Eugene Francis Jnr

Infobox musical artist
Name = Eugene Francis Jnr


Img_capt = Eugene Francis Jnr performing live in 2007
Landscape = yes
Background = solo_singer_multi-instrumentalist
Birth_name = Kristian Charles Williams
Alias = Eso Burst, Kip Armstrong
Born = Birth date and age|1977|3|8|mf=y
Died =
Origin = Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
Instrument = vocals, guitar, bass, banjo, synthesizers, keyboards, drums, mandolin, theremin
Genre = Folk, Electronic, Punk-Rock, alternative, Blues
Occupation = Singer, songwriter, guitarist, percussionist
Years_active = 2001–present
Label = Legion, Mighty Atom, Fuzzbox
Associated_acts = The Fantastic Super Foofs, Kaptain Black, Dirty Perfect
URL = http://www.legionpresents.com/eugenefrancisjnr
Notable_instruments =

Eugene Francis Jnr is an British musician, most famous for fronting the alternative rock bands The Fantastic Super Foofs, Kaptain Black, Dirty Perfect. Today, he is a solo musician, fronting the band Eugene Francis Jnr and The Juniors.

Biography

Early life

Eugene Francis Jnr was born in Cardiff, Wales on March 8 1977, and raised mainly in and around South Wales. During his youth, EFJ had gravitated towards such influential '90s grunge outfits as Nirvana and The Lemonheads.

The Fantastic Super Foofs, Kaptain Black and Dirty Perfect

Along with school friends Nav Verghese and Baz Hall, he formed The Fantastic Super Foofs at Brynteg School in Bridgend circa 1994 playing under the name 'Eso Burst'. At this stage they played punk rock, and were briefly known as "Mister Puss" (after his cat), until Verghese penned a song called 'The Fantastic Super Foofs' in his side-project 'Lesters Lovechild' and hence resulted in a name change in 1996. Their first recording as a group was a Ltd EP release on "Russboy Records" titled "Gliptus."

By this point EFJ had enrolled at University College London studying Planetary Science. It was here he found himself in the same halls of residence as Coldplay and My Vitriol. Whom he quickly befriended. After graduating and spending time in Australia, The Fantastic Super Foofs released the singles "Bilo Boss", "Devan Endo" and "Timmy Zuckermann" on the independent labels Floating Toast and Fuzzbox Records. These singles were met with positive reviews in the NME and were played by Steve Lamacq and the late John Peel.

However, the larger labels whom had initially shown an interest fell by the wayside. And the band broke down.

EFJ returned to Wales and spontaneously took a trip to Chicago to see his friends Mclusky who were recording there third album with Steve Albini. It was this trip that inspired EFJ to reform the band, with the same line-up. Only this time they were to combine the styles of blues, punk and country music and honour his hero Frank Black by naming the new project Kaptain Black.

The album "In Fertility" was released in 2004 on the Mighty Atom label. They toured with Mclusky, and released the single "Drone the Queen Bee". But the album received mixed reviews

Much to the disappointment of EFJ. He started working two jobs in a Bank and a bottle-shop. During this time in 2005 he agreed to write and perform music with the Weezer-like Cardiff band Dirty Perfect under the name "Kip Armstrong." They released one EP entitled "Lines, Opiates and the demented operation" on Fuzzbox Records and one single 'Quarterback Hairdo' on Sound Foundation Records

The name "Eugene Francis" can be seen credited for all artwork on these releases.

It was on the video shoot for "Quarterback Hairdo" that EFJ met David Legion a director and graphic artist who had directed the video "Recover" for the band The Automatic. EFJ and Dave Legion would later form the Record and Motion-Graphics company Legion Presents in 2007.

olo career

Time spent in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York staying on friends floors and playing impromptu shows at 'The Hotel Cafe' and 'Barbes Bar'. EFJ started experimenting with Folk, storytelling songs coupled with electronica.

The story goes "during a late lock-in at The White Horse Tavern, New York City under the watchful eye of Dylan Thomas a friend told him to continue with what he had been doing, and create an album based on the demo's he had loosely recorded." Up to the challenge he returned back home to Wales to start work on the proposed concept-album "The Golden Beatle."

During 2007 he started posting songs on his myspace, playing solo shows in London and Cardiff and formed the "Harmonious, beatnik supergroup" ['Tuborg Loud and Clear'.Carlsberg UK Ltd. 2007] - The Juniors which was made up from the "cream of the Welsh indie scene." These bands and individuals included Vito, Llion Robertson, Broken Leaf, Lindsey Leven, and Lianne Francis.

EFJ was invited to open for the Canadian twins ['Manchester Evening News'.MEM Media 2007] Tegan and Sara and released the Limited Edition Vinyl double A-side "Poor Me / Kites" to strong reviews. Coupled with this release was a cinematic adventure video which he co-produced with Dave Legion. The single and video found their way onto VH1, MTV2, BBC Radio 1 ['BBC Radio One'. BBC. July 2007] Radio 2, XFM and BBC 6 Music it also picked up numerous plays in the US on college radio stations KEXP. ['KEXP'.90.3FM Seattle. September 2007] "artist of the week" and KITS

Eugene Francis Jnr and The Juniors also played the mainstage at The Greenman Festival and it became their trait to throw rattles into the audience during the last song "Hobo Occupation" to unify the musicians with the crowd.

The Golden Beatle and 2008

The album "The Golden Beatle" was completed on Christmas Eve with numerous instruments making up its refined sound. And is due for release in April 2008.

Discography

*1999 "Gliptus"
*2001 "Bilo Boss"
*2002 "Devan Endo", "Timmy Zuckermann"
*2004 "In fertility", "Drone The Queen Bee"
*2005 "Lines, Opiates and the Demented Operation", "Quarterback Hairdo"
*2007 "Poor Me / Kites"
*2008 "The Golden Beatle"

External links

* [http://www.last.fm/music/eugene+francis+jnr Eugene Francis Jnr Site]
* [http://www.legionpresents.com Legion Records - Legion site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/eugenefrancisjnr Eugene Francis Jnr Myspace]
* [http://www.noizemakesenemies.co.uk/2007/07/eugene-francis-jnr-juniors-interview.html Interview with Eugene Francis Jnr]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/eugene_francis_jnr/ BBC feature]
* [http://depts.washington.edu/kexp/blog/?p=3047 Eugene Francis Jnr: Song of the day on KEXP]
* [http://www.tuborgmusic.co.uk/artists/Eugene%20Francis%20Jnr%20and%20The%20Juniors.aspx Review of 'Poor Me' launch party at Cardiff's Norwegian Church]
* [http://www.indie-mp3.co.uk/2007/07/eugene-francis-jnr-and-juniors.html Indie-music blog]
* [http://www.music-news.com/ShowReview.asp?H=Eugene-Francis-Junior-and-The-Juniors--live-review&nReviewID=2155&nType=3 Live review]
* [http://www.3hive.com/folk/index.php?page=3 3hive blog]
* [http://www.workhardpr.com/Archive/Fantastic%20Super%20Foofs/foofs.html Debut single review for The Fantastic Super Foofs]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A3910943 Review of Kaptain Black 'In fertility']
* [http://www.roomthirteen.com/cgi-bin/cd_view.cgi?CDID=1199 Review of Kaptain Black 'In fertility']
* [http://www.lineofbestfit.com/weblog/2007/07/eugene-francis-.html Review of "Poor Me / Kites"]
* [http://www.noizemakesenemies.co.uk/2007/07/eugene-francis-jr-juniors-poor-me-kites.html Review of "Poor Me / Kites"]
* [http://concretecircles.blogspot.com/2007/07/check-out-eugene-francis-jnr.html Blog for Eugene Francis Jnr]
* [http://www.rocklouder.co.uk/articles/3742/Tegan-And-Sara-Leeds-Cockpit.html Live Review of Eugene Francis Jnr and Tegan and Sara]

References