Guillemots (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 From left to right: Fyfe Dangerfield, Greig Stewart, MC Lord Magrão, and Aristazabal Hawkes
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| Background information | ||
| Origin |  United Kingdom |
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| Genre(s) | Indie rock | |
| Years active | 2004–present | |
| Label(s) | Fantastic Plastic Polydor |
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| Website | http://www.guillemots.com/ | |
| Members | ||
| Fyfe Dangerfield MC Lord Magrão Aristazabal Hawkes Greig Stewart |
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Guillemots (sometimes written gUiLLeMoTs) are a BRIT Award nominated indie rock band formed in November 2004 by Fyfe Dangerfield.
Contents |
[edit] History
Fyfe Dangerfield began writing songs in his native Birmingham and then in Bromsgrove. His early band, Senseless Prayer, recorded a session for John Peel's Radio 1 show in 1999. Dangerfield then began song writing under the name "Fyfe Dangerfield and the Accident", and in 2004 he featured alongside Misty's Big Adventure, Mike in Mono, Dreams of Tall Buildings, and X Is Greater Than Y on a promotional CD that was offered free with The Birmingham Post, called Broader Than Broad Street. He then joined old school friend, Paul 'Booby' Tooby, on his "Ragamuffin Blues but Holes in my Shoes" tour.
Dangerfield had moved to Bromsgrove in 1988; he moved to London in 2002, where he recruited the current line up. He also became a maverick music teacher for Cranbrook College.
The name of the band causes some confusion for those unaware of its meaning. It is the plural of the name of a group of seabirds (but most often meaning the Common Guillemot Uria aalge) and should be pronounced 'gillimott' (and not in a French style). The 4-piece are often joined by two saxophone and woodwind players, Alex Ward and Chris Cundy, who are known as the "Bridled Guillemots" (a real-life variation of the band's namesake).
Birds are the source of inspiration for the band not just in name. For example, their 2006 EP "From the Cliffs" continues the Guillemot theme, the bird's natural habitat being steep sea cliffs. In their myspace entry their influences are given as 'BIRDSONG first and foremost', although the only artist that all the band members have publicly stated as being an influence is Björk. Their first album features recordings of Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata and European Robin Erithacus rubecula, as well as the line 'flitting like a flycatcher', a reference to the mercurial movements of these birds, and the song "Redwings", after the thrush species of the same name.
The band are signed to Fantastic Plastic, who released their debut album in 2006, but after offers from several majors they will eventually move to Polydor.
The band ended a very successful 2005 opening for Rufus Wainwright's sold-out UK tour and began 2006 by being awarded fifth place in the BBC Sound of 2006 [1] survey. Guillemots' debut album, Through The Windowpane was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize, and was second favourite to win from the outset, but lost out to Arctic Monkeys debut Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.
"Trains To Brazil" was promoted in September, 2006, as their fourth (second chart-eligible) single; a new version of Annie, Let's Not Wait was released as their next single, on January 15, 2007.
The Guillemots are to appear at V Festival on the channel 4 stage in August.
[edit] Live performances
Guillemots have made numerous live performances since they first appeared in the music world in 2004. On the 29 June 2006 Guillemots performed a set on the Gideon Coe's BBC 6 Music show and in the 6 Music Hub. They started their second full scale UK tour on October 16, 2006 in Birmingham and it ends on the 4th November in Oxford (the first took place in April/May of the same year). They are known for their live performances, which are varied every night. They often perform songs differently live to how they are performed on their recordings. The recent tour saw the live "premiere" of many of their songs, including "By the Water" (which features double-bassist Aristazabal Hawkes on vocals), and the rarely performed "Cats' Eyes" from their debut EP.
One of their most notable live performances to date came in October 2006 at the first BBC Electric Proms when the band performed 7 tracks (including four from their "Of the Night" EP) with a full orchestra, with songs transcribed and arranged for such a performance by Dangerfield himself. This included a rare (and somewhat unusual) performance of the song "Bad Boyfriend" where the entire band donned animal masks.
Support on Guillemots' tours is often varied, usually with two support acts for each show - one main support who stay with them for the majority of the tours' dates (Misty's Big Adventure in early 2006 and The Last Town Chorus for their Autumn tour), as well as a first support act, specific to the location (examples include The Courtesy Group, The Bellagios and Grace and Delete). Another common support/friend of the band is Joan As Policewoman, who the band met while performing as support for Rufus Wainwright.
Guillemots have also performed live with political songwriter Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly and supported Snow Patrol at Wembley Arena in December of 2006, in a memorable performance culminating in a lightsaber duel between two roadies on stage as Dangerfield played percussion on a tray.
[edit] Members
- Fyfe Dangerfield (also known as Fyfe Antony Dangerfield Hutchins) - singer, keyboard and guitar
- MC Lord Magrão - guitar
- Aristazabal Hawkes - double bass
- Greig Stewart (also known as Rican Caol) - percussion
[edit] The "Bridled" Guillemots
- Alex J. Ward - Alto Sax
- Christopher Cundy - Soprano Sax and Bass Clarinet
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Through the Windowpane (July 10, 2006) #17
[edit] EPs
- I Saw Such Things in My Sleep EP (September 5, 2005)
- Of the Night (February 14, 2006)
- From the Cliffs (March 14, 2006)
[edit] Singles
- "Trains to Brazil" (December 5, 2005)
- "We're Here" (March 27, 2006)
- "Made-Up Lovesong #43" (June 26, 2006) #23
- "Trains to Brazil" (Re-release) (September 11, 2006) #36
- "Annie, Let's Not Wait" (January 15, 2007) #27
[edit] TV
- Friday Night With Jonathan Ross Performing 'Annie, Let's Not Wait' (2006)
- Top Of The Pops Performing 'Made-Up Lovesong #43' (2006)
- Waterloo Road 'Trains To Brazil' background music. (2007)
- Hollyoaks 'Made-Up Lovesong #43' background music. (2007)
- Eastenders 'We're Here' played in Queen Vic. (2007)
- Eastenders 'Trains To Brazil' played in Phil Mitchell's car. (2007)
- Never Mind The Buzzcocks Fyfe Dangerfield appeared on the TV quiz show (2007)
[edit] Trivia
- The single "We're Here" was named "Single of the Week" on the Jungalist website on March 27, 2006.
- In 2006 Guillemots performed a cover version of The Streets' song "Never Went to Church" which served as the song's B-side upon its release as a single.
- Their song, "Trains to Brazil" was given out as "Single of the Week" on iTunes.
- On June 19, 2006 they played their first Top Of The Pops performance; it was for single Made-Up Lovesong #43. A memorable show where guitarist MC Lord Magrao had his back to the audience and played his guitar into a set of mirrors, reflecting his performance back to the crowd.
- Guillemots often use quirky musical instruments, such as the sound of a typewriter in the song "Who Left The Lights Off, Baby?"
- During the weekend of 1st July 2006 they appeared on Transmission with T-mobile on Channel 4, E4 and More 4.
- 'Through The Windowpane' was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize.
- Guillemots played at T in the Park 2006, where they were well received despite having a short 30 minute set.
- They also recently played a concert with the BBC Concert Orchestra backing them as part of the Electric Proms 2006.
[edit] External links
- Official sites
- News and media
- Guillemots band profile on This is Fake DIY
- Guillemots gig review on BBC Berkshire online.
- Early Guillemots interview on Platforms Magazine
- Fan sites
- Drifting Nowhere - a budding fan site with lyrics, downloads and recent news.
- Guillemots community at orkut
| Guillemots |
|---|
| Fyfe Dangerfield • MC Lord Magrão • Aristazabal Hawkes • Greig Stewart |
| Discography |
| Studio albums: Through the Windowpane |
| EPs: I Saw Such Things in My Sleep EP • From the Cliffs • Of the Night |
| Singles: "Trains to Brazil" • "We're Here" • "Made-Up Lovesong #43" • "Annie, Let's Not Wait" |
| Related articles |
| Fantastic Plastic |
