The Wombats
are an indie band from Liverpool, UK. They comprise two native Liverpudlians; Matthew Murphy, provider of vocals, guitar and keyboards, drummer/vocalist (also plays synthesizer and flute, banjo and commonly whistles) Dan Haggis and bass player/vocalist (plays guitar with Matthew on acoustic versions) Tord Ă˜verland-Knudsen, a Norwegian who has made his home in the city.
|
THE WOMBATS TICKETS
|
History
The three band members met in 2003 at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, soon becoming friends and starting to jam together. In 2006, the band released their debut album "Girls, Boys, and Marsupials" which was only available in Japan.
In January 2007, the band released a second limited edition vinyl called "
Moving to New York". In May, the band released their third single called "
Backfire at the Disco" leading the band to release their first full single "
Kill the Director" in late July. The single reached #35 in the UK Singles Chart. Their last single "
Let's Dance to Joy Division" was released in October 2007, to coincide with the release of their debut album, entitled
The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation
which reached #11 in the
UK Albums Chart. The release was being followed by a
European tour ending with a
thanksgiving party at
Liverpool Academy.
The band started 2008 as the
opening act at the opening ceremony of
Liverpool,
European Capital of Culture 2008 at
Liverpool Arena. "Moving to New York" was re-released on 14 January 2008 and reached #13 UK singles chart becoming their highest charting release to date. The band went on a full UK tour over April and May 2008, as well as playing dates in
Europe and
Japan. The band also played for
Jo Whiley on
BBC Radio 1 where they
covered the
Take That song "
Patience", as well as Tord singing the
Postman Pat
theme tune in his native language,
Norwegian. In the USA they are signed to
Roadrunner Records.
On 28 February 2008, the band won 'Best Dancefloor Filler' for their single "Let's Dance To Joy Division" at the
NME Awards.
[1] April 2008 marked the band's first release in the U.S., The Wombats EP.
In June 2008, the band performed live at the major event
Glastonbury Festival. They also performed at
T in the Park, of July 2008, opening the Radio 1 / NME Stage set on the Friday. They also played
Reading and Leeds Festival on the Saturday and Friday respectively on the
BBC Radio 1/
NME Stage supporting
Babyshambles.
The band have also announced via their Myspace blog, that they will be releasing two new singles. A seasonal 'Anti-Christmas' themed "Is This Christmas?" on December 15, followed by "My Circuitboard City" on March 3.
ABC spin-off drama Private Practice featured The Wombat's "Little Miss Pipedream" behind the final scenes of Season 2's Episode 19, which aired 3/19/2009.
The band appeared as themselves in Episode 2 of the ITV2 sitcom
FM
and also performed "My Circuitboard City" in the episode. The band also appeared in episode 5642 of '
Neighbours', aired in the UK on 12 May 2009.
It was also recently revealed that former
Beatles member Sir
Paul McCartney is hoping to produce their next LP
[2].
The band performed 2 numbers in front of 80,000 people as the pre-match entertainment, prior to the
FA Community Shield between
Manchester United and
Chelsea at
Wembley Stadium on Sunday 9th August 2009.
Discography
Albums
- 2006: Girls, Boys and Marsupials
(Japan only)
- 2007: The Wombats Go Pop Pop Pop
(Japan only)
- 2007: The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation
#11 UK, #35 Aus
Singles
- 2007: "Let's Dance to Joy Division"
- 2007: "Kill the Director"
- 2007: "Backfire at the Disco"
- 2007: "Moving To New York"
- 2008: "Lost in the Post"
- 2008: "Bleeding Love"
- 2008: "Is This Christmas?"
- 2009: "My Circuitboard City"
Limited release singles
- 2007: "Lost in the Post"
- 2007: "Moving to New York"
EPs
- 2006: Theme Park EP
- 2008: The Wombats EP
(U.S.)
- 2009: My Circuitboard City EP
References
- Shockwaves NME Awards 2008: The Wombats win Best Dancefloor Filler | News | NME.COM
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20080530_paul.shtml