More photos of The Humans from the ‘Sugar Rush’ UK tour dates earlier this month. 1/2. The Public, West Bromwich, 3-6. The Flowerpot, Derby. Please click on each for a larger version. All of these, and more, have been added to the 2010 – gallery page. (Thanks to Angus Turner for 1-3, and Michael O’Brien for 4-6)
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)
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)
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.”
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.
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 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.
