Misterlee
Encyclopedia
Misterlee are an alternative rock
band from Leicester
, England
. Centred around the talents of Lee Allatson, Misterlee have so far released three albums, Chiselgibbon (2002) and Night of the Killer Longface (2005) (largely Allatson solo recordings), followed by a collection of live recordings - Bootlegger/Misterlee Is Not A Lifestyle Sandwich in late 2006. Performing live, Misterlee comprised Allatson on vocals, drums and effects, augmented by guitarist Jamie Smith and Michael "Curtis" Oxtoby on electric violin and bass guitar, although Oxtoby left in late 2007. The band has played live extensively around the UK, as well as in the United States, sharing bills with the likes of Hamell on Trial
, Sebadoh
, Jeffrey Lewis
, Johnny Dowd
, Simple Kid
, and The Mountain Goats
, and has also appeared at festivals such as In The City
, Secret Garden Party
and Summer Sundae
. The band has often played Antifolk UK festivals in London, and has thus been described as "a world of anti-folk, Beck-like genre teasing played out in an English country garden on full band and ukelele". The band were featured on the first Antifolk UK compilation album (with the track "Dim Lit"), though their sound is not traditionally 'antifolk' (in the sense of 'acoustic punk') and comparisons with other bands are difficult. Though the vocal delivery is definitely English, American influences can be heard in the music - one reviewer describes them as "a man playing doomed country ballads in an American whisky bar". In June 2009, Allatson announced that Misterlee were working on a new album, with a working title of This Disquiet Dog, due for reelase later that year. The album features Allatson and Smith with a cameo performance by Oxtoby, and was recorded at Smith's Owlhouse Studio in South Leicestershire.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Centred around the talents of Lee Allatson, Misterlee have so far released three albums, Chiselgibbon (2002) and Night of the Killer Longface (2005) (largely Allatson solo recordings), followed by a collection of live recordings - Bootlegger/Misterlee Is Not A Lifestyle Sandwich in late 2006. Performing live, Misterlee comprised Allatson on vocals, drums and effects, augmented by guitarist Jamie Smith and Michael "Curtis" Oxtoby on electric violin and bass guitar, although Oxtoby left in late 2007. The band has played live extensively around the UK, as well as in the United States, sharing bills with the likes of Hamell on Trial
Hamell on Trial
Hamell on Trial is the one-man band of Ed Hamell of Syracuse, New York. Hamell typically describes his style as punk rock. Righteous Babe Records explains the use of the term as "loud, fast music informed by politics, passion, energy and intelligence, played by a guy with a sharp tongue and a...
, Sebadoh
Sebadoh
Sebadoh is an American indie rock band, formed in 1986 in Westfield, Massachusetts by Eric Gaffney and Dinosaur Jr bass player Lou Barlow. Along with such bands as Pavement and Guided by Voices, Sebadoh helped pioneer lo-fi music, a style of indie rock characterized by low-fidelity recording...
, Jeffrey Lewis
Jeffrey Lewis
Jeffrey Lewis is an American singer/songwriter and comic book artist.-Early life:Lewis attended State University of New York at Purchase and graduated in 1997 with a degree in Literature...
, Johnny Dowd
Johnny Dowd
Johnny Dowd is an American alternative country musician from Ithaca, New York. Typical of his style are experimental, noisy breaks in his songs and strong gothic elements in the lyrics as well as in the music...
, Simple Kid
Simple Kid
Simple Kid, real-name Ciaran McFeely, is an Irish-born solo musical artist. In early 2011 it was announced on the official website that there will be no further music or tours by Simple Kid.-History:...
, and The Mountain Goats
The Mountain Goats
The Mountain Goats is an American indie rock band formed in Claremont, CA by singer-songwriter John Darnielle. For many years, the sole member of the Mountain Goats was Darnielle himself, despite the plural moniker....
, and has also appeared at festivals such as In The City
In The City (festival)
In The City is an annual music industry conference and festival founded by the late Tony Wilson, formerly of Factory Records and Granada Television, and his partner Yvette Livesey....
, Secret Garden Party
Secret Garden Party
The Secret Garden Party is an annual independent arts and music festival which takes place in Abbots Ripton near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. Part of the grounds of a Georgian farm house, the location has its own lake, river and landscaped gardens...
and Summer Sundae
Summer Sundae
Summer Sundae is an annual music festival held in Leicester, England which focuses on indie, alternative, and local music...
. The band has often played Antifolk UK festivals in London, and has thus been described as "a world of anti-folk, Beck-like genre teasing played out in an English country garden on full band and ukelele". The band were featured on the first Antifolk UK compilation album (with the track "Dim Lit"), though their sound is not traditionally 'antifolk' (in the sense of 'acoustic punk') and comparisons with other bands are difficult. Though the vocal delivery is definitely English, American influences can be heard in the music - one reviewer describes them as "a man playing doomed country ballads in an American whisky bar". In June 2009, Allatson announced that Misterlee were working on a new album, with a working title of This Disquiet Dog, due for reelase later that year. The album features Allatson and Smith with a cameo performance by Oxtoby, and was recorded at Smith's Owlhouse Studio in South Leicestershire.
Discography
- Chiselgibbon (2002)
- Night of the Killer Longface (2005)
- Bootlegger/Misterlee Is Not A Lifestyle Sandwich (2006)
- This Disquiet Dog (2010)