NEWS
16/8/10:
The new Kingcrows single "Magdelene" (and its b-sides "Insult & Injury" and "In For The Kill") is now available for worldwide download via iTunes, Amazon, Play.com and most other major download sites!
The single received its first review today, courtesy of the excellent www.uberrock.co.uk - check it out at http://uberrock.co.uk/cd-reviews/28-august-cd/1228-the-kingcrows-magdelene-corvus-rex-records.html now!
4/7/10:
THE KINGCROWS are preparing to release a new three-track single, "Magdelene" c/w "Insult & Injury" and "In For The Kill". These tracks are updated re-recordings of songs which originally appeared on their now-deleted debut EP Carrion Regardless in 2008. Kingcrows Online had a word with drummer Ratbag to find out what the story is...
RATBAG: We recently took the decision to let the Carrion Regardless EP to go out of print when the stocks ran out, 'cos it doesn't really represent us any more. We're not the same band - in line-up, sound or approach - as we were when we started recording it. You know there's only me and Lee J left from the day we started doing that CD? Thing is though, three of the seven songs from that CD are very much a part of the current set, and we wanted to keep them available, so we decided to re-do them the way we are now and stick 'em out as a single.
RATBAG: Aye, it took over a year in all to get it done. To be honest, there was a lot went wrong during the making of that CD; the day we started recording the basic tracks, our old bassist Bob left the band, so we had to drag our mate Rusty in to record the bass parts for us. Rocco didn't join the band til we were almost finished; he was in time to do backing vocals but not to do the bass. Then we split with Tony (vocals) and Phil came in, but he hadn't been in the band long when he recorded his parts and hadn't entirely got to grips with the songs. The way we worked on it, the recording sessions were spread out over a long period of time and by the end, we'd been working on it for so long we were sick to the teeth of it and just wanted to get the thing done and out, so paradoxically it was both dragged out for ages and rushed at the end. This time we wanted to do it fast and do it right.
KCOL: Did you use the same studio and producer for the re-recordings as you used last year for A Murder Most Foul?
RATBAG: Yeah - we really enjoyed working with Grant at Ivolv last year and we were dead chuffed with the sound he got for us, so we were always planning to go back there anyway. Then, while we were considering redoing this stuff, he got in touch to say he had a special offer going on. The lure of cheap recording time pretty much clinched it! It's our last time at Ivolv though, because Grant's moving studios. He's got a new place called The Loom, in Birstall, and we should be going there once it's up and running. We'll miss Ivolv, but the Loom looks and sounds pretty amazing.
KCOL: How did the sessions go?
RATBAG: Really well, dead smooth and great fun. Grant's an easy and very creative guy to work with and a hell of a good laugh. Apart from anything else, we've been doing these songs so long that we just rattled through them - all the lead vocal tracks were first-take, which we were a bit impressed with (nice one Phil!).
KCOL: So how do the new versions differ from the originals?
RATBAG: Well, for a start there's a lot less lead guitar going on. When we did the first EP we were very much a two-guitar band but now there's only Lee, and he's never been one for much soloing. The songs are a lot more direct and focussed now, and Rocco's bass playing has a different feel to Rusty's; the fact he plays a Rickenbacker has a big effect on the sound too. Plus, we've had a lot longer to hammer the songs into shape. We're all a lot more comfortable with ourselves as a band now - we know who we are, what we do and how we do it.
KCOL: Why did you choose to do re-recordings this time rather than new material?
RATBAG: We don't feel we've had the full mileage out of A Murder Most Foul yet - we just had a second run pressed up and it's still selling well, so it's not like it's reached the end of its cycle yet. This is just a sort of stopgap until next year, when we'll be doing the next CD. We're already working on loads of new material, so there'll be another seven-track EP turning up in due course. This single draws a line under the early period of the band and clears the decks for the new stuff. Onwards and upwards, y'know?
KCOL: How will the single be available?
RATBAG: Same way as A Murder Most Foul - initially on CD direct from us, either at gigs or through the website for the bargain price of two quid, and later on for download through the usual channels; Amazon, iTunes, Napster, HMV.com, Play.com, all those places.
KCOL: Anything else we should watch out for?
RATBAG: Yeah, we've recorded an extra song as a little bonus, that'll be just on the CD (not on the download sites) but not listed. So don't switch it off too soon!
22/5/10:
Gigs page has been updated again, some goodies coming up including a couple of gigs with the mighty ANTI NOWHERE LEAGUE! We have cheap tickets available for the Selby show with the League (Friday 4th June), they're £14 on the door, £10 advance from the venue or a piddling £8 from us!
It's nearly Nice 'N' Sleazy time - it starts this Friday, and we're looking forward to a weekend by the seaside with a load of mates and a few drinkies. We'll be hitting the stage at 4.15pm on the Sunday, so come and see us!
Finally, we've just spent a couple of days in the studio with our uberproducer Grant Henderson to record a new single. Watch this space for details...!
10/1/10:
Happy New Year you 'orrible lot! Gig page has been updated with new stuff!
The Kingcrows are immensely chuffed to announce we'll be playing the NICE 'N' SLEAZY festival in Morecambe at the end of May. The bill so far is looking exceptional, with EDDIE & THE HOT RODS, GOLDBLADE, STRAIGHTEN OUT (Stranglers tribute), BLITZKREIG, KEYSIDE STRIKE, THE X-RIPPERS, KINGS OF THE DELMAR, NO THRILLS, THE RED EYES, PISTOLA KICKS, TRUE BEAT, LAST GANG IN TOWN and loads more. The festival runs from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th May. Full bill and running order is still to be confirmed.
Tickets are £30 in advance for the full weekend, including camping - bargain or what?!
See www.nicensleazy.co.uk for the latest news, confirmed bands and tickets. See ya there!
12/12/09:
It's been a busy few weeks for the Kingcrows. We supported the legendary UK SUBS again at Rio's, Leeds in late November, followed by a headline gig in Bradford backed by THE DRASTICS and then a show with veteran London melodic punk heroes GUITAR GANGSTERS and Lancashire punk 'n' roll hotshots KINGS OF THE DELMAR at the Well in Leeds. We had a lot of fun and made a lot of new friends at these shows!
It's coming to the end of the year, and our final show of 2009 will be on Sunday 20th December at the New Roscoe, Leeds. We're supporting Yorkshire's premier New York Dolls tribute THE DOLLS, so come down - it'll be a blast!
So, to everyone who's seen our show, looked at the website, heard our tunes, gigged with us, given us somewhere to play, bought us beers...MESSY CROWSMAS, and we'll see ya in 2010 for more chaos!
3/11/09:
Today is the day that The Kingcrows go global! Our latest EP A Murder Most Foul can now be bought at any of the major MP3 download sites, worldwide! That includes iTunes, Napster, Amazon.com, Play.com, HMV.com, 7digital.com, eMusic and loads more! So, if you don't have this fine recording yet, here's yer ideal chance to cop for a copy. And remember, if (like us) you're old-fashioned and still like to have a real CD in yer hand, you can buy the hard copy direct from this very site - check the Shop page!
9/9/09:
We regret to announce that our scheduled appearance at the Red Roar festival in Gravesend this Saturday has had to be cancelled - unfortunately our bassmonger Rocco has come down with a case of the dreaded Swine Flu and has been confined to barracks. We're gutted about this, we were seriously looking forward to this show - first festival appearance, first time down south - but hopefully we'll have more southern dates arranged before too long.
In the meantime, our deepest apologies to the festival organisers and all the people who were looking forward to seeing us. Hopefully we'll see ya soon! We should, all being well, be back up to gigging fettle in time for our next gig, at the Primrose in Leeds on Sept 25th (with PseudoNympho, Boneyard Babies and By Default).
8/9/09:
Another great review of A Murder Most Foul has appeared on t'interweb, this time on top glam-punk-goth-and-everything-in-between website GLITZINE. Also, our ol' mate Fungalpunk has given our live show yet another glowing writeup on his excellent site, after our triumphant appearance at the inaugural R.A.T.T. Club Bank Holiday All-Dayer. Check them out at our new Reviews pages!
4/9/09:
The Kingcrows will be supporting punk rock legends the UK SUBS at Rio's, Leeds on Thursday 19th November. Tickets for the show will shortly be available from the band, watch this space!
19/8/09:
It would appear that our pronouncement that our gigs down South had fallen through was at least partly premature! On September 12th we will be appearing at the RED ROAR FESTIVAL at the famous Red Lion Music Venue in Gravesend, Kent. We should be onstage at about 4pm, so if you're in the area get there early!
The festival runs for three days, with over a hundred acts on four stages. Weekend tickets are £9 in advance or a tenner on the gate, and day tickets are a fiver a throw. Bargain! If you have a Facebook account you can view the details of the event at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137009956966&ref=ts so give it a look!
15/8/09:
Unfortunately, due to circumstances well beyond our control, our trip south we were planning for 11-12th September have had to be cancelled. Typically for a Kingcrows plan, both of the gigs we had lined up have fallen through. The Curse of the Crow strikes again. Our deepest apologies to anyone who was intending to come and see us - we're going to try and get down early next year, watch this space for details.
On a better note, we had our first ever radio spot this week, on the PUNK & DISORDERLY show on Halifax's Phoenix FM, where we spent an hour playing a selection of noisy tunes (including four tracks from our lovely new A Murder Most Foul EP) and talking bollocks. We had a brilliant time, and we'd just like to say thanks a million to Steve and Luke for having us on the show and making the evening so enjoyable. Cheers guys, see ya again soon! Also, I personally would like to apologise to the rest of the band for not letting 'em get a word in edgeways. I tend to babble a bit when I'm nervous...
The show will be available as a podcast soon, we'll post a link when it's ready.
Our next gig will be on August 29th, at the Room At The Top club's summer all-day spectacular at the Polish Club, Bradford. The bill for this is looking immense and goes like this:
THE PAIN (11pm)
THRESHOLD SHIFT (10pm)
THE KINGCROWS (9pm)
NO EAGER MEN (8pm)
MARDI GRAS BOMBERS (7pm)
SWINE (6pm)
ADAM MORGAN (5pm)
CAYN WHITE (4.30pm)
THE DRASTICS (4pm)
The whole thing kicks off at 4pm and costs a negligible £4 on the door. FOUR MEASLY QUID. For all that lot. Don't miss it, it's gonna be fantastic!!
19/7/09:
The new EP A Murder Most Foul is now available! We have a load of gigs coming up to promote the release, check out the GIGS page for details!
28/6/09:
The release date of the new Kingcrows CD A Murder Most Foul has been set for 18th July 2009. The seven-track mini-album features the following songs: "Hanging Around", "Stiletto Groove", "What She Does To You", "Sex, Oui", "Revolution Street", "One Of The Boys" and an acoustic reworking of "Writing On The Wall".
To celebrate the event, we're having a CD RELEASE PARTY! On the night of release - Saturday 18th July - we're playing at The Cardigan Arms, 364 Kirkstall Road, Leeds LS4 2HQ, and the new CD (and the new t-shirts!) will be available for the first time. Support comes from ACTION DIRECTE, TESTTONE3 and ST TANTRUMS. It's gonna be a wild night!
