Misty's Big Adventure
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Misty's Big Adventure | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Birmingham, England |
| Years active | 1996 - present |
| Label(s) | SL Records Grumpy Fun Recordings |
| Website | http://www.mistysbigadventure.co.uk |
| Members | |
| Grandmaster Gareth Hannah Baines Lucy Baines Lucy Bassett Matt Jones Sam Minnear John Kedge Erotic Volvo |
|
| Former members | |
| DJ Feva | |
Misty's Big Adventure are an eight piece band from Birmingham, England. Their music is an eclectic mix of jazz, lounge, psychedelia, two tone, pop and punk.
The current lineup is Grandmaster Gareth (real name Gareth Jones) (vocals), Hannah Baines (trumpet), Lucy Baines (saxophone), Lucy Bassett (keyboards), Matt Jones (bass), Sam Minnear (drums, percussion), John Kedge (guitar) and Erotic Volvo (dancer).
Contents |
[edit] About the band
A long time fixture on the Birmingham experimental music scene, Grandmaster Gareth formed the band in 1996 with his friend Sam Minnear. The name was taken from a story in the 1968 children's book The Magic Roundabout Annual about a kitten, Misty, who meets a dog and they become friends. [1]
Misty's songs typically consist of Grandmaster Gareth singing in a deadpan, maudlin style accompanied by lively guitar, keyboards and brass players. They occasionally include samples and toy instruments in their songs. Contrasting with Gareth's dour lounge-singer act is the dancer Erotic Volvo. Dressed in a loose full-body red sack with numerous stuffed blue gloves attached, and his face painted blue, he dances continuously and in an exhaustingly frenetic manner, often moving around the audience. He occasionally also performs as a human beat box.
All members of the band are trained musicians, and are predominantly based in the Moseley suburb of Birmingham. The band's spiritual home is the Jug of Ale venue in Moseley, where they play regularly. Throughout 2005 they have toured extensively around the UK with forays into Europe, and support slots for The Zutons and The Magic Numbers. They are managed by Mathew Priest, formerly the drummer with Dodgy.
Their debut album, Misty's Big Adventure and Their Place in the Solar Hi-Fi System, was released in 2004 with production by Richard March of Bentley Rhythm Ace and Matthew Eaton of Pram. Their follow-up albums The Black Hole (2005) and Funny Times (2007) were produced by Brian O'Shaughnessy whose production credits include Primal Scream, Denim and The Firm's Star Trekkin
Gareth occasionally tours as Misty's Little Adventure with a stripped down band.
In 2003 Gareth recorded the solo album "Grandmaster Gareth Presents... An Introduction To Minute Melodies". This was accompanied by a John Peel session entitled "Grandmaster Gareth's Monster Melody" a CDR EP of which was available to purchase from the band's website. A second album of minute melodies "The Party Sounds Of Grandmaster Gareth" was released on SL records in May 2006. This featured 29 tracks varying in length from 47 seconds to 1 minute 29 seconds. A bonus monster melody (different from the Peel session) was also included to end the album. Contributors to this album included the other members of Misty's, Brute Force, Jeffrey Lewis, Dog Food's Mr Simon and Bom & His Magic Drumstick.
The humourist Dave Gorman is a big fan of Misty's Big Adventure and the DVD The Dave Gorman Collection features a special song and video as an extra. The song is titled "54 Dave Gormans".
In 2007 the BBC used the instrumental version of "Fashion Parade" as the music to their "The Edwardians" trailer, while ITV used the same version in their trailer for their reality show "This Is David Gest". On radio, the instrumental version is used by The Geoff Show on Virgin Radio as backing music to one of their regular features. It has also been used as the soundtrack to an Irish anti-litter campaign.
The band are set to grace the cover of the second issue of nationwide independent music magazine Bearded.
Misty's Big Adventure will be headlining the Vale Festival, a large charity music festival held annually at the University of Birmingham, on 10th June 2008.
[edit] Influences
Gareth cites local Birmingham bands Pram, Broadcast, Dog Food and Novak as teenage influences. Seven-piece Novak had an "anything goes" attitude combined with skilled musicianship that Misty's exhibit.
Other influences include Raymond Scott, Julian Cope, The Beatles, The Specials, Joe Meek and Can
[edit] Extracurricular
Grandmaster Gareth worked as producer with antifolk artist Jeffrey Lewis during 2004, however these recordings have, as yet, failed to see the light of day.
Misty's, and Gareth in particular, are strong supporters of the local Birmingham music scene.
Misty's 2006 single 'Fashion Parade' features 3/4 of Northampton indie-punk rockers The Retro Spankees, and a guest appearance by Noddy Holder.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Title | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Allsorts | 2003 | self released |
| Misty's Big Adventure and Their Place in the Solar Hi-fi System | 2004 | SL Records |
| The Black Hole | 2005 | SL Records/T.A.R.G.O. Records |
| Grumpy Fun | 2006 | self released |
| Funny Times | 2007 | Grumpy Fun Recordings |
| Grumpier Fun | 2007 | self released |
[edit] Singles
| Title | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|
| I am Cool With A Capital C | 2004 | Awkward Records |
| Night Time Better Than the Daytime/I Killed the Neighbours | 2004 | Awkward Records |
| Hey Man | 2005 | SL Records |
| The Story of Love | 2005 | SL Records |
| Where Do Jam Jars Go at Xmas Time | 2005 | SL Records |
| Fashion Parade | 2006 | Sunday Best Records |
| I Can't Bring The Time Back/Serious Thing | 2007 | Club Fandango Records |
[edit] References
- Interview on The National Student Magazine. The Musings of Misty's Big Adventure (Funny Times). Retrieved on 2007-11-2.
- Interview on Audiojunkies. Grandmaster Gareth vs Audiojunkies. Retrieved on 2004-11-1.
- Interview on BBC Birmingham Music. Say Hello To Grandmaster Gareth. Retrieved on 2005-08-13.
- Interview on Vanity Project. Misty's Big Adventure. Retrieved on 2005-08-13.
- Interview on Gigwise. It Gets Dark: Misty's Big Adventure by Petra Einwiller. Retrieved on 2005-08-13.
- Interview on TuneTribe. Misty's Big Interview. Retrieved on 2005-12-28.
- Interview on The National Student Magazine. Misty's Big Adventure vs The Teats. Retrieved on 2006-10-15.
- Interview on Join My Band. Interview: Misty's Big Adventure. Retrieved on 2007-02-10.
