The Contortionists were formed in South East London in 2003 and have been writing and playing live since the beginning of 2004. Originally a 2-piece bedroom band, The Contortionists multiplied as friends and lovers became entangled in their wrong-doings. No one ever auditioned. Band members merely taught and encouraged their friends to join in on the necessary instruments until the band was whole and together.
In a musical climate based largely upon novelty, short-term quick-fixes and escapism, the band hopes to make anti-intellectualism and the celebration of indie-boy beer-drinking mundanity a negative thing once again. Beyond the realms of your average buzzword-chanting "issues" band, The Contortionists are committed to delivering challenging ideas in the simplest of forms, i.e. rock &/or roll.
The band built themselves from the ground up, recording and releasing their own material until very recently, where the help of an absurdly talented sound engineer friend of the band finally got them the sound on CD that's been in their heads in the shape of debut full-length album "THE STOMACH-PUMP BLUES". Only with the recording of the album has the band felt confident enough and ready to let themselves be measured up against the best that's out there today. Still said album was recorded half in bedrooms and bathrooms and half in a basement rehearsal studio with the most meagre of equipment, as has always been the band's wont.
Utilising both male and female lead vocals, the sound of the band moves from manic, angular, sarcastic rock & roll with guitars like breaking glass, to more atmospheric, graceful, experimental and hopefully beautiful pieces. Influences include The Stooges, The Fall, Les Savy Fav, Mclusky, The Pixies, The Velvet Underground, Can, Captain Beefheart, Pere Ubu & Bjork.
The band enjoy a small but steady following around London and are looking to play more gigs and to expose themselves to as many people as possible (without getting arrested).
THE STOMACH-PUMP BLUES is a two-sided album that reflects their current sensibilities. Side one is SARCASTICA DOWNWARD, "Five levels of bad-hellishness experienced by your humble narrator and pissed out of the shame-centre of the brain-circuit into modern-song-format". Side two is MANIFESTO FOR GRACE: "Five experiences of the betweens of grief and grace; all universal-like, for your listening pleasure, makes a five-pronged cycle of thine own choice."
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So, to the Bull and Gate - Kentish Town: where so many wonderful and important bands have played wonderful and important shows... and where we'll irrevocably reverse that trend with consummate ease ;) Come along and witness... The Contortionists' favourite venue. It's just over the road from Kentish Town Tube St. on the Northern Line and on bus routes: C2, 135, 214, N134, N20, N214 - see you there.
Bull and Gate - Kentish Town Official Website
Bull and Gate on MySpace
How to find: Bull and Gate - Kentish Town
Bull and Gate
389 Kentish Town Rd,
London, NW5 2TJ
Bull and Gate Map [it's a good one]
Bull and Gate on MultiMap
Bull and Gate on StreetMap
Bull and Gate on Google Maps
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The Contortionists Official Website
The Contortionists on MySpace
The Contortionists on last.fm
The Contortionists on NME
other links
The Contortionists [this page]
The Contortion Forum
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