Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

The Humans: The Public, West Bromwich
Concert review by Lisa O’Brien

There is no doubt that Brummie singer Toyah Willcox enjoyed herself on stage during a very intimate gig in the Black Country.

About 50 people turned up to see the Kings Heath-born singer, actress and writer perform with her other bandmates from The Humans at The Public, in New Street, West Bromwich, last night as part of their Sugar Rush tour.

Promoting their new album with the same name, there was no shortage of hair swinging as the 53-year-old used the stage to her full advantage. Waving her hands around freely and wearing a black dress, overcoat and black boots, she opened the gig strongly with Sugar Rush, followed by Titanium Girl when the bass definitely kicked in.

• Read the full review at the ‘Express & Star’ website, here.

The Humans onstage at the The Public, West Bromwich tonight. The final of three acclaimed live ‘Sugar Rush’ dates in the UK. Please click on the photo for a larger version. This has also been added to Dreamscape’s 2010 – gallery page. (Thanks to Paul Stephens for the great photo)

Photos of The Humans at last night’s gig at the Flowerpot in Derby. Click on each photo for a larger version. These, and more, have also been added to Dreamscape’s 2010 – gallery page. (Thanks to Ray Sears, pictured below with Toyah, for the great photos)

The Humans play The Public, West Bromwich tonight. Ticket details here. Last night’s gig in Derby has been highly praised by fans. There are two great new official Humans photos, by Dean Stockings, here. View official footage of the amazing ‘Small Town Psychopath’ and ‘Playing In The Dark’ from Thursday’s Bush Hall, London gig by clicking below.

Toyah tweeted this fab photo today: “5 Humans and a bunny“. Methinks WillyFred is an honorary Human!

The Humans play The Flowerpot, Derby tonight. Ticket details here. There have been rave reviews for Thursday’s London gig at Facebook. View a gallery of photos by Dean Stockings from the London concert, here. Full info on Monday’s concert podcast filming, taking place in Birmingham, is available here. Vist The Humans’ Official website by clicking below (Photo © Dean Stockings)

View The Humans performing ‘Fragment Pool’ at Bush Hall here. (Thanks to Kate Way). Dreamscape’s 2010 – gallery page has been updated with a few photos from the gig. (Thanks again to Paul Stephens & Angus Turner)

A new interview with Toyah, published today by the ‘Derby Telegraph’.

Despite a career in showbusiness spanning more than three decades, it’s a performance in New York last week that Toyah Willcox cites as her absolute highlight.

The show, on a promotional tour for her band The Humans’ second album, was capped off with a standing ovation and almost endless cheers from the adoring crowd.

“That was incredible,” says Toyah fondly. “There have been so many amazing moments in my career that I will always look back on fondly but playing in New York City and getting a standing ovation for The Humans is at the top.”

That tour of the east coast of the USA was a precursor to a trek around the UK, which sees The Humans visit The Flowerpot in Derby tomorrow night.

• Read the full interview at ‘This is Derbyshire’ here.

Thank you for your wonderful support of the new album SUGAR RUSH and HUMANS tour. I am pleased to let you know that on Monday 10 October you can gain entry to Birmingham HMV Library at 3pm with your HUMANS ticket stub (from Bush Hall, Derby or West Brom) for HUMANS gig filming for podcast. Toyah x

Tickets are available for this weekend’s tour dates at:

SAT 8 OCT DERBY Flowerpot 01332 834438 / Tickets
SUN 9 OCT WEST BROMWICH The Public 0121 533 7161 / Tickets

More photos from last night’s concert at Bush Hall, London. Click on either for larger version. (Thanks to Angus Turner for these photos of The Humans)

The Humans onstage at the Bush Hall, London tonight. The first of three live ‘Sugar Rush’ dates in the UK. Please click on the photo for a larger version. (Thanks to Paul Stephens for the photo)

• Another great review of the new ‘Sugar Rush’ CD, this one from American magazine ‘In Tune’. 8th October 2011 issue. (Thanks to the Official Toyah Facebook)

• The Humans play the first of their UK ‘Sugar Rush’ tour dates tonight, at the Bush Hall, London.

• Confirmed Yesterday: As well as Sunday’s signing session at The Public in West Bromwich, there will also be Sugar Rush album signing sessions, 7.30-8pm after the doors open (but before the support start) at Bush Hall, Thur 6 Oct and at Derby, Sat 8 Oct). T-shirts & CDs will be on sale at both.

• A surprise Humans related news announcement, “an exclusive opportunity in Birmingham”, will be made this coming Monday (or possibly late Sunday): Toyah tweeted yesterday: “Rehearsing set for BUSH HALL, it is ROCKING! Keep ur ticket stubs”

• A new photo session for The Humans took place today: Toyah tweeted earlier today: “Just done HUMANS photo shoot. Very architectural. & Humans tour offer is in for 2012……we are thrilled!”

The Humans live dates in Manchester, Cardiff and Sheffield have been postponed until further notice. Refunds are available from point of purchase. The Humans look forward to playing Bush Hall London, Derby and West Brom. Toyah tweeted: “I can’t wait for humans shows. Reaction 2 album is fabulous. Big :-( & big sorry 4 having 2 postpone some. Looking 2 reschedule for 2012. Toyah“

• You can hear full-length previews of ‘Pebble’ and the stunning ‘Small Town Psychopath’, both from the, just released, ‘Sugar Rush’ album, at Soundcloud now. Both songs also feature in the set list for the ‘Sugar Rush’ Tour. Click above to visit Toyah’s Soundcloud page.

THE HUMANS KICK OFF UK TOUR AFTER TAKING NYC BY STORM

After 4-star album reviews, and standing ovations in New York, USA for their east Coast tour, Bill Rieflin, Toyah Willcox and Chris Wong hit the road in the UK for the SUGAR RUSH TOUR. The new material which will be heard live on this tour combines haunting soundscapes, edgy experiments and sweet melodies. Toyah has described Sugar Rush as the energy of original Toyah meets space punk crossed with American grunge. Pearl Jam and Soundgarden have recently let Bill Rieflin know that the band’s debut album We Are The Humans as one of their favourite albums. A recent review also described the album as “that record we might have gotten if Tori Amos and Trent Reznor had ever come together for a full album.”

The Humans live show has won critical acclaim and a standing ovation in New York on 27 Sept. The Humans now bring this tour to the UK with a chance to see the performances in intimate venues in the UK. For full box office ticket links click here or go to www.thehumansofficial.com

THU 6 OCT LONDON Bush Hall 08444 771 000
SAT 8 OCT DERBY Flowerpot 01332 834438
SUN 9 OCT WEST BROMWICH The Public 0121 533 7161

NEW YORK GIG REVIEW:
“Songs like Fragment Pool and Pebble had a flow to it that drew you in and held your attention. Sea Of Size was one of the highlights of the set – a piece that drifted through the air and oozed a quiet sort of power. Wong, Rieflin, and the Igor with no last name created an interlocking tapestry for Toyah Willcox to glide over. Most impressive. Quicksilver and Telekinesis, both from the 1st Humans disc, were audio fairy tales for adults – bizarre little tales of life, slightly skewed. Twisted Soul led to the massively electric Put A Woman On The Moon, and the show ended with the caffeine rush of Demigod. The fun romp that was their cover of These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ served as encore. An incredible evening! Bring this band back as soon as humanly possible!”

SUGAR RUSH ALBUM REVIEWS:
“Sugar Rush is the group’s second release, and it is a big one. This record sound like it could have escaped from the John Cale archives. With the attitude of Tori Amos’ best work (but not the raw emotion), Toyah’s voice lays over these compositions that sound almost like Trent Reznor on The Fragile.”

“A hybrid of haunting and sweet, this album intrigues from start to finish. 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.”

Welcome to October: A month, definitely, of two halves: Half One is all about The Humans, the new ‘Sugar Rush’ album and the ‘Sugar Rush’ UK tour. Half Two is so crammed full of ‘From Sheep Farming To Anthem’… so many classic songs, iconic Melissa Caplan outfits and quintessential Toyah moments… that it’s difficult to move in there… in a good way!

The US ‘Sugar Rush’ dates have been critically acclaimed, with 4-star album reviews, and standing ovations along the way, and the UK tour is definitely not to be missed. Who can put it better than Toyah? She tweeted yesterday: “Sugar Rush stormed the usa, can’t wait for u 2 hear it. Its like original toyah meets space punk“. How can anyone resist that? The new material, which will be heard live on the ‘Sugar Rush’ tour, combines haunting soundscapes, edgy experiments and sweet melodies. Please click on the above promo flyers for full details on how to see both tours. Unfortunately The Humans’ Glasgow date at King Tuts has been postponed by the promoters, but there are still six English/Welsh ‘Sugar Rush’ concerts to go to.

‘Sugar Rush’, the second album by The Humans, is released on Sunday 2nd October in the UK, Europe and Rest of the World (basically everywhere except US/Canada where it’s already available).

The album will be available as a download, via iTunes (this includes bonus Digital Artwork Booklet), Amazon, Play etc. The UK CD release can be purchased from Burning Shed, and will also be available at each date of the ‘Sugar Rush’ UK tour (as will the t-shirt).

‘Sugar Rush’ is already available on CD and download for those of you in the US/Canada. Download via iTunes or Amazon. Buy the CD at The Omega Order (click below) or Amazon.

View more comprehensive details on the release(s), including info on the album’s bonus material and much more, at Toyah’s Official Facebook here. Details of how UK fans can buy t-shirts online will be announced soon, so no need to buy on import unless you really want to :)

Another excellent review of The Humans NY concert.

One of my “bucket list” artists I’ve been hoping to see in my lifetime was Toyah Willcox. This show was my opportunity, as she made her first ever live show in NYC with the band the Humans. She and they did not disappoint. Bill Rieflin and Chris Wong round out the Humans, and they were joined by live guest Human Igor for this show. Before I go further, great to see Tony Geballe nearby enjoying the show! Sugar Rush, the title track of their 2nd album, opened the set. Wong and Rieflin played dense layers of interlocking figures on their basses as Igor triggered buzzes, clicks, and beeps while adding patterns on guitar. Willcox added the technicolor to these dark textures – her voice soaring, flying, swooping passionately…

• Read the full review, and see some great photos of the gig, at the ‘Progsheet’ website, here.

Any band that garners comparisons to the White Stripes mixing it up with Lou Reed and Kate Bush immediately grabs our attention, especially when they can count post-punk survivor (and Teletubbies narrator) Toyah Willcox among their number. Curious folk will be able to see if these musical comparisons are accurate when the band arrive at Corp this month.

Visit the ‘Toast Magazine’ website, here.

Photos of The Humans onstage, on the final US ‘Sugar Rush’ date, at the Highline Ballroom, NYC earlier this week. Please click on each for a larger version. These photos, and more, have has also been added to the 2010 – gallery page. (Thanks to Alec Kelly for these great NYC photos)

A great new interview with Bill Rieflin from NPR Music’s ‘The Record’.

Talking Shop With Bill Rieflin, Journeyman Musician

This is a songs-oriented record, but the instrumentation is unusual. Explain why you decided to be a singer and two basses (augmented by other things, including Robert Fripp’s guitar).

The fact is, I didn’t decide anything. It was all Toyah’s doing. For some reason, out of the blue, she asked if I wanted to play bass with a new project. After recovering from the sheer confoundment and confusion, I said, “OK.” I had no idea why she would want a drummer to play bass. The concept of voice and two bassists as the musical core of the group is solely hers. Being that it’s her vision, I can’t exactly tell you the “why” except to say that, as a singer, I’m told, it’s much nicer to sing without having to fight over guitars and drums eating up all the frequencies they eat up. From this basic trio grows further augmentation and adornment. As the producer, I will usually fill in where I see fit, adding musical highlights and emphases. Plus, it gives me an opportunity to show off. Robert joined us on this record as a continuation of touring we did together last year, so this was a natural step.

• Read the full interview with Bill at the ‘NPR Music’ website, here.

The Humans Deliver Music As Their Own Art Form at Highline Ballroom

… Around the second to last song of the set, Toyah exclaimed, “It’s getting close to the end of my set and I don’t want it to end!” I’m sure they could have played for longer, but all good things come to an end, and when the band walked off the stage the applause didn’t stop. “More!” a crowd member yelled. The Humans hopped back up on the stage and played their rendition of “These Boots are Made for Walkin’” to unquestionable approval, before humbly bowing and grinning, then ducking back into the green room for good.

• Read the full review at the ‘Best New Bands’ website, here | Photo © Kelly Knapp.

After 32 years as a singer, Toyah Willcox plays her first-ever show in New York City. Ms. Willcox’s personal set list for the evening (provided by An Official), transcribed…

The physical Sugar Rush CD album will be available to buy from all dates of the band’s Sugar Rush UK Tour and to buy online from the Burning Shed www.burningshed.com webstore. Those buying the UK/Worldwide physical edition of the album (for the tour dates or from Burning Shed) will find a code inside the album which allows access to download three live tracks for free, all recorded at Scala London in February 2010.

The digital edition of the album will also be released worldwide (excluding USA/Canada) via iTunes, Amazon MP3, Play.com and all major digital music vendors from Sunday 2 October 2011. The (non-US/CAN) digital edition features the full 13-track studio album with an additional two live bonus tracks from the Scala London concert in addition to an exclusive Digital Artwork Booklet.

• Digital Edition Bonus Tracks (ROW Digital releases only, not US/Canada)
Available from iTunes / Amazon MP3 / Play,com / 7digital
14. Sugar Rush (Live at Scala London) [Digital Bonus Track]
15. Noise In Your Head (Live at Scala London) [Digital Bonus Track]

• THE HUMANS / LIVE AT SCALA LONDON EP
Free to download when buying physical CD (code inside CD)
1. Labyrinth (Live at Scala London)
2. Is It Wrong (Live at Scala London)
3. Put A Woman On The Moon (Live at Scala London)