Union Kid
Union Kid | |
---|---|
Origin | Braintree, Essex UK |
Genres | Indie rock Alternative rock |
Years active | 1997-2001 |
Labels | 1970 Recordings |
Associated acts | The Prodigy Jellicoe |
Past members | Sean Touhy Simon Dobson Mark Keates |
Union Kid were a British indie rock group formed in Braintree, Essex in the late 1990's by Sean Touhy (guitar/vocals), Mark Keates (drums), and Simon Dobson (bass).
History[]
Established in 1997, Union Kid described Braintree as the "punk rock capital of the world",[1] partly in reference to the burgeoning local music scene at the time, and also because of the attention Braintree's The Prodigy had brought the town following their 1996 breakthrough.[2]
Union Kid's musical style has been compared to The Replacements and Fugazi, with their sound described by the NME as "taut, tight, tense and superbly overmuscled post-hardcore punk rock’n’roll."[3] The trio released material under their own record label, .
They came to the attention of the music press in 1999 with the release of their debut single "Fort Disney", which the NME called a "a twisted tribute to The Beach Boys’ ‘California Girls’ with extra souped-up guitars and a chorus the size of Weston-Super-Mare".[1] They released two further EPs that year: "Here Comes Chunk...", and "He Is Mono".[4] 1999 additionally saw the first of two Peel Sessions, recorded at Maida Vale Studios and broadcast on BBC Radio 1.[5] They also appeared on Steve Lamacq's Evening Session.
Union Kid released their only album, the self-produced Candy Falls Here in August 2000.[6] Recorded at the Cookie Palace and again released on 1970 Recordings,[7] the album received positive reviews from NME[8] and Drowned In Sound, who called it "possibly one of the debuts of the year so far."[9] Candy Falls Here appeared on NME's Highest Rated Albums of the 2000s list.[10] The album spawned three singles, "3% Seattle", "The Test",[11] and "Triple A".
The band split after recording their second John Peel session[12] in 2001.
Discography[]
Albums[]
- Candy Falls Here (2000)
Singles and EPs[]
- "Fort Disney" (1999)
- "Here Comes Chunk..." (1999)
- "He Is Mono" (1999)
- "3% Seattle" (2000)
- "The Test" (2000)
- "Triple A" (2000)
Appearances on Compilations[]
- "Incoming + Convert" appears on Essex; 7" double vinyl compilation EP from Plastic Cowboy Recordings (2000)[13]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Union Kid : Fort Disney". NME. 2005-09-12. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "Keith Flint: Braintree statue campaign for Prodigy singer". BBC News. 2019-03-12. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
- ^ "London Notting Hill Arts Centre". NME. 2005-09-12. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "Liverpool Lomax". NME. 2005-09-12. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
- ^ "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 06/04/1999 Union Kid". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ Candy Falls Here - Union Kid | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2021-05-12
- ^ "Union Kid - MusicBrainz". musicbrainz.org. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "Candy Falls Here". NME. 2005-09-12. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "Album Review: Union Kid - Candy Falls Here". DrownedInSound. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "NME's Best Albums of the 2000s". Album of The Year. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "University of Surrey Students Newspaper - Single Review" (PDF). University of Surrey Students Union. 9 November 2000 [2000]. p. 10.
- ^ "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 07/01/2001 Union Kid". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ Essex by Various Artists - RYM/Sonemic, retrieved 2021-05-12
External links[]
- British indie rock groups
- Musical groups from Essex
- 1997 establishments
- 2001 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
- 1997 establishments in the United Kingdom