Music
The best kept secret in music
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This month's winner is proof that persistence pays off. Having hassled us for some time, the band have finally made it into the hallowed pages of Total Guitar!
This Birmingham based band includes Mark Sullivan on vocals, Dave Humphries and Luke Watson on guitar, Dan Tillsley on bass and Lance Joseph on drums. Their latest offering is the four-track album, Broken, of which Meet At The End is the highlight.
The tune is a right rollicking 21st century-style romp, with a chorus the size of Satan's sack. Think big rocking Placebo love-locked with Def Leppard, as well as a liberal smattering of Madonna, and you'll be in the right ballpark.
A special mention must go to Lance's drumming on this track. It would be too easy to get an electronic-sounding drum park here, but the rockin' acoustic kit glues the song together. The 'falling-down-the-stairs' drum fill grow on you.
An extremely professional addition to the Band Aid fold. Don't forget the check the website for gigs - we've heard they're good live too.
HOW THEY SCORED!
Originality - 4/5 (Definitely in the right place)
Musicianship - 4/5 (Playing for the track)
Songwriting - 4/5 (Dave Humphries is getting better all the time)
Presentation - 4/5 (Excellent) - Total Guitar Magazine, Issue No. 112
"I loved it ... Such energy"
Lisa I'anson, presenter of Xposure (ITV1-Carlton Studios, Nottingham) talking on the bands live TV debut
"The whole bands good there's definitely a future!"
Huey from Fun Loving Criminals
"They are a phenomenon waiting to happen!"
Neils Gig Guide/Solihull Online
"I've had their CD playing in my car for a while"
Caroline 'The Sanctuary' 96.4 FM BRMB - Various Quotes
Discography
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Avoid Responsibility - EP
Released September 2002
1. Somehow Someday*
2. Otherside
3. New Start
4. Wait For Me To Stay
*Somehow Someday was Number 1 on Matchbox Recordings Internet Radio for 6 weeks.
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Broken - EP*
Released March 2003
1. Broken
2. I Can't But You Can
3. Meet At The End
4. Find Yourself
5. Broken (Video)
* Broken EP was Total Guitar Magazine's EP of the month July 2003.
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Never Forget What You Haven't Been Told*
1. One Night Stand
2. About A Girl
3. Halfway To Heartbreak
4. Life Story
5. Sextoys and Cigarettes
* EP Number 1 on the BBC Radio One Music Unsigned Bands List rated 7.58 (out of 10) and reached No 1 from 01/12/03 as voted for by Radio 1 listeners.
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Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
My Girl Sleeps, formerly known as the hole, were formed in the summer of 2002, and got stuck straight into rehearsing non-stop until fingers bled and throats packed up! The band made up of Dave Humphries Songs, Guitars and Vocals, Mark Sullivan Vocals, Luke Watson Guitars, Dan Tillsley Bass and Lance Joseph Drums, were interested in one thing getting on stage and rockin out! So it may come as a shock to hear by the end of that summer the band were in the studio recording their first EP before even playing a gig!
That winter, after a succession of local shows the band released their second EP, Broken. This release picked up rave reviews in the press, on radio and secured them a television slot on ITV 1 alongside Fun Lovin Criminals, Promoters started to call and booked them gigs in Nottingham, Liverpool and London. It was time to get serious!
Returning home to Worcestershire for late summer 2003, the band released their 3rd EP Never Forget What You Havent Been Told, which heralded a newer, harder sound, before embarking on a 27-date tour that took them from Brixton to York and all the stops in between. Vans and equipment were begged, borrowed and stolen; service stations raided for 3am snacks and bones broken all in the name of rock & roll. There were plenty of highlights on that first tour; playing at the sold out Roadmender in Northampton to 600 crazy kids; a packed out Cavern in Liverpool and all the free beer . The list goes on. Ask the band if there were any lows and youll get one common answer; the Chinese take-away in Brixton.
Lance sums it up the best after more than 12 months of roadwork, rave reviews in the press and a growing army of fans weve got a new management team that really digs us and a killer album that will blow up your stereo, I guess its time were off on the road again.
The Summer of 2004 sees My Girl Sleeps scoring a sensational win in the live final of the Carlton TV music competition Music Uncovered.
Polling over 56% of the total phone-only vote, the band beat the 3 other finalists. Part of the prize being the offer of a development deal with leading independent label Gut Records, studio recording time and a headlining gig on August 14th at Camdens Barfly a well known haunt of movers and shakers in the UK Music scene.
Commenting on the Music Uncovered win, Dave Humphries, the bands songwriter said this is the culmination of nearly 2 years hard work; both on the road and in the studio. When the phone lines opened, they lit up with people voting for us! We have a very loyal fan base in our hometown and really appreciate the boost that they have given us.
The next step was a slot playing at Guilfest on the same bill as other artists such as Simple Minds.
My Girl Sleeps are ready to awaken the UK music scene.
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