The Twang
are an indie rock band from Birmingham, England, formed in 2001. The band garnered national acclaim when the influential NME magazine produced an article on music acts (which also featured fellow Midlanders Ripchord and The Enemy) in the West Midlands, and has led to band coming second in the BBC News website's Sound of 2007 poll. [1]
The band's debut single, "Wide Awake", was released March 19, 2007, with their debut album Love It When I Feel Like This
(released on June 4, 2007) being produced by Gavin Monaghan, known for his work with Editors, Ocean Colour Scene, Robert Plant, Scott Matthews and The Holloways. "Wide Awake" was produced at The Magic Garden Studio, in Wolverhampton, assisted by Gazz Rogers. "Wide Awake" had lots of play across national and local radio stations.
The Twang's second album, Jewellery Quarter
, was released 3 August 2009 and reached #20 on the UK album chart.
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THE TWANG TICKETS
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Biography
The band was formed in
Quinton,
Birmingham by Phil Etheridge and Jon Watkin. They are signed to the
B-Unique label, home to
Kaiser Chiefs,
The Automatic and
The Ordinary Boys. Their debut single release,
Wide Awake
was released in both CD and 7" format on the 19th of March 2007. The record reached number 15 in the
UK singles charts.
The band managed to win the Phillip Hall Radar Award at the 2007
NME Awards.
The Twang originally performed in and around
Birmingham under the name "Neon Twang". However, this was allegedly changed due to numerous scuffles between the band's fans and punters in various
Pubs. These events prevented them booking gigs in some venues, hence the need for the name change. The band have been quoted saying that they don't promote violence at their performances and have criticised the lack of doormen and security at local venues.
In the early days before Stuart Hartland and
drummer Matty Clinton joined the group,
lead singer Phil Etheridge and
bass player Jon Watkin swapped
instruments on numerous "Neon Twang" tracks ("Cloudy Room", "Push The Ghosts" and "Aimless With An Aim" being surviving tracks from this period). Etheridge frequently played
bass guitar and sang, whilst Watkin played
lead guitar. The addition of Hartland in late 2005 enabled Watkin to take over bass duties permanently and allowed Etheridge to perform songs live with much more enthusiasm, although the frontman's trademark dancing was still evident whilst playing bass.
During the "Neon Twang" period, the band's sound was very similar to how it is now, some very early track names being "See It Thru", "Big Day Out", live favourite "Shoot To Kill", "Time Waits", "Push The Ghost", "Aimless With An Aim" and the reggae influenced "Fake ID". "Aimless With An Aim" and "Fancy That" later turned up as the B-Side's to the bands first single "Wide Awake".
In April 2007, they had their first
NME cover and two months later they were the subject of a
BBC Radio 1 documentary.
The band worked with
The Streets on a remix of their hit single "Either Way". The remix also featured rapper
Professor Green.
In February 2008, The Twang had their
University of Surrey gig filmed and later broadcast on
Channelbee.
On 7 May 2009, The Twang announced a free download of "Another Bus", along with the album title, "Jewellery Quarter", and the first single, "Barney Rubble", was released in July, with the album following in August.
[2].
On 5 August 2009, The Twang played at Fopp in
Exeter to help advertise the launch of their new album.
Lead singer Phil Etheridge is an
Aston Villa supporter, Saunders is a
Birmingham City supporter whilst the rest are
West Bromwich Albion supporters as stated in a
Live Lounge session on
BBC Radio 1 presented by
Jo Whiley.
Discography
Albums
- Love It When I Feel Like This
(4 June 2007) #3
(UK)
- Jewellery Quarter
(3 August 2009) #20
(UK)
Singles
- "Wide Awake" (March 19, 2007) UK #15
- "Either Way" (May 28, 2007) UK #8
- "Two Lovers" (August 27, 2007) UK #34
- "Push the Ghosts" / "Drinking In L.A" (November 26, 2007) UK #63
- "Another Bus" (Free download)
- "Barney Rubble" (July 27, 2009) UK #59
References
- BBC News - ''Sound of 2007: The Twang''
- http://www.nme.com/news/the-twang/44500