Brakes Acoustic Session: Thomas and Eamon perform 'On Your Side' for Ray-Ban: watch here
Back in November Thomas appeared at The London Palladium with Patrick Wolf - watch videos in the fan blog here The Magic Position is especially recommended: watch here
WHITE BROTHERS on BBC 6 Music + Radio One
Brakes 6 Music Session + interview: Marc Riley Brakes were on 3 times throughout the show (11th Nov) performing songs from their live album Rock Is Dodelijk (i.e. Rock is deadly or lethal) For Audio visit the Brothers Electric Fan Blog
One of the session tracks - What's In It For Me - is the crazy rock out version from the live album.
Songs performed: Comma Comma Comma Fullstop, Porcupine Or Pineapple, Don't Take Me To Space (Man), What's In It For Me, Leaving England.
Marc put a fans question to the White Brothers, resulting in Alex mentioning his love of the band Chicago - "everyone I know has a story about, that was the last time I saw you, you were just banging on all night about Chicago" - and TW's reply that "we don't really believe in 'guilty pleasures' - if you like something sincerely, that's fine, it doesn't matter what it is"
He also asked Tom about his other projects; Restlesslist, Clowns and his solo album got a mention. TW: "I got a record coming out in March. Infact I was a bit cheeky; when we were recording the last Brakes record and these 3 guys were mixing it in the control room, I snuck into the live room and started recording and then ended up with an album - and I've just signed to Cooking Vinyl - so as we're writing the new (Brakes) record I'll be promoting that"
Marc then plays a few seconds of Restlesslist (Tom says the album's coming) Marc: "And you're in another band called Clowns. Bit greedy isn't he?" TW: "I don't like days off". Marc asks Marc from Brakes what he's doing and he says "me and Alex, I think we're going to join our friend Matt Eaton, he's got a new album coming out and we're going to be his rhythm section"
After 'Leaving England', Marc Riley exposes his inner TW fan: "that was staggeringly good, that, not that I think you're rubbish normally, but that was just something else. And that guitar playing..."
Alex said they're staying with Official Secrets Act... there's footage of him playing keyboards with them on youtube - before that he was their stand in drummer.
Alex White talks to Radio One: Nick Grimshaw Alex White and Eamon Hamilton had a really good interview on Radio 1 (10th Nov) whilst Tom and Marc loaded the equipment offstage back at the venue. Also includes audio from Alex's own phone of the crowd cheering. For Audio visit the Brothers Electric Fan Blog
Visit the Brakes Myspace for live dates and latest news from the band.
BRAKES live album - Rock Is Dodelijk - Their live set is notorious for its rambunctious energy and ear-splitting immediacy. Hand-picked by Brakes partly from a hometown (Brighton, UK) show in August 2008, and partly from a May 2009 show in Cologne, Germany: Listen + Buy -- Reviews at the ESP Myspace Blog
Alex White mixed the Brighton show on the album - read more in this blog post
thisisfakediy.co.uk: The strength of a Brakes performance comes from the simple 'four guys assaulting their instruments' idea that rock and roll is born of.
thelineofbestfit.com: Brakes charm is that their rough and readiness makes their fiery sets what they are. They're a tight band who portray the image that these often short, usually ramshackle songs could fall apart at any moment.
thedwarf.com.au: Rock Is Dodelijk is a testament to the stripped- down bare aesthetics of the band and does well to capture the 'fuck you' spirit that makes Brakes so goddamn loveable.
popmatters.com: Brakes captures something of a Libertines-esque ramshackle quality with these live cuts. Everybody's right on queue, but there's a loose, free-wheeling sense about it all that suggests rocking out in this manner is not only a hell of a good time, but what they were born to do.
In Praise Of The Moustache... Read the latest blog from Thomas at the Myspace.
New BRAKES releases: As announced in the Brakes Mailout they have a live album and single out.
Album: Rock Is Dodelijk - Listen + Buy
Single: Why Tell The Truth (When It's Easier To Lie)? Listen + Buy
Lots of reviews, photos and videos from their USA Tour in the fan blog - here's quotes from various shows...
brooklynvegan.com: "White was the most entertaining of the quartet, thrashing about and raking his guitar violently along the mic stand"
kingofthegigabitches.com: "Tom White the guitarist managed to talk his brother, Alex, into performing a Soca drum solo that segued into the final three songs of their set"
bostonsurvivalguide.net: "Slow pretty tunes with lovely, flowing melodic guitar supplied by Tom White. Who then turned on a dime into a madman, leaping about in search of 'found objects' - a beer bottle, the mic stand - to use as a slide. Seemingly random and erratic, yet amazingly precise... At one point when Tom was especially lost in the moment (along with the rest of us), the cord came unplugged from his guitar. With mild amusement but truly not missing a beat, he waited until just the right moment a few seconds later at the end of the song to plug it back in with dramatic flourish..."
loveshackbaby.net: "Thomas was a master at throwing out just the right note for just the right amount of time and letting it hang there to be looped back around in an infinite circle of sound..."
Photos of Thomas experimenting with his guitar at New York's Bowery Ballroom: Pic 1 - Pic 2
BRAKES USA Tour Fan Videos!! Great Scott, 7th October.
NO RETURN with both White brothers on breath-taking guitar... RING A DING DING - PORCUPINE OR PINEAPPLE
Also watch JACKSON at Hi-Dive, Denver, 15th October.
REVIEWS + PHOTOS at Brothers Electric Blog: CLICK HERE
BRAKES touchdown in the USA... updated 9th October
For dates see their Myspace - Facebook - Website
Scroll down for earlier blogs and post comments at the ESP Myspace or Thomas White Myspace
5th, 6th, 7th October: Washington/New York/Allston
Good news! Our show in Washington, at The Black Cat, has been upgraded to the big room. The room we're playing in is possibly the best so far - a nice big club with a chequered floor and a proper PA and all the other things that make a band smile when they arrive at a venue. Our friends who came to the Philly show (Bill and Chris) have turned up again - with copies of the bootleg they made at that gig. Despite running over a little (and getting all paranoid that we've pushed our luck) we have an amazing show, and I particularly delight in watching Chris wrestle my guitar (it's the hardest guitar in the world to retune, and he tries gamely, poor chap!). A good friend of ours, Aaron, from the west coast, has flown over as well, and after the show we get to catch up properly, discussing various bands and people and things. Very nice indeed.
The following night we play New Yorks' infamous Bowery Ballroom, which we're all looking forward to, and much as we have a bit of stinker, the reviews are good, and we're happy with that. After the show, we go for pizza at a nearby takeout, and randomly bump into Lou Barlow and Lee Ranaldo getting a midnight slice. I nervously approach Lou, and tell him I'm a big fan - as with every time I've met the fella, he seems more nervous than me, and I promptly leave him to his pepperoni and head back to the bus.
After a five hour drive, we arrive in Allston, a suburb of Boston, where we're playing a place called Great Scott's. It's a sweet little bar, and the promoter, Carl, turns out to be a big ESP fan, telling us he regularly drops one of our tunes into his DJ set. Good man! The show later on is a sell-out, absolutely rammed, and for the first time on this tour I don't break a string. A triumph, in other words.
The next day is a day off, just chilling in Boston. We decide to do something with our day and find a cinema that's showing 'The Invention Of Lying'. To call it a travesty would be a massive understatement. How someone as talented as Ricky Gervais could make such a humdinger of a movie is quite beyond me. I guess if he never made anything again, he's still got 'The Office' and 'Extras', but really, do we need this Hollywood slush? The outline is perfectly reasonable in theory, if fairly pretentious, but each 'gag' is crowbarred in so cack-handedly, strung out so fucking thin, and the characterisation is all but non-existent. Avoid like the plague. After that massive (expensive) disappointment, we return to the bus and console ourselves with guestlist to a Manic Street Preachers show later in the evening. They're playing a relatively tiny show (about 700 people, when they regularly play to thousands in the UK) and I have to say they're on good form, bantering with the crowd and playing a fairly equal set of oldies and newies. I can't say I care for the new stuff one bit, but to hear 'No Surface, All Feeling' in such a small venue is really quite something. Thanks, boys. The bus leaves at 2am, so we walk back through the city, along the river, and get the hell out of town.
2nd - 3rd October: Brooklyn/Philadelphia
After a long, long overnight drive up from North Carolina, we arrive outside Southpaw, our venue in Brooklyn. Just down the road from where Eamon and his family have made their home, the place is a classic. There's even a dressing room. Before soundcheck we head up the road and eat pizza slices and read the local news. A couple of days ago some psycho anti-semite homophobe nuts from Kansas set up shop in the street and started barking about redemption and 'fags' and etc... One of the placards in the accompanying pictures stands out in the memory - 'You Will Eat Your Babies!'. Make of that what you will.
After soundcheck we head up the hill to Eamon's new pad, where his wife Koren has prepared a tasty, wholesome stew. A god-send in these burger-filled days of touring. Their flat is beautiful and, as they're on the top floor, comes with a fantastic view over the Hudson of pretty much the whole of Manhattan in profile.
We arrive back at Southpaw and We Were Promised Jetpacks are already whipping the crowd up. For such a young bunch they really have their shit down, and perfectly warm the room. Thankfully, the show later is what can only be described as a half-cut triumph. All but over our jet-lag, we're back on form, and the venue kindly records the show for us. Bootleg in the pipeline, I think. After the show, people disperse to various local bars, but I decide to stay at the venue and watch the later show, which turns out to be a 12-piece Samba band, complete with bass drum-wielding band-leader. Special. Last one on the bus is a jobby.
We wake the next day in a bus-park just outside of central Philly. It's a short walk to town, where we indulge in the local speciality, Cheese Steak. I've a feeling we perhaps didn't choose quite the right establishment for the job - it's fairly revolting. If you imagine old, shredded beef, mixed with the cheapest processed mozzarella possible, packed into a huge 12-inch sub, with absolutely no seasoning, you're halfway there. Oh, well. Bloated with cheap, bland stodge, we wander through town, past the Liberty Belle, past Benjamin Franklin's gravesite. All very nice, though there's a strong whiff of tastelessness, compounded by a huge, frankly bizarre billboard advertising some hideous touring Princess Diana exhibition. Nasty. We head back to the bus to watch Anvil: The Story Of Anvil. If you've not seen it, see it. I'll say no more.
Around 5-ish, we get taxis to the venue to soundcheck, eat (much better) food, and generally prepare for the gig. The bar, North Star, is a great place, and all three bands have good shows. At the gig, we finally hook up with a couple of guys who Marc's been chatting to online, Bill and Chris. They're both big, BIG Brakes fans, and we spend much of the evening discussing recording techniques, and the possiblity of perhaps coming over and recording with them (Bill is an engineer, and was involved in the recording of Stephen Malkmus' 'Pig Lib' - a stunning record, one of our favourites).
The bus being stuck out of town, there's only time for a drink or two before we have to cab one off back to the bus-park. There we reconvene, dust ourselves down, and prepare for 'the off', as my father would say. Today Philly, tomorrow the Williamsburg. Nice.
30th September - 1st October: Brighton/Chapel Hill
This story starts very early one morning. Marc is first to rendezvous with our driver. From his folks' house, they bomb down to ours in Seven Dials. What with Eamon now living in Brooklyn, there's no Kemptown pick-up, so straight up the motorway. At Heathrow there's no usual sillyness. Instead, a totally personable, reasonable lady. She does her utmost to find us desirable seats - being the knobs we are, there are various requests - window for me, aisle for Marc and as far forward for Alex. As flights go, it's as perfectly still as they get. But for the pricey drinks, and frankly awful food, it's as calm and beautiful as flying gets.
We land in Raleigh five hours in our favour. Eamon came down from New York almost simultaneously, and is already waiting at arrivals. As is the case with long-haul flights, the next day or two start to blur - I can remember a lovely moment where we all meet up, perhaps an hour after arriving at the hotel, in the hotel sports' bar. Warming pints of beer, all of us a little frazzled by travel, sharing tales and generally catching up. On the first night we went all out on a slap-up barbeque, just over the freeway from the Holiday Inn. Disgusting, satisfying and completely neccessary. At this point, 9pm feels like 12, so time for bed. What follows is, at least for me, a fitful night of unrest and vivid, horrid dreams. After the general unease and restlessness of the night, I wake the next morning to a fuller, rejuvenated world - blinding, and suddenly full of possibility. We are a million miles from home, after all.
Our first day proper in the States goes something like this: after waking, me and Alex decide a breakfast is in order. A quick chat with the receptionist in the hotel, and we have our destination - some diner over the freeway from the hotel. Apparently the best Blueberry pancakes in town, and I can't disagree. We scoff, and get back to the hotel to meet Eamon and Marc, who are counting merch in their room. Once at the venue in town, we have an hour or two's wait for the bus (containing The Twilight Sad and We Were Promised Jetpacks) to arrive. The venue's a place called Local 506, and much as I'd love to sing its' praises, I was however many sheets to the wind it is when you're really fucked, and the venue wasn't in much better shape. It'd be safe to say it was a bit of a jet-lagged mess for all of us. A less than brilliant first night of the tour for Brakes, and possibly rather harrowing for The Twilight Sad, too. Best forgotten. Back on the bus as quick as you like.
CLOWNS at The Albert, Brighton Latest from the ESP Myspace
People, Our pals, CLOWNS, a fine band of brothers, movers and shakers will be gracing The Albert stage around about 8pm on the 22nd of September. Expect lyrical relationship-based embarrassment, brutal chromatic chord changes and a fair old amount of hasty face paint. Come. ESPX
Watch footage of Clowns at Budstock Festival from the start of August: HERE
New cover on the Thomas White Myspace
Thomas on 'Albemarle Station':
Please enjoy. I know I haven't chosen the most cheery Silver Jews song to cover right now, but it's working for me. Wallow, people, wallow. TWX
Audio/Video: Thomas White at Lowlands, 22nd August, with Patrick Wolf
WATCH THE CONCERT AT 3VOOR12: click here Listen to the audio stream: click here (scroll down)
Watch their video of Accident & Emergency here
TW 'Tandy Hard' montage: WATCH VIDEO
A montage of songs from the Tandy Hard set at the recent Budstock festival, with TW on drums. He also played bass with Clowns and there's some photos on the festival Myspace here (scroll down)
Thomas Wolf...
Patrick Wolf recently wrote on his twitter - 10th August: Down in brixton recording guitar parts for "the days" a forgotten song for the conqueror with thomas white. So good to finally record it! xp
Thomas has also accompanied Patrick to Europe and you can watch some videos in the Fan Blog
Donations welcome for The Martlets Hospice As previously stated (here) if anyone would like to make a donation to The Martlets Hospice, it would be greatly appreciated by myself and Alex, and however small or large the donation, it will make a massive difference for them. Thank you. Thomas White X
To make a donation please visit their website and click on Donate: themartlets.org.uk
'Hard Times' at Latitude from Patrick Wolf's set, with Mr White on guitar: audio in the Fan Blog - watch the video
Important message from Thomas White Electric Soft Parade Myspace Blog
Thursday 16/07/2009
Elizabeth Ann White
Ann White, 55, of Highdown Road, Hove, died 10th July 2009 at the Martlet's Hospice after a long illness. Wife of Graham, mother of Alex and Thomas, sister of Julie and David, teacher for 15 years at Hangleton Infant School.
Patrick Wolf's 'Hard Times' single featuring Thomas, was released on the 6th July. It's on limited release 7" vinyl and iTunes. More info at the Patrick Wolf Myspace
Here's what Thomas had to say about the video for 'Hard Times' (watch here) "Mr. Wolf w/ some rock action from yours truly up the back. Amazing video. I'm jealous!"
Thomas also appears on album track Oblivion: buy The Bachelor here
Also an update on his new album 'The Maximalist' - coming Autumn '09 on Cooking Vinyl Records (website) Drift Records have put up a press archive for first album 'I Dream Of Black': visit the vaults (for more click on previous entries)
Latest on the new album at the Thomas White Myspace 2nd July: Mastermind...
So..... Nearly there now. Mastering underway, and I have to say it sounds rad as rad can be. Meaty, beaty, big and bouncy (as Marc Riley described The Runaround). Mr Alex White has accompanied me on this little jaunt into Walthamstow - I got a little scared yesterday at the thought of travelling up to the big smoke all on my ownses to get a record mastered in, like, a proper fucking studio and all that (I mastered I Dream Of Black on my Laptop...come to think of it, I don't think I bothered in the end..) so I brought Bruv along for some much needed moral and sonic encouragement. This all feels like a bit of a step up, so a little support for little old me felt justified. On the subject of the album itself, the past week or so has brought some interesting developments re: artwork and videos. I can't divulge anything more right now, but I will say that both the sleeve and promos will be collaborations with some very interesting people indeed. 'Til next time... TX
Thomas previously posted tracks from the new album on his Myspace and this is what he had to say about them.
12 June: People, Due to some surprisingly encouraging reactions to the new stuff recently posted, I've taken the dubious decision to post some more. This'll be it 'til the new album (I don't want to completely spoil it...) so please enjoy. The two newies are 'A Bitter Pill', a mini-epic concerning (among other things) a lovely afternoon spent walking the promenade in Eastbourne... and a cover of Guided By Voices' 'Look At Them'. Both will be appearing on the forthcoming LP, 'The Maximalist'. Bye-bye-ta-ta. TWXXX
Current listening: Mastodon - 'Blood Mountain' (Reprise) Robert Wyatt - 'Cuckooland' (Hannibal) Quasi - 'Featuring "Birds"' (Domino)
7 June: Couple of newies up to tide you lot over 'til the next record see-eth the light of day. I'll do my best to rotate the songs up here on the m.space, but you know how these things are. For now, please enjoy two little morsels from the forthcoming 'The Maximalist' LP, neither in any way indicative of the sound of the rest of the record, of course.
I must just give a small shout-out to the magnificence that is 'London Conversations' - the new Best-of from (Saint Etienne) Words cannot express how chuffed I am that they've finally given 'Lover Plays The Bass' a UK release - a track previously only available on a French-only 7" back in 1999. It's a fuckin' tune. Also on there are the timeless classics 'You're In A Bad Way', 'Lose That Girl', 'Filthy' and, of course, 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart'. Ruddy brilliant. TWX
Also rocking my world this week:
SUNN O)) - 'Monoliths And Dimentions' (Southern Lord LP) Elbow - 'The Seldom Seen Kid (Fiction LP) REM - 'Imitation Of Life' (Warners Single) Fairport Convention - 'Liege And Lief' (Island LP) Rival Schools - 'United By Fate' (Mercury LP)
Me: You can also now tune in to Thomas White Radio at Last FM - not everything sounds like him but every now and again something good will come up.
Thomas on Tour with Patrick Wolf - fan videos, 6 Music session + buy The Bachelor
1st June: Patrick Wolf and band in session on BBC 6 Music (featuring Thomas White on guitar) - interview, Theseus and Hard Times. Listen Again in the Fan Blog
NME at The Great Escape (video) 1 minute in, B.S.P. talk about seeing Brakes then Patrick Wolf mentions TW: "We've gone quite hardcore, I've got Tom from the Brakes doing lots of like surf guitar... and I've thrown away my ukelele and I'm playing lots of hard Pixies style guitar, all really distorted. So I've kind of gone fully electric now which is good"
New album The Bachelor out now: Listen to some songs at the Patrick Wolf Myspace including Hard Times featuring Thomas (he also plays on album track Oblivion) Get £2 off the listed price for both the physical copy AND the digital release at Play.com just enter these codes at the checkout when you purchase: PW2GBP for the CD, and PWMP35GBP for digital. Info of how to order outside UK at patrickwolf.com here - you can also download first single Vulture for free.
Thomas also enhances many live songs with his guitar skills. Links to some fan videos below, or watch them at the Thomas White Myspace (see the comments)
16 May: Great Escape, Brighton: Watch Tristan -- Bluebells
18 May: The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth: Watch The Magic Position -- Vulture
20 May: The Cockpit, Leeds: Watch Battle -- Accident & Emergency -- A Boy Like Me
25 May: 02 Academy, Birmingham - Videos featuring Thomas...
The Magic Position - Fabulous guitar throughout, Patrick introduces TW at the end.
Vulture - Starts with an out of this world 3 minute guitar intro.
The Messenger - From the new album with beautiful slide guitar.
1 June: Electric Ballroom, London: Watch Oblivion -- Hard Times (songs Thomas plays on from new album, The Bachelor)
Patrick Wolf on Hard Times: "This is for all of you who've been fired, this is for all of you who've been dumped, this is for all of you who've been debauched, this is for all of you with broken hearts, this is for all of you who want to do something that someone tells you no, this is for all of you, these are motherfucking hard times..."
More videos: The Magic Position -- Battle -- The Bachelor
Patrick Wolf: "It's been a big adventure, quite a big struggle to get to this point, I had a bit of a moment today seeing the album finally up on the shelves in the record shop... This is the title track off the album, it's called The Bachelor"
Videos from the last Tour in the Fan Blog here Just added to that post is Thomas White live audio from back in March...
maddogmagazine.co.uk - Patrick Wolf announces new single out 15th June: Hard Times is the second single to be taken from Patricks new fourth album The Bachelor. Following the first single Vulture, Hard Times is a track full of impatience, celebrating the idea of change and revolution. Perhaps the strongest and most powerful track on the album, full of heavy guitar, angry sentiment, yet complimented by a stunning, Turkish style violin and cello riff which dances throughout the track and vocals, Hard Times is a work of art in its own right and continues to show Patricks diversity as an artist and songwriter. Patrick programmed the beats ...to be like a panicked soldier on the front line of a war desperately trying to send a message through a walkie talkie, battling against radio interference... The lead guitar solo is played by Tom White from the Brakes and the ondes martenot played by classical composer Thomas Bloch - patrickwolf.com
Brakes session on BBC 6 Music (29th April) Tracks played: Hey Hey and Why Tell The Truth (When It's Easier To Lie) They also talk to Cerys Matthews. Listen in the Fan Blog
There's some brilliant live footage from Brakes tour on youtube especially What's In It For Me, from Oxford, 23rd April: watch here BBC 6 Music broadcast a few songs from Camden Crawl, though the quality isn't as good as the session above, Jackson is worth a listen (posted in the Fan Blog) Watch All Night Disco Party at youtube
Brakes Fan Footage: HEY HEY with live fan footage from King Tuts, 19th April: WATCH HERE
Videos from Oxford, 23rd April: What's In It For Me -- Isobel/Space (Man) -- Cease & Desist -- Porcupine Or Pineapple
Listen to the new Brakes album Touchdown at Fat Cat - lots of album reviews on the Fan Forum Listen to singles Don't Take Me To Space (Man) HERE and Hey Hey HERE
Read the latest tour update in full at the Thomas White Myspace 18th April: Well, we all enjoyed a much needed day off today. Actually it was a partial day off as we had a wee instore at the lovely Avalanche record store in Glasgow. Good it was too. The tour's been grand so far - Manchester and Leeds being the definite highlights up to now... King Tut's tomorrow (see video here) where we're joined again by our favourite Glaswegian buddies Le Reno Amps (last seen wandering off into the Hull night...) for the last time on this tour. Fun times, indeed! TWX
Drift Records interview with Thomas Drift Records asked their artists to recount tales of the record shops they grew up with and that they still love to visit. Read what Thomas had to say in the Fan Blog here
Audio: Thomas White + Restlesslist on BBC 6 Music
Thomas had an interview on Chris Hawkins show recently. Listen to this in the Fan Blog He talks about Brakes - also hear their recent acoustic session + interview with Q. Tracks are Hey Hey + Why Tell The Truth.
Restlesslist had a session with Marc Riley on BBC 6Music They played songs from their new album (Coral Island Girl) Hunter Gatherer Moon Over Coral Island, Mr Winchester I Presume, Shy Coconut Love Song.
Listen to Restlesslist on BBC 6Music in the Fan Blog (click the photo)
Thomas White Myspace Having now all but overcome the tribulations of the last week, though perhaps not completely (read previous blog), I can finally turn my attentions back to what's actually important. On Thursday, I had an extremely positive meeting regarding my up-coming solo record. I can't really convey how exciting this is for me, having suffered some rather shitty setbacks along the way. Anyway, the album is a proudly unfashionable affair - 12 tracks, far heavier and more sonically robust than 'I Dream Of Black'... a perfect step forward, one hopes. I can't divulge much more information at present, but as and when deals get signed etc... I shall let you all know. In the meantime... Touchdown!
Restlesslist write: we will hopefully be planning more gigs throughout April and May and a new single sometime soon. Also, I (Matt) have been recording Brighton trio Foxes! debut album, which is out soon. They are touring in April joined by me on extras. Check out the dates on their myspace and come down and see us. Very good stuff! More vagueness soon. Happy happy joy joy. Matt x and Restlesslist
Alex White recently stood in on drums for Official Secrets Act and they have mentioned him a few times in their Myspace Tour Blog Some quotes from them about Alex. 18th March: We're now back in the flat (flats in berlin are absolutely awesome, Peaches used to live in the flat below the one we're in) listening to Jay Zs Glastonbury set with our stand in drummer Alex White of Electric Soft Parade/Brakes fame. 13th March: We are standing at the top of the tower of the Dom, Cologne's super famous, super impressive, gothic cathedral. Alex, our stand in drummer, surveys the bell towers and suggests that religion seems to inspire the most noble and the most foul of human achievements.
Thomas writes: Firstly, may I say what a fab time I had touring with Mr. Patrick Wolf (myspace) An absolute pleasure from beginning to end. You can get the gist fromthe many videos of the shows posted up on YouTube. Personally, my favourite was most definitely the Heaven show - by that point the band had really started to gel, and everyone properly leaned into it. Big shouts to the whole team for making it special - Patrick, William, Jon, Nick, Vicky, Marcello, Laura and Nick - legends in their own lunchtimes, as they say.
Link: Patrick Wolf at Heaven on youtube
I will leave you with the news that my forthcoming second solo record has finally found a home. At present I can't disclose any other information, other than that it is finished, and when I get a minute to myself, I shall put the darn thing out and do the right thing and come to your town and quite possibly play some of it. Good times. TWX
Clowns (Thomas and Matt's other band) have a new song at their Myspace.
Thomas White appeared at the Bleeding Hearts Club at The Prince Albert Brighton on 2nd March See Poster
Watch a video by hotchilicat - "a cover of Britt Ekland's song from the Wicker Man" - photo by southcoasting
Listen to Laser Beam, Willow's Song (see above for video) and with Stuart Flynn - Feelin' Good in the Fan Blog here
Thomas White On Tour with Patrick Wolf, March 8-13 (Myspace) On top of all the rad touring Brakes have coming up (both in the UK with Voluntary Butler Scheme and 'round Europe with, among others, The Fray!) the lovely Patrick Wolf has requested my rock action for his upcoming UK dates. It's a different slant for me, that's for sure, but his stuff's great, very theatrical, gothic and layered - right up my street - and it's an absolute honour to be asked. Earlier this year I added some guitar to his forthcoming record, and from the mixes I've heard he used a fair amount of what I laid down, which is charming to say the least! Anyway, I'm very much looking forward to the shows, and it would be lovely to see some of you ESP/Brakes-heads there in amongst 'em!! Myspaces: Brakes - The Voluntary Butler Scheme - Patrick Wolf
8 March: The Arts Centre, Colchester - live video: 'Accident + Emergency'
9 March: The Guildhall, Gloucester - live video: 'Blackdown' (Thomas provides drumbeat half way through)
10 March: The Junction, Cambridge - live video: 'Hard Times' (new single... lots of Thomas White's "rock action" !!)
12 March: Heaven, London - live videos: Tristan - see 1 min 50, when Patrick goes over to his guitarist.
Hard Times - Patrick introduces the band at 3 mins 30 ("Tom White on the fucking guitar")
Listen to that guitar!! The Magic Position - Battle 13 March: KOKO, London (the Heaven video footage is much better)
Brakes Interviews featuring Thomas + Alex linked from the Fan Blog including the latest on the new ESP album!!
Brakes 6 Music Session with Marc Riley, 4th Feb. Fan recordings in the Brothers Electric Blog They did 3 songs and an interview. Watch Porcupine Or Pineapple live on their recent tour here More Brakes stuff on the fan forum
New Brakes single: Fat Cat have put up track streams of the new Brakes single (in full) LISTEN HERE Hey Hey, Consumer, Producer, a chicken or an egg, Set A Course. All the latest news on Brakes at Fat Cat records
New Electric Soft Parade Album: The forthcoming (fourth) ESP longplayer, tentatively titled 'Blue Music', the (20-track double) album will include live favourites of the past year 'Things Snowball' and 'We Don't Need To Fight Anymore', both previously heard here on Myspace More details on that later. Latest from the ESP Blog:
Just a quick round-robin to draw your attentions to some White Brothers-related releases coming your way in 2009:
As you may already know, a new Brakes record is now finished and ready for an April release. The album, entitled 'Touchdown', was recorded in Glasgow with former Delgados drummer Paul Savage, and will be in all good (and some shit) record stores on the 20th of that month. Yowza. The band head out for a short UK tour in support of first single 'Hey Hey' at the end of January. Check their Myspace for dates and deets.
On a solo note, Thomas has now completed two (yes, two) new albums, the first of which he is currently mastering/sequencing and sorting a label for. What with schedules being what they are, it's unlikely they'll see the light of day this side of summer, so in the meantime, head down to his Myspace for a taster. Why not ask to be his mate, too - he might even accept!
In other Brighton news, we have new Restlesslist and Pipettes albums in the, er, pipeline (check both bands' myspaces/webpages for up-to-date information), not to mention the solo debut album from Rose Elinor Dougall If her recent shows were anything to go by, it should be lushness in the extreme. With bells on.
Myspaces: Restlesslist - Pipettes - Rose Elinor Dougall
Oh, and a Happy New Year to one and all!!!!!! luv, ESP X
Drift Records Free Drift EP with new Thomas White track: Drift and Fresh Deer Meat have hand picked seven songs from the Drift roster. Follow the links on the Fresh Deer Meat website to download including new Thomas White track The Emerald Tree from new album The Maximalist, out early 2009. More info and download here: Fresh Drift Meat EP
Drift asked everyone on the roster to give their summary of the whole year; How was your year? - Thomas White
Brakes Myspace New Album Touchdown out April 20th, preceded by singles Hey Hey and Don't Take Me To Space (Man)
Crystal Tunings at Q Mag "on this joyously power-chord heavy track there is more than a hint of Jesus And Mary Chain"
Thomas White Myspace Folks... just a little something to say I've not forgotten about anyone. I am in the process of finishing two new solo records (the first of which you can now hear a portion of here), as well as simultaneously putting the 'fucking fairy dust' over the new Brakes record and putting together the forthcoming Restlesslist LP, 'Coral Island Girl' - therefore, ultra-busy. By way of some sort of compensation, I've posted a couple of tunes from the up-coming 'The Maximalist' LP. Firstly there's 'Control', which features the various talents of Stuart Flynn on voice-box (and who features elsewhere on that record) ...secondly there's 'The Emerald Tree', which is one of a few instrumentals on the album. Please enjoy. I will endeavour to sort release dates and tour info asap. Thanks, TW
Clowns recently played their first gig - here's Ian's review with videos by Joe Holroyd. Visit their Myspace for songs.
CLOWNS - THE FREEBUTT, BRIGHTON - 4/11/08
Are you afraid of clowns?
If you're going to form a band comprised of members of Electric Soft Parade, The Poppycocks, Brakes and Restlesslist then you'd be right to expect some surprises along the way.
A four-piece going by the name Clowns, tonight they make their live debut in typically unpredictable fashion. Decked out in creepy clown attire (you get the immediate impression that they would have been kicked out of the circus for scaring the children) they launch straight into what is sure to become the bands calling card 'We Are The Clowns' while front-man Miles stalks the stage, lost in the songs and his own musical world.
Guitarist Clangers scuzzy, garage rock riffs are a prominent feature throughout, especially in standout tracks such as 'Trousers' and the crazed, lurching 'Terror In The Big Top'. Built on the solid foundations of Matt Twaites' bass playing and Thomas White's drumming, Miles delivers his often sinister and peculiar tales.
Musically it's a mind bending concoction - twisted and slightly disturbing yet darkly playful, managing to combine the rockabilly swagger of Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster with the pop sensibilities of early Squeeze, all underlined by frenzied Fugazi-esque guitar attacks. This proves to be one of their greatest strengths, combining such disparate sounds to create something truly cohesive and wholly unique.
Finally 'She Says I'm A Clown' brings things to a perfect conclusion, building to a climatic sprawling whirlwind of sound with all four band members chanting the repeated chorus. It's fair to say that no-one else is making the sounds of Clowns at the moment - it's primal, raw, rocking and ever so slightly fucked up. And all the better for it.
Watch two videos recorded live at The Freebutt: She Says I'm A Clown and Terror In The Big Top
Ian Chambers, Nov '08
The Pipettes have demoed their album and will be releasing it themselves. For now they have released a limited edition remix CD of new song The Shoe That Fits including mixes by Thomas White and Restlesslist.
On 4th November 2008 The Levellers released Burn America Burn limited 7" single and download, backed with Electric Soft Parade covering Fifteen Years. Read the Fan Blog to catch up on all the latest, or the Fansite 2005-2008 to delve into their recent career; third album No Need To Be Downhearted and Thomas White's first album I Dream Of Black.