2 posts tagged “march violets”

In the runup to their December 8 reunion show in Leeds, The March Violets have just released a new downloadable mp3 via their website, and they're encouraging fans to share the track, so here it is:

What do you think?  I'm still on the fence, I don't know if I like that "raunch" groove.  Rather, I like it, but not necessarily on the Violets; they weren't about sleaze back in the 80s, so I wonder why they're doing it now.  Not that I'm against artistic growth, I'm just not convinced this is growth.  Or maybe I'm just getting crotchety in my old age.  Still, it has whet my appetite for more.  Is it too much to hope for a whole new album?

And how about that concert lineup?  With James Ray representing the Sisters of Mercy (sort of), I think they've covered all of the Leeds drum machine bands.  Salvation, even!  Must go dig out those records...

Right-click this link and "Save" to download the mp3.

Just days after Shelleyan Orphan announce a reunion gig, The March Violets announce one too.  I guess there's something to what Bob Lefsetz says about live shows being where the money is in the music industry.  Like a mainstream news outlet, I'm going to go ahead and quote the whole announcement/press release and pass it off as reporting:

The March Violets, one of the original (and some say the best) Leeds drum machine bands, are returning to the city that started it all and reforming to give a one night only show. Featuring classic tracks such as Snake Dance and Walk Into The Sun, and some brand new material, plus some very interesting Special Guests: first confirmed being the Chris Reed Unit, Founder member and frontman of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry. After the show everyone gets to stay for an aftershow party till 3am, with DJs from Leeds very own Wendy House providing the sounds in both rooms. We hope you can be there, it should be one hell of a party.  Tickets are available from the Met, both online and at the Booking Office, though the cheapest online outlet is at www.myspace/officialmarchviolets where you can also pre-order the CD of new material that will only be available at the gig.

Some Natural History:

In 1982 frontwoman Rosie Garland left the band and went to Africa as an Aid worker. She has since become a solo performer on the gay scene as Rosie Lugosi and a published author.

In 1985 founder and frontman Simon Denbigh left in a storm of "differences" and formed the proto-grunge Batfish Boys. Since then he has had many incarnations, wandered into electronic music, and has been a member of The Sisters of Mercy for the last 10 years.

Guitarist Tom Ashton ran with the Violets until they collapsed in 1986, had a brief stint with Clan of Xymox before moving to the backwoods of Georgia to play with guns and breed.

These parts of the original lineup have agreed to get together for old times' sake and because they felt there was something important left unsaid. The one-off one night only event will be in Leeds, the city that started it.

The March Violets will also be releasing a collection of Brand New Tracks.
This will only be available as a very limited edition to those who go to the Gig.

This is a one time event.

Play Loud, Play Purple.

So here is "Snake Dance," in its extended form.  Many extended or "dance" versions of 80s pop songs just take an instrumental portion of the song and repeat it for minutes on end.  "Snake Dance" rises above that methodology by adding an atmospheric piano part to the extension (in the middle of the song), making for a pleasant excursion before returning to the song proper:

How about that bassline: is that not totally Joy Division?  Did Peter Hook define the gothic bass?  Hmm, I'll have to think about that one some more.  Those other "Leeds drum machine bands" would be the Sisters of Mercy, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, the Three Johns, maybe more; it didn't occur to me back in the 80s, while I was following the Sheffield scene, that there might be a Leeds scene as well.  (And as Damon Fairclough points out, at least one band I assumed were from Sheffield was actually from Lees: Age of Chance just looked like they were from Sheffield because of their Designers Republic sleeve art.  And their releases on Sheffield's FON label.)  "Snake Dance" (1983?) was the March Violets' high point: they had come far enough to make the drum machine sound a little less mechanical, production quality was better, the male/female vocal dynamcs are great, and they came up with some great hooks to boot.  I bought the 4-song 12" when I was stuck in a synthpop rut and casting about for something new to listen to: the golden snakeskin sleeve, gothic graphic design and song titles ("Slow Drip Lizard" was another song on there) caught my eye, and happily the record caught my ear.  The next single, "Walk Into the Sun," was another solid offering.  But then the split occurred (Simon D. leaving to form the Batfish Boys), and as with the Human League, after the split neither party could match the prime cuts of the original group.  (I saw the Simon-less Cleo Murray lineup at the 9:30 Club in 198..4? 5?  One of those years.  It was all right.  They had a drummer.  Cleo wore a loose blouse with no bra underneath, and would occasionally raise her arms while singing so that the hem of her blouse came up to almost expose her breasts, to the delight of all the men in the audience.)  Which is not to say they weren't successful: the Violets succumbed to the Curse of John Hughes, contributing two songs to the soundtrack for Some Kind of Wonderful (one of them, the Stones cover "Miss Amanda Jones," the kind of dreck that would define the "Modern Rock" radio format).  And that was all.  Until now!  Here's hoping that collection of Brand New Tracks sees a wider release!

March Violets MySpace page