the dead lovers
I belonged to a band called The Dead Lovers for a couple of years. We gigged around Bristol and Bath, every so often heading up to London to do some stuff up there. We supported Snow Patrol in 2003, just as they were rising up the ladder to extreme super-stardom (fuck me we got pissed that night...), and had a great time before the inevitable falling out which saw us splitting up in 2004.
In 2004 we also released our first (and sadly, only) EP, Judas the Gun. A review at the time said this:
"Judas The Gun is the first collection of songs from this Bristol, UK band. Self-released through the NJB label and distributed as a promo to magazines and record companies, the self-produced EP features the band's standard "Lady Napalm", a galloping, pitch-black affair which crosses from mid-nineties Radiohead into early Jeff Buckley and even Muse. The overwhelming emphasis is on the tight group performances - nothing dominates or tries to shine too brightly: singer/songwriter Tobey Keane's voice, easily capable of swooping dynamic changes, sticks to a low register, while his acoustic guitar (beautifully played and recorded here) chimes through the uplifting chorus. It's still a little too dark, perhaps, for the mass-market, but this kind of pretty-goth has a big following, and initial radio-play response seems to have been positive.
Much of the rest of the EP explores softer, but no less dark acoustic material. Overall, this is glorious, beautiful gloom, and as a mood-piece, Judas The Gun is tremendously appealing. The influences occasionally come through a little too strong: "Nicotine Angel Wings" plays like a companion piece to Radiohead's epic "Exit Music For A Film" from OK Computer, but by and large the band find a path of their own and follow it with a great deal of confidence.
As a showcase of the talents of this young, unsigned band, Judas The Gun is very effective. As a complete and self-contained work it might eventually be considered too narrow to illustrate everything this band can do. However, it showcases an interesting, capable songwriter with undeniable skill, and leaves open the way for limitless expansion.
A very impressive beginning. "
Here's the songs - please feel free to download or just listen.
Check out the comedy promotional pics we had shot. That's me in a cheap suit. On the right is Toby Keane, the genius who wrote all the songs. He's still looking for a record deal and he's re-recorded Lady Napalm for his new release. I put together a website for him at www.tobykeane.com during June/July 2008. Down the bottom are James and Harry, both musical geniuses in their own right
