Pocket Venus

Last updated

Pocket Venus
Origin Conwy, Wales
Genres Post-Britpop, indie rock, alternative rock, piano rock, post-punk revival
Years active1998–2003, 2010–2013
LabelsSecrets of Sound
MembersChris Yates
Chris Ryan
Simon Barton
Naldo Algieri
Dave Robinson
Past membersChris Bainbridge
Steve Jones
Pete Ryan

Pocket Venus were a Welsh rock band from Conwy in North Wales. Their style was that of a harder-edged Britpop and they played all over the UK and received national airplay on BBC Radio 1. Pocket Venus split in 2003 during negotiations with major record labels, the band cited musical and personal differences as the reason for the break-up. In late 2010 Pocket Venus reformed.

Contents

History

Formation (1998–2003)

Pocket Venus, from North Wales formed in 1998, an amalgamation of various members of earlier bands, the original line up was Chris Yates, Naldo Algieri, Steve Jones, Chris Bainbridge and Mark Kendall (formerly of Y Cyrff). The line up changed in 1999 when guitarist Chris Bainbridge left transferring rhythm guitar duties to Chris Yates. Keyboardist Dave Robinson joined shortly after but the line-up changed again in 2000 when drummer Mark Roberts left the band to be replaced by Pete Ryan. [1] The band were managed by Neil Crud, who released two singles for them on his Secrets of Sound record label. First release; "Make It Through Your Day" had good reviews [2] and received airplay on BBC Radio One from John Peel and Mark Radcliffe, [3] and also airings on BBC Radio Wales from Adam Walton, [4] who invited the band on his show for a session. The band produced a video for their second release Tell Me Why, which is still available on YouTube and the NME's official website. [5] gigs and an energetic stage performance led to more airplay from radio stations both across the UK and internationally, [6] [7] notably winning "Best International Artist" at the Orange County Music Awards. [8] The line-up changed again in late 2002 with the departure of Steve Jones on lead guitar. Jones's place was taken by Dyfed Roberts formerly of Gwacamoli. The band continued to play live shows until August 2003 when the band split up. The band had become disillusioned and disheartened by the music industry, so in order to save their friendships and personal relationships they went their separate ways.

Post-breakup activities (2003–2010)

After the band split Yates and Roberts went on to form Gotti, with Steve Flavell on drums and bass player Mauve. Gotti played locally and also recorded a number of demo tapes. Ryan, Algieri and Robinson stayed away from the music scene for various reasons and concentrated on their family lives and other responsibilities. The band attempted to reform in 2008 but never got past the rehearsal stage.

Reunion (2010–present)

In December 2010, Yates, Algieri and Robinson were joined by Chris Ryan on lead guitar and John "Hargi" Hargest on drums for a low key gig in North Wales announcing the band's return. Hargi was replaced on drums by Simon Barton early on, since then the band have played a number of gigs and have recently released a new E.P, Back to Make it Better, tracks include "Back To Make It Better", "Godspeed" and "Life Of Misery". The E.P has received national airplay and has helped the band reach a wider audience. The band are also supporting various charities including rereleasing their E.P Tell Me Why for Help For Heroes, and also playing gigs to support the Oxjam Music Festival. The band have suggested, via their Facebook page, that they intend to begin recording their debut, full-length album in 2013.

Live

Pocket Venus played at many of the more infamous London venues including the Garage in Highbury, The Water Rats in St Pancras and The Bull And Gate in Kentish Town. The band played several festivals during their career playing Pigstock [9] [10] in North Wales and also played alongside Reef at the prestigious Wakestock festival. [11] Pocket Venus have also played Manchester's world-renowned "In The City" showcase festival.

The band played at Club 147 in Llandudno with Talk To Angels and Danny McNamara of Embrace on Friday 2 September 2011. Later the band performed an acoustic set with Chris Helme of The Seahorses and supported Ultrasound at the launch of their new album at the Borderline Club, in Soho, and again in Llandudno on 14 December 2012. [12]

Discography

EPs

  1. Make It Through Your Day (2000)
  2. Tell Me Why (2002)
  3. Back to Make It Better (2011)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bez (dancer)</span> British dancer, percussionist, author and media personality

Mark Berry, better known as Bez, is an English percussionist, dancer, DJ and media personality. He is best known as a member of the rock bands Happy Mondays and Black Grape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reef (band)</span> British rock band

Reef is an English rock band from Glastonbury. The band members include Gary Stringer on vocals, Amy Newton on guitar, Jack Bessant on bass, and Luke Bullen on drums.

Alun Tan Lan is a Welsh singer-songwriter from the village of Pandy Tudur.

The Sons of Selina were a psychedelic punk group formed in Colwyn Bay, North Wales in 1990. During their nine-year existence they signed to Delerium Records and released two albums and appeared live on BBC Radio 1.

Adam Walton is a British radio disc jockey who has presented shows on BBC Radio Wales since 1993. He is also a member of Mold-based, indie band The Immediate, and a resident DJ at Telford's Warehouse in Chester. Adam has also written a book On Making Music.

John Lawrence is a Welsh musician. He was a founding member of Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, but left the band in 1999, prior to the release of the band's sixth album Spanish Dance Troupe. As a solo artist, he has sometimes gone by the name Infinity Chimps.

Ectogram were a Welsh band from Bangor, Wales.

Wakestock was Europe's largest wakeboard music festival, combining the cultures of music and wakeboarding. It was held on the Llŷn Peninsula in Wales, in between Pwllheli and Llanbedrog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derwyddon Dr Gonzo</span>

Derwyddon Dr Gonzo were a Welsh-language funk and ska band from Llanrug, North Wales. Having reached number one in Siart C2, their music has received airplay on BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 1 and Serbian radio. The band performed regularly on the Welsh language scene circuit, in addition to larger festivals such as Latitude Festival, Wakestock, Sŵn, Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau and Maes B at the National Eisteddfod. Their second EP, Chaviach/Bwthyn was released on the Copa Label in 2008. On 27 July 2009 the band released their second album, Stonk!, on the Copa label, and recorded at the Wings for Jesus Studio in Cardiff by Sir Doufus Styles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasvegas</span> Scottish indie rock band

Glasvegas are a Scottish indie rock band from Glasgow. The band consists of James Allan (vocals), Rab Allan and Paul Donoghue, with Swedish drummer Jonna Löfgren joining the group in 2010 until her departure in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog</span>

Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog are a folk band consisting of three brothers from Rhos Botwnnog, between the villages of Botwnnog and Llaniestyn on the Llyn Peninsula, Gwynedd, Wales and accompanying musicians and singers. They experiment with country, folk and rock music. Most of their lyrics are in Welsh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yr Anhrefn</span> Welsh punk rock group

Yr Anhrefn, also known simply as Anhrefn, were an influential Welsh punk rock group of the 1980s and 1990s.

Al Lewis is a Welsh singer and songwriter. He became known in the Welsh language media after his song came second in the Cân i Gymru contest in 2007.

Shy and The Fight were a seven-piece Welsh acoustic folk / indie rock band from Llangollen, Wales and Chester, England. The band included Tom Hyndman, Carrie Anderson, Christopher Done, Michael Deponeo, Tom Wootton (drums), Samuel Williams (drums) and Jackson Almond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catfish and the Bottlemen</span> British indie rock band from Wales

Catfish and the Bottlemen are a British indie rock band formed in Llandudno, Conwy, Wales, in 2007. The band's debut album, The Balcony, reached number 10 in the UK Albums Chart and achieved Platinum status on 30 December 2016. The band have toured in South America, Japan, UK, Europe, North America, and Australia performing a wide selection of festivals including Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Latitude, Falls Festival, Community Festival, Reading and Leeds, T in the Park, Governors Ball, All Points East, Bonnaroo, Splendour in the Grass, and TRNSMT. They won a Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act on 24 February 2016. On 27 May 2016, they released their second album, The Ride, which reached number 1 in the UK Albums Chart and has sold 300,000 units in the UK since its release. On 26 April 2019, they released their third album, The Balance, which reached number 2 in the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trampolene (band)</span> Welsh rock band

Trampolene are a Welsh alternative rock band from Swansea. They are Jack Jones, Wayne Thomas and Kyle "Mr" Williams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Slow Readers Club</span> English rock band

The Slow Readers Club are an English rock band from Manchester. Their third studio album Build A Tower was a UK Top 20 hit album reaching number 18; follow up The Joy of the Return made it to the Top 10, peaking at number 9 in March 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles</span> British rock band

Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles are a British rock band formed in the autumn of 2015 in the area around Llandudno, North Wales and Chester, England.

Common Ground Festival was originally called "The Dirty Weekend" and is a not-for-profit punk rock festival held in the United Kingdom every September since 2004. Profits go to various grass roots charities focusing on political activism, animal rights, and other causes. It is generally dominated by anarcho-punk, crust punk, and hardcore punk bands but also features dub, ska punk, and folk punk acts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sŵnami</span> Welsh indie rock band

Sŵnami are a Welsh indie rock group from Dolgellau, north-west Wales, who sing predominantly in Welsh. They won the Welsh Language Album of the Year prize at the 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales. Their name is a play on the word 'tsunami' and the Welsh word for sound, "Sŵn", to convey the idea of a wave of sound.

References

  1. "North Wales: Po – Q – link2wales.co.uk". 15 May 2008.
  2. "Pocket Venus – "Make It Through Your Day"".
  3. Pocket Venus played by Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 1 Link2Wales archive
  4. Adam Waltons Online Blog Archived 28 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine Pocket Venus article
  5. NME official website Video for Tell Me Why
  6. Aural Innovations review of Tell Me Why
  7. Aural Innovations review of Make It Through Your Day
  8. OCMA Archives
  9. Adam Waltons Online Blog Archived 28 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine Pig Stock article
  10. North Wales Weekly News Archived 14 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Preview Pig Stock 2002
  11. Wakestock on eFestivals 2002 Line up.
  12. "Ultrasound and Pocket Venus set to rock Llandudno". 29 November 2012.