ELEPHANTS ON WHITBY BEACH

ELEPHANTS ON WHITBY BEACH

Monday 2 February 2009

DEADGIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN

Deadgirls are easy came about from an idea that Pug and Eef had been keeping on a backburner for a few years. They'd talked about it on and off without any real hope of it ever coming to fruition. Then, with the demise of The Merkins last year, opportunity knocked.
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With Harry on board from the last Merkins line up, a fully fledged unit was beginning to take shape. "Harry turned out to be a songwriting genius" Pug told us. "He had four songs ready as demo recordings before we'd even had a chance to get the full band together."
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The line up is Pug on vocals, Harry manipulating samples, Eef on bass, Adam and Kyle on guitars, and Anny on pink drums, beer and fags.
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Pug had worked with Adam before, and the two of them were in the band Redeemer, until Pug left and formed The Merkins, the Whitby band that still holds the all time record for most lineup changes. Anyway, Pug phoned Adam and said "Remember me? I used to work with you. Do you fancy being a dead girl?" Obviously he said yes. Well you would, wouldn't you?
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When Harry decided to concentrate on samples rather than drums Adam's mate Anny came down for a jam and proved so impressive that she was immediately invited to join. "Luckily for us she accepted, and she fits right in like she's always been there with us" beamed Pug. At last the call to arms has been answered and we have a woman doing something other than fronting a band. Praise the Lord!
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I was intrigued by the use of sampling. It seems unusually adventurous for Whitby. According to the band Harry and the samples fit in with the music just like another instrument. They add a deeper, more complex texture to the material. The extra dimension prevents the songs from sounding like anyone else's and gives them a unique edge.
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So far Deadgirls have six more or less complete songs, and as many again partially written. The main songwriter is Harry, with Pug adding lyrics as and when they come to him. The other members have ideas and songs in the pipeline which have yet to see the light of day. Guess we'll just have to wait and
see what issues forth from their collective fevered imaginations.
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They're still in the process of getting the songs together and rehearsing like mad. Songs will be recorded and posted on MySpace as soon as possible. Deadgirls Are Easy plan to be out and about gigging by April(ish).
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"To those offended by our name, all I can say is wait until you hear the music. The name fits perfectly with what we're doing. Our sound and songs are influenced by 50's B movies and 70's horror films. The name isn't offensive, it's perfect for us. What I'd like to know is why they think Deadgirls are Easy is offensive? And no, we don't think it will cost us gigs."
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I'm not going to tell you what they were very nearly going to be called, but I can tell you it rhymes with 'Funky Hunt', or 'Hunky Punt' if you prefer. Do you see where this is going? I think that possibly might have cost them the odd gig.
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We're instructed to keep our eyes and ears peeled (although peeling your ears is probably not a good idea actually), for the first emissions from the Deadgirls' HQ. Keep tuning into their MySpace page, and we'll be hot on the case here at Popwatch too, informing you as soon as anything stirs.
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There you have it. Deadgirls Are Easy. Easy like Sunday morning.

2 comments:

The Invisible Mice said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Invisible Mice said...

Hurrah for women playing instruments in bands, let this be the first of many!

As Popwatch's feminist correspondent, I think the name could go either way in the offensive stakes at this point and whether or not it is misogynist depends greatly on the songs and imagery it is combined with. I'd like to think that a group with a strong female drummer will choose to put an empowering or ironic rather than gratuitous and chauvinist twist on their B Movie inspired choice of name...