About
The band name was born from a fantasy of critters reclaiming nature and rebalancing the inherent evolution of planet Earth - befitting for musicians living a rural lifestyle in the Welsh hills with copious critters.
Alex Nagle, chief singer/songwriter, was raised in a musical family (his stepfather a founding member of/trumpet player for legendary Blood, Sweat and Tears) and in the bohemian surroundings of The Chelsea Hotel, which seeps into the songs.
Alex is originally from the States and played extensively in the Los Angeles, New York City, and New England music scenes and was in the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame inducted band, Plan 9. He also supported The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Jon Spencer, Deke Dickerson, Sleepy LaBeef, Phoebe Snow & more, plus appeared as an actor in other bands music videos too (Cinderella, Dan Reed Network, Bob Dylan etc).
He met Jen (iconic bassist for Oxford cult bands Smilex, Dolly & Moonkat) in New York at a Sonic Youth gig and bonded over a mutual love of Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, John Frusciante, The Butthole Surfers and ZZ Top. They soon eloped to South Wales to be wed, write some tasty rock jams and raise some critters of their own.
The duo hooked up with Jen’s old label Quickfix and (ex Nubiles/Mystics/Four Storeys) drummer Dan Goddard for a singles club release and racked up over 23,000 streams and a considerable amount of Indie airplay for debut double A-side Someday/Denim & Paisley. They got to work playing their locale and surrounding areas, including Guardian & 6 Music fave Riverside Festival in Oxfordshire. Last summer they played a mini tour with label mate Liv Luce, with new sticksman Dave Headon firmly in the fold and bringing to the mix a Jimmy Chamberlain-esque propulsion and 60’s/70’s rock know-how that perfectly complements Alex’s songs & guitar tones and Jen’s glam rock tastes.
Dave brought with him a versatility, it was quite common for him to play back to back shows, one night punk, the next, cabaret, a testament to his proficiency in a wide range of styles.
“I played drums in the Llanedeyrn High school musical ‘Oliver’ and the music teacher told me there was a guy a year younger who was pretty good also auditioning for the part, but I got the gig instead of him …that guy turned out to be Ian Thomas, a monster session guy who has since played with George Michael, Eric Clapton, to mention just a few and luckily for him he got to play in the musical the following year as I’d left school” - Dave
Together, they ferment a unique brew of rock ‘n’ roll - singular in their image, approach and fascinations, effortlessly distilling catchy hooks and accessible melodies. Join us for the uncorking as we await the forthcoming EP (engineered by Andrew Sanders and mastered by Charlie Francis (REM, Robyn Hitchcock, Manic Street Preachers, Future Of The Left) and pour yourself a sample in the form of the new single ‘Sweep’, a track that plays with tension and release, both invigorating and cathartic. Purging all its fury, in a fiery and satisfying palate cleanse.
“The lyrics are sprinkled with the fairy dust from memories of a life in Los Angeles, including escapades in the infamous Frolic Room. I wrote this about the period near the end of my years in L. A., when I was considering leaving…” - Alex
