SSOWB Rough Trade instore - The Verdict

Miserable weather conditions in the Capital made for a sparse but committed turnout yesterday for Stranger Son’s in-store appearance at Rough Trade East. The WB’s pummelled their way through a selection of tracks from the ‘Einstein’s Getaway’ CD, oblivious to the rather uncharacteristic ‘ghost town’ vibes we were getting from Brick Lane on a freezing Wednesday evening. Those in attendance were clearly enthralled that the band and the Rough Trade staff had gone ahead with the event, regardless of any amount of limp-wristed windy ice-bating thrown in our path. We’d like to thank all those who came out for the gig, and the Rough Trade staff for their hospitality, all of which went to making the trip nothing short of a joyous riot sandwiched between two prolonged stints inside a rattling, icy metal (white) box hurtling down the motorway at alarming speeds.

More on the SSOWB Rough Trade instore

"We are very excited about this band. they are fresh as fuck, yet classic as a fish finger sandwich. To celebrate their new album 'Einstein's Getaway', they are packing up their gear and coming down to Rough Trade East to do an instore on the 4th of February at 7pm. If your not convinced already that they are a band to watch in 2009, download their track 'Engine' and be prepared to have your head ripped off."

WHITEBOX001 : Stranger Son of WB 'Engine' 12"

White Box released 'Engine' by Stranger Son Of WB as a very limited (300-only) 1-sided 12" on the 5th of January 2009 - read what shops say, listen to their sound samples, and then buy it from the outlet of your choice before it sells out:

"is this the greatest track that factory records didn't release? we sure as hell think so! think disco-not-disco with a harder, snarling edge. pop music that should come with a health warning. stranger son is the project of gareth smith, who for the past couple of years has been terrifying uk audiences (and also a few band members!), with a barrage of brilliant gnarly pop rants. hand stamped one sided limited first edition. a primal burst of raw, no-nonsense energy crammed into one song. seriously, this song is so perversely catchy that we can't believe our ears. three minutes of hardened pop; lean and taut, a disco beat with teeth, a synth-pop music to terrify the kids back onto the dancefloor. a snarling, 'aggro-man' vocal intimidates, backed by a super-tight band, so hell-bent on delivery that you can imagine them staring you down as you pay in to the dank venue space this music is being blasted out from...maybe you should stand back a bit... this one is for fans of the fall, the early factory records releases, the jerky sounds of new york post-punk disco-not-disco innovators like esg, the contortions and liquid liquid, all fuelled by lethal amounts of suicide-style energy"

says Rough Trade

and

"Stranger Son of WB (nattily abbreviated to SSOWB) are apparently from Manchester, a city who's towering grey infernal shops & terminal drizzle forces folk to make occasionally excellent music. They've got this one sided 12" called 'Engine' which is quite brilliant. It's the culmination of years of listening to allsorts of things Factory related but ends up sounding like New Fast Automatic Daffodils on crystal meth. The cowbell embellished frantic off-beat drums starts things off nicely before this this hoofing Lancastrian bellow hots things up, stepping onto this relentless & propulsive level with a swirling, eerie keyboard stolen off a record by The Wake and a pinching manic bass line that'd kick your cock off it's so low slung. So it's a total floor filler, stuffed with energy & authentic punk funk attitude but sounds remarkably fresh rather than just a pastiche. watch out for these chaps I'd say.....Like the white ink stamped die cut, it's well designer"

says Norman Records

Other shops and onlines have copies left (here, here and here), but White Box approve of the above because they say the nicest things.

Upcoming White Box-approved gigs : Part 1

Peter Broderick plays at Manchester's Academy 3 on Sunday the 8th of February, with support from Danny Saul.

Liondialer European Tour

Liondialer (Greg Haines and Danny Saul) start their first tour on the 14th of February 2009 (Valentines Day - watch out ladies!) in Gerlesborg, Sweden - full itinerary below:




Feb 14 Gerlesborg School of Art, Gerlesborg, Sweden
Feb 15 Sound of Mu, Oslo, Norway
Feb 17 Stadsbiblioteket, Gothenburg, Sweden
Feb 18 Strand, Stockholm, Sweden
Feb 20 Danny Saul Destroyer & Greg Haines (solo sets) Ausland, Berlin, Germany,
Feb 23 Madame Swish Claude, Berlin, Germany
Feb 24 Velak-Gala, Vienna, Austria
Feb 25 Kuhturm, Leipzig, Germany
Feb 26 Feinkost Lampe, Hannover, Germany
Feb 27 Polyester, Oldenburg, Germany
Feb 28 Wouter and Nine’s Place, Utrecht, Netherlands (Danny Saul solo with Greg Haines accompanying - is that still solo?)
Mar 1 De Lawei, Drachten, Netherlands
Mar 2 Logement, Antwerp, Belgium
Apr 25 Kinky Kong, Athens, Greece

Photographs and some kind of tour diary is threatened promised...White Box release their 'LIVE!' album on the 30th March 2009, but advance copies will be for sale on the tour.

Stranger Son Of WB Rough Trade instore

Stranger Son Of WB play at Rough Trade East on Brick Lane in London, to coincide with the release of 'Einstein's Getaway' (White Box 002 CD), on Wednesday 4th February at 7.00pm (weather permitting) - entry is by wristband only, more information via the Rough Trade link above.