Monday 28 March 2011

You Said It Would And It Did

This Thursday, 31st of March, sees the release of Billy Wears Dresses second album "You Said It Would And It Did". The launch party is at The Eagle in Rochester, the city's premier music venue. The band will hit the stage at 9 so get there early to buy your copy of the CD.

"The 16 tracks on what really is a double album, have a diversity and spirit that is almost non-existent in these genre based times. Nick spoke of it as being our Sgt. Pepper but maybe it's more like Stevie Wonder's Songs In the Key Of life and The Clash's London Calling. We've let the songs drive how we've recorded them; which has led to, what will be for some, a few sonic surprises. There are four songs on this album that we didn't have time to put on Spacehopper Summer, the rest are all new songs that we started recording last August. It's taken a while to finish, down to the lavish production and arrangements for the most part. I'm dreading the studio bill when it arrives!"
Paul


For all the latest on this release, including a free MP3 download of the single "Eddie (My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad)" head over to http://yousaiditwouldanditdid.blogspot.com


Saturday 26 March 2011

Are We having Fun Yet? - available from the Galileo 7 Webite


The perfect gift for mum this Mothers Day....






The Debut album from the Galileo 7 - "Are We Having Fun Yet"
is available in The Galileo 7 Website Store
along with the debut EP "Test Flight" and superb T Shirts in Monteray Purple.


For all things Galileo 7, including the upcoming Italian Tour,
visit http://thegalileo7.fourfour.com/home



As well as the obligatory







About The Galileo 7

Allan Crockford - vocals, guitar
Viv Bonsels - organ, vocals
Paul Moss - bass, vocals
Russ Baxter - drums

As a member of such semi-legends as the Prisoners, The Solarflares, JTQ, Thee Headcoats and more recently The Stabilisers (amongst a much longer list), Allan Crockford has played an important if low-key part in establishing the Medway area's reputation as a hotbed for spirited, uncompromising garage rock with a strong DIY ethic. Playing with such Medway notables as Graham Day, Billy Childish and James Taylor, his reputation was as the reliable sideman for more flamboyant figures. Now he has found a late flowering talent for writing his own material. The Galileo 7 were formed to play the songs he had been storing up for the last 3 or 4 years. The alternative was to go busking alone in Chatham High Street, a course of action which would have inevitably lead to a long stay in hospital.

Paul Moss is the busiest bass player in Kent, possibly the world. He plays in over 100 bands and when he's not playing bass he is still playing bass in his head. He can quite literally play every note on the bass, simultaneously if necessary. His favourite song is Jazz Odyssey. Hum him a tune and he will instantly hum back a four part string quartet arrangement - for a price.

Viv Bonsels is the band's organ wizard, although she refuses to wear the cloak and pointy hat formerly owned by Rick Wakeman that the band bought for her. Although she loves the throaty growl of the classic heavyweight Hammond/Leslie combination, she prefers to play a tiny 60's Teisco combo organ, because it has 'cute legs' and she can carry it under her arm.

Russ Baxter is the band's timekeeper, in more ways than one. When he's not beating out his rock solid rhythm stylings on his expensively restored (he claims) 1965 vintage Premier drum kit, he also keeps tabs on the rest of the band's punctuality at gigs and rehearsals. Operating a 'cruel but fair' system of punitive fines and systematic beatings, he ensures a regime of old-fashioned discipline and manners are adhered to at all times. He also plays drums for Secret Affair - currently the most punctual band on the mod circuit.

While the band still has the trademark punk ('66 and '76 versions) fire and energy that marks out the Medway sound, there are extra elements in the music that shifts it away from the trademark crashbangwhallop... call it pop-psych, punkadelic, powerpop or whatever you like. If it's energy you're after you won't be disappointed, but there are also tunes and harmonies by the bucketload to guarantee that these songs hang around in your head long after the initial sonic impact has faded.

Friday 25 March 2011

Ben Jones - Kaleidoscope Launch Party - tonight!

The place to be tonight is The Nags Head in Rochester, for the launch of Ben Jones' new solo album, titled Kaleidoscope. It's already available on iTunes (along with Ben's album Echobox), and is a phenomenal listen. The track "Under Your Stone" is the best song I've heard in ages.
Take a visit to www.benjonesechobox.co.uk and give your ears, mind and heart a musical blessing.
For those of you who've been unfortunate not to have seen Ben perform live before, you will be in for a real treat. I'm just gutted that I'll be unable to make it due to prior commitments.
If you love great passionate music, get down there at 8.30 and get a good seat, entry is free and the beer is fab, the night will be one to remember.




Paul Moss

Monday 14 March 2011

Play Something We Know

Last year I got to record with The Groovy Uncle, Glenn Prangnell at State Studios, the result of which was the single "Monkey Trousers" released on State Records. The same company have just released the vinyl LP called "Play Something We Know!" which is now available at The Groovy Uncle website.

The album also features Allan Crockford (Prisoners, JTQ, Solar Flares, Galileo 7), Ben Jones (Lovedays), Mole (Higher State) & Snowy (Aunt Nelly).

Sunday 13 March 2011

Where Has Billy Wears Dresses Been?

The big question can be easily answered!
We have been recording a new album, titled "You Said It Would And It Did", a monumental 16 track CD, what Nick describes as a "Sgt Pepper for the new millennium."
Keep an eye on the Billy Wears Dresses website for a release date which will be announced very soon. Also coming is a new look website featuring the photography genius that is Phil Dillon, who is also responsible for the new album pictures.
Billy Wears Dresses are also taking part in the Live & Unsigned competition and will be live in Brighton on the 16th of April along with the Dub Pistols.
More news on that soon too.

Stand By For Action!!




Photo by Phil Dillon
www.phildillon.co.uk

Saturday 12 March 2011

The Gallileo 7 French Tour

Just got back from a cracking tour of France. Thank you to all the people who came to see us perform our music this weekend. Also a big thank you to Jean-Marc and Barnaby for taking care of us and feeding us. We can't wait to be back in France. Looking forward to next time.

Allan, Russ and Viv in the Green Room.



I had some amps supplied on tour, Friday was a SVT Pro 3 with a 410HLF cab, Saturday was this monster. An 8x10 cab with a very old SVT head with a rather quaint wood finish.

The Galileo 7 will be making a rare UK appearance at The Nags Head in Rochester on the 12th March.

For all news that new and approved visit the Official Galileo 7 Website