'Welsh Valleys based High Energy Celtic Folk Band'
Brendan (Bodhran, Vocals):~ A
veteran of the Irish west coast scene, and the bands ecological philosopher.
Chris (Vocals, Mandolin):~ Learnt
his trade in the Manchester scene of the late 1980’s,rubbing shoulders
with the likes of The Fall, The New FADs, while at the same time managing
to be a backing singer for Take That.
Dafydd (Guitar, Vocals):~ Self
confessed Cornish heavy metal junkie, taking his influences from Seputura
and Metallica. The rest of the band currently have him in musical
rehab.
Laura (Fiddle, Vocals):~ The
latest addition to an ever expanding line up. She is one of
two members of the band who habitually wear skirts on stage.
Formed in January 1998, Michael's Bones have developed a wide following, since winning the hotly contested 'Battle of the Bands' at Glamorgan University in February, of that year. Since then they have gone on to play further afield around Wales, becoming regulars at The Toucan Club in Cardiff, in between gigs in places like Abertillery, Ystrad and Pontypool. 1999 saw them cross Offa's Dyke and travel to Bath, Brighton and Hereford.
Attila the Stockbroker was impressed enough to put them on at his annual Glastonwick Festival where he introduced them as 'one of the best bands I've seen in the last year' and 'a cross between The Clash and The pogues'. Gairhydd magazine called them 'the band most likely to piss on your head and tell you it's raining', and Leek Magazine described them as 'falling somewhere between The Pogues and Fairport Convention'.
This year (2K) has so far seen them beat off 23 other bands to win the Whitbread Battle of The Bands, together with a grand in cash. As well as their own gigs, this year they have also supported Glenn Tilbrook, PAIN, Attila the Stockbroker and John Otway. Michael's Bones must be one of very few bands who can get audiences dancing at a noisy punk gig one night and a low key acoustic folk festival the next.
Michael's Bones are no jumper wearing folkies though! They combine a refreshing stage dynamic with quality musicianship and an uncompromising vigour that grabs their audience by the feet and doesn't let go. The stripped down electro acoustic sound of these multi instrumentalists will turn any audience into a good humoured heaving mass of revellers, and Michael's Bones will outlast all of them. The eclectic mix of traditional Celtic Folk, good time drinking songs and well crafted original material appeals to a wide and growing audience.
Matty
Groves
.
.
Gaspe Reel
Miskin Review
‘A breath of fresh air to shake the cobwebs out of the old songs and give them a new lease of life’
‘Make no Bones about it, this new young band have talent, style, enthusiasm and above all a stage presence and natural charisma that will leave you begging for more’.
Andy Jackson (Miskin Folk Festival 5/2000)
Michael's Bones live at TJ's "Drocking Exellent!"
I
was completely unprepared for this evening. TJ's was not where
I expected and it was totally brilliant. A Real gutsy, down
to earth, honest to goodness circuit gig.
Best of all tonight was Michael's Bones. They really lit up
the place. Here was the sound of summer and festivals, backed
by infectious dance rhythms and spiced with exotic roots flavours, who
else could run 'Kiss Off' into 'Matty Groves' and do it with such confidence
and credibility?
They
certainly couldn't do this without the hyperactive, bouncing, jigging,
mandolin playing lead vocalist Chris. He manages to combine
a very scary haircut with an awsome stage presence and cool dress sense.
You can't knock a good frock coat! His vocals were spot on
with soul and accuracy, which come to think of it is a good way to describe
the band. You really wouldn't belive it to look at him, but
Chris used to be a backing singer for Take That. Trust me, you really
wouldn't believe it to look at him.
Michael's
Bones have an aura of punk about them even though their line up is acoustic.
The polemic 'Diggers Song' really suited them. With other
bands it would be a crowd pleaser, with the 'Bones it was a wake
up call. I was there with them for every last barricade and
every last stand. So too were the crowd. They were
into it in a big way, limbs flailing with serious dedication.
Not only that, but the 'Bones did it with spot on four part vocal harmony.
Imagine if you will; two acoustic guitarists Mik and Daf, the first is
a veteran of the space rock circuit and heavily influenced by Pete Townsend,
the second full of Welsh cool. Then add the sheen of Laura
the Fiddle with scary hair colour and a mega powerful driving rhythm section
comprising Brendan the Bohdran and Dan on energising electric bass.
In addition add the huge charisma of vocalist and mandolinist Chris.
Get them all to play with their verve and fire. Then top it
all with four part vocal harmony at the same time! Absolutley
brilliant.
The
'Bones played a couple of instrumentals of which my absolute favourite
was 'Hopak', a serbian wedding tune; very weird time signature but still
guaranteed to drag you kicking and screaming onto the dance floor.
Dan also plays a fine mandola on 'Dans Jig', as if playing bass like a
bastard wasn't enough. Michael's Bones have a very grass roots
following and they are a hard gigging band, but most important thing is
that they're drokking exellent and they're coming atcha from WALES!
Dan
James. 2000.
(Firebrand)
MICHAEL`S
BONES - On Top Of Offa`s Dyke
(Llandestine
Records)
Up
tempo Irish jig about folk music from Pontypridd’s finest party people.
Most of these guy’s used to be in “Hair of the dogma” so we were expecting
more of the same but without the sense of humour. Not quite.
The slapstick element has gone but the music has tightened up and is much,
much sharper. Original Bone’s stuff is mixed with traditional numbers
such as 'The Irish Rover' and covers of the likes of Rory McLoed, The Violent
Femmes and Big Country(?). Bodhran, Mandolin, Violin, Accordian……you get
the picture. These guy’s probably wish they were Irish.
I’m
sure Ireland would be proud of them.
Peppermint Iguana (Clint)
Glastonwick 2000 Programme
‘You saw them last year doing a Sunday spot, they were by popular acclaim the best thing all weekend’.
Attila the Stockbroker