Sometimes I dabble with the idea that our band is super-cool. It’s a ridiculous, passing daydream, but I like to imagine that we are a poised unit of seven, steady-hearted grafters, serenely swaying with our heads down, our hair in the wind, and our (fourteen) arms wide open, palms up, waiting for the universe to snog us or slap us – either way we are ready and unruffled as we glide along in the joyful undertaking of creating the best music we know how to make. Sometimes I imagine we are wearing SAS gear in this daydream. Sometimes we are wearing robes. Sometimes speedos and bling J
Some of the above is true: in reality, we work very hard, we care an awful lot and we have a great time making music together, but we are really not very cool. (Dodge, if you’re thinking of disagreeing with me here, may I remind you of the time we raided Northern Stage’s wardrobe for a gig and you dressed up as a bright green, simple-minded Goblin?). Whenever we’ve had a photo shoot, in pictures where we try to look all moody, we just end up looking like dicks. We write songs about trying not to stand on snails. We only have one style of haircut each. Sometimes we fall over things on stage. We get over-excited when Lou brings Banana Cake to rehearsals. We hire minibuses with a speed limiter installed. We’re anal about grammar and spelling. Half of us are teetotal and the other half allergic to nuts. We’re lovely an’ all, but we’re not the Zeitgeist - we’re just us (and I really like that).
Further proof of how fantastically uncool we are arrived on Friday evening as Adam K handed over our Glastonbury tickets. There were actual squeals (from both genders) chiming around the rehearsal shed. ‘It’s even got my NAME on it, squeeeee!’ (Actually I don’t think Nick made any noise out loud, but I could see the yelp in his eyes.)
In truth, forsooth, WE ARE SO FLIPPING CHUFFED to have been chosen to play at this year’s festival (Saturday 6.45pm, on the BBC Introducing stage), that we had a DOUBLE helping of banana cake. It’s really down to Tom Robinson, and BBC Radio Newcastle, who, along with various other gorgeous people, have both been championing our tunes for a long time now. Thank you very much!
Full time jobs; newly arrived and imminent babies; band members moving to different cities or continents amongst other things has meant that we don’t actually get to play together as much as we might like at the moment, so every gig feels like a gift. I don’t mean that to sound quite as wafty as it does, but it really does feel like that. However, some opportunities to perform together do feel more singular than others, and this is one.
So, We’ll make a deal with you, WHOEVER you are – cool or off-trend, allergic or resistant, photogenic or crack-the-glass - you bring your good selves to the BBC Introducting Stage, Saturday, 6.15pm; we’ll bring the banana cake, the OED and seven bursting, giddy hearts. DEAL!? GLASTONBURY, BABY, YEAY!
And finally, three pieces of important news
1. GOODBYE:
We’d like to share how absolutely gutted we are to have said goodbye to David Carnegie – a fantastic drummer, singer and friend who has had to return to his homeland of Barbados and therefore leave the band. We wish David all the very best, we miss him lots and hope everything works out. LOVE YOU, FELLA! x
2. HELLO:
We would also like to formally welcome Mr Adam Sinclair to Sharks Took The Rest as our new drummer. Adam’s been heavily involved in the band, engineering and producing our demos and E.P.s in the studio for the last few years. We’re so pleased he’s also a brilliant drummer and singer who was up for joining us. WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME! x
3. CONGRATULATIONS:
to Becca, our cellist, and her partner Andy for ‘sprogging one off’. New life arrived on the planet in April in the form of a beautiful baby shark called Ellie. Becca continued to play with the band into her final term, and is already back up to full steam – we are much admiring and in awe of you, for you are a wondrous woman. Now we just need to get some of those little baby-ear protectors & some mini-wellies and we’re good to go! X
See you very soon, and watch this space for more announcements of live dates and recorded releases.
Much love,
Sharks Took The Rest
