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The Playmakers are a three piece band from Cirencester in Gloucestershire. Newly formed and young - they are playing locally, Cheltenham, Swindon, Bristol and have some gigs in London - The Hope & Anchor, Camden Rock and The Brixton Jamm.
They claim to be more like the post punk/new wave scene than the present indie scene and their influences are many and include The Clash, Dr Feelgood, The Jam, Libertines, Joy Division.
They love British comedy - Steptoe & Son, Dad's Army and even do a version of the 'Only Fools and Horses' theme tune. Basically they are three down to earth lads who want to go back to basics musically.
Listen to some of their music below and watch a video of their first ever live gig. I think you'll agree there's much naivety about their music which is very rough around the edges and yet there's something compelling and addictive about their sound. I hope they stick at it, working the circuit and building up a following as I've a feeling that they've got the attitude and determination to be very successful. - My Dad Rocks
"The Playmakers ‘she’s a mystery’ (self released). Been a fair old while since we delved into my space (there will be an extended myspace feature booked for a near future missive) and on this occasion for good reason because this little cutie has we must admit caught us on the blind side and through repeat plays has grown on us to the point that we’re totally smitten with it. The playmakers hail from Cirencester and ‘she’s mystery’ is I’m assuming the first recorded fruits of what promises to be a band worth keeping an eye out for because once over the faux ‘love will tear us apart’ intro strum this shyly toned gem soon shapes up to sound as though its fallen from a late 80’s Peel play list given its drizzled in a bitter sweet over-casting to which admirers of the kind of lo-fi lovelorn twee thrilled tender pop put out by the likes of the Hoverchairs, Hey paulette, the siddeleys and latterly by Decoration will swoon and curl up to. More please and quick about it." - Mark Barton
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Charlie Cooper and Will Jones met at school in Cirencester and played for the same local football team. They shared the same passion for music and football and it was no surprise when they eventually got together and began to write songs.
They first appeared together on stage at the Vaults in Cirencester in October 2010 playing acoustic and electric guitars. They did a few more gigs in this format as the Absolute Beginners but it was when they changed their name to The Playmakers and recruited a drummer that things really began to take off.
Seventeen year old Joe Arthur (his name was soon changed to Joe Drummer by his band mates) from Broad Town near Swindon answered an advert in the music press and made his debut in the recording studio in April 2011 for the recording of She’s A Mystery.
He slotted in straight away and brought in a whole new dimension to the band.
The dedication of practising 10 hours a week in Will’s parent’s garage paid off with a superb debut gig at the prestigious Fleece in Bristol on Sunday 31st July.
The Playmakers are difficult to pin down and pigeon hole in terms of who they sound like. They have a raft of influences from The Beatles, the Who, Ramones (who Will and Charlie saw together as 15 year olds) The La’s, Jam, Clash, Stone Roses and Libertines. Those influences are sprinkled through their songs without being obvious.
They already have a sound of their own – It is back to basics, stripped down, lo-fi with the songs being able to breath and speak for themselves. Charlie’s chord based driving guitar sound works together with Joe’s inspired drumming, which is tight and carry’s the songs with colour and variation that lifts the rhythm.
It is Will Jones’s bass that plays the melodic part, taking on a totally different twist to the standard guitar, bass and drums approach and lending itself completely to their own sound and songs. Charlie’s voice is distinct and different and the sum of all these parts make’s them very special and unique in today’s music landscape.
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