Call that a bank holiday?

Cos we ruddy don't!

It's been a busy couple of weeks over at Tones Central, and not always for the right reasons...

Starting on a high note, as Marky is wont to, we helped raise funds for the Ottery Scout Hut in a characteristically chaotic manner by playing the devils music at ear splitting volume at The Instititute whilst dressed in our bestest scouts uniforms (pictured), and encouraging a host of most un-scoutsmanlike behaviour amongst the natives.






Good work Ottery - here's some bad footage of us in action playing yet another inappropriate number. We want to come back. We promise not to dress as small boys next time. Except Harry. He can't help it.

Where next? Why, the Twyford! What's that I hear you cry? Closed for business? Mais non, mon cher - they're properly ouvert and wanted us back to do what we do! And we did. And it was all going so well - here's a video to prove it.






What we weren't counting on was the pint of water, oh so precarious, on the shelf above the mixing desk, teetering and vibrating with every Bunting rumble, edging ever forward until... Oh my! Cue sizzling electrical goods, loss of all power, embarrassing early finish, and retreat with tail between legs. People of Tiverton, we have not been more contrite, and promise not to do it again. We can't afford to. In five years we've never had to leave early. We'll be back.






So on to Sunday, and a chance to play at the best one day festival in mid Devon in Mid May. The sap was rising, and it was looking like actual Spring. We had a lovely time. Great crowd, great organisers, lovely stage and sound (and fortunately for us, someone else's PA...). Couldn't have wanted more - except maybe more time.

We're a tantric band, more accustomed to a three hour odyssey of a set - a journey, a slow build, an orgasmic crescendo. You know the sort of thing. Only having a half hour felt more like a quick knee trembler behind the bike sheds. But you can't beat the odd quickie, and we had a whale of a time. Thanks for having us, Bow. we'd like some more, please! More video ahoy!

And alls well that ends well. After five days in the airing cupboard, the desk has dried out and lives to fight another day. To the Tone Cave people!

Love you byeeeeee! X

PS - here's one for the ladies.




- Posted from a wireless telegraph

Thorvertones calling!

We played the Bowling Green for the first time in what felt like an age - and like a sailor on shore leave, all that pent up desire for the best looking bar staff in Exeter was diverted into spurting pub rock art all over the joint. The presence of Bunting's former bandmate and Peryls sticksman inspired the first successful 'My Generation' bass bit in over two years, and the presence of some of Exeters sexiest faces inspired the cracking time that was had by all. The equipment worked! Nothing broke! The curse of the Bowling Green is no more! Sadly, and unusually in the modern era, no photos survive. So here's an only lightly soiled picture of the lady we give all our pocket money to for services too despicable to go into here. Enjoy. We do.






As for the party in Taunton we just played? It's not the done thing to blog about private bookings, but the fact that our flow was interrupted by ebullient partygoers crashing onto the stage scattering microphones and effects pedals asunder not once but twice, and five separate encores were demanded despite the three hour set is a measure of the carnival atmosphere. The final four songs summarise neatly why we love playing Taunton so much: Purple Rain > The Hokey Cokey > Love Machine > My Generation. Even substituting the line 'Why don't you all f**k off home" into the latter at 12:15 failed to put a dampner on things. Superb.

With the news that the Twyford is back up and running, we would appear to be on a roll.

Next stop Ottery. We're off to get measured up for our Cub Scout uniforms. You heard it here first.

Love you byeeeeee!

- posted from a wireless telegraph

Turner Goes Fourth...

I can't believe it's taken so long to mention this. Last Wednesday, whilst rehearsing 'Behind Blue Eyes', the Thorvertones managed their very first FOUR PART HARMONY.

"Yeah - so what?" I hear you cry.

Well for starters, it means that you can look forward to Harry Turner coming out. From behind his saucepans, and joining the musicians at the front.

If the prospect of a full length Turner doesn't get your attention, then nothing will.

But we're not ready quite yet. We're still honing our barbershop skills to perfection (or as near to 'perfection' as the strict parameters of our Punk work ethic will allow).

There's still plenty to look forward to though, including some new medleys:

'Whole Lotta Rosie' and 'Pretty Vacant'
'Whiskey in the Jar' and 'Wild Rover'
'My Generation' and the 'Hokey Cokey'

Love you! Byeeee!

- posted from a wireless telegraph