ASH JANUARY-APRIL 2010 CONTENTS: • April Tour Editorial • Single Reviews • Volume. 1 reviews
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APRIL TOUR EDITORIAL
Big - Glasgow Online - 19th January 2010
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arts Alpha-beat Ash bassist Mark Hamilton tells Lianne Steinberg why they’ve decided to discard the traditional album format Arriving as fresh-faced teenage heroes in 1992, Northern Irish trio Ash are now elder statesmen of the rock scene. With over eight million albums sold worldwide, singer/guitarist Tim Wheeler, bassist Mark Hamilton and drummer Rick McMurray may no longer live in each other’s pockets but they’ve remained steadfast in their musical ambitions and desire to keep challenging themselves. Their latest album, A To Z Singles, is actually a compilation of 26 singles that have been released digitally and on limited 7” vinyl every two weeks since last May. Released on their own label, Atomic Heart, the band were inspired by the new buying trends in music, which reflect more demand for singles than album releases.
“This has been the most ambitious and demanding project ever.” However, with the release of volume one of the A To Z Singles compilation, plus making videos for each release, they’ve created even more work for themselves without the fallback of a major label to help them. “This has easily been the most ambitious and demanding project we’ve ever undertaken,” says Hamilton. “We’ve recorded four albums worth of music, over 54 songs, as we wanted to make sure the single quality was high, and then the logistics of setting up a label infrastructure and releasing 26 physical 7” vinyl, the digital subscription and CD compilations have made it the most hectic and prolific period in our career. We used to release a 12 track album and a few b-sides every three years – the A-Z series has blown that work rate out of the water.” He laughs. “But having our own studio and a visionary 30
management team has been pivotal to the project. We’re very lucky to be able to attempt something this pioneering.” The first single to be released was Return Of White Rabbit, which revealed a different sound for the band. Danceable, with a flurry of synths, grinding bass and Wheeler’s off-kilter harmonies, had it been the lead single off an album it may have signalled a complete change of direction. But the nature of the single releases suggests they’re not tied to the need for cohesion. “Return Of White Rabbit certainly was a departure for us but hardly a one-off. I would say that across the AZ singles we’ve explored many different avenues that we might have avoided in the past. Not having to think of the album context has been
really creatively liberating and we’ve taken each song on an individual basis, and just run with whatever materialised no matter where that took us,” Hamilton explains. “Return Of White Rabbit was one of the most obvious experiments. We created that song in the computer over a number of months after jamming for hours around an initial bass line. The process was very time consuming and if we didn’t have our own studio it would have been hard to allocate that much time to one song. Across the full A-Z you’re going to see a wide spectrum of styles and we’ve tried to cover all our bases to keep all our entire fan base content,” he says. With Bloc Party’s guitarist Russell Lissack drafted in on second guitar for Ash’s forthcoming tour, it’s possible to
see the mutual appreciation the bands have for each other in their music. Hamilton agrees. “Bloc Party are one of the most innovative bands out there and it’s an honour for us to have Russell join us for touring for the rest of the year. He’s fitted in perfectly and although we’ve only known him well for a very short time it feels very natural and it’s as if he’s been around for years.” As luck would have it, Lissack used to be in an Ash cover band when he was a teenager. Hamilton admits that rehearsals are essentially “one prolonged request session” as the trio indulge some of his childhood fantasies by playing older material. These days both Wheeler and Hamilton live in New York while McMurray is based in Scotland. Plunging themselves back into the UK last year, the band’s autumn A-Z tour involved playing British towns and cities beginning with each letter of the alphabet, with an emphasis on each place being off the beaten track. “That was so much fun. Every day we didn’t know what to expect and we’d definitely love to do another tour like that again. It certainly opens you up to audiences who may never have heard us or had the opportunity to see you before, so it’s very rewarding and keeps the touring very interesting. Who’s ever heard of Zennor?” Although this tour will involve Lissack replacing the position previously filled by second guitarist Charlotte Hatherley, who was a member from 1997 to 2006, the band have no plans to re-expand to a four-piece or change the way they write songs. “We do whatever we feel is required for the song in the studio and then worry about how we’ll play it live later. To some extent we thought about how we’d fill the live sound out more so we added more synths, strings or samples as well as the usual layers of guitars.” And what about the Ash purists who actually appreciated their return to being a three piece – are they any? “Absolutely,” he laughs, “There’s always an old skool.” Ash, 24 April, Metropolitan University, Leeds; 28 April, Academy 2, Manchester.
THE BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH · 19-25 APRIL 2010
Big Issue in the North - 15th April 2010
Birmingham 101 - 13th April 2010
QUOTES
MY IRELAND Celeb quotes
Ireland means something different to everyone. We DUKE SPECIAL. SINGER
“LISTENING TO HYNDFORD STREET OR CONEY ISLAND BY VAN MORRISON AND DRIVING AROUND BELFAST AND COUNTY DOWN.”
asked some Irish celebrities to tell us what person, place or thing would embody their personal image of Ireland
“Pat’s Bar in Belfast. The best Guinness ever. Drinking with my mates ‘til closing, then home to continue ‘til all turns green. Then a fight and a hug. Continue ‘til dawn. Then close the curtains. Then continue ‘til dead. ” Ash play the Irish Centre on April 24
“
R I C K M c M U R R AY, DRUMMER WITH ASH B O B B R O L LY: B B C R A D I O WM
Duke Special’s new album is The Stage, A Book & The Silver Screen
My image of Ireland is an advertisement of the Dubliners from the 1960’s era with their long thick beards, all drinking pints of Guinness with big grins on their faces because you know that they are not faking their love of the black stuff!
”
“Lovely Derry on the Banks of the Foyle. Walk across the bridge and then up Spencer PA U L B R A DY. S I N G E R
“ The view of majestic Ben Bulben from Queen Maeve’s tomb at the top of ancient Knocknarea in County Sligo is my favourite image of Ireland.
”
Paul Brady plays Birmingham Town Hall, Apr 20. His new album is Hooba Dooba
Mundy’s current album is Strawberry Blood
M U N DY, S I N G E R
Road to 27 Chapel Road where I was born and reared. The memories keep flooding back of the very special times. Still one of my favourite places on earth.
”
Bob Brolly is on BBC Radio WM Sundays, 4pm-7pm To come Barry McGuigan Boxer
“MY FRIEND ELAINE O’GRADEY. SHE JUST PERSONIFIED EVERYTHING THAT IS BEAUTIFUL ABOUT IRELAND FOR ME. I’VE KNOWN HER SINCE I WAS 11 AND I’M GODMOTHER TO HER CHILD. SSHE FROMA BIG FAMILY AND HAS SEVEN BROTHERS AND THEY ALL HAVE LOADS OF CHILDREN TOO. YOU GO TO HER HOUSE AND IT’S FULL OF KIDS AND THERE’S A STEW ON. WARMTH, A BIG FAMILY, MAKING THE BEST OF YOUR LIFE, EVERYTHING ABOUT HER REMINDS ME OF THE IRELAND THAT I LOVE.” The Scouting Book For Boys is in cinemas from March 19
S U S A N LY N C H. A C T R E S S
S T PAT R I C K ’S DAY F E S T I VA L B I R M I N G H A M 2 0 0 9 |
Birmingham St Patrick’s day magazine
9
THE BIG GIG
INDIE FAVOURITES ASH PLAY THE WATERFRONT IN NORWICH
!event 16.04.10- 23.04.10
THE BIG SHOW
RATTIGAN CLASSIC FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS IN A NEW CITY PRODUCTION
THE BIG FILM
RICKY GERVAIS GOES BACK TO THE 70s IN CEMETERY JUNCTION
THE BIG DANCE
ESSENCE OF IRELAND AT KING’S LYNN CORN EXCHANGE
A CHAP IN PERIL Danger, derring-do and lots of laughs in The 39 Steps
THE BIG EVENT
HISTORIC GEM DRAGON HALL IS BACK ON THE TOURIST TRAIL
the eastern daily press listings magazine Eastern Daily Press - 16th April 2010
music
Explore Event on-line at www.edp24.co.uk/event
Smokie still hot SEVENTIES Seventies stars Smokie are in concert at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange this Friday (April 16) at 7.30pm. Smokie found fame with Mickie Most’s then ultra-hot RAK label and were chart bound with songs such as If You Think You Know How To Love Me and Don’t Play Your Rock‘n’Roll To Me. ! " 01553 764864 (£20, concs £19) www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk
Cash tribute band TRIBUTE This Friday (7.30pm) The Cut arts centre in Halesworth plays host to tribute band The Johnny Cash Roadshow. The band, featuring Clive John as Cash, Nick Davis (guitar/ vocals), Alan Parker (double bass and vocals) and Jim ‘E’ Williams (drums/ vocals) perform material from throughout Cash’s career including Walk the Line and Folsom Prison Blues. ! " 0845 673 2123 (£14, concs £13) www.newcut.org
Acoustic session ACOUSTIC Enjoy some of the best local performers in the latest Play The Music Acoustic Showcase, taking place in the Norwich Arts Centre café bar from 1-4pm on Saturday. Free admission www.norwichartscentre.co.uk
Rock and country COUNTRY/POP The Rock‘n’Roll Country Show – coming to Hunstanton Princess Theatre on Saturday and Sunday (7.30pm both nights) - may be a new name with familiar stars: Irish country favourites Dominic Kirwan and Sandy Kelly join Sixties balladeer P J Proby. Dominic is no stranger to the West Norfolk venue, while Sandy has won wide acclaim for her portrayal of country legend Patsy Cline. PJ Proby’s hits include Somewhere, Maria and Hold Me. ! " 01485 532252 (£18.50, £9.50) www.princesstheatrehunstanton.co.uk
Budgie chirps on COUNTRY Budgie Coleman and The Mustard Band make a welcome return on Saturday to Copper Country (North Walsham Community Centre – right beside the fire station to the rear of the pay & display car park on New Road (satnav NR28 9DE). Snacks and bar available: (FFH) ! " 01692 402991
Tin man gig POP NRONE Records presents Tin Man at Norwich Arts Centre on Saturday (8pm). Support comes from The Barlights, These Ghosts and Alloy Ark. (CCW) ! " 01603 660352 (£4adv/£6door) available from Norwich Arts Centre Box Office or online at www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk
Rock icon Reed ROCK Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Trio: MM3 will be performing A Night Of Deep Noise at J1 at The Junction, Cambridge on Saturday (7pm). The line-up features Lou Reed on processed and unprocessed guitars, Ulrich Krieger on tenor sax and liveelectronics, and Sarth Calhoun on continuum & live processing. Rock music icon Lou Reed and sonic experimentalist Ulrich Krieger, and continuum and live processing specialist Sarth Calhoun take the stage together to improvise music and make soundscapes. (CCW) ! " 01223 511511 (£25adv) www.junction.co.uk
Pat’s in town COUNTRY Pat James is at Bramfield Village Hall south of Halesworth on Saturday: (FFH) ! " 01728 689033 (Sorry no line dancing, no bar, BYO)
10 EDP Event # April 15, 2010
Ash here – and still smokin’ No more albums, but Ash are definitely not splitting – and are playing Norwich Waterfront. VICTORIA LEGGETT talks to the band’s drummer, Rick McMurray. When Ash announced in 2007 they would never release another album, rumours were rife that the Northern Irish rockers were on the verge of splitting. Yet 14 back-to-back singles and a gruelling tour schedule later, those predictions could not have been more wrong. Now, as the three-piece embarks on its latest round of live dates, drummer Rick McMurray says the band’s unusual take on music production has brought them closer to their fans than ever before. The group made the decision three years ago following some frustration with their record company and a realisation that the industry was changing. “People were consuming music in a really different way – downloading digital tracks,’ says Rick. “The whole concept of the album didn’t seem that valid to us anymore.” So the band opted to take a risk and announced they would never release another album – something they still stand by. But while realising the decision was a little unorthodox, they never expected the assumption many would jump to – that Ash were splitting. Rick says: “I think we were surprised by that reaction. For us it felt like this was the start of a new journey and something we could really experiment with. But people were asking ‘are you splitting up?’” They could not have been further from the truth. Instead the band has released a steady stream of singles, called the A-Z series, since October while touring regularly without the need to worry about promoting an album. Now, more than half-way through the slightlyodd experiment – track N, Dare to Dream, was released on Monday – the drummer says the decision has brought the band even closer to their fans. He says: “We thought we maybe weren’t as present as we should have been. We thought by
SATURDAY ATTLEBOROUGH F5
Connaught Hall, Station Road: The Scratch Band (13-piece blues and soul band), bar and raffle available, doors 8pm, music from 9pm £7 door. BANHAM F6 The Barrel: Misfit Collective (glam folk rock), 9pm £3. BECCLES H5 Caxton Club: Penny Wise, 8.30pm non members £2. Conservative Club, London Road: Cool Blue (swing era), 8pm £5, 01502 713535. BURY ST EDMUNDS The Pot Black Sports Bar, Eastgate Street: A Saucerful of Pink Floyd (tribute), 8pm £6 advance, £8 door, 01284 704231. CAISTER I4
$ ASH: No more albums but fans will be able to see them at The Waterfront, Norwich. releasing something on a regular basis that’s going to make the band more current in their lives and they would have more of an attachment. “We know there were a few fans that were quite critical of the idea, but now they are absolutely loving it.” The move from producing albums to a constant string of singles has impacted not only on the way they release the material, but also how they perform it live. No longer does each tour revolve around an album of 12 songs to be interwoven with some old favourites. Now the band has a constant stream of new songs to mix into an ever-growing set list. But Rick says he and his band mates are conscious that affection for older tunes is still very strong. He says: “By the time we finish the project, we could potentially play an A to Z set list – and that would be fun to do. But we are still aware we have this fan base that goes back for a long time and they expect to hear the old songs. “We’re not one of those bands that shies away from that. We like to see the crowd going spare for the songs.” Helping to whip up the crowd into that frenzy will be a familiar face in the form of Bloc Party guitarist and keyboard player Russell Lissack, who joins the line-up for the tour. Russell, who has been pursuing solo project Pin Me Down during a break from his usual duties, made his first ever appearance on stage
Caister Community Sports and Social Club, Beach Road: Tocatta (60s-70s female duo), 8.30pm. CALIFORNIA I4 California Tavern: The Kingsize Papas (jump jive), 8.30pm. COLTISHALL G3 Railway: Hard Rain, 8pm. CROMER G1 Giovanni’s: Coupe de Ville, 8.30pm. Library, Prince of Wales Road: Acoustic at the Library, 7.30-9.30pm free. FAKENHAM E2 Rampant Horse Inn: Audio Junkie, 9pm. GORLESTON I4 Lord Nelson, Trafalgar Road West: Stealer (classic rock), 9pm. HEMSBY I3 Seadell Bar: Mel Stevens and the Strollers, 9pm.
in an Ash tribute band, so should be fairly familiar with the tracks. “He knows pretty much every note,” says Rick, who was looking forward to getting into rehearsals with him. But the drummer does not see the addition, which he hopes will “change things up” for the tour, as a permanent move for the band. “Once we’re back in the studio we will be the three-piece again. We work and write much better that way,” he says. Instead the band mates will be looking for a new project to delight fans once the A-Z series is completed. “I think we’ll be setting ourselves some more crazy challenges,” says Rick. That could include touring with an A-Z set list or releasing singles as digital downloads within hours of them being written. The one thing you can be sure of, there won’t be an album in sight. ! Ash play The Waterfront, Norwich on Wednesday (7.30pm) " 01603 508050 (£15adv) UEA Students’ Union, Waterfront and Soundclash www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk ! Fans of the Northern Irish trio can see them perform a free in-store acoustic show at HMV’s Gentlemans Walk store in Norwich at 5pm, after which the band will remain in the store to meet fans and sign copies of their new compilation CD A-Z Volume 1.
HETHERSETT F4 Social Club: The Music Man, 8.30pm. HOPTON ON SEA I5 Village Hall: Out of the Ashes (country, 60s rock ’n’ roll, pop), bring own drinks and interval picnic, doors 8 for 8.30pm start, tickets £4 on 01502 733747. HORSFORD G3 Social Club: Juice, 8.30pm. HUNSTANTON C1 Princess Theatre, The Green: Rock ’n’ Roll Country Show featuring Dominic Kirwan, PJ Proby and Sandy Kelly, 7.30pm £18.50 and £9.50, 01485 532252. United Services Club, Homefields Road: Steve Perry, 8.30pm guests £1. IPSWICH Ipswich Corn Exchange, King Street: Off The Wall (Pink Floyd tribute), 7.30pm £18.50 and £17, 01473 433100.
Eastern daily press - 16th April 2010 Feature
KING’S LYNN B3 Bar Red, Norfolk Street: Birkenhead, 9pm. MENDHAM G6 Sir Alfred Munnings: Murphy’s Lore, 8.30pm. NORWICH G4 Angel Gardens: Crumbs for Comfort, 8.30pm. Arkwrights, Hobart Square: Lou and the Diamonds (60s), 8.30pm. Blueberry: Counterfeit, 9pm. Bread and Cheese: Gordon James, 8.30pm. Brickmakers: Rawkas, Icarus Vision (rock), 8pm. Brickmakers B2: The Trolley Men Go Forth (alternative), 8pm £5 advance, £6 door. Bridge House, Riverside Road: Crash and Burn, 9pm-2am. Gatehouse: Vic Salter, 8.30pm. Heath House: Rob Charles, 8.30pm. Leopard: Kevin King, 8.30pm.
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Northants News - 5th February 2010
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Posted by jon on 4/14/10 • Categorized as Interviews, Previews
You Me At Six Introducing: Young Guns The Blackout Fightstar
MORE IN 'PREVIEWS'
Alphabeat: Norwich Waterfront Diana Vickers: Norwich Waterfront Ash: Norwich Waterfront + HMV The Automatic: Norwich Arts Centre
PREVIEWS
Apr 18 Alphabeat: Norwich Waterfront Apr 21 Ash: Norwich Waterfront + HMV Apr 21 Ash: Interview May 16 Diana Vickers: Norwich Waterfront Ash Ash are one of the best bands of the last 20 years, and whilst most bands who have been around for as long as
CATEGORIES
they have are fading away, Ash have remained ground breaking. Since last September Ash have been releasing one single every fortnight. To celebrate the half way mark of the project they are releasing the A-Z Series Volume
Features
One, which features the first 13 singles (my personal favourite is Joy Kicks Darkness). The collection shows not
Interviews
only that Ash are still producing fantastic material, but also has allowed the band to showcase different styles.
Live Reviews
To promote the new compilation Ash are playing an acoustic set at Norwich HMV (at 5pm) and a full live show at
News
Norwich Waterfront (Doors 7.30pm) on Wednesday 21st April. Bloc Party’s Russell Lissack will join Ash on all their
Norwich Bands
upcoming shows playing guitar and synth.
Previews
Norwich Gigs talked to Mark Hamilton, Ash Bassist. After 6 full albums and the current A-Z series, how easy is it selecting songs to play at live shows? What mix between the albums can we expect on the upcoming tour? It’s not easy as we have so much new material that we would love to indulge ourselves with night-in, night-out!
Videos
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About
We’re playing about 2/3 rds old stuff and previous singles, which should hopefully keep the majority of the crowd
Contact
happy, mixed with about 1/3 new material from the A-Z series. We’re well aware of which songs please the crowd
Links
and we’ll try to send everyone home satisfied, as well as converted to the new stuff. After being a three piece again for the whole ‘Twilight of The Innocents’ tours and the A-Z tour last year, what made
NORWICH GIGS ELSEWHERE
you decide to bring in an extra guitarist? How did it come about that Russell is joining the band for this tour? It was just one of those things! It felt right as a lot of the A-Z material has layers of guitars or synths, and Russell seemed like an obvious choice as we knew he had a documented history of being an Ash fan. So far shows in New York and Tokyo have worked out really well so long may it continue! Kele has been quoted as saying, ‘Russell is the new Charlotte’, so we’re waiting for him to invade the dressing room with an entourage of stylists and makeup artists. We’re happy to have him as long as he’s available and he seems to be enjoying himself so it’s all good. How do you feel the A-Z series has gone so far? At the end of the 26 singles, will you consider repeating with a second series? The A-Z series has be our biggest undertaking as artists and we’re still in some state of denial that we’re able to pull it off on our own independent label. Without the financial clout of label behind us we’re very aware of every penny we spend, as it comes out of our collective pockets, and we have to approach releases in a much more conservative fiscal manner. But the rewards are ten fold as we’re seeing our first chart action in Japan, as A-Z Vol. 1 has just broke their Top 30 and each single continues to gain ground on the hallowed UK Top 40! Who knows where or what we’ll do next, we’re too busy enjoying the thrill of the A-Z to be too concerned with what the future holds. Although we do believe we’ve found a format that gives hope for our continued existence in a volatile and crumbling music industry. This approach has also allowed us to engage with our fans in a much more interactive and rewarding manner than traditional album releases in the past and when we hear our fans proclaiming, ‘This is the best time to be an Ash fan ever’, we know we’re doing something right! More information on Ash’s A-Z Series, including how to subscribe can be found on www.ash-official.com Tickets for the Norwich Waterfront are available from www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk
Tagged as: Ash, Mark Hamilton
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Norwich Gigs - 4th April 2010
Norwich gigs online - 2nd April 2010
Portsmouth News - 16th April 2010
Repeat Fanzine - 11th March 2010 Part 1
Repeat Fanzine - 11th March 2010 Part 2
Repeat Fanzine - 11th March 2010 Part 3
Repeat Fanzine - 11th April Part 4
Repeat Fanzine - 11th March 2010 Part 5
Repeat Fanzine - 11th March 2010 Part 6
Repeat Fanzine - 11th March 2010 Part 7
Repeat Fanzine - 11th March 2010 Part 8
Sound check Magazine Birmingham - January 2010
Southern Daily Echo - 29th January 2010
Sunday life Belfast - 28th March 2010
The Latest Brighton - February Issue
The List Scotland - April 2010
The Scottish Sun - 9th April 2010
Young Scot - 13th April 2010
SINGLE REVIEW
Bournemouth Daily Echo - 25th March 2010
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Huddersfield Daily Examiner - January 25th 2010
Huddersfield Examiner - 29th March 2010
Manchester Evening News - 15th January 2010
My Birmingham- Single review - 30th March 2010
My Brum TV - FEBRUARY 10TH 2010
Scottish Sunday Mail - 17th January 2010
Sound Check Magazine Birmingham - January 2nd 2010
Sound Check Magazine Birmingham - January 3rd 2010
Sound Check Magazine Birmingham - January 4th 2010
Sunday Mail - April 4th 2010
The List - 1st April 2010 Single Review
Young Scot - 7th April 2010
VOLUME. 1 REVIEWS
The List – 15TH - 29TH April 2010 4 Star album review
Big Issue In The North - 1st April 2010
Leeds Guide - 14th April 2010
Outline Magazine Norwich- April Issue
Selby Times - 19th April 2010
Shropshire Star - 8th April 2010
Scotland Mail - 18th April 2010