The Wombats
Encyclopedia
The Wombats are an indie rock
band formed in Liverpool
, England
. The band comprises native Liverpudlians Matthew Murphy
(lead vocals, guitar
, nose harp
, keyboard
) and Dan Haggis (drums, percussion, keyboard
and backing vocals), alongside Norwegian-born Tord Øverland-Knudsen
(bass guitar
, guitar
, keyboard
and backing vocals). The band are signed to 14th Floor Records
and Bright Antenna
in the United States
.
In January 2007, the band released a second limited edition vinyl called Moving to New York
, then in May of that year they released a third single entitled "Backfire at the Disco
", which reached number 35 in the UK Singles Chart
. This was followed by then band's first full single "Kill the Director
" in late July. Their debut album, entitled The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation
, coincided with the release of "Let's Dance to Joy Division
" in October 2007, and peaked at number 11 in the UK Albums Chart. It was followed by a European tour ending with a thanksgiving
party at Liverpool Academy
.
The band started 2008 as the opening act
at the opening ceremony of Liverpool
, European Capital of Culture
at Liverpool Arena. "Moving to New York" was re-released on 14 January 2008 and reached number 13 UK Singles Chart, becoming their highest charting release to date. On the 28th February 2008 the band was awarded 'Best Dancefloor Filler' for their single "Let's Dance To Joy Division" at the NME Awards
.
, The Wombats EP
. Following this release the band went on a full UK tour, as well as playing dates in Europe
and Japan
. The band also played for Jo Whiley
on BBC Radio 1
where they covered the Take That
song "Patience
", as well as the Postman Pat
theme tune, which Tord sang in his native Norwegian
language.
The summer of 2008 saw the band perform live at a number of major festivals including Glastonbury Festival
in June and T in the Park
in July, opening the BBC Radio 1
/ NME Stage set on the Friday. They also played Reading and Leeds Festival on the Saturday and Friday respectively on the Radio 1/NME Stage supporting Babyshambles
. In September 2008 the band were filmed for a cameo appearance on Australian soap Neighbours
.
The band also announced via their MySpace blog that they would be releasing two singles, a seasonal 'Anti-Christmas' themed "Is This Christmas?" on December 15, 2008, followed by a track titled "My Circuitboard City" on March 3, 2009.
, California
. The band worked with producers Eric Valetine and Jacknife Lee
.
The first single to be released from the album, "Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
" was released in the UK on 27 September 2010 and debuted on the UK Singles Chart
at number 23; marking the band's fifth Top 40 hit and third most successful single to date. The accompanying music video was shot in Los Angeles on 19–20 August 2010 and was directed by The General Assembly (directors)
. Following the rumoured release of "Techno Fan
" as the second single to be released from the album, the track "Jump Into the Fog
" was confirmed for a release on 24 January 2011. "Anti-D
" has been announced as the next single, with the album following two weeks later. The album, entitled This Modern Glitch, was released in April 2011 as a CD
, digital download
and also as 7" and 12" vinyl
s. The Wombats also played at the 2011 Southside and Hurricane music festivals in Germany.
The Wombats also performed as part of The Voodoo Experience held at City Park in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 28–30, 2011.
The Wombats' song 'Techno Fan' is currently being used in European airline easyJet's new television and Facebook campaign.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band formed in 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...
, 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...
. The band comprises native Liverpudlians Matthew Murphy
Matthew Murphy (musician)
Matthew "Murph" Edward Murphy is an English musician, best known for singing, playing guitar and keyboard for The Wombats.-The Wombats:...
(lead vocals, guitar
Guitar
The 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...
, nose harp
Nose whistle
A nose whistle is a wind instrument of the woodwind family. The nose blows the air into the open mouth, which is a soundboard. The blown air is channelled towards an edge. The whistle acts like when blowing on a bottleneck, with the air resonating in the mouth as well as in the instrument. The air...
, keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A 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...
) and Dan Haggis (drums, percussion, keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A 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...
and backing vocals), alongside Norwegian-born Tord Øverland-Knudsen
Tord Øverland-Knudsen
Tord Øverland-Knudsen is a Norwegian musician best known for playing bass guitar, keyboards and providing backing vocals for The Wombats.Tord was born in Elverum, Norway on 24 July 1982 to Goril Øverland and Per Egil Knudsen...
(bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitar
Guitar
The 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...
, keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A 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...
and backing vocals). The band are signed to 14th Floor Records
14th Floor Records
14th Floor Records is a British record label founded in 2002 by Christian Tattersfield as a joint venture with Warner Music UK. The label has released albums by artists such as Biffy Clyro, Damien Rice, David Gray, Longview, Mark Joseph, Nerina Pallot, Ray LaMontagne, and The Wombats.Tattersfield...
and Bright Antenna
Bright Antenna
Bright Antenna is a record label founded in 2007 and based in Oakland, California. One of the founders is author and filmmaker Tiffanie DeBartolo...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love Loss & Desperation (2003–2008)
The three band members met in 2003 at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, soon becoming friends and starting to jam together. In 2006, the band released their debut single Girls, Boys, and Marsupials which was only available as a release in Japan.In January 2007, the band released a second limited edition vinyl called Moving to New York
Moving to New York
"Moving to New York" is a song by the Liverpool band The Wombats. It was originally released exclusively on 7-inch, in limited edition packaging, on October 26, 2006 and then re-released on January 14, 2008. The song is taken from the band's album A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation...
, then in May of that year they released a third single entitled "Backfire at the Disco
Backfire at the Disco
Backfire at the Disco is a single from Liverpudlian indie band, The Wombats. It is from their debut album, The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation...
", which reached number 35 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. This was followed by then band's first full single "Kill the Director
Kill the Director
"Kill The Director" is a song by English indie pop band The Wombats.According to a radio interview on BBC Radio 1, the song was written about the film The Holiday with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet...
" in late July. Their debut album, entitled The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation
The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation
-Personnel:* Matthew Murphy – vocals, guitar, synths, piano* Dan Haggis – backing vocals, drums, piano, stylophone, harmonica, melodica, synthesizers* Tord Øverland-Knudsen – backing vocals, bass, synths, cello...
, coincided with the release of "Let's Dance to Joy Division
Let's Dance to Joy Division
"Let's Dance to Joy Division" is a song by The Wombats and the second single taken from their second album A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation. The song was available to download on 8 October 2007, and was physically released one week later...
" in October 2007, and peaked at number 11 in the UK Albums Chart. It was followed by a European tour ending with a thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
party at Liverpool Academy
Carling Academy Liverpool
The O2 Academy Liverpool is a music venue in London Road, Liverpool, England that is run by the Academy Music Group....
.
The band started 2008 as the opening act
Opening act
An opening act or warm-up act is an entertainer or entertainment act that performs at a concert before the featured entertainer...
at the opening ceremony of 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...
, European Capital of Culture
European Capital of Culture
The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by theEuropean Union for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong European dimension....
at Liverpool Arena. "Moving to New York" was re-released on 14 January 2008 and reached number 13 UK Singles Chart, becoming their highest charting release to date. On the 28th February 2008 the band was awarded 'Best Dancefloor Filler' for their single "Let's Dance To Joy Division" at the NME Awards
NME Awards
The NME Awards is an annual music awards show in the United Kingdom, founded by the music magazine, NME .The first awards show was held in 1953 as the NME Poll Winners Concerts, shortly after the founding of the magazine....
.
The Wombats EP (2008–2010)
In April 2008 the band put out their first U.S. release on Bright AntennaBright Antenna
Bright Antenna is a record label founded in 2007 and based in Oakland, California. One of the founders is author and filmmaker Tiffanie DeBartolo...
, The Wombats EP
The Wombats EP
The Wombats is a self-titled EP by The Wombats, released April 8th, 2008. Distributed by KIDS in America and Bright Antenna. The EP was the first release by the band in the United States.-Track listing:#Backfire at the Disco - 3:17...
. Following this release the band went on a full UK tour, as well as playing dates in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The band also played for Jo Whiley
Jo Whiley
Johanne "Jo" Whiley is a British radio disc jockey and television presenter. She was the host of the long running weekday Jo Whiley Show on Radio 1.-Early life and education:...
on 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...
where they covered the Take That
Take That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
song "Patience
Patience (Take That song)
"Patience" is a song by British boy band Take That. It was released on 13 November 2006 as the first single from their comeback album Beautiful World...
", as well as the Postman Pat
Postman Pat
Postman Pat is a British stop-motion animated children's television series first produced by Woodland Animations. It is aimed at pre-school children, and concerns the adventures of Pat Clifton, a postman in the fictional village of Greendale .Postman Pat's first 13-episode season was screened on...
theme tune, which Tord sang in his native Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
language.
The summer of 2008 saw the band perform live at a number of major festivals including Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
in June and T in the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
in July, opening the 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...
/ NME Stage set on the Friday. They also played Reading and Leeds Festival on the Saturday and Friday respectively on the Radio 1/NME Stage supporting Babyshambles
Babyshambles
Babyshambles are an English indie rock band established in London. The band was formed by Pete Doherty during a hiatus from his former band The Libertines, but Babyshambles has since become his main project . Babyshambles has released two albums, three EPs and a number of singles...
. In September 2008 the band were filmed for a cameo appearance on Australian soap Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
.
The band also announced via their MySpace blog that they would be releasing two singles, a seasonal 'Anti-Christmas' themed "Is This Christmas?" on December 15, 2008, followed by a track titled "My Circuitboard City" on March 3, 2009.
The Wombats Proudly Present... This Modern Glitch (2010–present)
In September 2010, the band announced they were near to completing their second studio album in the MRG Recording Studio in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The band worked with producers Eric Valetine and Jacknife Lee
Jacknife Lee
Garret "Jacknife" Lee is an Irish music producer and mixer. He has worked with a variety of artists, including The Cars, U2, R.E.M., Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, AFI, The Hives, Weezer, Vega4 and Editors.-Biography:...
.
The first single to be released from the album, "Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
"Tokyo " is a song by from Liverpudlian indie band, The Wombats. It was the first single to be released from their second album This Modern Glitch...
" was released in the UK on 27 September 2010 and debuted on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number 23; marking the band's fifth Top 40 hit and third most successful single to date. The accompanying music video was shot in Los Angeles on 19–20 August 2010 and was directed by The General Assembly (directors)
The General Assembly (directors)
The General Assembly is a music video and commercial directing duo based in Los Angeles, CA. They have directed music videos for such artists as Grum, The Wombats, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Jason Lytle, Fruit Bats , Radar Bros. and Everest...
. Following the rumoured release of "Techno Fan
Techno Fan
"Techno Fan" is a single from alternative-pop group, The Wombats. The single was released in the United Kingdom on 5 June 2011 as a digital download on iTunes including three B-sides: "Avalanche", "Trampolining" and "Shock Goodbyes and P45's". This is the 4th single from the album This Modern...
" as the second single to be released from the album, the track "Jump Into the Fog
Jump Into the Fog
"Jump Into the Fog" is a single from alternative-pop group The Wombats. The single was released in the United Kingdom on 23 January 2011 as a digital download in extended play form, including three B-sides; "How I Miss Sally Bray", "Valentine" and "Addicted to the Cure"...
" was confirmed for a release on 24 January 2011. "Anti-D
Anti-D (song)
"Anti-D" is a single from alternative-pop group, The Wombats. The single was released in the United Kingdom on 11 April 2011 as a digital download on The Wombats official site, and 10 April on iTunes including three B-sides; "I'm a Robot Like You", "Dear Hamburg" and "Wonderful Distraction"...
" has been announced as the next single, with the album following two weeks later. The album, entitled This Modern Glitch, was released in April 2011 as a CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
and also as 7" and 12" vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
s. The Wombats also played at the 2011 Southside and Hurricane music festivals in Germany.
The Wombats also performed as part of The Voodoo Experience held at City Park in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 28–30, 2011.
The Wombats' song 'Techno Fan' is currently being used in European airline easyJet's new television and Facebook campaign.
Discography
- A Guide to Love, Loss & DesperationThe Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation-Personnel:* Matthew Murphy – vocals, guitar, synths, piano* Dan Haggis – backing vocals, drums, piano, stylophone, harmonica, melodica, synthesizers* Tord Øverland-Knudsen – backing vocals, bass, synths, cello...
(2007) - The Wombats EPThe Wombats EPThe Wombats is a self-titled EP by The Wombats, released April 8th, 2008. Distributed by KIDS in America and Bright Antenna. The EP was the first release by the band in the United States.-Track listing:#Backfire at the Disco - 3:17...
(2008, US only) - This Modern GlitchThe Wombats Proudly Present: This Modern GlitchThis Modern Glitch is the second studio album by British indie band The Wombats. The album was released in the United Kingdom on 25 April 2011, with 5 singles preceding it: "Tokyo ", "Jump Into the Fog", "Anti-D", "Techno Fan" and "Our Perfect Disease", released on 24 September 2010, 24 January...
(2011)
External links
- The Wombats at The Indie Music Database