“This is the Year” has been voted Record of the Week on BBC Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie Show…
“…a rather beautiful record” Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2 (30th Oct '08)
“Really, really gorgeous” – Stuart Maconie, BBC Radio 2 (4th Nov '08)
"The mixture of McKean's growl and the excellent lyrics evoke a sound reminiscent of Leonard Cohen or Tom Waits... quality songwriting" - Record of the Day 7th July '08
"Live, they're capable of making audiences weak at the knees" - Metro (One to Watch, May '08)
"Tom McKean is in possession of a deep, rich voice and dark, moody songs.
Fantastic" - Time Out, London
One Thing on my Mind is "Plaintive, bleak and beautiful" – Stephen Merchant, BBC 6 Music
"They've been causing a stir and quite rightly too. Certainly one to watch out for in 2008" - Strummerville
"You really get a sense that the Emperors are seasoned veterans of the London music scene and I can't believe they won't be playing much larger venues very soon" - livemusic.fm
“Nick Cave jamming with Tom Waits playing in a Jazz Bar during a Tarantino movie… toe-curlingly good” - livemusic.fm
"Evocative and cinematic, the Emperors explore the darker shadows of rootsy blues and jazz with the moody maturity of experience and stellar musicianship" - Twenty Cell Revolt music blog
"Like a Southern States whisky preacher, McKean is at his best when he takes his listeners on a roller-coaster emotional journey, from the lows to the highs, and from the dark to the light … exorcising the drab and dreary spirits from his congregation, re-invigorating us all for a few precious moments" - livemusic.fm
Tom McKean: vocals/guitars Bobby Williams: guitars/vocals Andy Simms: keyboards/clarinet Iain Ross: drums/vocals John Parker: Double Bass Ed Miller: bass
Many thanks to Paul Alexander from Midlake (Double Bass)
Influences
Sounds Like
Watch the first instalment of the band's video diary as they record their debut album in Dallas, Texas - 2009
Watch the 2nd instalment of the band's video diary as they record their debut album in Dallas, Texas - 2009
Watch the band play "This is a War" live at The Borderline
Watch the band play "Fever" live
Watch the band play a rollicking version of Jolie Holland's "Old Fashioned Morphine" on the roof of Emperors HQ
"We might be miserable buggers but we still want you to have a good time" - Tom McKean
It’s been an interesting year or two, dear reader. Our debut single was voted Record of the Week on Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie’s popular BBC Radio 2 show here in the UK. It was also Record of the Day on influential music industry website Record of the Day (a more appropriate name for it we can’t imagine) and garnered some great reviews from the press. We’ve been playing packed-to-the-rafters shows and enjoyed last summer’s festivals where, most memorably, we just about made it through a haze of sunburn and very strong cider at Glastonbury.
We picked up a manager along the way and found ourselves in Texas earlier this year making our debut album with Grammy-nominated producer John Congleton. He’s worked with artists as varied as Modest Mouse, Antony and the Johnsons, The Polyphonic Spree, Explosions in the Sky, Marilyn Manson and Erykah Badu as well as more mainstream acts like Bono and Celine Dion. John also fronts anarchic noise rockers The Paper Chase.
We're delighted with the results and you can here some of the tracks on this very website. It should be out early 2010.
We wrote, rehearsed and demoed the album (and live in) a house that used to be the home of legendary poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath. Peter O’Toole was a long-standing lodger (in what's now Bobby's bedroom) and he, Hughes and Plath would drink and read poetry late into the night with friends David Lean, Jacques Tati and Albert Finney. Much of our record was conceived in the same room under similar circumstances and we like to think that we're in some way carrying on the tradition of the house.
Dylan Thomas was often to be found drinking round the corner in our local pub. He inspired our track “Gazing at the Dying of the Light” which quotes directly from his poem Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night.
Through the vagaries of luck and hard work we’ve found ourselves making the kind of music we always wished we could. We very much hope you enjoy it.
All the best,
Tom McKean & the Emperors
Tom McKean & the Emperors are based in London, UK. Tom is from Glasgow, Scotland.
Tom McKean & the Emperors’ debut single can be purchased from iTunes and Tesco.
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST AND GET FREE DOWNLOADS BY GOING TO www.theemperors.co.uk
FOR ALL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT richard@autonomymusicgroup.com
Hey Guys, Hope you're all well and happy.I'm playing a sneak preview of the new album at The Boogaloo August 10th from 8.30. It's a free one!Come on down, be great to see ya. M x
Hi.. I just wanted to send you a note and say that you guys have become one of my favorite bands! I've been listening to your mp3s ever since you added me.
I can't wait until you have an album for me to buy, or to have the chance to see you live. I live in LA these days, so I haven't had that chance yet!
Will we be seeing ya at this month's Red Eyed & Blue on Tuesday March 11th? We sure hope so! It's taking place at the Hawley Arms' brand spanking new music venue The Wilmington. We've got a crackin' lineup with Adrian Crowley, Trevor Moss & Hannah Lou, The Snakes and DJ sets from the Truckin' Lauras and DJ James Steel.
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