Alex Pennie

Last updated

Alex Pennie
PennieAutomatic.jpg
Alex Pennie performing
Background information
Birth nameAlexander Gregor Pennie
Born (1985-12-14) 14 December 1985 (age 38)
Genres Rock, electro, pop punk, hardcore
Instrument(s) Vocals, synthesizer, keyboards
Years active2003–2007 (The Automatic)
2008–2009 (Decimals)
2009–2015 (Goodtime Boys)

Alexander Gregor Pennie (born 14 December 1985) is a musician who was previously in the band The Automatic from the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, where he provided unclean vocals as well as playing synthesizers and keyboards for the act. Pennie left The Automatic in late 2007. Since then he has been in other bands, the latest of which was the Goodtime Boys, which disbanded in 2015.

Contents

Musical career

The Automatic (2004–2007)

Alex Pennie joined The Automatic in 2004 as backing vocalist and keyboard player after the band rebranded themselves The Automatic, after previously being known as White Rabbit. Pennie's unique vocal style and energetic live performances became trademark signatures of The Automatic. [1] [2] [3]

During his time in The Automatic Pennie was featured on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and with bandmate Robin Hawkins stood in for Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1. He also took on lead vocal responsibilities on the band's cover of "Gold Digger" by Kanye West and "Epic" by Faith No More. [4] With writing commencing on the band's second album, Pennie was finding being in the band "increasingly unenjoyable", and after completing the Not Accepted Anywhere album tour, he left the band, playing his final date at Get Loaded in the Park on 25 August 2007. [5] [6] [7]

Decimals (2008–2009)

After leaving the band Pennie moved for a short time to the US where he was supposedly working with a new punk band. However, months later his new project was announced: an indie-electro band Decimals, for which Pennie provides lead vocals. Decimals lasted till late 2009. [8]

Goodtime Boys (2009–2015)

The Goodtime Boys  [ de ] were founded in 2009, a British punk–emo band, consisting of Alexander (vocals), Casey McHale (drums), Samuel Phipps (guitar), Lewis Johns (guitar) and Leigh McAndrew (bass).

The group released their debut album What's Left to Let Me Go in 2012 on Bridge Nine Records. They previously published two EPs: "Are We Now, Or Have We Ever Been" (2011, Tangled Talk Records) and "Every Landscape" (2012, Bridge Nine Records). In 2013 they made a joint EP with the American emo band Self Defense Family on Palm Reader Records. The second album Rain was released in May 2014.

The group toured Europe with Landscapes, More Than Life, Caspian and Defeater. On 6 January 2015, the group announced its dissolution.

Equipment

Discography

With The Automatic

With Yourcodenameis:milo

With Decimals

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brand New (band)</span> American rock band from New York

Brand New was an American rock band formed in 2000 from Long Island, New York. Consisting of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Jesse Lacey, lead guitarist Vincent Accardi, bassist Garrett Tierney and drummer Brian Lane, the band earned critical recognition as one of the most influential emo bands, and was acclaimed for their musical development and artistic innovation compared to other groups in the scene which they originated from.

Vagrant Records is an American record label based in California. It was founded in 1995 by Rich Egan and Jon Cohen. The label focuses on rock, but features artists in a variety of other genres including folk, soul, electronic, and pop. It is home to artists such as The 1975, Death Spells, Eels, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, CRUISR, Active Child, PJ Harvey, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, James Vincent McMorrow, Black Joe Lewis, Wake Owl, Blitzen Trapper, and Bombay Bicycle Club. Originally, Vagrant Records was mostly focused on emo bands such as Dashboard Confessional, Saves the Day, The Get Up Kids, Senses Fail, and Alkaline Trio. The label is considered one of the pre-eminent labels of the emo music scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">From First to Last</span> American post-hardcore band

From First to Last is an American post-hardcore band formed in Tampa, Florida but based in Los Angeles, California. Formed by Matt Good, Scott Oord, and Parker Nelms in November 1999, the current line-up consists of Matt Good, Travis Richter, and Derek Bloom (drums).

Yourcodenameis:milo are an English alternative rock/experimental/post-hardcore band from Washington, Tyne and Wear. Their mini album, All Roads to Fault, was released in 2004, followed in 2005 by the full-length album Ignoto, both on Fiction/Polydor Records. In 2006, the band left their Polydor contract and within a month signed a new record deal with V2 Records. In November 2006, the band released Print Is Dead Vol 1, a side project album featuring collaborations with other bands. Their second full-length album, They Came from the Sun, was released in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Automatic</span> Welsh rock band

The Automatic were a Welsh rock band. The band's last-known lineup was composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesisers, James Frost on guitar, synthesisers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesiser. Mullen joined after the departure of Alex Pennie, who provided synthesiser, percussion and vocals.

Lydia is an American indie rock band from Gilbert, Arizona, formed in 2003.

<i>Shmapn Shmazz</i> 1995 studio album by Capn Jazz

Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards in the Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped On, and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over, more commonly known as Shmap'n Shmazz, is the only full-length studio album by the American emo band Cap'n Jazz. It was released in 1995 on the record label Man With Gun. Cap'n Jazz's lineup at the time of recording comprised Tim Kinsella on lead vocals, Davey von Bohlen and Victor Villarreal on guitar, Sam Zurick on bass guitar, and Mike Kinsella on drums.

<i>Not Accepted Anywhere</i> 2006 studio album by The Automatic

Not Accepted Anywhere is the debut album from Welsh rock band The Automatic, originally released in the United Kingdom on 19 June 2006 and in the United States on 22 June 2007. Working with producers Stephen Harris, Richard Jackson and Ian Broudie on different tracks at a variety of studios around the United Kingdom the album was released through a joint deal between B-Unique Records and Polydor Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raoul (song)</span> 2006 single by The Automatic

"Raoul" is both the second and the fifth single from Not Accepted Anywhere, the first album by the Welsh band The Automatic. The single was released twice, first on 27 March 2006 and again on 8 January 2007 at the decision of the band's record labels Polydor and B-Unique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Frost</span> Musical artist

James Martin Frost is the guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist of Welsh band The Automatic, and guitarist and backing vocalist for Cardiff-based band Effort. As well as his musical duties for The Automatic, Frost has also directed two of the band's music videos and their tour video diaries. He currently resides in Cardiff, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stolen Babies</span> American rock band

Stolen Babies is an American experimental rock band consisting of vocalist/accordionist Dominique Lenore Persi, bassist/guitarist Rani Sharone, and drummer Gil Sharone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Campesinos!</span> Welsh indie pop band

Los Campesinos! are a seven-piece indie pop band from Cardiff, Wales, formed in early 2006 at Cardiff University. The band has seen several lineup changes– lead vocalist Gareth David Paisey and guitarists Neil Turner and Tom Bromley are the only remaining original members, now joined by guitarist Rob Taylor, keyboardist Kim Paisey, bassist Matt Fidler and drummer Jason Adelinia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Mullen (musician)</span> Musical artist

Paul Mullen is an English musician, multi-instrumentalist & singer songwriter who first gained recognition for being vocalist and guitarist of the band Yourcodenameis:milo, who went on hiatus in 2007. Since their hiatus, Mullen has gone on to both join and form a number of bands, which he currently splits his time between – including The Automatic, Young Legionnaire, Losers, and Bleach Blood.

"That's What She Said" is the lead track on Welsh band the Automatic's debut album Not Accepted Anywhere. The track was recorded in Stir Studio in Cardiff.

<i>This Is a Fix</i> 2008 studio album by The Automatic

This Is a Fix is the second album by Wales-based band The Automatic. It was released on 25 August 2008. The band worked with producer Don Gilmore in Los Angeles, but were disappointed with these sessions, and instead worked with Butch Walker at Sage and Sound Recording in Los Angeles then back in Cardiff with Richard Jackson and London with Stephen Harris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve McQueen (The Automatic song)</span> 2008 single by The Automatic

"Steve McQueen" is the first and ultimately only single from Welsh rock band The Automatic's second album This Is A Fix. It is their fifth single overall. The track began radio and video play as of 7 July 2008 and was released on 18 August 2008.

Called to Arms is a progressive metal band started in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2003. They are currently signed to Tragic Hero Records and they recorded their most recent album with Jamie King, which was released digitally August 10, 2010. The album is based on The Screwtape Letters written by C. S. Lewis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Chapman Family</span> English indie rock band

The Chapman Family were an English indie rock band from Stockton-on-Tees, that formed in 2006. The band's final lineup consisted of Kingsley Chapman, Pop Chapman, Owen Chapman, Kevin James Chapman and Scott Chapman. The band's debut album Burn Your Town was released on 7 March 2011. They were notably part of the "10 Tips for 2009" shortlist published by NME.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Not Accepted Anywhere album tour</span> 2005–07 concert tour by the Automatic

The Not Accepted Anywhere album tour was the touring period from 2005 through to 2007 when Welsh rock-band the Automatic promoted their debut album Not Accepted Anywhere. Over the three-year period, the band covered the United Kingdom several times, as well as touring in the United States, Japan, France and the Netherlands.

The Front Bottoms are an American rock band from Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, formed in 2006. They are currently a duo consisting of lead vocalist and guitarist Brian Sella and drummer Mat Uychich. During live performances, they are currently accompanied by touring members, including guitarist and backing vocalist AJ Peacox, bassist and backing vocalist Natalie Newbold, and bassist, guitarist and backing vocalist Erik Kase Romero.

References

  1. The Automatic: ULU, London, Monday 24 July NME, 11 August 2006
  2. The Automatic @ Pianos: Keep Your Eyes Peeled! The Music Slut, 19 March 2007
  3. The Automatic cause havoc on Shockwaves NME Awards indie tour NME, 2 February 2007
  4. The Automatic: Spender Pennie BBC, 27 February 2007
  5. NME 19 May 2007 Page 35
  6. "Automatic now Pennie less". icwales (Gavin Allen). 7 November 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2008.
  7. "In the magazine this week... - The Automatic on how Pennie left". NME . 3 November 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
  8. "decimals (decimalsmusic) on Myspace". Myspace.com. Retrieved 6 August 2020.