Hot Puppies
Encyclopedia
The Hot Puppies are a Welsh
band from Aberystwyth
, now based in Cardiff
, previously signed to Fierce Panda Records
. They are:
The band formed in December 2000. It has toured both as a headline act, and as a support act to various bands including Art Brut
, The Crimea
, The Pipettes
and British Sea Power
.
Becky and Bert married in May 2008, and had a baby girl, Amber, in October 2008.
Taylor is the band's principal songwriter and is also a member of Hemme Fatale
Newman features on Christopher Rees
' album Cautionary Tales.
In addition to playing with the full band, Becky Wood and Gibson played a number of semi-acoustic "solo" gigs in 2007 and 2008, as well as making guest appearances with Circulus. They released a four track EP on 7" vinyl and iTunes in August 2008 through Purr Records; this was originally to be titled 'Where we are from, the birds sing a pretty song', but by its release was simply called 'The Bec & Beth EP'.
The band decided on a short break from spring 2008 to accommodate Wood's pregnancy, which was not compatible with the intensive touring schedule they had followed in preceding years.
Bec, Beth and fellow singer Sophie have now formed a trio called 'Barefoot Dance of the Sea'.
On 29 September 2008, The Hot Puppies released Blue Hands. It includes the singles "King of England"', "Somewhere", and "Clarinet Town". Due to Wood's pregnancy, the band did not extensively tour this album; however the majority of the songs were played during their 2007 tour dates.
"Love or Trial" from Under the Crooked Moon
was used during the series one climax wedding scene in the UK BBC3 comedy series Gavin and Stacey.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
band from Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
, now based in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, previously signed to 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...
. They are:
- Becky Wood (née Newman) - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Beth Gibson - vocals/keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
/thereminThereminThe theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
/celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is... - Luke "Dangerman" Taylor - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
/vocals - Ben Faircloth - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Bert Wood - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
The band formed in December 2000. It has toured both as a headline act, and as a support act to various bands including Art Brut
Art Brut (band)
Art Brut are a Berlin-based English and German indie rock band. Their debut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll, was released on 30 May 2005, with its follow up, It's a Bit Complicated, released on 25 June 2007...
, The Crimea
The Crimea (band)
The Crimea are a British indie band, based in Camden, London. The band were featured in the late John Peel's Festive Fifty, ranking higher than bands such as The White Stripes and all eleven of the initial album demos were played on his show...
, The Pipettes
The Pipettes
The Pipettes are a British indie pop girl group formed in 2003 in Brighton by "svengali" Robert "Monster Bobby" Barry. The group has released two albums, We Are the Pipettes, and Earth vs...
and British Sea Power
British Sea Power
British Sea Power are an indie rock band based in Brighton, England, although three of the band members originally come from Kendal in Cumbria. Critics have likened their sound to a variety of groups, from The Cure and Joy Division to the Pixies and Arcade Fire. The band are famed for their live...
.
Becky and Bert married in May 2008, and had a baby girl, Amber, in October 2008.
Taylor is the band's principal songwriter and is also a member of Hemme Fatale
Newman features on Christopher Rees
Christopher Rees
Christopher Rees is a Welsh singer-songwriter now based in Cardiff.Christopher Rees is a solo artist, singer, song writer, multi instrumentalist, band leader, producer and record label director. He performs with a full band and in a solo capacity.Kiss Me, Kill MeChristopher Rees released the 'Kiss...
' album Cautionary Tales.
In addition to playing with the full band, Becky Wood and Gibson played a number of semi-acoustic "solo" gigs in 2007 and 2008, as well as making guest appearances with Circulus. They released a four track EP on 7" vinyl and iTunes in August 2008 through Purr Records; this was originally to be titled 'Where we are from, the birds sing a pretty song', but by its release was simply called 'The Bec & Beth EP'.
The band decided on a short break from spring 2008 to accommodate Wood's pregnancy, which was not compatible with the intensive touring schedule they had followed in preceding years.
Bec, Beth and fellow singer Sophie have now formed a trio called 'Barefoot Dance of the Sea'.
Discography
They have released nine singles, one demo, one EP and three albums. Their first album, Under The Crooked Moon was released in July 2006. Their second, a collection of rarities and unreleased tracks recorded between 2003 and 2005 entitled Over My Dead Body, was released in mid-2007.On 29 September 2008, The Hot Puppies released Blue Hands. It includes the singles "King of England"', "Somewhere", and "Clarinet Town". Due to Wood's pregnancy, the band did not extensively tour this album; however the majority of the songs were played during their 2007 tour dates.
"Love or Trial" from Under the Crooked Moon
Under the Crooked Moon
Under the Crooked Moon is the debut album by the Hot Puppies, which features the singles Terry, Green Eyeliner, Drowsing Nymph, The Girl Who Was Too Beautiful and How Come You Don't Hold Me No More...
was used during the series one climax wedding scene in the UK BBC3 comedy series Gavin and Stacey.
Singles
- "The Future's Such A Beautiful Place" (2001) (demo)
- "All Washed Up" (EP) (2002)
- "The Drowsing Nymph" (spring 2003)
- "Dawn of Man" (April 2004)
- "Green Eyeliner" (September 2004) (released on Purr Records)
- "Terry" (November 2005) (released on Label FandangoLabel FandangoLabel Fandango is an independent record label based in Highbury, London. Evolving out of parent companies Fierce Panda Records and Pointy Records, it has been releasing limited edition music singles since 2005...
) - "The Girl Who Was Too Beautiful" (May 2006)
- "Green Eyeliner" (7" vinyl reissue) (late 2006)
- "How Come You Don't Hold Me No More?" (February 2007)
- "The King of England" (July 2007)
- "Somewhere" (May 2008)
- "The Bec & Beth EP" (August 2008) - performed by Bec Wood & Beth Gibson only
- "Clarinet Town" (27th Oct 2008)
Albums
- Under the Crooked MoonUnder the Crooked MoonUnder the Crooked Moon is the debut album by the Hot Puppies, which features the singles Terry, Green Eyeliner, Drowsing Nymph, The Girl Who Was Too Beautiful and How Come You Don't Hold Me No More...
(released 24 July 2006) - Over My Dead Body (released mid-2007)
- Blue Hands (released 29 September 2008)