Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays loves Twisted Wheel

Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays tells American web site, http://www.buzzbands.la/ about his love for Twisted Wheel:

On Buzz Bands’ behalf, local promoter and DJ Larry Gjurgevich — one of the driving forces behind the long-running L.A. weekly Club Undergound (where, on any given Friday, you’re likely to hear the Psychedelic Furs and Happy Mondays) — caught up with Ryder

Thank you for taking time out. How is this tour going? In San Francisco to have a shower and some sleep. It’s great, ya know what I mean? It’s great, but I’m an old man now and this is a young man’s game, ya know what I mean? I’m getting old for this game of night after night after night of shows. Been good, though. You played huge festivals over the summer such as V Festival, how was that? It was great, really great. What bands are you listening to at the moment? There are a lot of bands that I like at the moment. I’m not like the other older f*****s slaggin’ on all the new bands. There’s load of good bands out at the moment. Problem is, I can’t remember their names. As far as English bands go, I am a big fan of Twisted Wheel. They are a great Manchester band, I think they are one of the best bands to come out of Manchester in the last 20 years. http://buzzbands.la/2009/09/17/interview-shaun-ryder-of-the-happy-mondays/

Twisted Wheel live at the Church Inn, Uppermill, 24/10/09 all proceeds going to Christie's Foundation Trust

Twisted Wheel are set to play at the Church Inn, Uppermill, Saddleworth, on Saturday 24th October 2009.

This hometown charity gig has all proceeds going to Christie's Foundation Trust.

The gig itself will be staged in a marquee, so entry will be limited.

Entry from 4pm and there are no tickets available, £5 will get you inside, so get there early to guarantee your entry to what will be at totally breathtaking evening of rock and roll mayhem.

As well as Twisted Wheel, you will get to see Danny Mahon, The Slates, Where's Strutter? and Blouse.

see you there

xx

Latest Album review by Nina Bhadreshwar

IT’S GOOD TO HEAR AN ELEGANT ROAR 
By Nina Bhadreshwar

 REVIEW OF DEBUT ALBUM OF TWISTED WHEEL: 

The arrival of the three piece ‘Twisted Wheel’ is rather like the arrival of a strange machine; you are not quite sure how it works, but it works well. There’s a bit of fear too – what will happen when they let go, when the throttle is flat to the floor, the chains are off? It’s not that rock ‘n’ roll has got saggy exactly but maybe it’s a bit tired. Maybe it’s forgotten where it came from, who it’s for, what it’s for. Well, let Twisted Wheel reintroduce you to the fundamentals in their pitiless, full-on songs.

 A real song is one that makes you smell, feel the place it was born. It’s simultaneously as familiar and remote as your first crush and this album is packed with them.

‘Lucy The Castle’ is a remorseless stramarsh. Lead singer Johnny Brown spits out a furore of lyrics like a baby Weller but with the intonation of an older, earthed-in Mancunian Daltry. It uses the rhythms of the Ramones’ lesser-known tunes and seventies’ punk to form a gem of an adoration anthem. It’s admittedly the one which rips up the floor at an early stage in their live sets.

But it’s just a precursor for the already legendary ‘She’s A Weapon’. The song hurtles through a gamut of intense minor chords before ripping itself to rags in a mod-meets-rock bridge. It’s the beautiful bare bones of these songs which makes them unusual. While others aim for vacillation and vagueness for mystery, it’s the sharp shadows and echoes of Twisted Wheel’s crystal clear sounds and the graceful brutal architecture of these tunes which haunt and intimidate. There’s a stark symmetry in each. ‘We were talking in the garden, we were talking in the sea, we were talking in the city…I just have one thing to say: What’s your name?...It was dark now it is light’(‘What’s Your name?) Stripped down to the bare knuckles of tightly coiled emotion, they are concentrated capsules of an intense vigour of thought and feeling few young bands can articulate.

 Brown’s lyrics are sharp, witty and complex – all the more astonishing confined into such instinctive nuggets. ‘We Are Us’ is a journey through any post-industrial wasteland, the roar of defiance echoing over the rift between the new mod/punk and the clumsy sleepy rock which tried to fill in the gaps of Oasis. Austere and lean production is what such rare songs deserve. 

The sardonic snarl of ‘Oh what have you done, you dirty rock ‘n’ roller?’ over taut mauling riffs is more infectious than a relentless ‘Rock’n’Roll Radio’ (‘Oh what have you done?) and ‘You Stole The Sun’ is a hilarious, ridiculous rant of a metaphor which hurls itself headlong on its pitiless percussion and thumping guitars. It makes perfect sense – at least for anyone from the UK and melanin-challenged.

But it is ‘Strife’ and ‘Bouncing Bomb’ which hint at the latent power of Brown as an iconic poet in the ilk of Lennon (before the overt politics). There is the wit, the ache and the tormented tenderness which never permits itself indulgence, held so rigidly by each melody.

 The range of the songs is remarkable but it’s their clean structure and haunting lyrics which really mark them out.

Don’t underestimate their understated simplicity: Twisted Wheel have to be so tight as there’s so much wrapped up in there. Rock ‘n’roll exists for such dense genius.

TWISTED WHEEL album now available on Columbia/Sony BMG Records
Album also contains several amazing videos of live performances by the band taken at Manchester's Ritz..... .. .. http://www.therealstate.co.uk/2/70/Music/TWISTED_WHEEL_-_ALBUM_REVIEW.html....

Exeter Cavern Club 17/10/09

After a night out on the town in Brighton, it was back to business again, at an Indie Night in The Cavern club, in Exeter, situated in a tiny side street off the main shopping area in the town centre. The lads were in good spirits and looking forward to playing in this venue, with its excellent acoustics. The bar was full and so was the dance floor, ready to witness another epic Twisted Wheel gig.

SET LIST

'Lucy The Castle'

'Racket'

'Bad Candy'

'One Night on the Street'

'Shes a Weapon'

'Let Them Have It All'

'Strife'

'Smash it Up'

'Turnaround'

'Oh What Have You Done'

'We Are Us' (longer intro)

'You Stole The Sun'

The crowd enjoyed themselves, falling over with pints in their hands, everyone having a fantastic time, dancing along with each other to the energetic full throttle set.

And thats where we leave it, the southern section of the tour over with many new Twisted Wheel fans added to their already massive following.

Bring on Scotland is all I can say....

see you there... xx

Brighton Audio 16/10/09

Ah, Brighton, with its lovely shops (in the lanes) and excellent night life, never lets us down... The Audio club is situated right along the Brighton sea front, its a cellar, with a tiny stage, so small infact, they only just fit on.... so we're all underground for this night of mayhem (quite an understatement I might add)

The club is rammed tight with eager fans, all trying to get the best view down at the front barrier with shouts of 'WWWWhhheeeeellll' again reverberating around the club. Things were getting hot and sweaty even before the lads came on, with growing anticipation the fans were working themselves into a frenzy. The reward came in the form of the opening chords of 'Lucy The Castle', everyone in the room was sing and dancing, and the fans at the front getting a bit squashed at the barrier not wanting to loose their place. 'Racket' and 'Bad Candy' were up next, with the barrier loosing out to the fans, it had all become undone, even toppling over a few times and it even made a hole in one of my boots :/. SET LIST

'Lucy The Castle'

'Racket'

'Bad Candy'

'One Night On The Street'

'She's A Weapon'

'Let Them Have It All'

'Bouncing Bomb'

'Whats Your Name'

'Bang of The Beat'

'Strife'

'Smash It Up'

'Turnaround'

'Oh What Have You Done'

'We Are Us'

'You Stole The Sun'

The pace and the heat didnt let up at all for this fantastic set . The fans totally loving it, which was so evident at the end, due to the twisted barrier!!! Im sure it wont be long, until Twisted Wheel make the long journey South again.

Colchester Arts Centre 15/10/09

Colchester Arts Centre, a beautiful gothic church, situated ontop of the hill, with an equally beautiful pub 100 yards away... I was intrigued to find the similarities with my home town of Salisbury's Art's Centre, right down to its old manager who is now in charge of the Colchester venue.. small world... Oh, and another thing, who ever thought Colchester was a sleepy town was wrong, which you will find out about further into this review.........

So here we are, on the first date, of the second section of the Twisted Wheel tour, and the venue is filling up nicely, with chants of 'Wwwhhheeeeellll', to let the lads know that theres an eager crowd waiting. Of course, they don't disappoint, storming onstage and straight into 'Lucy The Castle', a completely changed set list to last week... quickly followed by 'Racket' and 'Bad Candy'

SET LIST

''Lucy The Castle'

'Racket'

'Bad Candy'

'One Night on the Street'

'Shes A Weapon'

'Let Them Have It All'

'Bouncing Bomb'

'Whats Your Name'

'Strife'

'Bang of the Beat'

'Smash It Up'

'We Are Us'

'Oh What Have You Done'

'You Stole The Sun'

With the crowd being so rowdy, it wasn't long before the first stage invasion of the evening. In fact, there were many, much to the annoyance of the bouncers, who really seemed to be a bunch of 'jobsworths'. Infact Jonny pleaded to leave the extras on stage, but unfortunately, they were removed, one of the bouncers even remonstrated with Jonny which angered the crowd somewhat. We're all here to have a good time, so why do they see the need to spoil things?

The good people of Colchester obviously love Twisted Wheel and really showed their appreciation and I am sure the lads were so impressed by the evenings events that they will certainly request to make a return date

the bouncers being a bit rough...

Fault Magazine - Twisted Wheel Interview 04/09/09

FAULT: What were you doing before Twisted Wheel? Jonny: I didn’t do anything for years, just sort of fucked around. I was a bit of a menace. Rick: I was at university doing 3D Design…It was shit. FAULT: What can people expect from your debut album Jonny: In truth, lots of energy, fast pace, good songs, a straight forward rock ‘n’ roll debut album. FAULT: What is your favourite song off the album? Jonny: I’ve got two. We’ve got an acoustic track called Bouncing Bomb that’s dead chilled out and that’s the second till last tune on the album. My other favourite is a new version of She’s a weapon. I like all different ones on different days. FAULT: Who writes the songs and where do you get your inspiration? Jonny: I write the tunes and then I put them to the band. Inspiration is everything, nothing specific, different things at different times. Girls seem to keep coming out but I’m getting away from that now, I’m going into politics… FAULT: What do you think of new music? Jonny: I don’t really know any new music Rick knows more then me. I like The Views’ new stuff. I also like stuff that Jack White does, I think he’s quality. FAULT: How did the Oasis support come about? Jonny: Noel heard us on Channel Manchester. I think we only done about six tunes and Noel watched it in London and then he got asked if we could support them and he said yeah.

October/November 2009 Headline Tour part one Video

Twisted Wheel at the Rockhouse, Derby 03/10/09

The thrid night of the tour, and Twisted Wheel hit the town of Derby. With the Rockhouse venue being upstairs, its all hands to the deck to make sure the equipment gets inside and straight down to the soundcheck.

Way before the doors are open, theres already a huge crowd gathered outside to witness the nights shinanegans - they won't be disappointed....

The Rockhouse, being another sell out date of the tour begins to fill quickly and theres swift trade being done on the merchandise stall too with T shirts, badges, vinyls and cds flying off the counter like hot cakes. If you're going to a gig on the tour, make sure you check the stall out as Twisted Wheel t shirts are a bargin at £10, with badge sets and vinyls at £3 you won't find a better deal anywhere....... With the venue packed solid, the lads come on stage to the usual chants of 'Wwwheeellll' and storm straight into 'She's A Weapon', 'Bad Candy', 'Racket' and 'Lucy The Castle'. An excellent change to the new set, the crowd love 'She's A Weapon' and with it being the opener, it sets the energetic pace at a high.

It didnt take long for the crowd surfing to commence, with quite a few people coming over the front, it was getting quite a squash down at the barrier with the mosh pit just behind them, but everyone was having such a good time, nothing mattered, everyone's total concentration was on the band... Slowing down for 'Bouncing Bomb', the audience singing at the top of their voices, gave everyone a chance for a well earned breather Highlight of the night has to be the brilliant 'Bang of The Beat' and the awsome extended 'We Are Us', with the original arrangement for 'Turnaround' making a welcome return. I can't think of a better way to end a Wheel gig, other than with the octane fuelled 'You Stole The Sun'.

Set List

'She's A Weapon'

'Bad Candy'

'Racket'

'Lucy The Castle'

'Let Them Have It All'

'Bouncing Bomb'

'Whats Your Name'

'One Night on the Street'

'Smash It Up'

'Bang of the Beat'

'Strife'

'We Are Us' (extended)

'Turnaround' (original version) 'Oh What Have You Done'

'You Stole The Sun'

So Derby has a lot to live up to, it was easily the best gig of the tour so far... see you in Colchester 15th, Brighton 16th and Exeter 17th October with many more dates following, including Scotland which undoubtedly will be out of this world.

jane xx

(p.s. sorry about the pix- poor quality due to the exessive use of dry ice)

Twisted Wheel at the Bullingdon, Oxford 02/10/09

With the first night of the tour at (hot n' sweaty) Fibbers in York being a roaring success, it was time to move on to Oxford. The Bullingdon, being a Pub venue, situated just around the corner from Oxford's Academy - but I know which venue all the crowds flocked to for a guaranteed good night out - The Bullingdon of course to witness the second instalment of the rockin' new set by Twisted Wheel. A new set - straight into 'We Are Us', (the usual last song ) got the crowd well and truely going, followed by 'Racket' and 'Bad Candy' set the pace for the fast and furious night of mayhem. Set List

'We Are Us'

'Racket'

'Bad Candy'

'She's A Weapon'

'Strife'

'Let Them Have It All'

'Bouncing Bomb'

'One Night on the Street'

'Bang of the Beat'

'Lucy The Castle'

'Turnaround' (new version)

'Oh What Have You Done'

'You Stole The Sun'

'Bouncing Bomb' went down a storm with the whole place singing along. Adam and Jonny kept the audience's attention with their ad lib jam session when a bass guitar cable became slightly difficult, but they soon were storming into the fantastic 'Bang of the Beat'. Next up, 'Lucy The Castle' and the fantastic 'Turnaround' where alot of the audience obviously new the song and just went for it in a big way! Last up, was, 'You Stole The Sun' which saw the whole place irrupt. It was a fantastic gig,it was plain to see that everyone enjoyed themselves.. now, roll on Derby.....

Twisted Wheels video interview - Get Your Ears Out - My Gig Life #30

Twisted Wheel @ Fibbers, York 01/10/09 videos

Twisted Wheel rock Whitehaven Civic Hall at the One Big Boof Festival 26/09/09

It was a sultry evening in Whitehaven, when the non-descript grey building of the Civic Hall irrupted into life, with the help of Twisted Wheel.

The One Big Boof Festival, headline act Twisted Wheel blew away the cobwebs of this quiet seaside town, with their now legendary passion and energy, delivery a blistering set that got the Whitehaven youth rocking.

Before they took to the stage, the crowd were getting impatient for the evening's main event, with chants of 'WWhheeell' and loud foot stomping they raised the roof as the lads started off their set with 'Lucy The Castle' and lauching straight into 'Bad Candy' and 'Racket'.

Set List

'Lucy The Castle'

'Bad Candy'

'Racket'

'Shes a Weapon'

'One Night On The Street'

'Let Them Have It All'

'Circus'

'Turnaround'

'Strife'

'Bouncing Bomb'

'Whats Your Name'

'Smash It Up'

'You Stole The Sun'

'Oh What Have You Done'

'We Are Us' (full extended version)

(all pix and txt by jane)

Keeping in the ''oldies'' - 'Circus', 'Racket' and 'Smash It Up' to the public's delight, and the welcome return of 'Bouncing Bomb' was a highlight of this blistering set. The crowd once again showed their approval of the "new" reworked 'Turnaround' by going mental during the fabulous guitar solo, and with a fantastic extended version of 'We Are Us' it was the end to a perfect evening.

If you werent lucky enough to catch Twisted Wheel at Whitehaven, their headline tour starts in 4 days time, 1st October at Fibbers in York, then moves the next day to Oxford, then Derby. Check out all the dates on the side column on this page.

jane xx

Whitehaven News - Jonny looks forward to a top night in Whitehaven

Jonny Looks Forward To A Top Night In Whitehaven By Andrew Clarke TWISTED Wheel’s frontman Jonny Brown knows talent when he sees it. Having supported the likes of Oasis, Paul Weller and Kasabian, Jonny and his band have shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the music industry. And Jonny is looking forward to seeing the best that Whitehaven has to offer when Twisted Wheel headline what promises to be a memorable all-day event in town on Saturday. “It’ll be good to see some of the local acts, to see who flicks the switch,” said Jonny. “Detroit Social Club are also on the bill, who we’ve toured with before, so it will be good to catch up and see them play again. It should be a top night.” Manchester band Twisted Wheel, made up of Jonny (vocals/lead guitar), Rick Lees (base guitar) and Adam Clarke (drums), have been earning quite a name for themselves since they formed three years ago. Relentless gigging over that time, alongside some major headline acts, has seen their star rise and Jonny believes that the band are at their best in front of a live crowd. “Our energy really comes across in our live shows,” he said. “I’d best describe our style as lively punk rock ‘n’ roll and fans always seem to be really responsive when we perform live.” Drawing their influences from everyone from Bob Dylan and Lennon/McCartney to The Clash and Stiff Little Fingers, Twisted Wheel’s self-titled debut album was released in June, and produced the singles Lucy The Castle and We Are Us. A memorable summer for the band was capped off by a supporting slot alongside he legendary Oasis on what may turn out to be the Gallagher brothers’ final UK shows together. “They were the biggest gigs Manchester has seen for over 10 years and they were a really big deal,” recalls Jonny. “Over three days at a huge venue (Heaton Park), it was a great experience and fans seemed to enjoy our sets. I think we managed to pick up a few new fans along the way.” Saturday’s One Big Boof, in the Civic Hall, will be the biggest gig hosted by promoters The Mighty Boof and will last for 11 hours, with an after-show party in Gallachers. Homegrown talent on the bill includes Burn the Negative, Roy Robson, Mazzoni, The Lucid Dream, I Am Spartacus and Gavin McKew. Also appearing are Leeds outfit The Old Romantic Killer Band, while DJs Couch, Maud, Pavarotti, Marc Carrol and Glover will be spinning tunes between acts to give the crowds entertained. Danny Maudling, from The Mighty Boof, said: “This is by far the best line up of bands West Cumbria has seen and we are pleased to be promoting such an event and hope to make this a yearly thing for the Boof.” This is the first time that the music promoters have held an event that is open to all ages. Under-16s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and people aged 16 to 18 will need ID to gain entry. Tickets cost £17 (£12 for under-14s) and are available from Whitehaven Civic Hall (01946 514960) and Contemporary, 16 King Street, Whitehaven (01946 590605). Doors open at 12.30pm, and the first band is on at 12.45pm. Published by http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/

News & Star Twisted Wheel article - The Wheel Keeps Turning

The Wheel Keeps Turning Published at 11:31, Thursday, 24 September 2009 A MANCUNIAN drawl describes how his band has crowds gagging for it with their songs about working-class life. No apologies for getting the Oasis comparison in early. Twisted Wheel singer and guitarist Jonny Brown sounds a lot like Noel Gallagher, in his voice and in the words he uses. His Oldham three-piece hardly bat away the resemblance, having been talked up by Gallagher and supporting Oasis on their last – in every sense of the word – tour. Their final time warming up the masses was in Coventry on July 7, seven weeks before the band’s break up in Paris. “We were meant to play in Milan but that was cancelled, then they split up,” says Jonny. “Everybody knew there’d been a bit of tension but there’s always stuff like that going on since they started. It wasn’t expected that they’d split up. I was a bit gutted.” So no more stadium shows, for the moment at least. Twisted Wheel’s next engagement is at Whitehaven Civic Hall on Saturday. Smaller than a football ground but at least they will be on last rather than first. “When you’re headlining, the crowd’s come to see you. They’ve heard the records and as soon as you go on stage everyone’s going to be gagging for it. “When you’re supporting there’s always a few that know you but your role is to get as many as possible to come and see you at your own gigs. I wouldn’t call it pressure but it’s a buzz to try and do that.” Noel Gallagher is far from the only one to see something in Twisted Wheel. (The band is named after a Manchester Northern Soul venue rather than a Carlisle indie club). They have also been the support band of choice for The Enemy, Ian Brown, Pigeon Detectives, Kasabian, The Coral and The Happy Mondays. Jonny, 23, thinks these established acts recognise something of themselves in his band. “I think they sense with us it’s raw and it’s real. There’s not a lot of bands like that out there now. Everything seems to be posh kids trying to do something they’re not. “With us it’s straight from the heart. Classic British rock‘n’roll. It’s not just one select audience. It appeals to working-class people as well as the rest. That’s what the bands who like us understand because that’s where they come from.” Twisted Wheel will be back in Cumbria on December 3 when they open for Paul Weller at The Sands Centre. Jonny says Weller’s gigs “never go mental. There’s a lot of Jam fans. You don’t get people thrown up in the air like happens at our gigs.” The Jam, The Clash, The Kinks, The Who. Some of the legends who Twisted Wheel’s brash pop tunes have drawn comparison with. So many influences, so many famous admirers. But don’t they want to be known on their own terms? “If you’re watching a documentary on any band, the same thing happens,” says Jonny. “When Oasis began they were compared to the Stone Roses and the Verve. “But it’s nice because we’re being compared with great bands. I’d much rather be compared to them than bands who are rubbish. “I suppose you’ll get known just for your own sound when the writers get bored of comparing you with every band you could sound like.” And the comparisons and the support slots go some way to making up for the lack of Radio 1 airplay, which Jonny is not too chuffed about. “It [their music] doesn’t seem to be what the producers are looking for. We used to get played in the evenings but that seems to have stopped. I don’t know if someone’s got it in for us. “A lot of people see bands from Manchester as scallies and hooligans, which is ludicrous. We’ve been called ‘Lad rock’. “The people who know about us, they’re not people who like us for five minutes. I’d much rather that than be a scenester band that lasts five minutes.” Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk