Troubles (band)
Encyclopedia
Troubles is a UK-based ambient
post-rock
instrumental band formed in 2005. The members of the band are Joel Clifford, Sam Herlihy, Michael Hibbert, Simon Jones, Mike Siddell and Jon Winter.
page being created on November 9, 2005. Troubles was originally a side project of Hope of the States
, of which Herlihy, Hibbert, Jones and Siddell were members. Following the dissolution of Hope of the States in August 2006, Troubles continued and has become the primary project of the four former members.
Troubles were first heard in February 2006. Three tracks were uploaded to a specially created page on The Halfway Home, a Hope of the States fansite, entitled Undertunnel/Overtunnel, Troubles Angels - Worry and Rabbits In The Trees. Dubbed the Troubles Musick Sampler, the tracks quickly began circulating amongst the Hope of the States community, despite them being removed from the website soon after first appearing due to intervention from Sony BMG (Hope of the States' label at the time). Further tracks were added occasionally to the band's MySpace page.
on their MySpace page requesting assistance and suggestions for venues for concerts to be put on in December 2006. The first date of the tour and an extension of the request for suggestions was published on DrownedInSound.com on the 20th of November http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/1324532. A three-date tour in the first week of December was announced, and dubbed the Slow Down Or Die Tour 2006. The concerts were:
The concerts revealed a much more 'post-rock' sound to the band, quite different from the more ambient soundscapes heard on the demos released beforehand. All the members of the band wear white onstage while similarly-coloured projections play behind them.
The Band's second tour started was taken in February 2007. The concerts they played were:
The band supported iLiKETRAiNS in March.
Most members of the band play guitar, occasionally reverting to keyboard or music box, while Simon Jones plays the bass and Mike Siddell the violin. In the live shows, Mike Hibbert's brother Marc has played with the band onstage. The band's first ever gig at the Manchester Star & Garter was considered successful, in spite of some technical glitches.
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
instrumental band formed in 2005. The members of the band are Joel Clifford, Sam Herlihy, Michael Hibbert, Simon Jones, Mike Siddell and Jon Winter.
History
The band was formed towards the end of 2005, with recording taking place from September 2005 and the band's MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page being created on November 9, 2005. Troubles was originally a side project of Hope of the States
Hope of the States
Hope of the States were an English post rock-influenced indie band from Chichester.-Members:* Sam Herlihy - vocals, guitar, piano, music boxes, glockenspiels, mellotron, sampler, celeste, harmonium* Michael Hibbert - guitar, harmonica, backing vocals...
, of which Herlihy, Hibbert, Jones and Siddell were members. Following the dissolution of Hope of the States in August 2006, Troubles continued and has become the primary project of the four former members.
Troubles were first heard in February 2006. Three tracks were uploaded to a specially created page on The Halfway Home, a Hope of the States fansite, entitled Undertunnel/Overtunnel, Troubles Angels - Worry and Rabbits In The Trees. Dubbed the Troubles Musick Sampler, the tracks quickly began circulating amongst the Hope of the States community, despite them being removed from the website soon after first appearing due to intervention from Sony BMG (Hope of the States' label at the time). Further tracks were added occasionally to the band's MySpace page.
Tour
In October 2006 the band published a blogBlog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
on their MySpace page requesting assistance and suggestions for venues for concerts to be put on in December 2006. The first date of the tour and an extension of the request for suggestions was published on DrownedInSound.com on the 20th of November http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/1324532. A three-date tour in the first week of December was announced, and dubbed the Slow Down Or Die Tour 2006. The concerts were:
- December 4, ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, The Star and GarterThe Star and GarterThe Star and Garter is a public house in Manchester, England with a room upstairs for club nights and gigs. It is situated on Fairfield Street behind Piccadilly railway station and has been a Grade II listed building since 20 June 1988.-Origins of the name:...
- Supporting: Tim And Sam's Tim And The Sam Band With Tim And Sam, Blocks (Sam Herlihy's solo project).
- December 5, Sunderland, Voodoo Rooms
- Supporting: The Broken Things, Sefelt, lachrymose one.
- December 6, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, London College of FashionLondon College of FashionLondon College of Fashion is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, short courses and business-training in fashion, make-up, beauty-therapy and lifestyle industries...
- Supporting: Sons of Noel and Adrian.
The concerts revealed a much more 'post-rock' sound to the band, quite different from the more ambient soundscapes heard on the demos released beforehand. All the members of the band wear white onstage while similarly-coloured projections play behind them.
The Band's second tour started was taken in February 2007. The concerts they played were:
- February 15, LeedsLeedsLeeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, Brudenell Social Club. - February 16, NewcastleNewcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Northumbria University. - February 17, LincolnLincoln, LincolnshireLincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, . - February 18, PortsmouthPortsmouthPortsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, Eastney Cellars. - February 19, ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, The Star and GarterThe Star and GarterThe Star and Garter is a public house in Manchester, England with a room upstairs for club nights and gigs. It is situated on Fairfield Street behind Piccadilly railway station and has been a Grade II listed building since 20 June 1988.-Origins of the name:...
. - February 20, EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Henry's. - February 21, GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, BarflyBarfly (club)Barfly is a chain of live music venues nightclubs in the UK operating as part of the MAMA Group. It has venues in Brighton, London & York. They regularly feature live music. Their club nights tend to feature rock, alternative and independent music...
. - February 22, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, .
The band supported iLiKETRAiNS in March.
Most members of the band play guitar, occasionally reverting to keyboard or music box, while Simon Jones plays the bass and Mike Siddell the violin. In the live shows, Mike Hibbert's brother Marc has played with the band onstage. The band's first ever gig at the Manchester Star & Garter was considered successful, in spite of some technical glitches.
Discography
- Troubles (2006), album sold on the Slow Down Or Die Tour 2006
- Sen'taurSen'taurThis EP was originally available on the band's February 2007 tour and has since been distributed through their myspace page.-Track listing:#"4th National Account"#"Spiritwitch"#"Hannover Park"#"Onwards In Print"#"Kastenten"#"Thereafter"#"Furnace"...
(2007), EP sold on the band's February tour - Wolf (2008), released 14 April 2008 available from www.puregroove.co.uk includes free poster
Future plans
The band as of April are recording new material.External links
- Forwardirektion.com, website devoted to the side projects spawned from Hope of the States
- Forwardirektion: message board (frequented by the band)
- Troubles MySpace Profile with merchandise including both the EP and the double album
- The Halfway Home, including a 'Side Projects' page with information about Troubles and Blocks