Gig Guide: Fri 9th Oct
Fri 9th Oct 20:00 KILL IT KID :: SPARROW AND THE WORKSHOP :: BENNO BLUM
Kill It Kid are spending the summer gearing up to the release of their debut album on 5th October with more shows through the summer and a taster single, ‘Burst Its Banks’. The band have just announced a fresh set of October dates, a co-headline with Sparrow & The Workshop. Fronted by the gorgeous two-part vocal harmonies of singers Chris Turpin and Stephanie Ward, the lyrical intimacy of the songs is rendered all the more powerful by the interplay between the pair, Turpin’s singular and distinctive voice seemingly arriving from another time and place, while Ward’s softer, huskier tones form the perfect foil. Buttressed with strings, keys and slide guitar, Kill It Kid blend delta blues and roots to striking effect, producing blistering, unapologetic rock’n’roll one moment and a smoky film-noire ambience the next. The band have already drawn comparison to Tom Waits, Frank Zappa and Zeppelin, as well as more recent examples Gomez, Mumford & Sons and The Raconteurs, but it’s on the strength of the songwriting throughout this debut that the deal is ultimately sealed, and with an average age of only 21, the band are apparently in possession of a musical wisdom well beyond their years.
Forming at university, the seed of the band developed from vocalist Chris Turpin’s solo gigs, at which he was occasionally joined by drummer Marc Jones and bassist Adam Timmins. Over time, the band was expanded, settling on it’s current line up by February 2008, and, following a tip off John Parish (PJ Harvey, The Eels) was put in touch with the band electing to record a 4 track ep of songs with the band which became their debut.
The new single and forthcoming album is produced, mixed and recorded by Ryan Hadlock (Johnny Flynn, The Strokes, The Gossip) and was recorded in Seattle, at the same studio Fleet Foxes laid down their debut. Already the band have toured extensively with The National, Pete and the Pirates, Ipso Facto and The Virgins.
Sparrow and the Workshop are a threepiece alt folk/country/indie outfit based in Glasgow, formed in the dew of January 2008 under the heavy fog of yeast from the Tennents Factory. The American/Scottish/Welsh trio play a stripped-down drumkit, a crashbox, a very white bass, a smallish acoustic guitar, a mellow yellow electric slide guitar and occasionally an old french violin. Tinged with elements of country and folk but incorporating a huge range of references from motor city to Seattle, their sound ranges from punky and harsh to sparse and sensitive, allowing boy/girl vocal duets, various instrumentation and a penchant for storytelling to shine through
Sleight of Hand - A 6 Track Short Player is due to be released in Early May on Distiller Records - 10” Vinyl, CD, Download, Available in all good Record Stores.
Benno Blum are Robin Smith and Ian Bradley, formed late Spring 2007 with the intention of making simple, raw blues music. Relying simply on electric guitar, drums and vocals, Benno Blum mix the old style blues of Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker with the drive and energy of modern blues & rock bands such as The Black Keys, Queens Of The Stone Age and Louis XIV.
Price: £5.00
Age Limit: 14+
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Location: The Rockhouse, Babington Lane, Derby, DE1 1SX
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