Hot New Bands

Formed in 2001 this band will really take off this year. 1906 is comprised of Ed Pettitt on Guitar, Chris Watts on Bass, Andy Milne on drums, Charlie Woosey on vocals, and Pete Summers on rhythm guitar. Citing The Byrds, Love, 13th Floor Elevators, and The Beatles as influences, 1906 have started to cause a stir with A&R scouts. From their first gig under the guise of The Everlasting First, to their recent outings to the streets of London, 1906 have been producing a distinctive sound that not many bands attempt. On the night of the 4th October, the Tunbridge Wells Forum was the venue for the first step of the band. Supporting other hot new band The Boxer Rebellion and Thisgirl, the performance was a success, however there was room for improvement. The band knuckled down to it and got a lot of practice in until their next gig.

After only playing once previously, the band and manager Murray Lloyd Curnow felt that it was time for 1906 to break London. A gig at The Quad, the LSE student union bar, followed, and 1906 were on a bill featuring Woodchuck, and The Broken Family Band. The turn out for this gig was awful. For a headlining band who have made 2 albums, we all expected their to be a bigger crowd. Although triumphing over adversity 1906 played a solid set and went down well with the small audience that attended. As part of a mini 'tour' 1906 played their second gig in London in the space of a week. This time at the Archway Tavern supporting Johnny Panic, and the Mystery Jets. This was a superb gig, a larger crowd than expected, all welcoming the sounds of 1906. With 'celebrity' members in the audience (Mattie and James from Busted!) the adrenaline was rushing through the veins of each band member. Appreciation gained from Mystery Jets and a promise of future gigs left 1906 feeling proud of themselves and so they should. It was back to the local venue on the 2nd of February where the band had their 'Stable' night and victoriously carried themselves to 4th place in the standings. Recently 'manager' Murray Lloyd Curnow had successfully negotiated a meeting with Strokes producer Gordon Raphael. 

Equipped with the 1906 demo, produced by James Stenton a week before, it was time to put the music to the test. Raphael liked what he heard and believed that with a bit of a work the band could be one to look for. With a promise of GR attending to a London show, Murray Lloyd Curnow told 1906 the good news. Now with London dates in the pipeline and a gig supporting The Keys, fresh from supporting Love on their UK tour, at the Tunbridge Wells Forum, it should be an eventful year for 1906.

Unbelievably they are not signed! Any record companies who wish to snap them up early before the bidding war begins, should contact their manager at the following email address: chilavert_67@hotmail.com

Recently completing their EP at Tin Pan Alley Studios, London, the band are set to tour with The Keys and fulfill some of their own headlining gigs. Be sure to check them out when they come to your town.

Check out www.nineteen06.co.uk 
 

Review of 1906 EP

Tracklisting:

1. You Know Its Today

2. Garage Rock

3. Acid Floats

4. Set the Controls

5. Are you Here With Me?

6. New Dawn

The comforting melodies exerted in opener 'You Know Its Today' give a real feeling that summer has come, the mesmerising bass line and the excellent drumming combine to take you back to the sixties. The fantastic drug-induced lyric, 'Shooting up and shooting down, most will blow your mind', lets us know that 1906 have been transported back to the Summer of Love and the Byrdsesque swirling guitars enhance this feeling. 'Garage Rock' is exactly that, with a guitar sound reminiscent of The Hives. Energetic and fast-paced, the concept of each member of the group being given a chance to show their individual talent is one that works to good effect. 'Acid Floats' slows things down, and as its title suggests it transports you to a world of hazy pleasures. Regarded by many to be the best track on the EP, it certainly has the making of being a future single. The urgency of guitars in 'Set the Controls' build us up to the chance for guitarist Ed Pettitt to showcase his obvious talent. Using the familiar crossroads riff, Pettitt displays his skills playing an amazing piece of lead that would go down a storm at any summer festival. Considered to be the weakest of the 6 tracks on the EP 'Are you Here With Me?' has a good rhythm and melody but perhaps this is slightly over-used. The insertion of another verse towards the end featuring the same lyrics, seems to make it a bit stale. The strength of the vocals should be commended though, both Pettitt and lead singer Charlie Woosey combining to create great harmonies. Ending with 'New Dawn' it could be considered this is what 1906 are trying to achieve, it's like the sixties have gone to sleep and this is the second wave, like the French film critics in the 1930s who created a new wave in cinema and 1906 are on the verge of doing the same in music.

Review by Muzz

On a cold, mysterious night, the Forum crowd wait with baited breath for the appearance of One Track Mind and 1906. Due to Sequana pulling out for being absolute shit, there is an air of delight buzzing around. However, One Track Mind fail to dazzle this wondeful audience. Songs about pikies, and 'Tropical Hi-Juice' are not well received, with members of the audience mocking them with a 'rock on' sign. Ska is nothing new at the Forum and the performance was bland, for them to be a success there needs to be a drastic change.

Its coming up to 10 o' clock and 1906 are preparing to grace the stage. The crowd are in need of some good music and 1906 provide. Opening with 'Indian Song' the audience start to warm to their mellow sound, and they warmly accepted. Guitarist Ed has a confident swagger, emptying his pockets mid-song, wielding his guitar like a sword. 'Visions of Time' slows it down after the rampant burst through ' You Know its Today'. Bassist Watts strides around on stage as the music infects his body, Pete is more relaxed choosing to smile at audience members than be a picture of intense. The pace is almost immediately resumed as they rip through 'Garage Rock', Charlie attempting a snap kick reminiscent of Pelle from The Hives. This goes down a storm, the drum solo by Andy a particular highlight.

Into set closer 'Whisky a go-go' and the band are more relaxed knowing they have won the audiences hearts, Andy walks off but is called back on for an encore of 'We've got Levitation'. A fantastic performance from one of the bands for 2004. The votes were in and counted and the result left One Track Mind feeling bad. 1906= 131, One Track Mind= 103. 1906 storm to the top four of The Stable and are comfortably through to the next round. Congratulations to the band, a great night.

 By Muzz

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