Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

All these NY Ballrooms that start with “H”… The Highline Ballroom played host to The Humans ,a band fronted by 80’s U.K. icon Toyah, and this was, amazingly, her first ever U.S. performance, 30 years after her chart run in the UK and Europe began. The Humans enjoyed a raptureous response, several standing ovations and an encore, and I enjoyed a brief chat with Toyah before the show (I intercepted her on her way to the ladies room), and was thrilled to see that she is bursting with energy and fervor about what she does.

• Read the full mini article at ‘Punk Globe’ here. (Thanks to Jimi LaLumia)

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.”

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.

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)

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…

Toyah onstage and post show after The Humans’ NYC gig at the Highline Ballroom last night. The photo below right has also been added to the 2010 – gallery page. Steve Riley, pictured with Toyah, said of the gig: What an amazing night, the sound was incredible, Toyah looked fantastic and her voice was better than ever. The Sugar Rush album is brilliant and seeing the Humans live is even better, I highly recomend both. Truly a night to remember. (Thanks to Steve for the great photo)

The Humans have been omnipresent at the ‘Time Out New York’ website over the last few days:

Live Preview: The Humans + Adrian Belew and Tony Levin: Associates of King Crimson’s Robert Fripp hold court in NYC.

Things To Do: Tuesday’s Must See Concerts: The Humans at Highline Ballroom: A veritable supergroup, the Humans are fronted by new-wave cult singer Toyah Willcox, and feature Bill Rieflin of the recently-disbanded R.E.M. However, it’s the guitar work of Robert Fripp – Willcox’s husband – that makes the greatest impression on the group’s new album Sugar Rush.

Music/Nightlife: The Humans + Kid Savant: Though the Humans are fronted by English new-wave cult singer Toyah Willcox and feature stellar work from two instrumentalists, bassist Chris Wong and multi-instrumentalist Bill Rieflin (who plays drums in R.E.M. but mostly sticks to bass here), the sound of King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp – Willcox’s husband, as it happens – is unmistakable on the group’s new sophomore album, Sugar Rush. Will Fripp make a cameo here? Don’t hold your breath, but don’t stay away on his account, either.

Catch The Humans at Highline Ballroom Tonight

The Humans are something of a supergroup, being composed of Toyah Willcox, Bill Rieflin (R.E.M.), and Chris Wong (and yes, that is Robert Fripp on the left in the photo, who contributed guitar on the record). Toyah formed the experimental rock group in 2007 after being invited to tour Estonia by the Estonian Ambassador, and now they are in the midst of their first US tour in support of their sophomore album Sugar Rush. Their music has been described as “European experimental meets West Coast American grunge with overarching avant-garde and filmic qualities,” due to their composition of Toyah’s powerful voice backed by two bassists. Their performance at Highline Ballroom tonight is for sure one worth checking out.

The Humans play the fourth, and final, date of the US ‘Sugar Rush’ tour tonight at the Highline Ballroom in NYC.

The US dates have went incredibly well: Toyah has tweeted along the way: “Portland awesome, this band really rocks. Sooo looking 4ward to more“, “The Humans at Highline Ballroom NY…..critic’s choice for best show on 27th sept” and “On route 84 to Philadelphia. Shows really good, audiences really get the concept“.

To Alec, who has travelled a long way to see The Humans and Toyah, and to Jimi, who has waited a long time to see Toyah play live in New York… Have a great time tonight!!

The Humans played the first US live gig of the ‘Sugar Rush’ tour last night at Portland’s Empire Dine & Dance.

Toyah has been tweeting this week during rehearsals and the dress run, including her feelings on the first time she has ever played live in the US: “This is it! My first ever USA performance! I’m actually shaking!“.

Follow Toyah at Twitter to stay updated on The Humans’ American adventures.

View a photo from this week’s rehearsals, at Toyah’s Official Facebook, here. The Humans second US date is tonight at Church of Boston, Boston MA.

• More US press coverage for The Humans, from ‘Boston Herald/The Edge’: Gigs: Music for your weekend. View here.

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

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 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

Very exciting news for Toyah’s American fans: It looks like Toyah will be playing live for the first time on US soil soon: Toyah’s Official Facebook posted yesterday:

Seattle, USA fans….. are you out there…. this is a heartfelt shout out. Some news on warm-up gigs for THE HUMANS coming your way soon.

Seattle, Boston, New York & Philadelphia: THE HUMANS are coming for you later this year.

I’m not going to post a link but a venue located in NYC is already advertising a gig for The Humans in September, saying tickets will go on sale today!

Keep an eye on Toyah’s Official Facebook and The Humans Official website for announcements.