graystar
Gig Seeker Pro

graystar

Band Alternative Rock

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Cry No More Review"

The new single, the lovely acoustic ballad Cry No More, combines Spanish guitar, a deep resonate bassline and a smooth vocal, with the track beautifully underpinned by Tim Dyers subtle piano playing. Undoubtedly, this third single sees Graystar produce their best work to date. The second track here, though, is an unneccesary live version of the same track. Vocally, James has a hint of Tim Burgess about him, but, thankfully, unlike the Charlatans main man, it seems he can also produce in a live setting. And with more singles due, and an album promised for the end of the year, this should be just the beginning of a very special twelve months for Graystar. - Whisperinandhollerin.com


"Gig preview Oct 2005"

' A band which has been making a lot of friends by the release of their singles, and one to look out for over these coming months' - The Edinburgh Evening News


"Free on BBC Radio Scotland"

"Just a beautiful track" - BBC Scotland


"A Million Pieces"

Sometimes I feel that there is just too much music. I could spend all year on myspace.com or youtube.com and still not hear and see all the tracks and videos that are available. There are thousands of new bands and it is hard to keep up with what is happening. As many of the new bands have little to offer, it is a privilege to come across a band which looks good, plays well and performs highly original songs.
Such a band is the Edinburgh-based Graystar, although they are making Liverpool their second home as they have played the Cavern three times this year and also performed live on BBC Radio Merseyside. All the songs on ‘A Million Pieces’ are written by their lead vocalist, Dominic James. Each of them works in its own right and they combine to give the CD an idyllic, coherent feel. As luck would have it, I was playing the CD while reading the recently published, full-length version of the SF classic, ‘Stranger In A Strange Land’ and I thought, ‘This sounds like the soundtrack.’ I know the Man from Mars doesn’t have feelings but ‘Cry No More’ has that space age feel about it and so does ‘Satellites’, especially with its lyrics about radiation pulses.
‘A Million Pieces’ is no quickie album as the tracks have been recorded over the last four years and some of these songs, ‘Life Support’, ‘More Or Less’ and ‘Free’, have been released as singles. Graystar has been gathering attention for their work, being nominated as one of the best unsigned bands in Scotland and also making the indie charts. The fact that they have topped the MP3 Top 100 charts three times surely means that sooner rather than later, they will have a killer hit single.
Although the band is highly original, it is a joy to pick up on their many references. It is surely no coincidence that the opening words of the album, “How does it feel?” echo Bob Dylan’s most famous song, ‘Like A Rolling Stone’. The whimsical feel of ‘Satellites’ reminds of the Beach Boys around the time they recorded ‘Holland’. The opening piano notes on ‘Free’ are a reference to ‘Imagine’ and there is something about the softer side of Neil Young about the track. At different times, I heard the Scissor Sisters, David Gray and Oasis, but again, they share similar references.
The arrangements are spot on as is the production from Dominic and Rick Scott. ‘Cry No More’ is my favourite as I love the way that the different parts, especially Neil Hartley’s drums, enhance what is already a very sensitive song. All the band – Craig Finnie (lead guitar), Tim Dyer (keyboards) and Mark Taylor and John Reynolds (bass) – shine on the album, but they know that they are working to the greater good. At the time of writing, Graystar is a three-piece with Dominic, Craig and Neil.
Graystar knows what it is doing and ‘A Million Pieces’ is a wonderfully soothing and evocative album. I was going to write that Graystar has no gimmicks, but maybe it has. The gimmick is that the band performs excellent songs that are well sung and well played. Just how many other bands do that?
Spencer Leigh
Presenter, BBC Radio Merseyside
August 2007 - Spencer Leigh, BBC Radio Merseyside


"A Million Pieces"

With a depth of songwriting that is overlooked by alot of bands these days, Edinburgh’s Graystar show genuine signs of promise on their new LP, A Million Pieces. Formed by Liverpool songwriter Dominic James, the band get off to a slow start but improve dramatically as the record wears on. ‘Freaks’ has that horrible reverb on the vocals that makes it sound cheap and amateur but ‘Free’ is a song of genuine quality. From the lilting piano and underproduced percussion which accompanies it perfectly, James’ introspective lyrics work their way comfortably into the song. The sound is very indie, but it would be unfair to compare them to bands like Starsailor and Keane, for the quality of the songwriting is what realy shines through. There’s also enough in the songs to distinguish them from each other, ‘Cry No More’ features a touch of Spanish guitar and ‘Life Support’ sounds a little like a chilled-out Stone Roses. ‘Satellites’ is perhaps the best constructed song on the record, a slow intro builds up to a lilting melody that doesn’t sound out of place, and it could only really be improved upon by getting rid of that pesky vocal reverb which shows up again. Closing out the album are ‘Sleeper’, which is appropriately titled as it is a simple and straightforward ballad, and ‘More or Less’ rounds things off rather nicely. It’s a solid set of songs from a band that sound like they’re only just getting started. - Is This Music


"A Million Pieces"

A collection of fresh anthemic indie turns from this Liverpoool/ Edinburgh quintet. - The List


"IPO Festival Review, Liverpool"

'A fantastic band': dj Spencer Leigh. - BBC Radio Merseyside


"Singles EP Review"

2005 CD Singles:

REVIEW: The Skinny Mag: February 2006With homogenous indie-punk combos saturating the airwaves its somewhat refreshing to hear the sobering sound of Edinburghs Graystar. The bands Singles EP is far from original, it owes much to the sonic claustrophobia of the shoe-gazing era, but there is a naivety that charms like the ramshackle Alfie once did. Rather than churning out predictable laments that aspire to little more than myopic commercialism, Graystar has created an EP of beautifully poignant songs that gently etches its way into your heart. Free is as mesmerising and simplistic as Shacks Comedy, with a vocal dripping in sanguinity and fleeting keyboard that pines with desire. The band can borrow too heavily from their contemporaries, particularly on the Doves-inspired Freaks, but each track is wonderfully crafted and full of intrigue. It may not emanate from the trilby-adorning indie conveyor belt but this Graystar is sure to shine brightly this year. - The Skinny Mag


"Free: EP review"

With Cartier elegance, Beatles basslines and Eric Morecambe timing, Graystar know a thing about craftsmanship. Like an old watchmaker hunched over an oil lamp with Dark Side Of The Moon on repeat, the Edinburgh-based quintet create tunes of otherworldly beauty and refinement. In fact, with such immaculate taste, they could probably pick you out a nice sofa as well. “Free,” the lead track on the bands latest ep is by far and away their best tune yet. Like a cabaret version of “Imagine,” leisurely piano accommodates an ethereal world-weary vocal and deposits you in an ever-so-dreamy chorus that feels like an afternoon in a floatation tank. Theres some sophisticated Dave Gilmour space-blues along the way until everything finally fizzes with the warmth of a supremely laid-back rock god guitar solo that closes the proceedings like a much, much classier “Champagne Supernova.” Simple, focused and feeling it with every note, “Free” is a nugget of spooky pop genius. - Overplay


"Singles EP"

Graystar’s five singles from last year are collected on one disc here. Opener “Freaks”, a new song, is carried on drums that roll like a lazy but irresistible river, replete with mellifluous piano and sweeping sentiments. This is cut from much the same cloth as early “Lost Souls”-era Doves; epic all right, but not yet fully realised, in search of something bigger still. “Life Support” and “Satellites” have already been covered here and, while they continue the stargazing vibe with a few more effects bunged on, they’re still on the ground with a telescope rather than in orbit, where you sense they want to be. Graystar only start to flap their wings when they fully indulge their love of MOR. “Free” is a certified thing of beauty, a gentle piano ballad with a divine melody that eventually sprawls into territory reminiscent of the coda to “Layla” and even, gadzooks, “Nobody Does it Better”. Meanwhile “Cry No More”, the oldest song here, is pure Al Stewart, of 70s “Year of the Cat” legend. While that piano is sometimes so darn mellow that you expect them to break into “Easy like Sunday Morning” or “Road to Hell”. All the while there’s no hint of cheese, no knowing wink, just honest passion. The generous and uplifting “Free” and “Cry No More” are the clearest indicators that they might one day make their own “Last Broadcast”. - The Mag


Discography

Life Support (single) Feb 2005: airplay: Pulserated Radio, BBC Radio Merseyside, XFM Scotland.
Satellites ( single ) April 2005: airplay: XFM Scotland, Pulserated Radio.
Cry No More ( single ) Aug 2005: airplay: Pulserated Radio, BBC Radio Merseyside, BBC Scotland, BBC Radio 6
Free ( single ) Oct 2005: airplay: XFM London, BBC Radio Scotland, Kick FM, Pulserated Radio, UK Songwriter's Award Winner.
Freaks ( single ) Dec 2005: airplay: Pulserated Radio
Live acoustic radio session: Pulserated: Feb 2007
Live acoustic radio session: BBC Radio Merseyside: Aug 2007.
Live acoustic radio session: BBC Radio Merseyside: Feb 2008.

A Million Pieces: album: released October 2007.
I Disappear: single: released February 24th 2008.

I Disappear EP Release April 2009 (I Disappear played on BBC Radio and XFM and numerous podcasts)

Photos

Bio

Graystar are a 5 piece indie band formed by Dominic James in Liverpool in 2003. The band have played gigs and festivals all over the UK including live sessions on the BBC and other radio stations; garnering impressive media acclaim for their live performances and album.

The band have received regular airplay on several national UK radio stations, receiving great reviews for their music releases and for their live set.

‘Free’ won an award in a UK song writing competition and was featured as one of the ‘songs of the week’ on XFM London.

Their first album "A Million Pieces" was released to much acclaim in October 2007, and songs from the album have been played on mainstream stations, including BBC Radio 6, the prestigious Iain Anderson Show on BBC Scotland, XFM Scotland and on numerous occasions on BBC Radio Merseyside, on which they have played three sessions recently, one performance in the live performance area in front of a studio audience.

Graystar's new EP 'I Disappear' can be purchased from CD Baby and iTunes. The song 'I Disappear' has been played on BBC Radio and XFM Scotland.

The Graystar Myspace address is www.myspace.com/graystaruk and website is www.graystarmusic.com.

The Graystar music project is currently in the process of moving to Portland, Oregon with debut gigs booked for this August.