scotty... manhugs allround
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