Absent Kid
Encyclopedia
Absent Kid are a British
indie
rock
band.
. The name Absent Kid was inspired by a character in the cartoon South Park
.
They debuted in front of a paying audience, performing at a Colchester
venue, "Twist". The band developed as performers during a series of live performances, and gained a degree of prominence after opening for now the disbanded group Ikara Colt
. This led to the band's first significant radio play, on XFM London
.
In 2004, Absent Kid won the Diesel-U-Music award for Best Rock. An awards ceremony, held at nightclub Fabric
was broadcast on Channel 4
. Absent Kid were awarded their trophy by BBC Radio 1
DJ Edith Bowman
. This brought some attention from the national press, including the influential New Musical Express.
Absent Kid were afterwards signed by Fierce Panda Records
, who had previously released records by, amongst others, Coldplay
, Idlewild
and Keane.
The band's debut mini-album, I Burnt Down the Family Business, was released with Fierce Panda on 25 April 2005 to critical acclaim. Their double A-side debut single, Shame On Us All/Quiet Playground, was released on 6 February 2006.
The band gained less notoriety in the following year. They released their first full-length album in July 2007. While their previous works drew comparisons to Radiohead
, the new album was hailed as more upbeat and made for the dancefloor.
In December 2009 the band announced a return after a year long hiatus with a new line up with guitarist Kerri-Ann Butcher (formerly from Stand Still Kid) replacing Dominic Harrison.
April 2010 saw Absent Kid record a version of Up the U's
for local football club Colchester United which is now played at home games at the club's Weston Homes Community Stadium.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band.
History
Brothers Martin and Richard Williams and bassist Mark Butters grew up in the small coastal town of West MerseaWest Mersea
West Mersea is a small town in the Colchester borough of Essex, England. It is the larger of two settlements on Mersea Island, located south east of Colchester. The smaller settlement on the island is the village of East Mersea....
. The name Absent Kid was inspired by a character in the cartoon South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
.
They debuted in front of a paying audience, performing at a Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
venue, "Twist". The band developed as performers during a series of live performances, and gained a degree of prominence after opening for now the disbanded group Ikara Colt
Ikara Colt
Ikara Colt were an English four-piece art rock band, formed by art students at London Guildhall University. They had a five-year career, beginning in 1999 and ending on 17 January 2005...
. This led to the band's first significant radio play, on XFM London
Xfm London
Xfm London is a commercial radio station in the United Kingdom owned by Global Radio and broadcasts on 104.9 FM in London, on digital radio via 30 DAB multiplexes across the country, Sky, TalkTalk TV and Virgin Media....
.
In 2004, Absent Kid won the Diesel-U-Music award for Best Rock. An awards ceremony, held at nightclub Fabric
Fabric (club)
Fabric is a nightclub in London, United Kingdom. It was voted number 1 in DJ Magazine's "Top 100 Clubs in the World" poll in 2007 and number 2 in 2008, 2009 and 2010...
was broadcast on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. Absent Kid were awarded their trophy by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ Edith Bowman
Edith Bowman
Edith Eleanor Bowman is a Scottish music critic, radio DJ and television presenter. She is mostly known for hosting the weekday afternoon show and from September 2009 weekend morning on BBC Radio 1 and for presenting a variety of music related television shows and music...
. This brought some attention from the national press, including the influential New Musical Express.
Absent Kid were afterwards signed by Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Records is a London-based independent record label, with its first release in February 1994. It also produced a small number of releases that year by now famous artists such as Ash, The Bluetones, Baby Bird and Supergrass...
, who had previously released records by, amongst others, Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
, Idlewild
Idlewild (band)
Idlewild are a Scottish rock band, formed in Edinburgh, in 1995, comprising Roddy Woomble , Rod Jones , Colin Newton , Allan Stewart and Gareth Russell...
and Keane.
The band's debut mini-album, I Burnt Down the Family Business, was released with Fierce Panda on 25 April 2005 to critical acclaim. Their double A-side debut single, Shame On Us All/Quiet Playground, was released on 6 February 2006.
The band gained less notoriety in the following year. They released their first full-length album in July 2007. While their previous works drew comparisons to Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, the new album was hailed as more upbeat and made for the dancefloor.
In December 2009 the band announced a return after a year long hiatus with a new line up with guitarist Kerri-Ann Butcher (formerly from Stand Still Kid) replacing Dominic Harrison.
April 2010 saw Absent Kid record a version of Up the U's
Up the U's
"Up the U's" is a football chant regularly sung by fans of the English League One football team Colchester United and is generally considered to be the club's anthem...
for local football club Colchester United which is now played at home games at the club's Weston Homes Community Stadium.
Discography
- Scatter Photos and Relive Bloodloss (EP)
- I Burnt Down the Family Business (25 April 2005)
- Shame On Us All / Quiet Playground (6 February 2006)
- Misadventure (July 2007)