The Misers

When The Misers released their debut album, Amplified Life Stories, in 2009, it’s analogue tape hiss & gritty valve sound gained the band a whole host of fans from the moment it landed, not least Radio 2’s Janice Long who heaped praise on the record calling it “a return to the golden age of song writing” and Maverick Magazine who called it a “Dead Cert!” Song plays, interviews & live sessions on Radio 2 followed, along with healthy support from BBC local radio stations and playlisting on College Radio stations across America. UK tours & festival dates were met with a frenzied response and appearances on ITV & SkyArts1 announced The Misers had arrived in fine style. Fast forward 3 years and you may be forgiven for thinking that you are witnessing a new band. Certainly 2012 finds The Misers in a period of Renewed Fire, Renewed Focus & ultimately, a Renewed Passion. Neil Ivison (Vocals/Guitar) explains: “3 years is a long time to go between albums but once we got these songs together, we honed them on the road. We wanted them to be the best they could be, we’d play anywhere that would have us. We toured relentlessly, we built our fan base on the road and I continue to be blown away by how these guys have stuck by us through thick & thin.” Along the way, the band lost founding member & Hammond Player Adam Barry to pastures new & also bass player Karl Dixon who emigrated to New Zealand. Shane Dixon (Drums/Vocals) is still holding down his thunderous groove and, thanks to a chance reply to an old internet ad, the low end is now provided by Sid Griffin (Bass/Vocals). “The moment we stepped into the studio with Sid, something just clicked, it was like the last piece of the puzzle had just fallen into place and now we’re more fired up than ever!” enthuses Shane. A Weight Off The Mind… has been produced by Rockfield Studios veteran Paul Cobbold (Echo & The Bunnymen, Waterboys, Nick Lowe) who brings a fresh, contemporary approach to The Misers fiercely organic sound. “I was on a total retro trip last time,” Neil confesses. “I wouldn’t hear of using a computer to record, everything had to be recorded to tape through valves. PC opened my eyes to a world where both can work in harmony!” With critics keen to write the band off or to infer that this would be a ‘Difficult Second Album’, Neil is quick to reply “There was nothing difficult about writing the record, the difficulty lay in getting everyone together at the right time! We kept people waiting but we had to take it to the next level. You always want your next record to be better than your last and I really believe we’ve done it 10 fold this time.” With its stunning melodies, ringing guitars, and razor-sharp grooves, AWOTM delivers on the promise The Misers have shown throughout their career. From the invigorating battle cry of Old Town (which Neil will dedicate to his hometown), My Life Story (a tongue in cheek look at life as a Hollywood script) to the emotional intensity of “The Shrine” (young lives lost & a town divided). This is where the new chapter in The Misers’ tale really begins. -------------------------------------------------------------- QUOTES "To say these guys are going places would be a dead cert!" - MAVERICK "A return to the 70's Golden Era of Songwriting" - JANICE LONG - RADIO 2 When I first saw The Misers, I was really captivated with the raw, live deliverance of their songs. Great to hear two vocals harmonize together so well" - SIMON FOWLER - OCEAN COLOUR SCENE SPRINGSTEEN REVITALISED! A Modern Twist on an Old Great!" - UK MUSIC REVIEW "One of those undiscovered gems that people will talk about for years to come" - ZEITGEIST "A Stunning Debut that has both Style & Substance, 10/10" - RHYTHM & BOOZE Ten Short Chapters of Unadorned, Rural Chronicles...Clean, Simple Decadence - IWILLBEHEARD.CO.UK "The Misers waste NO space on fillers!" - ENTERTAINMENT FOCUS Amplified Life Stories' is just about as genuine as it gets, TIMELESS! - TOXIC PETE "A Singer Cut from the same cloth as Paul Rodgers....Contemporary Class" - SUNDAY MERCURY "Great Band!" - Tom Robinson - BBC 6Music "One of the Greatest Hereford & Worcester acts EVER!" - BBC INTRODUCING