Cardboard Cowboy
Ragged and glorious widescreen rock, roll and country soul.
Biography
First there was just Dave, Ant and a whole heap of whoever was around...shows were played with a film of Dave drumming, played on a tv at the back of the stage. Great fun, but difficult to cut loose! This is where Patrick and Mark mosey in. One is a rabble rousing, multi-instrumentalist who sold Dave a fast car then joined the band. The other is unlike anyone you have ever met before. He'll flick his wrist to hit the snare and it's like a bear trap snapping shut. He can drink, drink and drink some more and he drums like heavy artillery. Ant is a devotee of the Motown bassline and, more often than not, it's HIS part you'll be humming all damn day. Dave writes most of the songs - spends his time tuned to the ghost station, plucking phantom melodies from the airwaves and scratching out the whispered syllables in a big blue book.
In the last two years, they have released two albums through their own label and have just started recording the third. In Summer 2005, they played the Leeds Festival, a ton of gigs and recorded sessions for BBC radio. In May 2006 they embark on their first US tour.
Lyrics
Helicopters
Written By: D. M. James
bought tickets to everyone
but i'm just too late cos the show has begun
can't sleep in my bed no more
i no longer feel good on the floor
and i wonder
have your helicopters
ever ever seen
that you belong to me
girls singing a different tune
cracked ribs and silver spoon
are we born to lose?
boys think that they're so so cool
out breaking all the rules
all week, little fools
and i wonder
have your helicopters
ever ever seen
that you belong to..
wonder have you got the doctor
to cure my disease
and end my misery
Lady Brown
Written By: D.M. James
though angels she keeps in their stables she weeps
every morning
through quiet city streets
every cable and creek
every storey
lay, lay, lay lady brown
lay, lay, lay lay thee down
at weekends she's blonde
how long can this go on?
she's so haunted
while capitals bomb
will she reach out for something
she's born with?
lay, lay, lay lady brown
lay, lay, lay lay thee down
no rhyme and no reason can forfeit your time
no, no, no
your time
no, no, no
she's born for the stage
she is four letter rage
leaves are falling
like atomic bombs
or just maybe it's something
important
lay, lay, lay lady brown
lay, lay, lay lay thee down
no rhyme and no reason can forfeit your time
no, no, no
your time
no, no, no
just can't seem to rely on anymore
any moment...
Picture Of You
Written By: DM James
i guess i had enough
i guess of talking loud
yes of being proud
for days and days believe me
i can't stop standing up
i can't keep sitting down
i've not been on the ground
for days and days believe me
chorus:
all i wanted was a picture of you
another heart maybe i could break
chances are the feeling's mutual too
you're a sweet thing
a sweet thing
heaven only knows
where this feeling grows
or where it sometimes goes
for days and days believe me
i hold this to be true
i can't kick me and you
i never wanted to
for days and days believe me
(chorus)
didn't have to be here
and i know, i know
we're only like this sometimes
only sometimes...
Discography
Unload Your Head (Slapdash Recordings, 2004) - album
Shorthand For Love (Slapdash recordings, 2005) - album
Set List
Mostly we get asked to play between 30 and 45 minutes. We currently have a total repetoire of 30 songs to choose from. One recent setlist looked like this:
Kid Koala
Boss Hogg
Paycheck
Softer Love
The Seven Year Bitch
Helicopters
Saviour On The Ceiling
Family
Shorthand For Love
