The Troubadours
Encyclopedia
The Troubadours were an English
rock
band
comprising members from Liverpool
, Runcorn
and Wigan
. The band was originally formed by Mark Frith
and Johnny Molyneux in 2005, and they split in late 2009. Their debut single, "Gimme Love" was released in 2007, and reached #20 on the Radio 1 Indie Chart in November. Their second single, "(I'm Not) Superstitious" was released in June 2008.
After countless gigs, they built up a strong fan base, amongst them was legendary producer, John Leckie
, well-known for his previous work with The Stone Roses
, Pink Floyd
and Radiohead
. In 2007, Leckie offered to produce two of their songs, which the band quickly accepted. They recorded "Gimme Love" and "Here Comes The Tide" under the production of John Leckie in May 2007 at The Dog House Sudios in Henley-on-Thames. Their debut single, "Gimme Love" was released soon after recordings were finished under the production of Leckie.
In the February 2008 edition of Q Magazine, the Troubadours were included in the "10 Best New Acts of 2008". 2008 also saw the band support Paul Weller during his UK tour. Their second single, "(I'm Not) Superstitious" was released in June 2008.
The summer of 2008 saw the band playing many festivals including V festival
in Chelmsford/Stafford and Summer Sonic Festival
in Tokyo. Late 2008 saw the departure of original lead guiratist, Johnny Molyneux. The permanent replacement was announced to be Robbie Taylor in January 2009.
The recording and mixing of their debut album was completed in September 2008, and was released in Japan in the same month. The Album was originally supposed to be released in early/mid 2009, but was pushed to an early 2010 release.
In late 2009 the band went into a supposed hiatus after heavy tourng schedules through 2008 and 2009. But it turned out that the band had actually split. Even though many sources close to the band aleady knew of the split, it was confirmed on June 8 by Frith, who posted a 2010 message to all of the band's fans on popular networking site, Facebook
. Frith also announced in the message that he had recently been working with a new band, The Captive Hearts, who are set to record their debut album later in the year.
As of June 2010, their debut album has yet to be released, and even though the band have split it is still expected to be released at some point in the near future due to popular demand.The band release debut single "Hummingbird" in September supported by various dates across the UK. They play London on October 2.
, The Rolling Stones
and The Seeds
. The band members also cite The Byrds
, Bob Dylan
, The Stone Roses
and The Who
as other major influences.
Their distinctive sound has been compared to many other, more recent bands from the north-west of England, including The La's
, The Coral
, Cast
and The Zutons
. Mark Frith's strange yet capivating vocal style has been compared to that of legendary frontman of The La's
, Lee Mavers
.
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...
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
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
comprising members from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
and Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
. The band was originally formed by Mark Frith
Mark Frith (musician)
Mark Frith is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, and currently the lead singer of the band, The Captive Hearts. He was also previously a founding member of Wigan / Liverpool based four-piece band, The Troubadours who split in 2009....
and Johnny Molyneux in 2005, and they split in late 2009. Their debut single, "Gimme Love" was released in 2007, and reached #20 on the Radio 1 Indie Chart in November. Their second single, "(I'm Not) Superstitious" was released in June 2008.
History
The Troubadours originally started in 2005, when Mark Frith (Songwriter/Lead Vocalist/Guitarist) decided to get a band together to play his growing number of self-penned songs. He began work with Johnny Molyneux (Lead Guitar) immediately. Without a bassist or a drummer, he put adverts in local newspapers in and around the Liverpool area. with the name The Troubadours already born, the band soon recruited Tony Ferguson to play bass, and Nathan Watts to be their drummer after both expressed a strong interest in joining the band.After countless gigs, they built up a strong fan base, amongst them was legendary producer, John Leckie
John Leckie
John Leckie is a British music producer, notable for producing many high-profile albums such as The Stone Roses's debut and Radiohead's The Bends...
, well-known for his previous work with The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and 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...
. In 2007, Leckie offered to produce two of their songs, which the band quickly accepted. They recorded "Gimme Love" and "Here Comes The Tide" under the production of John Leckie in May 2007 at The Dog House Sudios in Henley-on-Thames. Their debut single, "Gimme Love" was released soon after recordings were finished under the production of Leckie.
In the February 2008 edition of Q Magazine, the Troubadours were included in the "10 Best New Acts of 2008". 2008 also saw the band support Paul Weller during his UK tour. Their second single, "(I'm Not) Superstitious" was released in June 2008.
The summer of 2008 saw the band playing many festivals including V festival
V Festival
The V Festival is an annual music festival held in England during the penultimate weekend in August. The event is held at two parks simultaneously which share the same bill; artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday. The sites are located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and...
in Chelmsford/Stafford and Summer Sonic Festival
Summer Sonic Festival
The Summer Sonic Festival is an annual two or three-days rock festival held at the same time in Osaka and Chiba. The majority of the bands playing in Osaka the first day go to Chiba the following day and vice versa....
in Tokyo. Late 2008 saw the departure of original lead guiratist, Johnny Molyneux. The permanent replacement was announced to be Robbie Taylor in January 2009.
The recording and mixing of their debut album was completed in September 2008, and was released in Japan in the same month. The Album was originally supposed to be released in early/mid 2009, but was pushed to an early 2010 release.
In late 2009 the band went into a supposed hiatus after heavy tourng schedules through 2008 and 2009. But it turned out that the band had actually split. Even though many sources close to the band aleady knew of the split, it was confirmed on June 8 by Frith, who posted a 2010 message to all of the band's fans on popular networking site, Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. Frith also announced in the message that he had recently been working with a new band, The Captive Hearts, who are set to record their debut album later in the year.
As of June 2010, their debut album has yet to be released, and even though the band have split it is still expected to be released at some point in the near future due to popular demand.The band release debut single "Hummingbird" in September supported by various dates across the UK. They play London on October 2.
Sound and Influences
The Troubadours' distinct style comes from a unique blend of genres such as Rockabilly, 60s Garage Rock. Their unique tunes have been noted by both Paul Weller and John Leckie as 'classic British songwriting'. The artists that have influenced their sound include Beefheart, LoveLove (band)
Love was an American rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were led by singer/songwriter Arthur Lee and lead guitarist Johnny Echols...
, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
and The Seeds
The Seeds
The Seeds were an American rock band. The group, whose repertoire spread between garage rock and acid rock, are considered one of the pioneers of punk rock.-History:...
. The band members also cite The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
and The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
as other major influences.
Their distinctive sound has been compared to many other, more recent bands from the north-west of England, including The La's
The La's
The La's were an English rock band from Liverpool, originally active from the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Lee Mavers, the group is most famous for their hit single "There She Goes". The band was formed by Mike Badger in 1984 and Mavers joined soon after...
, The Coral
The Coral
The Coral are an English band formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in England. The band first emerged during the early 2000s and found success with their debut album The Coral and follow up Magic and Medicine...
, Cast
Cast (band)
Cast are an English rock band from Liverpool, formed in 1992 by John Power and Peter Wilkinson after Power left The La's and Wilkinson's former band Shack had split...
and The Zutons
The Zutons
The Zutons are an English indie rock band from Liverpool. They were formed in 2001 but did not release their first album, Who Killed...... The Zutons?, until May 2004. They achieved their biggest hits with "Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?" and "Valerie", both taken from their second studio album...
. Mark Frith's strange yet capivating vocal style has been compared to that of legendary frontman of The La's
The La's
The La's were an English rock band from Liverpool, originally active from the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Lee Mavers, the group is most famous for their hit single "There She Goes". The band was formed by Mike Badger in 1984 and Mavers joined soon after...
, Lee Mavers
Lee Mavers
__notoc__Lee Anthony Mavers is an English musician from Liverpool, England. Mavers was the songwriter, singer and rhythm guitarist in The La's and is perhaps best-known for the hit "There She Goes" in the late 1980s....
.
Members
- Mark Frith (Lead 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...
, 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...
, PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, HarmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
) (2005–2009) - Johnny Molyneux (Lead GuitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
) (2005–2008) - Tony Ferguson (Bass GuitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
) (2005–2009) - Nathan "Elmo" Watts (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 ....
) (2005–2009) - Luke Thomson (Lead GuitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
) (2008) - Robbie Taylor (Lead GuitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
) (2009)