Billy Vincent
London, England, United Kingdom | INDIE
Music
Press
Gypsy-punk folk songs about medieval lighthouses are few and far between. Thank Christ, then, that Billy Vincent has made theirs - frankly - bloody brilliant.
Managing to be somehow both dark and dazzling at the same time, "St Catherine's Oratory" opens with a mournful and sombre violin, before breaking out into its rampant and catchy-as-hell stride, not pausing once en route.
Thankfully, this is also true of the rest of the tracks on their "Once On The Grand Union" EP, adding up to a picture of a band who've hit their stride in an assured and superb manner.
Dai Howells - five stars - Artrocker
Discography
King Island Coyote EP - released 11/04/2011 on Something Nothing Records
Once On The Grand Union EP - released 17/10/2011 on Something nothing Records
Photos
Bio
So what makes for a great band in 2011? Great songs, certainly. Singular looks and a gang mentality? Thatll do nicely. But beyond that, you still need the indefinable quality, which tells you a group isnt just this years model. Ladies and gentlemen, its about time you met Billy Vincent.
For us, its all about passion explains co-singer and songwriter David Vincent (Gram Parsons hair; Bobby Gillespies intensity).
We strive to write classic songs, but for us its as much about the delivery. If you dont put your heart and soul into it, its pointless. And we give it everything weve got.
Rewind. Like all the best bands, Billy Vincents roots run deep, down into their personal pre-histories. Back in fact, to a classroom in Sutton in the early 90s.
We met at infants school grins co-songwriter Bill Barratt (Damon Albarns accent; David Beckhams grin).
Weve been best mates since we were four. We were at school together, met girls together, left home at the same time and then started the band. Its the whole picture.
As the years went by, the duo graduated from learning Kinks and Beatles riffs in their bedrooms (vinyl courtesy of Bills dad) to composing their own songs, infused with the spirits of everyone from The Sonics to Bright Eyes; Tom Waits to Bon Iver.
I havent got an ipod grins Bill, Ive got a suicide pod.
Most of all, they learned how all the truly great songs tell a story.
Weve learned our craft together says David.
Weve learned how to sing in harmony and how our voices best complement each other. At the same time, everything we do is lyric led. The name is obviously an amalgam of our two names, but its also a way of personifying what we do. Were storytellers.
Having weathered all the usual band-related upheavals, Billy Vincent settled upon their current line up in early 2010, their first gig (archivists take note) being at regular London haunt The Old Queens Head.
Since then, their ferociously tuneful sound and the kinetic stage chemistry between Bill and David has won them converts everywhere from the Scottish Highlands to deepest Cornwall.
The bands latest offering is four track EP Once on the Grand Union, the menacing St. Catherines Oratory and the vivacious Through Stations For Trains contrasting with the sorrowful tale of a harrowing love in Young Hearts and the incessantly jovial Truly. Its music to laugh, cry, fall in love and get drunk to.
The album will be a full on London rocknroll album grins David, as drinks are ordered, conversation fizzes and the band make their plans for the night. Its still going to have that scuzzy feel to it, but it will have a very British sound too; aggressive, even though it will be mostly played on acoustic guitars. With the occasional banjo, of course, adds Bill, raising a glass.
The best new band of 2011 will see you in the speakers.
Paul Moody
London, 2011
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