| Misterlee | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Leicester, England, United Kingdom |
| Genres | Alternative rock, lo-fi |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Rubber Czech |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | |
| Lee Allatson Jamie Smith |
|
| Past members | |
| Michael "Curtis" Oxtoby | |
Misterlee are an alternative rock band from Leicester, England. Centred around the talents of Lee Allatson, Misterlee have so far released three albums, Chiselgibbon (2002)[1] and Night of the Killer Longface (2005) (largely Allatson solo recordings), followed by a collection of live recordings - Bootlegger/Misterlee Is Not A Lifestyle Sandwich in late 2006. Performing live, Misterlee comprised Allatson on vocals, drums and effects, augmented by guitarist Jamie Smith and Michael "Curtis" Oxtoby on electric violin and bass guitar, although Oxtoby left in late 2007. The band has played live extensively around the UK, as well as in the United States,[2] sharing bills with the likes of Hamell on Trial, Sebadoh, Jeffrey Lewis, Johnny Dowd, Simple Kid, and The Mountain Goats, and has also appeared at festivals such as In The City, Secret Garden Party and Summer Sundae. The band has often played Antifolk UK festivals in London, and has thus been described as "a world of anti-folk, Beck-like genre teasing played out in an English country garden on full band and ukelele".[3] The band were featured on the first Antifolk UK compilation album (with the track "Dim Lit"), though their sound is not traditionally 'antifolk' (in the sense of 'acoustic punk') and comparisons with other bands are difficult. Though the vocal delivery is definitely English, American influences can be heard in the music - one reviewer describes them as "a man playing doomed country ballads in an American whisky bar".[4] In June 2009, Allatson announced that Misterlee were working on a new album, with a working title of This Disquiet Dog, due for reelase later that year. The album features Allatson and Smith with a cameo performance by Oxtoby, and was recorded at Smith's Owlhouse Studio in South Leicestershire.