The Misers

~ Group

Annotation

When The Misers released their debut album, Amplified Life Stories, in 2009, its analogue tape hiss & gritty valve sound gained the band a whole host of fans from the moment it landed, not least Radio 2’s Janice Long who heaped praise on the record calling it “a return to the golden age of song writing” while Maverick Magazine hailed it a “Dead Cert!”

Song plays, interviews & live sessions on Radio 2 followed, along with healthy support from BBC local radio stations and playlisting on College Radio stations across America. UK tours & festival dates were met with a frenzied response and appearances on ITV & SkyArts1 announced The Misers had arrived in fine style.

Fast forward 3 years and you may be forgiven for thinking that you are witnessing a new band. Certainly 2012 finds The Misers in a period of Renewed Fire, Renewed Focus & ultimately, a Renewed Passion.

Neil Ivison (Vocals/Guitar) explains: “3 years is a long time to go between albums but once we got these songs together, we honed them on the road. We wanted them to be the best they could be, we’d play anywhere that would have us. We toured relentlessly, we built our fan base on the road and I continue to be blown away by how these guys have stuck by us through thick & thin.”

Along the way, the band lost founding member & Hammond Player Adam Barry to pastures new & also bass player Karl Dixon who emigrated to New Zealand. Shane Dixon (Drums/Vocals) is still holding down his thunderous groove and, thanks to a chance reply to an old internet ad, the band is now augmented by Paul Connop (Guitar/Vocals) and Sid Griffin (Bass/Vocals). “The moment we stepped into the studio with these guys, something just clicked. It was like the last piece of the puzzle had just fallen into place and now we’re more fired up than ever!” enthuses Shane.

A Weight Off The Mind… has been produced by Rockfield Studios veteran Paul Cobbold (Echo & The Bunnymen, Waterboys, Nick Lowe) who brings a fresh, contemporary approach to The Misers fiercely organic sound. “I was on a total retro trip last time,” Neil confesses. “I wouldn’t hear of using a computer to record, everything had to be recorded to tape through valves. PC opened my eyes to a world where both can work in harmony!”

With critics keen to write the band off or to infer that this would be a ‘Difficult Second Album’, Neil is quick to reply “There was nothing difficult about writing the record, the difficulty lay in getting everyone together at the right time! We kept people waiting but we had to take it to the next level. You always want your next record to be better than your last and I really believe we’ve done it 10 fold this time.”

With its stunning melodies, ringing guitars, and razor-sharp grooves, AWOTM delivers on the promise The Misers have shown throughout their career. From the invigorating battle cry of Old Town (which Neil will dedicate to his hometown), My Life Story (a tongue in cheek look at life as a Hollywood script) to the emotional intensity of “The Shrine” (young lives lost & a town divided).

This is where the new chapter in The Misers’ tale really begins.

Annotation last modified on 2012-09-08 13:53 UTC.

Discography

Album

YearTitleArtistRatingReleases
2010Amplified Life StoriesThe Misers1
2012A Weight off the Mind (Is Still a Load on the Shoulders)The Misers1

Single

YearTitleArtistRatingReleases
2010Shoot The BreezeThe Misers1

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