Tokolosh (band)

TOKOLOSH (always written in capitals) [1] are a Greater Manchester based band formed in 2011 and made up of singer and guitarist Liam Frost, keyboard players Christian and Nicky Madden from The Earlies, bassist Nathan Sudders from The Whip and drummer Richard Young.[2]

TOKOLOSH
Christian Madden, Liam Frost and Richard Young performing with the band TOKOLOSH at The Eagle Inn in Salford. Photograph © Emma Farrer
Background information
OriginManchester, England
GenresInspirational
Years active2011–present
LabelsStatic Caravan
Jack to Phono
WebsiteTOKOLOSH
MembersLiam Frost
Christian Madden
Nicky Madden
Nathan Sudders
Richard Young

Biography

The band was dreamt up when all the members were taking part in one of Marc Riley’s annual Christmas shows on BBC 6 Music, which involved a large number of local musicians coming into the studio to sing carols live during the show. Frost had already worked with several members of the band on other projects, including during the recording of his second solo album when he travelled to the Earlies studio in Burnley to record a song [3] In a 2012 newspaper interview with the band, Christian Madden was quoted as saying "We read a review of Liam's second album and it criticised him for being a ballsy vocalist…And I just thought, I've got to work with that guy." [1]

Named after the Tokoloshe; a mischievous sprite which appears in African mythology, the band's moniker was suggested by Christian Madden as an emergency measure but as the band developed their songs many had working titles which include the word Tok and the name began to define the music.[1] TOKOLOSH's music was described in national press as "danceable folk with darkly sexual lyrics." and the band explained this by saying "All of these songs focus on a slightly different side of adult relationships…The desperate and slightly obsessive aspect maybe, but also how people can change inside of a relationship - for better or worse.".[2]

On 12 January 2012 TOKOLOSH performed a live session on BBC 6 Music for DJ Marc Riley’s radio show where he described the band as a supergroup. The band played three tracks; The Hollow, Tok De France and Shapeshifter;[4] the second song of which underwent a minor name change by the time it appeared on the album Stay Strong.[5]

The band played a second 6 Music session for Riley on 22 October of the same year where again they played tracks which at the time only had working titles. TokoDiddly later became The Knife Twists whilst Tokvember was released as Unknown Animal.[6] The band also played TokoHorse which retained this title when released as a single by Static Caravan.[7]

October 2012 also saw the release of the band's debut single consisting of the tracks The Hollow and TokoHorse. The 7" vinyl release was limited to 300 grey wax pressings [8] and was released via the Static Caravan label with artwork from Marc Atkins.[9] Static Caravan released a further 7" from the band in January 2013 containing the tracks Shapeshifter and Bloodlines.[10]

In August 2014 the band released their debut album Stay Strong on the Jack To Phono label [11] with Louder Than War describing it as "a landmark album sweetly accessible and full of surprises".[12]

Live Performances

TOKOLOSH have played sporadic dates in eclectic venues mainly in Manchester. Their debut Manchester show was in the reading room of the historic John Rylands Library on Deansgate [13] and other shows have included a gig in Whitworth Park to mark the temporary closure of the Whitworth Art Gallery as it shut for refurbishment,[14] a support slot for I Am Kloot at the Manchester Apollo on 13 December 2013,[15] an outdoor show in St Anne’s Square, Manchester as part of the Dig The City urban gardening festival [16] and a woodland gig at Festival No 6 in Portmerion where they played the 'In The Woods' stage.[17] In March 2015 it was announced that the band would play micro-festival Cloudspotting; a festival situated at Gisburn Forest in the Forest of Bowland which TOKOLOSH previous played in 2013.[18]

Some of the band's gigs have seen slight line up changes when the musicians have had commitments with their other bands. Sudders bass duties have been covered by guitarist Tom Lloyd Goodwin whilst drummer Bo Walsh has stood in for Richard Young when he was available. [19]

Discography

Albums

  • Stay Strong (1 August 2014) Jack To Phono

Singles and EPs

  • The Hollow / Tokohorse (1 October 2012) Static Caravan (vinyl release)
  • Shapeshifter / Bloodlines (7 January 2013) Static Caravan (vinyl release)
  • The Root (1 July 2013) Jack To Phono
  • Unknown Animal (4 November 2013) Jack to Phono
  • A Great Wave (30 May 2014) Jack to Phono
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gollark: They're all in JS.
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gollark: LyricLy, you would usually count *down*.

References
  1. Waters, Sarah (17 February 2012). "Talking A Load of TOKOLOSH". Manchester Evening News.
  2. Lester, Paul (8 April 2013). "The Guardian: New Band of the Day - TOKOLOSH (No. 1,487)". Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  3. Riley, Marc (12 January 2012). "Marc Riley Show: Session and Interview with TOKOLOSH". BBC 6 Music.
  4. "BBC 6 Music Website Programme Page - Tokoloshe (sic) interview with Marc Riley". 12 February 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  5. "iTunes: TOKOLOSH 'Stay Strong' - track listing". Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  6. "BBC 6 Music Website Programme Page: Tokolosh join Marc Riley in the Studio". 22 October 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  7. "Static Caravan Recordings: VAN 248 The Hollow / TokoHorse". Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  8. "TOKOLOSH Website: News - Single Pre-Order". 24 August 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  9. "Static Caravan Releases: VAN 248 - Tokolosh: The Hollow / TokoHorse". Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  10. "Static Caravan Releases: VAN 258 - Tokolosh: Shapeshifter / Bloodlines". Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  11. "Jack to Phono: Stay Strong! - TOKOLOSH release Stay Strong album". 3 August 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  12. Ashley, Jon (6 August 2014). "Louder Than War: Album Reviews - Tokolosh : Stay Strong". Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  13. MDS. "Beard Rock: Reviews - TOKOLOSH at John Rylands Library". Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  14. "BBC News Online: Whitworth Art Gallery to mark closure with celebratory weekend". 30 August 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  15. "I Am Kloot Website: News - Manchester Apollo Support from Tokolosh". 18 October 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  16. "Dig The City: Live Band Night, 8th August 2014". Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  17. "Jack to Phono: News - Festival No. 6". 14 August 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  18. "Cloudspotting 2015 Line-up". Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  19. "TOKOLOSH live photograph: Emma Farrer Flickr Archive". 8 August 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
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