The Humans (featuring Toyah Willcox) with The Army of Broken Toys at Church of Boston tomorrow night!
There’s so much about Toyah Ann Willcox I never knew. I was familiar with this wild-haired, exotically dressed creature from another planet that was pretty much the norm in the 1980s, though her voice set her apart. I remember her album, The Changeling, released in 1982. It was dark, gothic and sensuous, and a staple of my musical diet at the time. But I had no idea that she was also deeply immersed in an acting career – stage plays, film and television – since the mid ‘70s. She worked with Derek Jarman on his punk film Jubilee and The Tempest, and in 1979’s Quadrophenia. She appeared with Katharine Hepburn in the made-for-television movie The Corn is Green, and in many live theatrical roles. At the same time, she fronted a few bands before embarking on a solo music career in 1985.
• View the full article at ‘The Boston Survival Guide’ website, here.
THE HUMANS KICK OFF FIRST US TOUR & RELEASE NEW ALBUM
The Humans kick off their first ever American East Coast live dates with the Sugar Rush Tour, starting at Portland’s Empire Dine & Dance on Saturday 24 September. The tour continues to Boston, Philadelphia and New York City. The live outing sees Toyah Willcox, Bill Rieflin and Chris Wong, with guest Igor Zarbzan, present material from the new album Sugar Rush. Keep checking Toyah’s official twitter feed for reports from the Sugar Rush US Tour.
• Read the full news article at The Humans Official website, here or Toyah’s Official website, here.
More American press coverage for The Humans.
Face the Music: Humans, Space, Nirvana: the best of all worlds: There is a lot of music on tap this week – from Brown Bird to The Humans.
The Humans are a three-piece experimental rock band made up of Toyah Willcox, Bill Rieflin and Chris Wong. The group came to be in 2007, and dig this: The Humans consist of a voice and two bass players. That’s it, though you may hear some programmed drum beats or guest guitar during the live show.
Here’s a quick anatomy lesson: Willcox is an English singer and actress who’s released 22 studio albums, written two books, and has appeared in 40 stage plays and 10 feature films. Translation: She’s a legend. Rieflin is a multi-instrumentalist whose most recent gig was as drummer for R.E.M. He’s also worked with Robyn Hitchcock, Swans, Ministry and Nine Inch Nails, just to name a few bands. Wong is a professional guitarist, bassist, arranger, orchestrator, composer and musical director. Dare I call The Humans a supergroup? If the shoe fits
The Humans. 9 p.m. Saturday. Empire Dine and Dance, 575 Congress St., Portland. $8, $10. Ages 21 and older. portlandempire.com
US music journalist, writer and huge Toyah supporter, Jimi Lalumia interviewed Toyah last week ahead of The Humans’ US shows.
Jimi was instrumental in getting ‘Thunder In The Mountains’ and ‘Rebel Run’ played, in light rotation, on MTV back in the early 80s. He told Toyah about this and she said she was completely unaware of it. MTV’s Acquisition’s Manager at the time, Roberta Kruger, loved the videos and there was even talk of Toyah being interviewed for the music station. A missed opportunity but the video plays did help to build what became The North American Toyah Fanclub.
Toyah revealed that the band had been set to play The Academy Of Music on 14th Street in downtown NYC around the time of ‘The Changeling’ being released in 1982, but unfortunately this didn’t happen.
Jimi and Toyah also talked about Safari Records, Wayne/Jayne County, Miles Copeland and that ‘Fallen’ could be a hit in Manhattan’s “big gay dance clubs”.
Toyah feels ‘Sugar Rush’ is more accessible than ‘We Are The Humans’ and is looking forward to playing the US dates. She also said she would love to return for a Toyah proper gig, if only in NYC.
• Thanks to Jimi Lalumia | Visit The Humans’ Official website, here, for details on all the dates of the ‘Sugar Rush’ tour.
A great review, from ‘Everything But Urban’, of ‘Sugar Rush’, the forthcoming second album by The Humans.
Review: The Humans – Sugar Rush
The Humans’ new 13-track album, Sugar Rush, is experimental, edgy in the simplest of ways, and nothing you can ready yourself for. It’s the musical equivalent of a drive through a part of town you’ve never seen, and just when you think you’ve got the area figured out, you pass a sign welcoming you to the nearby town with restaurants of a different vibe, and even the sky looks a bit different. But don’t consider driving back now, because you’re on a one-way and the scenery stays intriguing.
• Read the full review at the ‘Everything But Urban’ website, here.
Below Right: The new official promo flyer/poster for The Humans ‘Sugar Rush’ UK tour dates. This also confirms that the album of the same name will be released digitally on 2nd October. Click below to view a larger version of the flyer/poster at The Humans official website.
Three more dates for the forthcoming transatlantic tour by The Humans were announced yesterday, in Portland, Sheffield and Glasgow.
Portland is now the first American date, on Saturday 24th September at Empire Dine and Dance, and Glasgow is the final date, on Tuesday 11th October at, groovy, King Tuts.
THE HUMANS sugar rush tour 2011: Full Dates:
Saturday 24th September: Empire Dine & Dance: Portland, USA
Sunday 25th September: Church of Boston: Boston, MA, USA
Monday 26th September: The World Café: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Tuesday 27th September: Highline Ballroom: New York, NY, USA
Tuesday 4th October: Ruby Lounge: Manchester, UK
Wednesday 5th October: Clwb Ifor Bach: Cardiff, UK
Thursday 6th October: Bush Hall: London, UK
Saturday 8th October: Flowerpot: Derby, UK
Sunday 9th October: The Public: West Bromwich, UK
Monday 10th October: Corporation: Sheffield, UK
Tuesday 11th October: King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut: Glasgow, UK
For full ticket links visit www.thehumansofficial.com
The Humans feature on the cover of The Flowerpot’s live gig guide, by ‘Raw Promotions’. The band play Derby Flowerpot on Saturday 8th October. Click below to view a larger version, and go here to view the PDF version of the publication. View full details of The Humans’ live dates for 2011 here.
The Humans are an innovative, three-piece contemporary rock band comprised of Toyah Willcox, Bill Rieflin, and Chris Wong. The group, a brainchild of Toyah Willcox, brings together three lifetimes of musical experience, experimentation and craftsmanship.
Pop diva and actress Toyah Willcox has had an extraordinary career in the British music scene, moving between post- ’77 English punk opportunism, the new wave underground, pop stardom, mature experimentalism and post-pop music and theater….
The recent announcement of The Humans’ UK tour dates has been reported by a number of websites, including “the longest running R.E.M. fan forum”, Murmurs.com. Gig Goer UK, Festivals For All and Glasswerk also have news reports on this.
Click above to visit The Humans Official website for details and tickets links for the US and UK gigs.
THE HUMANS ANNOUNCE UK SUGAR RUSH CONCERT DATES
The Humans have confirmed they will follow their first-ever US concert dates with a UK tour in support of the album Sugar Rush. The band, the brainchild of Toyah Willcox and featuring Bill Rieflin R.E.M. will perform material from their new album in a series of intimate UK gigs in London, Cardiff, West Bromwich and Derby on sale from Friday 19 August 2011. (Cardiff on sale Monday 22 August) The UK dates will directly follow the band’s first ever American live concerts which see The Humans play New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Seatlle.
Tuesday 4 October: Manchester Ruby Lounge
Wednesday 5 October: Cardiff: Clwb Ifor Bach
Thursday 6 October: London Bush Hall
Saturday 8 October: Derby Flowerpot
Sunday 9 October: West Bromwich The Public
The Humans’ new album Sugar Rush will be available to buy initially in the UK at the live concert dates and contain a code to download exclusive live tracks from the band’s headline London 2010 date at The Scala which received a glowing 4-star review from the Financial Times. After the tour the album will be available to buy digitally and for mail order online.
The eagerly awaited UK live dates for The Humans will be officially announced and confirmed today.
Keep an eye on Toyah’s Official Facebook and thehumansofficial.com for updates.
THE HUMANS ANNOUNCE TWO OCTOBER UK SHOWS & TICKETS
The Humans, the experimental band project featuring R.E.M’s Bill Reiflin, Toyah Willcox and Chris Wong have announced two UK shows for October.
The Humans were formed after Toyah Willcox was asked to tour Estonia by the Estonian ambassador back in 2006. Wilcox formed the band and proceeded to showcase their material during three live shows in Estonia in Autumn 2007. The three shows, which were attended by many governmental dignitaries including the Estonian president, sold-out in under 24 hours!
According to Toyah Willcox’s official website www.toyahwillcox.com, “The Humans are an experimental band project, featuring Bill Rieflin (R.E.M.), Toyah Willcox and Chris Wong. According to toyahwillcox.com, “The Humans live show is song based but the songs are deconstructed down to the bones of raw experience exposing human nature and irony. Comparisons are always misleading but if The White Stripes met with the vocal adventures of Lou Reed, Kate Bush, Gabriel and Beefheart then you might get a flavour of things to come…”
The Humans will see the American release of the album ‘Sugar Rush’ on 27th September.
The Humans UK Live Dates are as follows:
October 2011
Oct 4th – Ruby Lounge, Manchester
Oct 6th – Bush Hall, Shepherds Bush, London
The Humans tickets are onsale from 9am on Friday 19th August.
R.E.M. drummer Bill Rieflin is moonlighting as one of two bass players on the album Sugar Rush, the second offering from Toyah Willcox’s avant-garde rock trio the Humans. Willcox is a British actress, author, musician and wife to Roxy Music guitarist and prog god Robert Fripp. Sugar Rush is due to drop Sept. 27 via Seattle label the End Records. Although the group’s lineup is technically rounded out by Willcox, Rieflin, and fellow bass player Chris Wong, Fripp lends his guitar work to each of the album’s 13 tracks. Keep an eye out for more U.S. tour dates, which should be announced soon.
‘The Omega Order’ have The Humans ‘Sugar Rush’ CD/Shirt bundle, mentioned in last week’s thehumansofficial.com news update, available for pre order at their website.
HUMANS, THE – Sugar Rush (CD/Shirt Bundle)
Limited edition bundle includes exclusive T-shirt and CD.
Label: The End | Genre: Rock (Alternative Rock)
Release date: September 27 2011
46 days left reserve now!
This looks tempting but Toyah’s Official Facebook posted today: Please note: there WILL be a UK pressing of SUGAR RUSH album CD which will be sold on the uk tour by THE HUMANS along with official t-shirts. This will then also be sold online on CD and also available digitally. So UK fans don’t need to order the USA domestic release of the album. Full details announced shortly!
Toyah’s Official Facebook posted this afternoon:
As if the Sheep Farming to Anthem Tour wasn’t enough in October… details of UK gigs in Oct for THE HUMANS coming soon.
The End Records, the US label who just signed The Humans and will release ‘Sugar Rush’ next month, celebrate by featuring the band on their front page, along with news on the forthcoming album.
Toyah also tweeted yesterday on The Humans’ NYC date: “New York is on sale….The Humans perform Sugar Rush in entirety!“
• Visit ‘thehumansofficial.com’ here.
THE HUMANS LINE-UP AMERICAN ALBUM RELEASE & CONCERT DATES
The Humans (ft. Bill Rieflin Of R.E.M.) will see the American release of the album “Sugar Rush” on 27 September 2011 via The End Records. The album release will be supported by The Humans’ first-ever US concert dates and take in Boston, Seattle, Philadelphia and a hotly-awaited New York headline gig. The concerts are tipped to include performances of the Sugar Rush album in its entirety. Full details of all concert dates will feature at www.thehumansofficial.com and www.toyahwillcox.com
The album will be released digitally and on CD with an exclusive pre-order web-bundle including an exclusive Sugar Rush t-shirt featuring an illustration by Toyah Willcox from the album artwork.
• Read the full news article at ‘The Humans’ Official website, here., or at ‘The Official Toyah Willcox’ website, here.
The Humans’ first-ever US concert dates have been confirmed today at the band’s official website. Taking in Boston, Seattle, Philadelphia and New York.
These are, of course, concerts by The Humans, but it’s worth noting that this will be the first time Toyah has ever played live in America. The site has also updated with info and ticket links for three of these forthcoming dates.
THE HUMANS: SUGAR RUSH TOUR 2011
• Sunday 25 September: Church of Boston, Boston, MA, USA | Tickets
• Monday 26 September: The World Cafe, Philidelphia, PA, USA | Tickets
• Tuesday 27 September: Highline Ballroom, New York, NY, USA | Tickets
The Humans second album ‘Sugar Rush’ is released in September, and speculation has now turned to anticipation and excitement.
‘Amazon’ now have the album listed as a forthcoming release, and not only that they also have short audio samples of each song, including the bonus track ‘Small Town Psycopath (Full Mix Version)’.
This sounds like it is going to be a great album. Toyah’s vocals are incredible. I already love ‘Sweet Agitation’ and ‘Snow At 10.23’ just from the samples.
• Listen to the previews. (Thanks to Marcus Reddemann)
Track List Announced for Second Album from R.E.M. Drummer’s Side Project The Humans
The trio of R.E.M. drummer Bill Rieflin, Chris Wong, and lead singer Toyah Willcox known as The Humans has announced plans to release a sophomore album, Sugar Rush, in late September. In addition to the current lineup, Willcox’s husband — King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp — will be a featured performer on every track of the new album.
The band is currently planning a tour that will hit the U.S., Europe, and the UK to promote the release. In a statement, the band announced that it will be looking to book concerts in “cinemas, theatres, churches and other unusual spaces alongside traditional rock venues.”
• Read the full news article at the ‘ABC News Radio’ website, here.
