The Black House

The Black House are a four piece band based in the Southwest of England. They released their debut album "Postcard From an Abandoned Hotel" late last year to a great reception. A beautifully realised suite of songs, the tracks from ‘Postcard’ tell stories of love, loss, regret and redemption, atmosphere and setting.

The music of The Black House has been described as 'acoustic melancholia' and 'sombre but stunning'. You might hear influences from the likes of Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, Tindersticks and the late Johnny Cash to name a few. Then again their tastes are so diverse you may hear something completely different.

Live, the band have a relaxed and laid back appearance whilst the songs and lyrics hold no punches.

Ian, Jon, Chris and Pete have each brought something different to The Black House. In the studio Jon takes on the mantle of producer, capturing the signature ‘raw’ autumnal vibe that suits the songs perfectly. From a thrash/metal background, Chris found it inspiring to develop a new style, which provides the band with a unique, brooding and sophisticated sound.

The Black House is forged from emotion, expression, maturity and reality, something that in our darkest of hours, we all long for.

Ian Porter
Ian started playing the guitar relatively late in life at the age of twenty, but after learning a few chords soon picked up the electric guitar and formed a punk rock band in Plymouth. Although moderately successful the band separated and Ian returned to the acoustic guitar and set about writing new songs.
“I had faith in my music but didn’t enjoy playing venues on my own, so started to look out for like minded musicians even though their tastes might differ. I almost wanted anti musicians though, no egos, no showing off musically. It was a long process.”
“We know that some people will be turned off by our brand of melancholic acoustic music but we also know that a lot of people will get what we do. Every time we play live a few more people come up to us after the show and say that they thought we were the best band they have seen in a long time.”

Jon Bolton
Jon started playing the drums at school and after literally a few hours of in his words “exhaustive training” gave up. Many years later he joined Ian’s venture into the world of the brief life of the punk band, in Plymouth. It wasn’t until several years had passed that they re-joined forces to work on the new material Ian had written.
“It was natural for me to sit behind a drum kit, but as Ian grew more unhappy with the then bass player it was clear that things had to change. When the bass player left I moved over to an old Fender Rhodes piano that Ian had and a new sound started to evolve.“
In the studio Jon takes on the mantle of producer, capturing the signature ‘raw’ autumnal vibe that suits the songs perfectly.

Chris Glew
Another musician born of punk and rock bands, Chris started playing bass at 17, but moved into the thrash and metal arena. However, being a huge Tom Waits fan, Chris was hugely inspired by the upright bass used by Larry Taylor on his tracks. This prompted the big gamble of purchasing his upright bass without a band to play it in.
“I put myself around on MySpace advertising that I was available and I think that is where The Black House found me. They were asking me to do subtle, which was a challenge coming from thrash/metal, but it was an inspiring opportunity to play and develop a new style. The music that we now play is different to any band that I have heard yet – dark and personal with a real gravity to it.”
Chris’ fluid bass lines give the music a unique, brooding and sophisticated slant and has cemented The Black House sound.

Pete Collis
Pete is a multi-instrumentalist who, as well as playing drums, has gigged with Drum and Bass bands and has worked as a live DJ. He is at home with a sampler just as much as he is with a vintage drum kit and can add the acclaimed credit of working as sound engineer for many well known international recording artists whilst at a commercial recording studio for several years. When he moved to Devon, he answered an advert at Mansons Guitar shop in the hope it would be the answer to his desire for a new musical outlet.
“I think the card said something like, wanted: drummer who can play quietly in acoustic melancholic band, Influences Nick Cave, Jimmy Webb and Townes Van Zandt. I couldn’t believe this had fallen in my lap – I had been listening to a lot of Americana and wanted to try and make music in that vein – it was perfect.
“Each band member seems to know when to hold back or to let go and try a new trick so we all manage to complement each other without stepping on any toes.”