:: Current Discussions
- For Sale Marshall AVT150 Head and 2 Marshall 4x12 Cabs - Guy - 12th February 16:04
- Play With Me ! (Musically) - dark_reaper11 - 12th February 15:21
- SATURDAY MARCH 1st 2008! - tiernan - 12th February 14:56
- ATTENTION ALL - Meeting TONIGHT - Guy - 12th February 12:34
- Band Wanted... - Dan - 11th February 19:09
- CONVOLUTION ROOMS battle of the bands - Tombone - 11th February 18:57
- FOR SALE - 2 X PIONEER CDJ-800 DECKS! - Stevie McHaggis! - 11th February 15:44
- SATURDAY MARCH 1st 2008! - Gav - 11th February 14:38
- Jon Gomm High and Dry + gizzagig - Val McCoy - 11th February 13:07
- Lets get this settled.... - Val McCoy - 11th February 13:06
:: Pit er Pat + Dragon or Emperor
Tue, 06 Sep 2005
Pickled Egg Records presents,
Thrill Jockey recordings artistes from Chicago….
PIT ER PAT + DRAGON OR EMPEROR
Bar Nova, Granby Street, Leicester
Tuesday 6th September, 8:30pm
£5 / £4 (conc)
Pit er Pat is Rob Doran (bass, vocals), Fay Davis-Jeffers (keyboards, vocals) and Butchy Fuego (drums, vocals). Originally calling themselves Blackbirds, the group began as a backing band for a singer/songwriter. After playing a handful of small shows in Chicago, the guitarist/singer abruptly decided to move to New York, leaving the threesome to quickly write a set for a show that was already booked.
There was something striking about the dynamic of the sound made by this three-piece, something unusually compelling about the rhythm section. Without the singer/guitarist, this sound allowed the space to be heard. They wrote a handful of instrumental, rhythm-heavy songs, later adding vocals, and thus, Pit er Pat was formed. The name was chosen after seeing the words "pit er pat" written in a painting by the Chicago artist, Jim Nutt (responsible for the infamous Hairy Who movement).
Their debut recording was the Emergency EP, released on the Thrill Jockey off-shoot label, Overcoat in the winter of 2004, followed by a 12” on Born and Raised on Sugar Disks. Their first full-length album, ‘Shakey’, has just been released on the cult Chicago label, Thrill Jockey (Tortoise, David Byrne, Mouse on Mars, Tom Verlaine), produced by Griffin Rodriguez (Bablicon, Need New Body). Plan B magazine described Pit er Pat’s music as “punk prog”, and compared them to early Soft Machine, Slapp Happy and Faust. One might also throw a measure of The Raincoats and Blonde Redhead into the mix.
This is the group’s first visit to the UK, although they have toured extensively in their native US, with the likes of Tortoise and Need New Body. On stage, Pit er Pat are a compelling presence - a constant propelling of rhythm and melody steeped in innumerable influences and emotions. Like the Hairy Who movement the band so admires, Pit er Pat might be described as an expressive work of fantastic adventure -- compelling, arousing and mysterious.
All three band members are heavily involved in the arts, which in turn heavily influences Pit er Pat as a band. Rob runs a design company for printed materials, clothes, album packaging and textiles. His work has shown in Tokyo, San Francisco, Berlin, New York and Chicago, among many other places. Fay makes drawings, clothing, sound for cartoons, films and pictures. Butchy has a self-titled solo album on Pickled Egg, and has played on albums by Bablicon and Need New New Body. He also makes audio documentaries, sound design for cartoons, music for film and theatre, various home recordings, sculptures, and installations. This diversity in interests is essential in shaping Pit er Pat's music.
Support for this evening is provided by Leicester’s awesome power duo, Dragon or Emperor. Vocalist and bass player, Stewart Brackley, recently suffered a broken wrist, and this show will be the band’s first full-scale live performance since Stewart’s recovery.
