There’s some cool video footage of The Humans, at last month’s Haiti Fundraiser, at YouTube here. Click below for ‘Put A Woman On The Moon’, ‘These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ and ‘Twisted Soul’. (Thanks to John)
There’s a great selection of photos from The Humans’ set, from last month’s Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser, over at Getty Images
• A great photo of Toyah, and Chris Wong, from The Humans set at the Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser. This is from the ‘Act!onAid’ website, who caption the photo with “Toyah Willcox puts on a pleasingly mad performance.”
Go here to view more photos from the Fundraiser, and find out more about what ‘Act!onAid’ do here.
• Robert Fripp’s Online Diary now has lots of great photos and information covering the entire week of The Humans UK Tour.
Go here to start reading from Saturday, 20th February, the day of the first warm-up show at Bishops Cleeve. [Thanks to Merx]
A huge thank you to Stephen for his review of The Humans at The Scala, and for the photos also:
On arrival at the Scala the signs of Mr Fripp’s well known intolerance for illegal recording, were noticeable in the form of a large number of hand printed poster notices from ‘The Humans’ stating that “no unauthorised photography or recording of any kind would be permitted or you will be asked to leave”. Harsh perhaps? But frankly refreshing to be at a gig again without being confronted by a sea of mobile phone screens shining back at you and distracting from the act in hand. The act in this case being Toyah, Bill Reiflin, Chris Wong and ‘Mr Willcox’ as the guest man at the back.
After a no doubt talented, but rather middle-of-road support artist, Robert commenced the proceedings solo with one of his trademark soundscapes. I have personally always found watching RF perform to feel slightly voyeuristic and at times the hushed reverence can be uncomfortable (maybe a “good evening” would help ease the audience in). However he is always impressive whether you are a fan or not, and at times I was wondering how such sounds could be coming from a mere guitar. During the piece, as reported, a shout of ‘Cmon Toyah’ could be heard, presumably from someone imagining the opening bars of Good Morning Universe would perhaps be next – erm, nope.
Please click here, or above, for the full review and larger versions of the pictures.
Toyah, after performing with The Humans on the final date of their mini-tour, at The Scala on Wednesday night. Please click on these for larger versions. (Thanks to Manuel Sylvain)
The ‘Financial Times’ have reviewed Wednesday’s gig at The Scala;
The Humans, Scala, London
By Ludovic Hunter-Tilney
The Humans are an art-rock band featuring two bassists – one, confusingly, is REM’s drummer Bill Rieflin – and Fripp on guitar. Willcox, in a black PVC top, a memento of her 1970s punk roots, led the line with expressive vocals, twirling dances and stylised stage movements: Stevie Nicks meets Brechtian cabaret.
The twin bass players, occasionally complemented by programmed beats, played sinewy, rumbling rhythms, a kind of twisted funk, with Fripp contributing a range of guitar effects, from gnarly riffs and a pounding cover of Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” to delightfully subtle chimes.
On this basis the work of Mrs Robert Fripp and Mr Toyah Willcox, as Willcox introduced herself and her husband, deserves a far wider audience.
Read the full review at ‘FT.com/Arts’ here.
‘SwimathonPete’s Blog’ offers an interesting perspective of the Bishops Cleeve warm-up show in his Toyah Toyah Toyah post. Read that here. (Thanks to Paul Lomas)
A brief mention for The Humans in the ‘London Evening Standard’ review of Thursday’s Haiti Fundraiser;
Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser @ The Roundhouse: Egos landing for Haiti, By Rick Pearson
Last night, a conveyer belt of stars took part in a five-hour musical marathon to raise money for Haiti. Egos were left at the door as all profits from the show at the Roundhouse went to ActionAid and Médecins Sans Frontières, in a bid to help the charities rebuild the country following the earthquake.
Of the early acts, The Humans were the strangest, Bombay Bicycle Club the hippest and The Futureheads the most entertaining — particularly during a rabble-rousing rendition of Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love.
Read the full review here.
Meanwhile, today’s ‘Mirror’ features a news story on Toyah – the interesting aspect is that it is a report on/reaction to a review of The Humans’ set at the Haiti Fundraiser by ‘The Times’ newspaper;
The Mirror: Toyah’s Shock & Bore | The Mirror/Celebs: Toyah Gets Fans Seeing Red And Not Because Of Her Hair This Time: Singer Toyah Willcox’s hair may have changed from electric pink to stylish blonde but the ex-punk still has some people seeing red.
Her performance at a fundraiser for the Haiti quake was panned by The Times critic Pete Paphides.
He described it as: “A succession of songs so uniformly awful that the applause they elicited stemmed from the realisation that mere silence would heighten the sense of communal embarrassment.”
Clearly the 51-year old singer still has the power to shock.
There’s now a good online selection of reviews, fan opinions and comments on, and about, the mini-tour by The Humans. Go here for interesting overviews and reviews of Bishops Cleeve, and here for a great review by Merx of Wyre Piddle. ‘DGM Live’ visitor Colin Coates reviews the Cambridge concert here, and for numerous fan opinions on each of the gigs visit Toyah’s Official Facebook here.
There are further fan opinions at The Official Toyah MySpace and The Humans MySpace, and, as previously mentioned, The Assembly website, here, has a great selection of photos from the Leamington Spa gig.
The Humans’ very short, but nonetheless sweet, tour is over, the final gig being The Scala in London last night. There’s already been many reports on how good the five shows have been. Tonight, The Humans play a set at the Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser at The Roundhouse, London. Also playing are Paul Weller, The Futureheads, The Magic Numbers, Bombay Bicycle Club, KT Tunstall and many others. Please click below for further details on this.
The Humans’ Toyah, looking wonderful onstage, with Bill, at The Assembly, Leamington Spa on Monday 22nd February. Is London ready for The Humans? They play The Scala tonight! Please click below for a two-page gallery of great photographs from The Humans gig at The Assembly website.
The Humans two warm-up gigs in Bishops Cleeve & Pershore went incredibly well, playing to capacity audiences both nights. The set-list comprised of the entire ‘We Are The Humans’ album, four new songs; ‘Sugar Rush’, ‘Sweet Agitation’, ‘Fragment Pool’ and ‘Put A Woman On The Moon’, plus ‘These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ and a cover of the Hendrix classic ‘Purple Haze’.
The Humans play their first gig proper in the UK tonight; The Assembly, Leamington Spa (01926 523001). Followed by The Junction in Cambridge (01223 511511) tomorrow night, The Scala, London (020783 32022) on Wednesday night, and the Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser at The Roundhouse, London on Thursday. Tickets for the first three gigs are still available. Judging by the reaction to, and feedback from, the two warm-up shows these are gigs not to be missed!
The Humans; Warm-up gig, Bishops Cleeve, somewhere in the deep dark depths of Gloucestershire
Having been introduced to Toyah in 1980/81 by fashion designer Richard Sorger (www.richardsorger.com), who at the time I was at school with, I jumped at the chance to see her play live. I had owned vinyl copies of Anthem and The Changeling…. I still have a cassette tape of Warrior Rock in my attic.
Robert Fripp on the other hand, was a name that I had heard but I have to admit, his music, I had not. I own many CDs by Brian Eno, Harold Budd, Michael Brook etc but for some reason he had missed my radar. But not any longer! He has a new fan today.
The church at Bishop’s Cleeve was full. I believe there were about 300 seats.
Robert Fripp started proceedings with The Humans (Chris Wong, Bill Rieflin & Toyah Willcox) joining him after the opening track.
Ms Willcox started off unnecessarily nervous, or at least came across that way, but that seemed to lessen further in to the show. The audience was very receptive and appreciative.
The Humans are a three piece, four when Robert Fripp joins them as a special guest. The band has two bass players and no drummer.
The Humans played all of the tracks from their “we are the humans” along with a reprise of “We are the humans” at the end. This was followed by an encore comprising of excellent versions of “These Boots Were Made For Walking” and “Purple Haze”.
Chris Wong’s bass playing on “Is It Wrong” stood out for me. You can hear this track on Toyah’s MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/toyahofficial). It reminded me of Mick Karn (Japan / Dali’s Car / Rain Tree Crow) although Chris may not appreciate me saying that!
I personally liked it so much that I am hoping to be able to make it to the Cambridge gig on Tuesday.
Review by Symon Payne
Further photos from The Humans rehearsal sessions. To everyone who is heading to Bishops Cleeve this evening – I hope you have as good a time as The Humans have been having during their rehearsals for the gigs.
These are sure to be special shows (I’m not envious whatsoever. Not a bit. Nope, no… no… no!! ;)) Please click on the pictures for larger versions. (Thanks again to John)
There’s now just a matter of hours before The Humans play their first, albeit a warm-up, gig on UK soil. The band have been rehearsing for the shows and next week’s short tour, and it looks like they are having a ball. Both this weekend’s highly anticipated warm-up shows are booked to capacity. The dates in Leamington Spa, Cambridge and London next week now look unmissable!
Please click on the pictures for larger versions. (Thanks to John)
The Humans, led by 80s singer Toyah Willcox, will be playing a free warm-up gig in Bishop’s Cleeve before embarking on a tour of the UK.
St Michael’s & All Angels’ Church in Bishops Cleeve will play host to the very first live show from The Humans this February, when the free warm-up gig takes place.
The band led by Toyah Willcox, with special guest Robert Fripp, will be playing the first warm-up performance in Gloucestershire prior to kicking off the band’s UK tour.
Taking place on Saturday 20 February 2010, tickets to the gig are free of charge but are limited in number. Email info@moriartymusic.com with the subject ‘The Humans at Bishops Cleeve’ to request free tickets.
The posters/promo flyers for The Humans two, just announced, warm-up gigs. Click on either for complete poster and full details on these exclusive concerts.
Much more information on these gigs at The Official Toyah Facebook. If, like me, you aren’t a Facebooker further details are also available at Toyah’s other official webspaces; The Official Toyah MySpace, The Humans MySpace, and The Offical Toyah Willcox website. (Thanks to Craig)
Saturday 20th February: Bishops Cleeve Church, Gloucester
Special warm-up gig – See Official Toyah Facebook
Sunday 21st February: St. Anne’s Church, Pershore
Special warm-up gig – See Official Toyah Facebook
Monday 22nd February: The Assembly, Leamington Spa
www.leamingtonassembly.com [ Tel: 01926 523001 ] Tickets
Tuesday 23rd February: The Junction, Cambridge
www.junction.co.uk [ Tel: 01223 578000 ] Tickets
Wednesday 24th February: The Scala, London
www.scala-london.co.uk [ Tel: 02078 332022 ] Tickets
Thursday 25th February: Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser
www.haitiearthquakefundraiser.com – Roundhouse, London
The Humans Announce Two Special Warm-Up Shows
Prior to their first live performances in the UK, The Humans with their
special guest Robert Fripp will be playing two warm-up dates. These shows
will offer a unique opportunity to see The Humans in very intimate and
beautiful surroundings. The warm-up concerts will take place on
Saturday 20th February at St. Michael’s & All Angels’ Church, School Road,
Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire, GL52 8BA.
Sunday 21st February at St. Anne’s Church, Church Street, Wyre Piddle,
Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 2JD
Doors 7pm, Performance 7.30pm.
To reserve tickets, please e-mail info@moriartymusic.com with the subject of “The Humans at Bishops Cleeve” or “The Humans at Wyre Piddle” stating how many tickets you require and include your contact details.
Tickets for both shows are VERY limited. If you arrive without a confirmed reservation we cannot guarantee you admission!
Admission is FREE but there will be a collection for the local parish community.
With only three weeks to go until The Humans embark on their UK tour things are gearing up…
The set list for the concerts will include some new songs which may include some or all of the following: “Sugar Rush”, “Put A Woman On The Moon”, “Sweet Agitation” and “Fragment Pool”.
Check out Toyah’s new blog for February 2010 at www.toyahwillcox.com and www.myspace.com/toyahofficial for the full scoop on preparations for the tour.
You can buy tickets for the three live dates from the links below….
22 Feb 2010 Assembly, Leamington Spa
23 Feb 2010 The Junction, Cambridge
24 Feb 2010 The Scala, London
Additionally, The Humans are confirmed as one of the acts performing a short set at a concert raising funds for Haiti at The Roundhouse on 25 Feb, the night after their Scala London gig. The benefit gig has been organised by Bill Drummond and acts are being announced daily…. so far alongside The Humans, those playing live sets include KT Tunstall, Paul Weller and The Futureheads.
Just Announced! The Humans will perform a live set at the Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser at The Roundhouse on Thursday 25th February. Please click below for line-up and ticket info on the fundraiser event, plus donation details.
Further news on The Humans, from Official Toyah Facebook: With only three weeks to go until The Humans embark on their UK tour things are gearing up… The set list for the concerts will include some new songs which may include some or all of the following: ‘Sugar Rush’, ‘Put A Woman On The Moon’, ‘Sweet Agitation’ and ‘Fragment Pool’.
