Reverend and the Makers

Infobox musical artist
Name = Reverend and The Makers


Img_capt = Jon "The Reverend" McClure
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Background = group or band
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Origin = Sheffield, England, UK
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Genre = Indie rock Funk Electropop
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Years_active = 2005–present
Label = Wall of Sound
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Current_members = Jon McClure Ed Cosens Tom Jarvis Joe Moskow Stuart Doughty Laura Manuel
Past_members = Dave Sanderson Richy Westley
Notable_instruments =

Reverend and The Makers are an Indie rock band based in Sheffield, England and signed to Wall of Sound. The band is fronted by Jon McClure, nicknamed "The Reverend".

History

In late 2005, McClure once again collected musicians together for his new project: Reverend and The Makers. The original Makers, like previous bands included co-songwriter Ed Cosens, this time playing (bass). The rest of the makers consisted of Dave Sanderson (guitars), Joe Moskow (keyboards), Richy Westley (drums, ex-Hoggboy) and Laura Manuel (vocals), and occasionally Simon Stafford on trombone. Sanderson was dismissed in July 2006 after the band completed their first headline UK tour and replaced by Gledhill guitarist Tom Jarvis, who continues to play with both bands. At this time a percussionist, Stuart, was also added to the band's line-up. Stuart is the cousin of Eddie the Kid.

Demos and live

Reverend and The Makers released a 9-track demo in 2006, entitled "Ten Songs." The artwork included a tracklist with ten songs, track 10 being "Paris at Night". However this song was not made available for download; it only surfaced on the Internet in August 2007. The demos were recorded at 2Fly Studios, and produced by Alan Smyth, McClure acknowledges the work Smyth put into the demos by accrediting the debut single; "Heavyweight Champion of The World" as McClure/Cosens/Smyth. Reverend and the Makers' music is a mix of indie guitar pop, electronica and a touch of Madchester-esque funk. Some of the internet demos feature members of other notable Sheffield bands such as Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys), Tim Hampton (Bromheads Jacket) and Mike Hughes (Little Ze). One of Reverend's inspirations is Manchester performance poet John Cooper Clarke and Reverend often performs his own poems, of a similar style, in between songs during his live sets. One of the B-sides to the debut single "Heavyweight Champion of the World" is a poem entitled "Last Resort" in which John Cooper Clarke and McClure read alternate stanzas. This poem was also duetted live when the band played live at Shoreditch's Spread Eagle in the first tour in May 2006.

Reverend's lyrics are particular. His down-to-earth, cynical and observant outlook on modern-day life are captured in verses and delivered in a voice spoken in a Yorkshire accent.

In April 2006, Reverend and the Makers were support to the Arctic Monkeys on their sell-out UK tour (same management), exposing the band to larger audiences and bigger venues. This was followed by their own first UK tour in May and June, selling-out dates in Shoreditch (London) and The Plug in home-town Sheffield on the final night. A second tour followed in October 2006, showing great progression as a band. The sound was much tighter and far more advanced than on their previous tour. Jarvis had given a lot more strength to the guitar element and was certainly a catalyst in the progression of the band.

Reverend Soundsystem

Reverend hosted a monthly clubnight on the first Saturday of every month named "Reverend Soundsystem" at The Plug in Sheffield, and has also hosted one event at Manchester's Po Na Na. The Soundsystem has featured a number of guest DJs such as Mani (Stone Roses/Primal Scream), Peter Hook (New Order), the late Tony Wilson (Factory Records), Andy Nicholson (ex-Arctic Monkeys), Chris McClure (face of the Arctic Monkeys debut album cover (Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not) and brother of Jon), Terry Hall (The Specials), Milburn, Bez and Arctic Monkeys as well as live performances from The Sunshine Underground, Gas Club, Stoney, 747s, The Hosts and White Rose Movement.The event no longer takes place at The Plug.

igning to Wall of Sound

Late 2005, fellow Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys released their debut single, and McClure was hounded by major record labels, reportedly offering him sums of up to £150,000 to make an album like Arctic Monkeys. Although McClure was on the dole at this time, he resisted the temptation, and decided to do everything his own way, managing to sell out the 1,000 capacity Plug in Sheffield twice, while still unsigned. It was not until the following year that McClure met Mark Jones in a club in London when he asked him for a lighter. The two got talking and Mark Jones came to see Reverend and the Makers at the next show. Jones reportedly proclaimed the band as the "best band in the world" and signed them to his label Wall of Sound Records.

Debut single, album and tour

Reverend and the Makers undertook nationwide tour and date for their long-awaited first release. The tour included dates in Wakefield, Leeds, Nottingham, Liverpool, Sunderland, Birmingham, Bristol, London, Brighton, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Leicester, Sheffield, Hull, Manchester, Newcastle, Barnsley and a second date in London respectively. The band are also set to play more dates in July and many festivals over the summer period including Glastonbury Festival, Carling Weekend, T in the Park and T4 on the Beach as well as supporting the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Hampden Park, Glasgow A tour to Australia is also scheduled for January or February 2008. [*Clode, Samantha, [http://blogs.abc.net.au/triplej/2007/09/tell-it-like-it.html "Tell it like it is: Reverend and the Makers"] , "Triple J", September 24, 2007.]

Their first release was the single "Heavyweight Champion Of The World" on May 28, 2007 and featured the B-Sides "18-30" and "The Last Resort" featuring John Cooper Clarke. The single takes its name from a line from "A Kestrel for a Knave" a novel by Barry Hines and another favourite book of McClure. The single is available on both CD and 7" vinyl formats, including a limited edition "White Vinyl." The single was released on download on the May 6, and reached #38 in the UK single chart on download only. The album, entitled "The State Of Things", was recorded over the Christmas period and was released on Wall of Sound on September 17, 2007. The album features songs co-written and performed with Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys and one track co-written and with guest vocals from Tim Hampton of Bromheads Jacket, other tracks include the vocal talents of Steve Edwards in fact the whole album is steeped in the creativity of the Sheffield music scene.

On April 30, 2007 Reverend and the Makers performed "Heavyweight Champion Of The World" and a cover of Kelis's "Trick Me" on Radio 1's Live Lounge with Jo Whiley.

In October 2007, supported by "The Ting Tings," they made a tour of Universities in the UK. [ [http://www.nme.com/news/Reverend-and-the-makers/31445 The Ting Tings release new single...] NME - September 28, 2007] Former "Arctic Monkeys's" bassist Andy Nicholson made guest appearances to play bass for a couple of songs, because of McLure's longstanding friendship with the Arctic Monkeys.

On December 8, 2007 they supported Ian Brown on the final leg of his tour, and supported The Verve on December 11 and 13. They also supported in Dublin on October 28th in the Big Top venue in the Phoenix Park.

On February 12, 2008 they performed on British singer Lily Allen's chat show Lily Allen and Friends.

In March 2008 the band released an EP consisting of three remixes of "Sundown On The Empire", three for the track "18-30" and one for "The Machine" for a total of seven tracks.

Reverend Mixtape

At the Leadmill venue in Sheffield on May 27, 2007, approximately 200 CDs entitled "And Whilst the World Was Asleep We Were Listening To..." were handed out to the fans. It is reported that more copies will be available later in the year in independent record shops. The cover featured a poem by McClure on the back "Just Like His Dad" which is a b-side to the single "He Said He Loved Me". The mixtape features songs from Cymande, Pixeltan, The Clash and Love. The CD opens with an alternative version of "The Last Resort" which only features McClure's verses and has a synth backing.

plit

In August 2008, frontman Jon McClure said he would quit music after their next album [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7569838.stm] ] . A month later he changed his mind [ [http://www.gigwise.com/news/46096/jon-mcclure-im-not-quitting-the-music-industry] ] .

Discography

Singles

* "Heavyweight Champion of the World" (May 28, 2007) UK #8, UK Indie #1
* "He Said He Loved Me" (September 3, 2007) UK #16, UK Indie #1
* "Open Your Window" (November 19, 2007) UK Indie #1
* "Sundown On the Empire / 18-30 / The Machine - Remixes" (March 16, 2008)

Mixtape

*"And Whilst the World Was Asleep We Were Listening To..." limited edition CD (May 27, 2007)

Album

*"The State of Things" (September 17, 2007) UK #5
*"French Kiss in the Chaos" (2009)

References

External links

* [http://www.iamreverend.com Official Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/reverendmusic Myspace Page]
* [http://www.sonorika.com/reverendmusic Sonorika.com Page]
* [http://www.ilikemusic.com/interviews/Reverend_And_The_Makers_Jon_McClure_Interview_2008-4881 Interview with Jon McClure - Reverend And The Makers - 2008 on ilikemusic.com]