2tonic

During the summer of 2007 Mark Richardson was asked if he could put together a Medicine Head tribute act for a one off show in Birmingham organised by the website Stillgigging.com. A lifelong fan of Medicine Head, Mark had become expert in playing the Mouth Bow, Jews Harp and Blues Harp - emulating the skills of Peter Hope-Evans, after his father brought home a Jews Harp as Mark had been raving about the band he’d seen on the television who used one. Medicine Head were predominantly a two man band from the early 70’s, with John Fiddler playing drums with his feet and guitar with his hands and Peter Hope-Evans playing Mouth Bow, Jews Harp and Blues harp. Mark had to find someone who could do the job of drums and guitar and a mutual friend suggested Andy Boddington a local guitar player who can also play drums. What resulted was a phone call between the two, who hit it off and there was a chemistry born. A set of Medicine Head songs was learned and after a couple of small gigs in Plymouth and the infamous Rod And Line in Tideford, the pair set off to do the gig in Birmingham appearing on the same bill as Dumpy from Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts and a stripped down Racing Cars. The gig went well and already some experimental jams were put in the set with what would become the song Gob Iron Boogie featuring in an early form. The duo decided the whole experience had been really good fun and decided to keep going. A heavy gig schedule evolved and 2Tonic well and truly established itself on the local scene, sometimes playing three different venues in one day. Over the early years the music began to shape itself into a distinctive sound and the number of Medicine Head songs in the set began to diminish as original compositions started replacing the covers. 2011 saw the release of One Take Wonders, the duo’s first album. 6 instrumental tracks over 46 minutes : imagine an LP with three tracks on each side... The feedback from fans was good with many people saying they liked to listen to it in the car but couldn’t help driving fast to it. 2Tonic are now in their 8th year of existence and have this year released their second album titled “2”and an EP titled “EP”. Tracks from both were featured on BBC Introducing and a live session is in the pipeline. This duo is always ready to turn up the heat and let the sparks fly, conjuring up more energy than some bands half their age. The music keeps progressing and the skills of each player have matured as has the sound and delivery. 2Tonic are quite simply, unlike anything you’ve heard before, with a complete band sound produced by two guys playing up to 5 instruments at the same time. Close your eyes during a slow blues number and you could easily think there is a full band on the stage. It’s organic, it evolves, it is high energy and it’s incredibly infectious and spontaneous with the occasional improvised jam number making its way unannounced into the set. The most unique sounding duo you will hear!