Pear O’Legs Records is back with a double single launch at The Harrison in King’s Cross. Expect folk infused pop at its best with DIY costuming from Benji Tranter that would make Noel Fielding jealous and The All Night Chemist performing as their alter-ego cross dressing teen band Sir Vixen, falling somewhere between Queen’s “I Want to Break Free”, Mean Girls and Heathers (if they all formed a folk band). They’ll be supprted by the incredible folk and soul of Philippa Zawe.
Benji Tranter
After a recording hiatus of over five years, Welsh singer and songwriter Benji Tranter returns with his debut album Songs to Make You Happy, out in January 2022. With a lo-fi, DIY ethos, unembellished guitars and vocals deliver a charming, sometimes chaotic, collection of vignettes; diary entries, polaroid snapshots, throwaway poems and short stories. Benji is releasing his first single “Satellite” on the 25th November, a pop banger about friendship, love and togetherness, even if your only pal is a satellite way up in the sky.
The influence of US songwriters like Elliott Smith, Conor Oberst and Daniel Johnston are clear throughout, with occasional elements from Scott Walker, Nick Drake, and the care-free naivety of Jonathan Richman.
Growing up on the Welsh Marches, Benji has been song writing for many years now, penning two EPs in 2014 and 2016, more recently focussing his efforts toward his power-pop group Ski Lift who have been featured across R1, BBC6 and BBC Wales. He has also collaborated with Jovis Lane in pop outfit Show Boy, and is currently a member of psych-folk group The All Night Chemist.
The All Night Chemist
The All Night Chemist (aka TANC) are the newest wannabe dad-rock banjo-led folk space adventure four piece on the thriving London scene. Just a bit too earnest to be truly tongue and cheek, their songs celebrate and mock the mundane while stirring the soul.
They’ll be releasing their debut single “I’m In Love With My Phone” on the 25th November, an irreverent pop song about loneliness and the power technology can have in bringing us together, as well as dividing us.
Anything from cheesy pop bangers about sandwiches, to moody trad folk exploring the modern-day fur industry, their music has storytelling at its heart.
Pulling influences from traditional British and American folk music as well as inspiration from artists like Neil Young, The Flaming Lips, Talking Heads, They Might Be Giants, Big Thief, Wilco and Johnny Flynn, TANC create a show unlike anything else out there right now.
Philippa Zawe
Philippa Zawe is a Yorkshire based singer-songwriter. She is of Ugandan heritage and her songwriting is inspired by the rich stories that are told around her and that lie within her.
"Philippa has a fantastically controlled vocal style which conveys an enormous amount of feeling and meaning in every single word." (Ryan's Gig Guide, 2018)
Her songs are rooted in the genre of Folk with an infusion of Soul. Her inspirations vary from the likes of Terry Callier to Joan Armatrading, Nick Drake to Laura Marling. Her music has been described as “audio self-care at its finest” (Two Story Melody, 2018).
In September 2017 Philippa Zawe released her debut EP Road of Hope; a tale of loss, grief and hope found along the way. Shortly after that in May 2018 Zawe then released a full band EP titled Disadvantaged. 2020, a year of ups and downs, Philippa Zawe took us on an introspective journey full of hope and contradictions through her releases Dark Am I, Yet Lovely and Lay It All Down.
On 4 November Zawe released her most recent single Would You Lean. The single comes two years after her last release and will be followed by an EP release and accompanying tour.It is an evolution with a song that is reflective of the emotions around grief- bereavement, career, friendship and faith.
Doors 7pm
Tickets
£10 adv
£12 on the door
Concessions £7 (includes students, NHS workers and those not in employment)