WARPAINT / ESBEN AND THE WITCH / THE CROOKES (sold out)
Monday 24th May, 2010
The Lexington
96-98 PENTONVILLE ROAD, London, N1 9JB
7.30pm / £7
Map /
WARPAINT - Warpaint are an all-girl group from Los Angeles. They weave intricate guitar lines, hypnotic vocals, and driving post-punk rhythms into gorgeous, sprawling songs that skirt the line between the soundscapes of psychedelia and intimacy. In early 2009, their self-released debut EP Exquisite Corpse soared straight to #1 on legendary Los Angeles Amoeba Records’ local artists chart. Mixed by John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), the EP successfully captures the band’s sonic textures and playful dynamism. They have since signed to Rough Trade, who will be releasing their debut album later this year. Warpaint has opened for Yeasayer, Band Of Horses, and The Slits to name a few, as well as their own headline tours across the States. a. A veyr exciting new group with instantly loveable songs, this sees a much anticipated first visit to the UK.
http://www.myspace.com/worldwartour
"They make a quite lovely sound with dreamy vocals, off-kilter hazy guitars and elements of pyschedelia" The Independent
"a collection of magical psychedelia drifting over sublime moments of raw melody courtesy of the three free ethereal vocalists,” Dazed and Confused
ESBEN AND THE WITCH - Big Rockfeedback faves, the Brighton trio now join this special bill for a one-off guest appearance off the back of their recent tour with The Big Pink. This is a rare opportunity to see Esben and the Witch perform in an intimate environment, and likely to be the final opportunity to see them play in such a small venue before they embark upon the summer Festival circuit.
Melding Kate Bush-style wide-eyed creativity with assured yet fragile soundscapes reminiscent of Fever Ray, Esben and the Witch write perception twisting wreaths of smoky dark-folk. With similarities to The XX, (a quietly assured, youthful yet fragile nature and drum-machine-backed great songs), but more darkness than the latter, the bands live show has become one of the most talked about events of the last six months - atmospheric, distancing and emotional as they wreath their listeners in swathes of smoky audio. The band have had a fantastic 2010 so far, just coming off tour with The Big Pink, and have played numerous shows supporting the likes of Efterklang, The XX and Wild Beasts at such venues as Shepherds Bush Empire and Koko. We're eagerly anticipating their debut LP release in 2011.
http://www.myspace.com/esbenandthewitch
"EATW are the perfect seasonal discovery. Haunting, cleverly eerie, while Rachel Davies' deep, well articulated voice carrys across the room like a velvet lullaby...a cosmo goth fairytale" thisisfakediy.co.uk
"Tonight, we saw Esben And The Witch writing the first drafts of a story that, like the very best, will excite our imaginations for quite some time to come." NME.com
The Crookes are not pickpockets or pilferers, but rather met in a leafy Sheffield suburb of the same name. The Crookes are four literature graduates whose music is bound with storytelling and tinged with nostalgia. Though all originally hailing from other cities, George Waite, Alex Saunders, Daniel Hopewell and Russell Bates have found a spiritual home in Sheffield. Whilst their musical roots lie in Spector’s Wall of Sound, the stories they tell are drawn from the stone walls of Yorkshire. A mutual love for post- war literature, The Beatles and 60’s girl groups inform their kitchen-sink inspired stories of life and love set to a backdrop of 80s indie classicism and 60s pop beats. A recent single on Rockfeedback fave Too Pure and a triumphant trip to Austin for SXSW has seen the band riding high as part of an exciting new school pack of guitar bands rejuvenating the tried and tested gang of four spirit.
"The Crookes' world is a charming one of snuffboxes, broken tea cups and lovers sharing a gasper under gas-lit lamp posts.'
Q Magazine
www.myspace.com/thecrookesmusic
There will be Rockfeedback DJs between the bands, and it takes place at The Lexington on the 24th May, with doors at 7.30pm
Tickets are available at wegottickets.com and ticketweb.co.uk
