PLEASE CALL OFFICE FOR AVAILABILITY: 08447 707 788 DATES TO BE ANNOUNED:
One of the most exciting new bands to have emerged from Wales in recent times, The Automatic formed in the not-very-rock 'n' roll town of Cowbridge, but their disco punk sound should easily establish them as stars.
They formed, as with so many bands, out of boredom. "There wasn't much to do for young people where we live," guitarist James Frost told icWales. "We all love music so we started out playing local gigs, recreation centres, clubs in Maesteg, then it grew."
Initially known as White Rabbit, they changed their name in February 2005 after 18 months together. A demo attracted the attention of Probation Management, an offshoot of Cardiff label FF Vinyl. "It was all tinny electro drums and then it exploded into this hook line of synths, guitars and drums," Probation's Martin Bowen told Sound Nation magazine.
B-Unique, home to Kaiser Chiefs and The Rakes, were among the labels sent the White Rabbit demo by Probation. According to James, "The label turned up at a Barfly gig and we signed there and then. The next week we went with them to Bristol to record a demo."
That led to a publishing deal worth a reputed half a million quid. Certainly the early recordings, which including live favourites Monsters and Rats, suggested a band with enough commercial nous and raw songwriting talent to make it worth their while.
If all that sounds a bit sudden, that's because it was. The band hadn't even done a tour. Although they'd played a number of gigs, they chose to spend their time writing, rehearsing and tightening their sound instead. According to Alex, "Because we've got good songs, and rehearsed so much, it doesn't seem to matter that we've not gone about it in the usual way. A lot of bands tour two or three times before they're signed."
Live, too, The Automatic put on an electrifying show. As audiences at the Hard-Fi and Ordinary Boys shows late in 2005 found out, they have no trouble blowing their headliners out of the water, and the roofs off the venues. Watching Rob and Alex trade vocals and leaping about the stage, it's obvious there's something big happening.
And they're keen to avoid any comparisons with flash in the pan scene-hijackers. "Listen to it," says Rob. "It isn't like that. Come and see us live. We're more exciting than a lot of bands. You've got to have interesting songs." And those they have, in spades.
