The Humans Sugar Rush Tour 2011
Tues 4th Oct Manchester Ruby Lounge
Wed 5th Oct Cardiff Clwb lfor Bach
Thur 6th Oct London Bush Hall
Sat 8th Oct Derby Flowerpot
Sun 9th Oct West Bromwich The Public
THE HUMANS, featuring TOYAH WILLCOX, BILL RIEFLIN & CHRIS WONG have confirmed they will embark on a UK tour this autumn in support of new album Sugar Rush.
The band, the brainchild of Toyah Willcox which also features Bill Rieflin (R.E.M./Ministry) & Chris Wong will perform material from their new album in a series of intimate UK gigs in London, Cardiff, West Bromwich and Derby on sale from Friday 19 August 2011. (Cardiff on sale Monday 22 August) The UK dates will directly follow the band’s first ever American live concerts which see The Humans play New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Seatlle.
The Humans' new album Sugar Rush will be available to buy initially in the UK at the live concert dates and contain a code to download exclusive live tracks from the band's headline London 2010 date at The Scala which received a glowing 4-star review from the Financial Times. After the tour the album will be available to buy digitally and by mail order online.
THE HUMANS........ A BIOGRAPHY“programmed beats, sinewy, rumbling rhythms…. a kind of twisted funk”FINANCIAL TIMES, FEB 2010THE HUMANS are an innovative, three-piece, contemporary rock band comprising Toyah Willcox, Bill Rieflinand Chris Wong. The group brings together three lifetimes of musical experience, experimentation and craftsmanship.The band are the brainchild of Toyah Willcox.
THE HUMANS were formed in 2007 after Toyah was invited by the Estonian ambassador to tour Estonia. Highlyexperimental, the band reflects the distinctly di erent musical backgrounds and life experiences of its members.This creative formation marked a radical departure for Toyah who comments: “The songs are deconstructed down to the bones of raw experience, exposing human nature and irony”. Dispensing with the conventional rock bandline-up, the DNA of The Humans consists of the voice (taking much more of a role as instrument) flankedby two bass players, with no designated drummer or guitarist. Although recorded and live work can include programmed drumming, beats or guest guitar, the intention is to allow space for the vocal to sit above and alongsidethe soundscape rather than compete with the noise of a rock band.
Before they had ever set foot into a recording studio, The Humans premiered their material in 2008 with asell-out series of concerts in Estonia attended by the Estonian president. These songs then formed the basis oftheir debut album We Are The Humans, which was recorded in Bill Rieflin’s homeground of Seattle. Produced by Rieflin, the 10-song album was mixed by Don Gunn & Rieflin and mastered by Simon Heyworth (Tubular Bells,Brian Eno). It was released in May 2009 to coincide with the band's return to Estonia to headline at ‘Tartufest’.Album highlights include the eerily, ambient Quicksilver, the majestic, Demigod and the live band-groove of Icarus.The Humans quickly carved out their sound as European experimental meets West Coast American grunge with overarching avant-garde and filmic qualities.
The album received its UK digital release in September 2009 along with the band’s first single, These Boots AreMade For Walkin’, a provocative, 21st century twist on the Nancy Sinatra classic, featuring guest guitar from Robert Fripp. This track was recently used by the BBC on their television coverage of the World Cup football final matches, reaching a substantial audience of worldwide viewers and listeners.
The Humans marked their first ever live UK appearances with a series of warm-up concerts in the very intimateand beautiful surroundings of St. Michael's & All Angels' Church and St. Anne's Church, Worcester. These were followed up by dates across the UK, featuring special guest Robert Fripp playing live with the band.They also appeared on the bill of acts invited to perform at The Roundhouse for the Helping Haiti fundraiser concert. The Humans tour culminated in a headline date at London’s Scala, yielding a 4-star, review from the Financial Times who concluded it was an “intriguing, often terrific, show” with “programmed beats, sinewy, rumbling rhythms, a kind of twisted funk”. Their set included a presentation of the entire debut album, newly written songs and their unique interpretations of These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ alongside the Hendrix classic, Purple Haze.
THE HUMANS have dedicated three years to establishing their sound, songs and performance. Crystallizingwhat is at the core of The Humans’ manifesto, the album Sugar Rush bears a cinematic density with stirring moments of exhilarating energy (Sugar Rush) tender contemplation (Love In A Di erent Way) and brooding sound scapes(Sea Of Size). The album also features guest guitar on all tracks from Robert Fripp.
Concerts are being lined-up to include UK, Europe and USA and may include cinemas, theatres, churches andother unusual spaces alongside traditional rock venues.
