| Junkyard Choir | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Alternative / Blues / Rock |
| Years active | 2006 - present |
| Labels | None |
| Associated acts | Do Me Bad Things Captains of the Citadel |
| Website | www.junkyardchoir.com |
| Members | |
| Mark Woods Kevin Hiscox Tom Herbert |
|
| Past members | |
| Paul Connor | |
Junkyard Choir are a London-based alternative rock band formed in 2006, whose original lineup had previously played together under the name "Dirt". Currently composed of guitarist and lead singer Mark Woods, bassist Kevin Hiscox and drummer Tom Herbert, the band are known for their unique blend of rock, blues, punk and waltz, having been described as "swampy rock'n'roll",[1] "gypsy punk" [2] and "mariachi-esque polka-rock".[3] Frontman Mark Woods was, for three years (2003–2006), one of the main vocalists in Do Me Bad Things.
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Mark Woods and Kevin Hiscox had been playing together since the turn of the century as Dirt, with founding drummer Paul Connor, and gaining local notoriety in south London for their simple and catchy songs, characterised by monkey imagery and beatnik themes, sung (or howled) with Woods' distinctly lupine growl and interspersed with Connor's elastically-syncopated drumfills. Dirt self-released a number of EPs during this time.
In 2003, following a Dirt show, Woods was approached by members of Croydon soul-metallers Do Me Bad Things and asked to join their number as a backing vocalist.[4] First signed to Must Destroy, then to Atlantic, Do Me Bad Things' rise to fame put a halt to Dirt's progress due to Woods' unavailability whilst away on tour. In 2006, however, just prior to the breakup of Do Me Bad Things, Connor, Hiscox and Woods reformed in earnest, changing their name to Junkyard Choir.
The band then recorded the EP "Trying to save the world" with Pete Lyons in November 2006. Drummer Paul Connor left amicably at the start of 2007 shortly after its release. The band quickly drafted in Tom Herbert from "Captains of the citadel" to stand in. During the course of the next year Herbert eventually became a permanent member of the band. The band released their second EP "Delope" in the summer of 2008. Bass player Kevin Hiscox went missing in Spain for the first 6 months of 2009, only to then find his way home in time to play the bands support show at The Borderline, London with the alt-country band "Clem snide" in May 2009.[5] Mark Woods also self-released his first solo Ep "Under the big smoke" in the same month. The band then finished work & released "When the ship goes down" in September 2009.
Junkyard choir recorded with Pete Lyons at Zed-One studios for a new EP "Dead Anchor Blues" which was released early 2011.
| Release date | EP title | Tracklisting |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Trying to Save the World | 1. Keep Falling 2. Let My Tree Grow 3. No Smoke Without Fire 4. Trying to Save the World |
| 2008 | Delope | 1. I Remember When 2. Sod's Law 3. Santiago Girl 4. Miss You Baby 5. Little White Papers 6. Come With Me 7. Pistols at Dawn |
| 2009 | When the Ship Goes Down | 1. Tunnels 2. Temptation 3. Knocking Down Your Door 4. Take a Ride |
| 2011 | Dead Anchor Blues | 1. All the rats will drown 2. Giving up 3. Groundhog |