BETH JEANS HOUGHTON AND THE HOOVES OF DESTINY / GOODNIGHT LENIN - SOLD OUT
Thursday 1st March, 2012
Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
4 Hoxton Square, London, N1 1RU
7:30pm / £9
Map /
BETH JEANS HOUGHTON AND THE HOOVES OF DESTINY
Debut album “Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose” introduces one of the most self-assured new artists of the year, a pop polymath whose blend of psychedelia, glam rock and chain gang folk is quite unlike anything else you’re likely to hear in 2012. Like her utterly unique stage outfits, it’s made from disparate individual elements that wouldn’t work on paper, but sing out like a holy choir in the execution.
On Atlas, a pounding drum beat and twanging guitars give way to soaring vocals and even a freaky spoken word bit, it is entirely typical of an album that’s anything but typical. Having spoken about wanting her music to sound like she’s marching to war, the album presents her as a psychedelic Boudica, rousing the troops with near-operatic vocals one minute and counting the dead in moments of smoky-voiced melancholia the next.
Adding muscle to Beth’s far-ranging vocals are her band The Hooves Of Destiny. Comprising Dav Shiel (drums, vocals samples) Rory Gibson (bass, vocals), Ed Blazey (guitar, trumpet, vocals) and Findlay Macaskill (violin, vocals), they’re a crack unit recruited from Beth’s native North East. Songs about boys and dreams have never sounded so forceful and proud as these, and there’s plenty more to unpick in Beth’s hugely inventive lyrics.
Formed in the autumn of 2009, Goodnight Lenin’s songs are reminiscent of the singer songwriters of the 1960s & 1970s, whilst still being relevant to the modern day listener. Inspired by Dylan, Young and Simon & Garfunkel, they constantly strive to deliver honest, experience based lyrics that flow along into their carefully crafted sound that seamlessly crosses genres.
In the beginning, Goodnight Lenin remained undiscovered until a video from a low key gig played in a friend’s kitchen surfaced online. Shortly afterwards they were booked to headline the Lunar Stage at Moseley Folk Festival where they performed immediately before another of their great inspirations - Donovan. The aptly named ‘Kitchen Tour’ was to continue throughout the start of 2010, whilst also playing shows with First Aid Kit, Darwin Deez, The Features and opening British Sea Power’s festival ‘Sing From Ye Hillsides’ as well playing a packed out set at Bestival.
At the end of 2010, Goodnight Lenin entered the studio with Brian Duffy (Modified Toy Orchestra) and Tim Felton (Broadcast & Seeland) to record their debut EP ‘The Wenceslas Square EP’. Following appearances at 14 UK festivals including Glastonbury, Kendal Calling, Lounge on the farm and Larmer Tree amongst others they released their debut EP on 23rd July. Goodnight Lenin will continue touring the EP throughout 2011 before heading home for a special winter show.
All tickets for this show are now completely SOLD OUT.
