The Maccabees

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The Maccabees

Background information
Origin London, England
Genres Indie rock
Years active 2004–present
Labels Fiction Records
Fierce Panda Records
Website Official website
Members
Orlando Weeks
Hugo White
Felix White
Rupert Jarvis
Sam Doyle
Former members
Robert Dylan Thomas

The Maccabees are an English indie rock band from south London who formed in Brighton while studying at University. They have released two albums so far, Colour It In, with a follow-up, Wall of Arms, released on 4th May 2009.

Contents

[edit] Name

The band came up with the name by flicking through the Bible and picking out a random word.[1]. Despite adopting a name with religious connotations, lead singer Orlando Weeks has more recently affirmed, in an interview on Steve Lamacq's BBC Radio 1 show, that none of the band are religious. Their lyrics often include an atheistic theme, in particular their second album's title track, "Wall Of Arms".

[edit] History

Their debut single, "X-Ray", was released on Promise records on 28 November 2005, and received some evening play on London radio station Xfm London. They received little significant exposure, however, until six months later, when they released their second single, "Latchmere", the subject of which is the wave machine at the Latchmere Leisure Centre in Battersea, South London[2], on Fierce Panda Records in April 2006. This was championed by Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq and received airtime on MTV2. The video, directed by Hugh Frost and Samuel Bebbington, also proved an internet hit after it was posted on YouTube.

The band are currently signed to major label Fiction Records, and released their début album Colour It In in May 2007. Because an early copy of the album appeared on the New York Times website, Colour It In became available to download exclusively from iTunes on 16 December, before its physical release on 14 May, in an effort to combat the leak. The single "First Love" was their first to chart in the UK top 40, and was followed by "About Your Dress", which peaked at #33. Their album fared much better, which was released to positive reviews, and charted at #24. They recently toured the USA with fellow indie group Bloc Party. A full UK tour followed from October 2007, culminating in a sell-out show at the Roundhouse venue in London.

During late 2007, Samsung used the track "Toothpaste Kisses" in its advert campaign for its SGH-G800 mobile phone.

On the run-up to the release of their second album, the band played two new songs to Steve Lamacq on his "In New Music We Trust" show on Radio 1 in [May 2008, "No Kind Words" and "Young Lions". The band also played a string of small venues in the UK to test out new songs, in March and April 2008. The Maccabees performed at Offset Festival in London as well the Underage Festival in August 2008.

On Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show in February 2009, Felix confirmed the name of the follow-up album to be Wall Of Arms, an announcement that coincided with the release of the free downloadable track, "No Kind Words". On March 16th Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq played the band's first single from "Wall Of Arms" entitled "Love You Better", the video to which was posted exclusively on ClashMusic.com on March 27.[3]

Wall of Arms was released on May 4th, 2009, and received positive reviews.

The band performed at NewcastleGateshead's Evolution Festival on the 25th of May 2009. They finished their set with "Love You Better." They played before The View and after Little Boots on the Spillers Wharf Stage.

Other performances in 2009 include Reading and Leeds Festivals on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th August respectively and Little Noise Sessions on 16th November.

On October 3rd 2009 the five-piece band played a gig at Brixton Academy to finish off their 'Wall Of Arms' tour. The band pulled in a huge crowd for their homecoming show at the O2, as well as a brass section for many of their songs as they performed their entire 2009 album and a host of tracks from their 2007 debut 'Colour It In'. During the set Felix White declared the Academy as 'the best venue in the world'.[4]

In November 2009 The Maccabees collaborated with rapper Roots Manuva on a heady re-working of Wall of Arms album track and live favourite No Kind Words. The track, newly titled Empty Vessels, features brilliant new lyrics and vocals from fellow south Londoner Roots. It was debuted on Zane Lowe's evening show on Radio One on November 11th. The single release of Empty Vessels was made available on iTunes from 24th November 2009 on Fiction Records.[5]

The Maccabees were named as headlines for the Shockwaves NME Awards Tour 2010 with Bombay Bicycle Club, The Big Pink and The Drums in February 2010. [6]

[edit] Band members

  • Orlando Weeks – Vocals and Guitar
  • Hugo White – Guitar
  • Felix White – Backing Vocals and Guitar
  • Rupert Jarvis – Bass
  • Sam Doyle – Drums

Robert Dylan Thomas left the band in 2008 in order to enter rehab, and so Sam Doyle will be touring the album Wall of Arms in 2009. It is uncertain whether Robert will rejoin the band in the future or not.[7]

Guitarist Felix White was formerly in a band with close friend and current solo artist Jack Peñate. This band was called Jack's Basement. Felix and Hugo White are brothers, along with Will White, who is the lead singer and guitarist with another indie band, Talk Taxis, who recently split.

Elliott Andrews temporarily performed on the drums during 2007 whilst Rob was suffering from a broken arm. Elliott is now the drummer for Kate Nash's band.[8]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

Name (label) Release date Chart position
"X-Ray" (Promise Records) 28 November 2005 147
"Latchmere" (Fierce Panda Records) 10 April 2006 N/A
"Precious Time" (Steve Lamacq Live Session) / "X-Ray (Filthy Dukes Society Remix)" (Fiction Records) 14 September 2006 N/A
"First Love" (Fiction Records) 14 November 2006 40
"About Your Dress" (Fiction Records) 26 February 2007 33
"Precious Time" (Fiction Records) 7 May 2007 49
"Toothpaste Kisses" (Fiction Records) 7 January 2008 70
"No Kind Words" (Polydor Records) [free download] 1 March 2009 N/A
"Love You Better" (Polydor Records) 27 April 2009 36
"Can You Give It?" (Polydor Records) 6 July 2009 N/A
"Empty Vessels" (Fiction Records) 24 November 2009 N/A

[edit] EPs

Name (& label) EP Release Date Chart Position
You Make Noise, I Make Sandwiches (Haircut Records) August 2004 N/A
Toothpaste Kisses (Fiction Records) 10 October 2007] N/A

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Talking Shop: The Maccabees". BBC Entertainment. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7169685.stm. Retrieved 2008-01-14. 
  2. ^ http://www.nme.com/reviews/Maccabees/8449
  3. ^ http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/maccabees-video-exclusive
  4. ^ http://www.nme.com/news/the-maccabees/47648
  5. ^ http://www.audiotube.com/audionews/2009/12/the-maccabees-to-release-roots-manuva-collaboration/
  6. ^ http://www.nme.com/news/the-maccabees/48268
  7. ^ http://crowdsurfer.net/2009/04/maccabees-the/
  8. ^ http://www.bimm.co.uk/brighton/bimm-success-stories.asp

[edit] External links

v • d • e
The Maccabees
Rupert Jarvis · Sam Doyle · Orlando Weeks · Felix White · Hugo White
Studio albums
EPs
You Make Noise, I Make Sandwiches · Toothpaste Kisses
Singles
"X-Ray" · "Latchmere" · "First Love" · "About Your Dress" · "Precious Time" · "Toothpaste Kisses" · "No Kind Words"
Former members
Robert Dylan Thomas
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