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"Spring is here with all its gentle showers Methinks 'tis time for Rent to camp about a bit." (Henry IV, Part II)
Doors open at 7pm. Entry is £5 (£3 with a student card). It's as part of a new acoustic night called "Hushhh! It's Sunday", run by the lovely people at Music Guru, taking place on the first Sunday in the month. Of course it won't just be Dan plank-spanking you into aural submission. That would be awful. No, there's all this too... Loqui:
Encompassing genres as diverse as rock, ska, hip-hop, funk, punk,
pop and a myriad of alternative styles. By some perverse quirk of fate, a healthy glob of Rent ex-members will also be in evidence, running like a seam of gold through the assembled ranks of Loqui and Shatner. And quite right too. Full details are at: http://themusicguruonline.co.uk/content/view/32/1/ The night is also featured on the BBC website, here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2007/12/20/music_local_heroes_acoustic_night_feature.shtml ...and
here: Hope you can make it. Friday
4th January 2008
The Last Hoorah A message from Nathaniel Sin, shady manager and Big End to pop mechanics, Rent: With heavy heart, it falls upon me to inform you that Rent Mark V will play their final show on Friday 30th November. They would be honoured if you could join them. Of course, never ones to go out with a whimper, when there is one holy mother of a bang to be had, Rent have marshalled and cajoled the talents of those gracious souls who have supported, aided and generally been lovely to them over the last few years, to perform alongside them...to make one last night of glorious mayhem. They have delved into forbidden archives and dusted off hidden musical gems, not heard since the days of their ridiculous rock opera, Pout & About. And they would also like to invite you to email in any song requests you may have, to make sure you all hear your favourite tracks one last time. And finally, but most importantly, they would like to thank you all, for all your kindnesses - in thoughts, words and deeds. Thanks for making it all worth it. With love Nathaniel for Bill, Claire, Dan, Ivan, Jace, Lisa, Lucy, Nick and Sarah (and Saskia) Wednesday 14th November 2007
Back to The Apple
It's
so nice to be back. Your favourite pop moppets return home from the
trials of London and its hilarious weather systems to spoil you both
rotten and stupid. That's right you lovescrubbers, a big bold night of dandy powerpop nonsense with three (count 'em), three special Rentsets, with a breadth of tunery far beyond the tolerances of a fragile, populist showcase slot. Hoorah. Doors 7:00pm.
More details: www.loveapplecafe.co.uk Tuesday 18th September 2007
London & Leeds
And Lo! The Children of Darkest Pleasure beheld a mighty double-headed beast, surging towards them across the Plains of Wickedest Pop. "What is this wonderful music-monster?" cried the Children, because they liked to shout in a rhetorical, quasi biblical way. "I am the metaphorical representation of two ace Rent gigs. Come and see them" roared the monster, in a voice not unlike Worf off Star Trek [and later when he got promoted, Deep Space 9]. "Oh what joyous news, Mighty Beast of Rentmusic! Please consume us in your mighty jaws, that we may become your bacchanalian feast of dirty live Rent action" "Er, ok then" replied the monster, wondering whether the analogies were still actually appropriate and if it hadn't all just turned a little bit odd and pervy. Yes, Nightlings On Friday 20th July Rent are going to London. Again. To headline at the Clapham Chuffing Grand. Again Tastic. But before they do, they have been asked to partake of that wonder of the modern musical age that is the Tea Time Shuffle at the HiFi Club, on Friday 1st June. You must come. You simply must. To which, you ask? To both of course, Muh-wah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! (imagine that last bit as if Brian Blessed had done it). It's all good. Right, normal stuff... Tickets: If you want to come to either the TTS or Clapham, it's so very painfully vital that you get tickets from us in advance. Otherwise the nice people who invited us to play will think Rent are lazy arses who can't be bothered bringing anyone to their gig and they'll be taken into a field and shot*. And tickets are also cheaper in advance. Ner. Travel: If you would like to come to London with us, you can. For free! Yes, email us back in time, and you'll be riding with the band in the famous Rentley Bentley. Places are limited, first come first served. Any questions, email us. Right, that's it. This so won't be the last time you hear about this. But you knew that already, didn't you? You love a bit
of it. Tuesday 22nd May 2007
Bradford's Sound
At midday on Saturday 28th April, a hundred or so of Bradford's musicians, music workers and music-related folk will be gathering at Lister Park Bandstand to be photographed for the second year running, in order to promote Bradford music. If, on some bizarre, unintentional off-chance you fall into one of these categories but didn't know about this, then please do come down and join in. This event will be followed, initially, by a jam session at Delius at 2pm, then later by one holy mother of an all-night gig/party, at the Mill on Preston Street, starting at 9pm and going on 'til 5am. The three floors will feature DJ's (bottom floor), bands and electronic arts (middle floor/main stage), and acoustic acts (top floor) - all from Bradford. In some ways, and without a whiff of hyperbole, I would say that this is the single most important music event of the year for Bradford, in terms of identifying and reinforcing its often hidden or missed musical talent, its collective identity as a 'music scene' and its incredibly disparate range of styles. This event is organised first and foremost by musicians and music lovers, who, rather than spending all their time despairing that Bradford has somehow been hard done by musically (By whom? The evil Music-Suppressing Ministry?) in terms of adequate venues and recognition, are taking positive steps to make Bradford music get recognised and, in the absence of a venue, to create a brilliant one of their own from the ground up. The whole event is called Bradford's Sound, and is organised by the very fine people at the Fresh Milk Collective: http://www.myspace.com/freshmilkcollective And yes. Rent
will be playing. Wednesday 25th April 2007
Spring is here, and Rent are feeling randy. So dig out your best blouse and head down to the Atrium on Wednesday 11th April for the kind of aural satisfaction that will leave you breathless on the floor, desperately mouthing the words "Lucien, my legs won't work". Joining this wretched shower of sonic glory will be an indomitable bucket of charm and talent, thus... Scarlet Tears - http://www.myspace.com/scarlettearsrockband Dirty Weekend - http://www.myspace.com/dirtyweekendtheband Demented Tonka
Toys Fighting Chickens In The Dark - Do not miss it. Wednesday 4th April 2007
Mark is hosting an evening showcasing a wanton smörgåsbord of University-based, University-sponsored or just plain University-friendly musical talent, thus: http://www.brad.ac.uk/university/music/concert/rent.php It's going to be ace. Friday 16th March 2007
Once again, the
end of another Rentyear speeds towards us like a hijacked interstate
locomotive carrying a deadly strain of mutated spores developed in
a secret government lab but now stolen by terrorists hoping to force
the Secretary of State to release 150 Alaskan separatists in time
for Thanksgiving, fatally unaware that one of the passengers, who
just wants to get home to his wife and kids in time to carve the turkey,
is Chuck Norris. Returning to Bradford, Rent found themselves playing at the first public night at Bradford's spanking new music venue, The Gasworks. Days later, Bill, Dan and Ivan were being interviewed on BBC's Raw Talent, by the inimitable Alan Raw. There was schmoozing. There were Ferrero Rocher. It wasn't pretty. Just be grateful you could only hear it. March saw Rent
performing their first show of the year at the Love Apple, already
becoming their new home base of operations (fickle bitches that they
are). The Rentparty lasted long into the night, thanks to delicious
support from Seven Hours and post show indiepop revelry at the hands
of the exceptional DJ Fadeout. And we'd like
you to come with us.
So there you have
it, once holy heck of a year, and some decidedly tasty morsels to
look forward to in 2007. Wednesday 20th December 2006 with special guests SHATNER and GALLO Well, here it is, after a September that has been well and truly mauled by what can only be described as a predatory amount of Rentshows, your very own disgraceful little entourage are coming back home to mark the end of their little run. With a Night to end all Nights. On Friday 29th September, at the Love Apple, Bradford, starting 9:00pm. The exquisite Gallo will open the show. They are gorgeous and ace and we all rather fancy them. FACT 1: Tash the sax player/singer is also in Leeds übergroup Loqui. Bet you didn't know that. They will be followed by one of our very favourite bands, Shatner. FACT 2: Jim from Shatner is an Aries. Bet you didn't know that, either. And if that's not enough, Rent will be taking the stage not with their characteristically modest, slimline cast of nine, but proudly displaying a newly swollen, nay, kingly girth of thirteen...yes, thirteen members! It's true. To give you the kind of audio-visual treat that threatens to make you go cross eyed and then possibly blind, we have upped the scoundrellage to include, wouldn't you know it, Robert Morbius Chapman from Loqui on Trombone, Steve and Paul Morricone from Scaramanga Six on Tenor and Baritone Saxes, and none other that the University of Bradford's very own Fellow in Music Mark Robinson on Trumpet. FACT 3: Talking of swollen, Lisa, one of our pan-sexual space vixens and backing singers, is glowing with child. Just in case any of you start thinking she's let herself go and got fat, okay? And as if all
that isn't enough to have you reaching for the smelling salts, there
will also be a special guest appearance from the delectable man-angel
that is Pete Wurlitzer, formerly of YSN,
and now FACT 4: Pete and Dan both attended Bretton Hall College. Albeit about ten years apart. Bet you didn't know that, too. Actually Dan and Pete didn't know that either until about a week ago. As the bands recover with tea and cocaine, our fabulous friend DJ Wipeout, formally of Subculture, will submerge your brains in his irresistible homebrewed indie broth until 3.00am. FACT 5: IT DOES NOT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS, EVER. And remember, this is you last chance to see Rent for some time. After the show,
their nefarious manager and amoral anamateur, Nathaniel Sin, will
put them back in cryogenic storage in the cellars below Mandrake Towers,
his ancestral home, so they can contemplate their behaviour and consider
the consequences of their actions. He may tell them to look Later, as October gives way to November, Nathaniel will release the, instructing them to write new songs, launch a single, do a photoshoot, make a video and generally sort themselves out. So what are you waiting for? Tell all your friends. Tell your Mum. Tell the first person you meet whose name begins with a P. Tell a member of the clergy. Tell the Shadow Environment Minister. But most importantly of all, tell yourself. FACT 6: IF
YOU DO NOT COME TO THIS SHOW YOU WILL REGRET IT FOR THE Wednesday
27th September 2006
Indeed you can, you dirty faced urchins, for Rent are doing their bit for world heritage on Saturday 16th September by playing a prestigious evening set at the Saltaire Festival. The centre of the Victorian model village built in the 19th century just north of Bradford is the venue for a weekend of diverse musical nibbles including the legendary Cosmic Debris. Come to the village, buy some beer, sausages and cheese at the Farmers' Market, then relax amongst the terraces and chimneys whilst gorging yourselves on a nourishing auditory gruel of musical talent. Any Rentlings with experience of domestic wiring, plastering, or steeplejacking are guaranteed an invite to the aftershow party at the bongomonkey's house 100m from the main stage (bring tools, overalls or proof of recognised qualifications to guarantee admittance). Alternatively we may just hang around in the warm evening air to entertain you with tall tales of daring do over some champagne mojitos or equivalent. Join us. You love it. You do! You know you do. You're always saying so. Aw...you guys!
Back from London, heady with the taste of success still fresh in their mouths, Rent pounce like rabid mastiffs upon a defenceless, unsuspecting September. Yes, on Friday
1st September, Rent return to the fabulous Tea Time Shuffle at the
HiFi Club. As usual, the all-singing, all-gesturing svengali of the Leeds music scene, disgraced gynaecologist Robert Morbius Chapman, has tracked down and corralled a proud brace of the vital and the vigorous, thus... Bilge Pump: http://www.myspace.com/bilgepump After the show, the HiFi club holds its weekly coolfest, FunkSoulNation, the hippest jazz-funk night this side of Harlem. So come help us celebrate the start of our most succulent month to date, as we swing our pants, get down, and generally party our collective socks off. And let us not forget that without your kind patronage we would not even be there, so do come down and help us party in the manner to which we have all become accustomed. Because you're worth it. If you come to the Teatime Shuffle, then entry to FunkSoulNation is gratis. AND NOW, THE IMPORTANT BIT: Tickets are cheaper in advance. You can purchase them from the band members, or by emailing my personal assistant, Saskia (Saskia_Ulfhansen@hotmail.com). Buying your tickets by these routes will serve to inform the organisers just how many Rentlings have come along...which will make them like us and perhaps offer us more performances...which in turn would make us love you very much...so please (and I cannot stress this enough, so I shall type that again. Please. There), try to buy tickets in advance. That way, we all win. Hoorah. See http://www.teatimeshuffle.com and http://www.thehificlub.co.uk for further details. Wednesday 30th August 2006 It is with an unseemly amount of pride that we can inform you that on Saturday 19th August 2006, at South Bay Beach, Scarborough, your favourite nightlings are performing at their first major music festival. Beached is the North East's largest free music festival. Held annually on Scarborough's South Bay Beach, it has hosted an acclaimed and diverse collection of performers, from bands such as The Libertines, Thunder, Kaiser Chiefs, The Bluetones and The Quireboys in its five year lifespan. Yes it's short notice. Yes you haven't had time to put your affairs in order. But sometimes, kittens, you just have to grab that opportunity, scream those overused latin clichés (Carpe Diem, Tempus Fugit...perhaps even a bit of Ad Nauseam), and get yourself down to that there beach. And don't forget it's free. You love a bit of it.
From Leeds to London. Via Hull.
A trio of extra-special Rent moments headed your way... The New Roscoe, Leeds: Rent
are excited and rather humbled to be supporting Van Morrison's exquisite
and talented daughter, Shana, on Thursday 27th July 2006. After charming the socks off North East Peel-esque Radio God Alan Raw, in a live interview back in March, Rent have been invited to return to his palatial Hull studios...this time to play a full live session on Sunday 13th August at 7:00pm. The
Barfly, Camden: Yes...on
Sunday 27th August, Rent Return To London. The utterly prestigious Barfly at The Monarch, Camden, has played host to the likes of Stereophonics, Death in Vegas, Feeder, Coldplay, Muse, Doves and...just about any other band who've tasted success in the last five years. As London listings magazine Time Out put it, Barfly was (and still is) firmly established as THE place to go to "glimpse the stars of the future". With reviews like that, we thought it would be just plain rude not to play there. As usual, Rent's nefariously charming manager Nathaniel Sin has been down into the vaults of his ancestral home, Mandrake Towers, and thrown open the Rent coffers he guards so jealously. Now...manipulative, selfish and tantalisingly cruel as Nathaniel can be, he is wise enough to realise that those coffers would not even be half full without your gracious support. Support that he knows all too well not to take for granted. Which is why he is allowing anyone wishing to join Rent in the single grooviest part of London for the Bank Holiday weekend to travel there and back FOR FREE. As before, this is by way of thanks for all your kind attendence, bouyant cheering, and thrown underwear over the last few months. It means more than you know. Places
are limited, so email Saskia at saskia_ulfhansen@rentmusic.co.uk
for your seat aboard the Rentley Bentley. Tastic. Wednesday
19th July 2006
Mix it up
A
quick note to let you know that Rent have just been asked to open
the show at the fabulous Club Melody Maker at the Mixing Tin this
Friday, 7th July, sharing the bill with, as luck would have it, a
couple of their favourite Leedsters - the insatiably dark Scaramanga
Six, and the wistfull, near-edible The
Lodger.
Wednesday 5th July 2006
We're pleased to announce that, tomorrow, Rent will be playing at Bradford's Biggest live music event of the year - The Big Gig, marking the opening of Bradford's Big Summer. Actually, if you ask me, that's one too many Bigs for my liking. But did I title the blessed thing? No I don't think I did. Not on your nelly. Now, Big Love might have been good (Big Summer + Love Apple, geddit?). Honestly, I'm wasted here. Anyway...it's all going to be fabulous, Rent will be amazing, yadda yadda. Oh, and people far less stroppy than me have written far more about it all than I can be bothered to, at all these websites, upon which there is much Bigging-up (oh for Pete's sake) of Rent: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/entertainment/music/ Right. That's all I can manage. I'm off to lie down. Somewhere dark. And small. Rent play the Big Gig on Saturday 1st July. At 2pm. Go see them if you must. Friday 30 June 2006
So you can imagine how pleased Rent were to discover that, as part of the celebrations for the University's 40th anniversary, several enlightened souls had organised a day and night of bands on that very same Amphitheatre, and how that pleasure progressed to an embarrassing level of excitement, when Rent were asked not just to play, but to headline. Oh mercy. As many of you know, Rent's connections with the University run longer and deeper than the roots of one of those 286 year-old oak trees that people sit in or chain themselves to when someone in the local planning office decides that's just where another bypass should go so his boss can get to the golf course five minutes quicker after work. Anyway, the day itself promises to be disgracefully good. A day of fabulous bands, including some of our personal favourites - our inestimably good friends Loqui, the sublime Ric Neale and his band, the highly recommended Johnjo Feather (who we've not seen yet but the songs on his website are so yummy you'd want to eat them with a spoon), the infinitely funky and sexy Chichino (who some members of Rent intend to marry, whether they like it or not), and the timeless, glorious party-ska of the awesome Owter Zeds. What else? Well, greedy-pants, we'll tell you what else...
Now that, kids, is a day and a half. Afterwards, the Communal Building throws open its doors for the infamous FND (cunning re-titled the SND for one night, geddit?), a huge night of disco, the cheese of which has never been seen. Hits for students past and present...so expect all the pop gems you bounced around to like a sponge in 1966, '76, '86, '96 and for the younglings out there, last week...from those nights you were supposed to finish that essay on Stoat Morality for Professor Badcrumble, but instead thought it'd be okay to have "just the one" after lectures, only to find yourself crawling back home at 3.30am, resplendent in the knowledge that you'd pulled...a large non-specific-meat kebab. Well, on Saturday 17th June, for one night, you can be there again (kebab optional). Tickets for the SND are £5 available from bars on campus and the SU shop. You know you want to. You may not want to admit it. But deep down...you do. You so do. Friday 9th June 2006 Daaaaaaaaaahlings Throbbing great luvvies that we are, it gives us great, nay indecent, pleasure to inform you that your darkest Rentlings will be returning to the exquisite environs of the West Yorkshire Playhouse on Tuesday 9th May, to orchestrate some serious after-show revelry for the Janus new writing festival. The diligent and responsible among you can discover the evening's full purpose here... http://wyplayhouse.com/events/event_details.asp?event_ID=508 ...while the rest of us fickle souls can continue talking about Rent as if nothing happened. Anyway, we shall be joined in our musical mischief by those dangerously talented pop theatricians we know and love as Loqui. I like to listen to them whenever I am chasing servants. It gives me focus. If you do not know anything of Loqui you should feel ashamed of yourself and go click on the following, right the heck now: http://www.loqui.co.uk or http://www.myspace.com/loqui Admission to this
beautiful event, like all things designed for people of beauty So join us. Yes, do. Wednesday 26th April 2006 Rent on the Radio...and Live
The show goes out live at 8pm this Thursday (23rd March) on: BBC Radio Humberside
95.9fm, DAB and is repeated at 6pm on Sunday (26th March) on: BBC Radio Leeds 92.4, 95.3fm (AM and DAB only from 7.00pm) for more info, check out: http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2004/11/15/music_raw_talent_forthcoming_feature.shtml Next week, Rent come home to roost - playing their first Love Apple show of the year on Friday 31st March. Their special guests for the evening will be the inimitable Seven Hours, so feel free to swoon/gyrate to their irresistable blues-funk stylings as you see fit. As before, post band pop seduction will be provided by our disgracefully talented turntablist, Fadeout (SubCulture), who will serenade you late into the nitrate-scented night with an intoxicating stampede of indie gems and pop anthems, old and new. Free entrance before 9pm (all ends at some godforsaken hour in the morning). So kids, there you have it. Tune in and...er,
drop in too, actually. Wednesday 22nd March 2006
The Gasworks Bar
This spanking
new, dedicated music venue is rumoured to have the best sound spec
in town, rivalling any of those in Leeds and beyond. Fighting talk
indeed. Could this be the worm-turning moment when Bradford stops
shutting down any building it suspects of playing original music?
Come on down and judge for yourself...
The
New Roscoe: The
Water Rats: All you Londonists down there, don't think we haven't noticed you, trekking up beyond Watford Gap to see the kids play so many times. Now, finally, it's time to bring the show to you. And not before time. Here's a map to help you get there: http://www.plummusic.com/maps.htm As for our friends in the North, there are just four seats remaining on the VERY VERY FREE Rentley Bentley, travelling from Bradford to London and back again, and guaranteeing a weekend of Rent flavoured fabulousness and glamorous mayhem. * (Opinions vary, but the majority of musicologists agree that this was the year that Glam Rock broke into the mainstream. Proper Glam Rock mind, a la Reed, Bowie, Pop, Harley, Eno et al. Not that Sweet pish). Thursday 16th February 2006
Rent
Go Down (Part 2) It was called Pout and About...a dark, rollicking tale of dubious morality, drawn from the writer's experiences in and around King's Cross, during the early nineties. The experiences became a collection of songs. The collection of songs became a band. The band was called Rent. Meanwhile, the collection of songs developed a life of their own. They became a story. Which in turn became a script, with characters, a narrator. And even an interval. And with awful inevitability, the whole thrashing, wailing monstrosity became a...rock musical. It was at the debut of this musical, in December 1998, that most of the current line up of Rent first played together. Suggestions that this was all just a ruse for the singer to drastically refresh the band's existing, slightly dysfunctional line up by seducing all the best musicians he knew into one band by telling them it was "just a short term theatre project...not Rent at all, oh no" are, according to the singer's solicitors, "completely circumstantial". And so the years rolled by and Rent did well enough for good people like you to become interested enough to subscribe to the band's mailing list and read nonsense like this. But hold on. This is 2006. It is neither 1998, nor is it that strange period of musical non-time, sitting vacuously between the end of Grunge and the beginning of Brit Pop, we lazily dismiss as "The Early Nineties". So what's with all the rambling, indulgent retrospectives? Well, lovekittens,
it is simply this. The boys and girls of Rent are going back. Back
to where it all began. To the scene of the crime. To the very place
where the ideas that would form the songs, that would form the band
in which they play now, came into being. And how will they mark this
bizarre Oh yes, kids. Roll on up for possibly the most spookily serendipitous show Rent have ever played: Rent play the
Water Rats, King's Cross As is only right
and proper, Jonathon Templeton Benton,
who guitared for that original production of Pout, and for
Rent since then, up until earlier this year, will be dusting off his
trusty axe and rejoining the band for this show, to complete the original
Pout and About band line up. And just 4 seats left, at time of writing. Heavens to Betsey. Friday
3rd February 2006 Rent
Go Down Yes. Rent are
going to London. Again. And it's all true. Rent play the Water Rats, King's Cross on Saturday 25th February 2006 Transport, via
the legendary Rentley Bentley: Not only that,
but plans are afoot to create Rent's first kinematic release, provisionally
entitled, Rent: Live in King's Cross (imaginative, huh?). With
a title like that, you might presume that by attending such an event,
you may end up in the film. And you would be right. So perfectly right. And these are only the facts. We haven't even BEGUN with the hype yet.
Oh
Brother Where Art Thou..? January marks a bittersweet start to the Rentyear, as we bid farewell to two musical titans. And in both circumstances, each in their own individual way, we can say with hand on heart that we are witnessing the end of an era. Firstly, our beloved guitarist, Jonathan Templeton Benton, master of the perfect power chord and the well formed phrase, has handed in his plectrum and Walther PPK. John is trading in his glamorous, high-rolling and often death-defying lifestyle as plankspanker-cum-superspy to join the hairy shirted jesuit order of St Hatred on the Isle of Flange, where he will tend to his flock and make small cheesey snacks. We wish him well. But don't be too downhearted - we strongly suspect you'll be seeing Mr Benton again, as and when the opportunity arises, in a special guest capacity... Secondly, January sees the end of another musical institution...The Melborn. Brother Eamon will be ringing the very last orders and moving on to pastures new. As most of you know, Brother Eamon and the Melborn have done more for Rent, and countless other bands and musicians across the years, than anyone can begin to contemplate. To honour this, and bid a fond farewell to the big man himself, a whole host of bands, including Rent, will be playing a free all-day/all-night show at the Melborn on Sunday 15th January, starting at 1pm and carrying on into the night until everyone falls over. In the true Irish tradition. Mr Benton will be in attendence too, so please come and show both him and The Brother just how much they mean to us. Looking ahead, we see a small flotilla of Rentshows already beginning to appear on the broadening horizon. February sees Rent returning to London (The Water Rats, Sat Feb 25th), the New Roscoe in Leeds (date tbc), followed by Rentshows at the Love Apple, Bradford in March (31st), June (30th) and September (29th). And if that's not enough for you, the new EP, "ps..." is reaching the very final stages of recording... Thursday
5th January 2006
An expectant hush falls upon the land. Because all those Rentlings, tucked up in their beds, tingling with excitement, know that all the gaudy lights, the tacky music, the silly costumes, the stupendous intake of food, wine or whatever else floats your boat...can only mean one thing. Yes kittens...it's the Big Rent Christmas Party. At (where else?) The Melborn, White Abbey Road, Bradford, on Friday 16th December. Full details on the Diary page. And that's not
all. Pick up a copy of the Telegraph and Argus on the same day (if
you're lucky enough to live in Bradford, naturally), to check out
a special full-page feature on your
favourite songsteurs. Or should that be songsteaux? I care not. Anyway,
page vingt-six, I am led to believe. A few highlights from 2005... Support slots included: Off The Wall at St George's Hall, Bradford, in March and the original theatrical dandy rockers, the legendary Sensational Alex Harvey Band at the Irish Centre, Leeds, in December. Rumours of post show inter band champagne fueled dressing room revelry have yet to be verified.
The Rentarmy pursued its thespian bent by conquering new theatrical territories - The Alhambra, Bradford, The West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, and the infinitely cool, well-kept secret of the Leeds music scene, The Brudenell Social Club. The quasi military analogies continue in the form of recaptured territory - Night and Day, Manchester, Bradford Festival Main Stage at Centenary Square (with an impromtu acoustic set offstage that made local radio and next day's papers), and two barnstorming performances to mark Rent's return to the Love Apple, Bradford. Look out for more Rentshows there next year. Rent continued
to tart about in Leeds, playing two prestige showcase performances
and winning a host of new friends and great reviews (so much so we
had to set up a Reviews Page) at the Summertime Shuffle at the Faversham,
and, of course, the inimitable night of festive cheer that was the
Tea Time Shuffle Christmas Special at the HiFi Club. As always, the
invaluable support of our See you in 2006.
Friday 23rd December 2005
Rent, Bradford's self-styled theatrical glamsters, are honoured, humbled and slightly aroused to be supporting The Sensational Alex Harvey Band on Tuesday 6th December (see Diary Page for details). The SAHB practically invented theatrical dandy rock in the early 70's. Tales of gay pirates, gangbangs, and brothelic activities in the foreign legion abound. Lurid characters...deviant subject matter...hmmm. Sounds reassuringly familar. But don't just take our word for it: Of the SAHB, Iain Bloomfield, Theatre in the Mill (Bradford)'s Artist Director and decadent pop historian, writes: "Without a doubt the best live band of the 70's. Glasgow's Sensational Alex Harvey Band made it their business to blow off the stage all-comers. With a cheeky chappy sense of humour and wild theatrics (Teddy boys and Clowns in spandex anyone?) they were a shining light amongst the post glam seriousness. Sadly no Alex now, he passed away in Zeebrugge about 20 years ago - and he will be missed, but this was always a band that was more than just the frontman." Of Rent, Stu Hudson at leedsmusicscene.net writes: "Like a three-way train crash between the Rocky Horror show, the Scissor Sisters and the Divine Comedy and blow me if it isn't the most entertaining gig I have seen...The songs are wonderfully enjoyable, brilliantly performed and enticingly camp...There is nobody who entertains like Rent. I implore you to go and see them." Put the two together and...well, should be quite a night. Thursday 1st December 2005
July already. What a ride.
The year kicked off in characteristically grandiose style as Rent annexed Bradford's St George's Hall, in support of their new allies Off The Wall.
After four years away, Rent finally succumbed to the beautiful people at the Love Apple. The graceful gaelic charm of Michael Mullen oiling the hinges of renewed friendship, and opening the door to more Rent flavoured West End (of Bradford, that is) campery. With astonishing results. Young Ivan received more groupie attention than even he could cope with. But he tried. Oh god he tried. More shows were instantly booked for July onwards - see the Diary Page for more details.
Rob Chapman, organiser of the highly prestigious Tea Time Shuffle at Leeds' HiFi club (see diary - Nov 2004), saw fit to invite Rent to the STS at the Faversham, an all day showcase of the TTS's best bands. The band walked away with a warm brace of new musical friends, a host of new supporters, a gaggle of fine reviews, and some non-specific infections.
The first half of the year ended with all the same pomp and grandeur with which it had begin...on Bradford Festival's main stage in centenary square. A day of love, loss, laughter and tears, not dampened even by the eternal struggle twixt beer and mixing desk. So much in fact, that Rent's charming impromptu acoustic set in front of the festival beer tent made not only the day, but also the local radio, and the next day's papers. Suffice it to say that West Yorkshire's media hovered round the band for the rest of the afternoon like dogs round a freshly baked apple pie. Or tart. Hmmmm. Tasty.
And of course, for all the grandeur, the band never forgot their spiritual home, getting all hot and dirty on a regular basis at the musical melting pot we all know and love - The Melborn.
So what's in store for the rest of the year?
Manchester beckons once again, the Love Apple hosts bigger, firmer, juicier Rentshows, and the band round off the year with not one, but two festive treats - The Teatime Shuffle Christmas special at the HifI Club, and of course, the infamous Rent Christmas party at the Melborn - see the Diary Page.
Not only that, but in a week's time the boys and girls are being flown to a secret island location aboard Nathaniel Sin's personal Rentjet (TM) to begin work on recording the new, long awaited EP. Holy chihuahua.
So join us for the next season of Rentlove. You'd be clinically insane not to, but then again we like you that way.
Wednesday 6th July 2005
Swing,
swing, swing... A year that saw
more shows than the last four combined, and a near-hysterical surge
of fresh talent and new faces.... The band has also been honoured, nay...blessed, with the arrival of three immaculate vocal divas. One by one over the summer, Claire, Sarah and finally Lisa phased effortlessly into the line-up, culminating in a jaw-dropping three-way harmonyfest at Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire...at twilight, in front of 1800 people. Well, it would've been rude not to, wouldn't it? In Autumn, with the arrival of their spanking new million-channel mixing desk, Rent employed the services of keyboard wizard Pete Burns as sound engineer, and his musical grace and lightness of touch have already saved the band's sonic bacon several times, and taken a huge amount of pressure off the terminally overworked Nightcrawler. And finally, the massive contributions of Messr's Babington, Blatherwick, and Trevethick must be noted for prosterity. Without the selfless and ongoing efforts of these sterling individuals, some of our biggest shows would simply not have happened, and innumerable CDs would never have seen the light of day. Gentlemen, we stand indebted. And through it all, despite the band playing more venues, and further afield, than ever before, you lovely people have still turned up to support them every time. So to say thanks we're throwing the mother of all shindigs. Yes, it's the Big Rent Christmas Party, at...where else...The Melborn, Bradford, on Friday 17th December (see Diary page for details). The first thirty people to arrive will receive a free copy of Rent's new festive hit, 'A Swinging Christmas'...a reverent anthem to traditional seasonal celebration and merriment. Kinda. In the New Year the Rentboys and girls and will take a break from gigs, to write and record new songs, develop their ridiculous Rock Opera, Pout and About, and indulge in a much needed round of industry-bothering...all of which means that Friday 17th December will probably be your last chance to see your favourite dandy popsters for some time... If you can't make
it on the 17th, (and you'd better have a darned good excuse), then
have a splendid Christmas and thank you all once again for all your
support, encouragement, singing, dancing and thrown underwear in 2004. See you in 2005...for Rent's Tenth Anniversary. Oh mercy. Monday 6th December 2004
The boys (and girls) marked its passing with a small performance. At twilight. In the grounds of a 16th Century castle. In front of 1800 people. Well, it would've been rude not to, wouldn't it? And so thoughts turn to the future. And with them, the usual fears. Do we stand resigned before that great barren desert of inactivity that somehow seems to befall Rent every time Autumn swings around? Not this time, buster. Not content with having played more shows in just seven months than the last two years combined, an unprecedented third season of Rent now stands before us, as bright and sparkling as a September morning. Fresh with expectation. Cool. Vivid. Slightly moist.
And that's just
the start of it. All details, and much more, can be found staring about with wide eyed innocence on the Diary Page. What a year it's turned into. Wednesday
1st September 2004
Rolan, son of the crown prince of glam himself, Marc Bolan, is playing this Wednesday night at the New Roscoe. The show is being filmed by Channel Four as part of a documentary on the life of Marc and his musical legacy. And Rent are opening the show. So get yourself down to the Roscoe on Wednesday (14th July) for the kind of night that doesn't come along very often... Sunday 11th July 2004
As if the first
half of the year wasn't eventful enough, a sensational summer of mirth
and majesty beckons, so get those Rent diaries ready. |
So
it was understandable that by February Rent decided they'd had quite
enough of the bad. They did the only thing one can do when faced with
ceaseless waves of smothering melancholy. They went down south and
kicked the living arse out of London. Which made them feel a whole
lot better. Johnny Benton even joined in. Which made everyone very
happy. 
And
you can see it all, along with a specially made video of ps..., here
(don't worry, it's free):
Not
only that, but this show marked the unignorable arrival of Kog, or
rather, KOG, the irrepressible guitarist-cum-charm-capsule
formerly of punk legends the Dead Pets. Not the most straightforward
career path, I'll grant you, but the KOG
slotted in perfectly with the line up, adding the biggest pile of
umph Rent could've wished for. An umph they'd been waiting for for
some time.
The
big gigs continued. Literally. July saw the band play The Big Gig,
a weekend of bands organised by the Love Apple as part of Bradford
Festival.
They
must have done something right, because August and September were
mental. Rent returned to BBC Raw Talent, this time as a full band
for a live session. This was closely followed by their first major
music festival - Beached 2006 in Scarborough. Not long after that
Rent were back in London, this time headlining at the world famous
Barfly at The Monarch in Camden. Once back up north, they hardly paused
to draw breath before hurling themselves in the warm gratifying melee
that is the TeaTime Shuffle at the HiFi Club in Leeds. A cracking
night if every there was one. 
And
what a show it was. After a gap of seven years, Rent's Horns of Plenty
made a glorious, wallshaking return, this time in the form of the
University's Fellow in Music Mark Robinson, Loqui's Rob Chapman, and
Scaramanga Six's Steve and Paul Morricone, having been taken up on
their kind offer of brassing for the Rent. With support from Gallo
and Shatner, and a Dandy guest spot by Heads We Dance's delicious
Pete Wurlitzer, the evening turned into the most incestuous crossover
musical love-in seen since the Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus.
With less hair. Or elephants.
Not
only that, but we'll be travelling down and back, on the same day,
in one of these...
Interested?
Then let us know by return...it's first come first served.
So
Long, Farewell, Auf Weidersen, Goodbye...
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On
Saturday 28th August, a rather monumental Rentsummer came to an end.
On
Wednesday 8th September, Rent charge into the Autumn/Winter season
with another first, breaching the walls of the musical stronghold
that is Manchester, to debut in one of its most respected venues -
Night & Day. You simply can't miss this - which is why we're bringing
the fabled Rentley Bentley out of the carpool and pressing into service
once more. Book your seat now - places are strictly limited. You might
even end up traveling with the band. Swoontastic.
Get
It On
At
the end of June, the boys will return from their month away...to find
themselves booked to play the biggest gigs of their lives. 