Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Warmduscher
View on WikipediaThis article contains promotional content. (October 2022) |
Warmduscher is a British post-punk band formed in 2014 in London.[1] The group is currently affiliated with the independent record label Strap Originals.
Key Information
Members of the band include Craig Higgins (Clams Baker Jr.), Benjamin Romans-Hopcraft (Mr. Salt Fingers Lovecraft), Adam J. Harmer (Quicksand), Quinn Whalley (The Witherer), Marley Mackey (Three Piece aka the Worm), and Bleu Ottis (Bleucifer).[1]
Background
[edit]The band was formed on New Year's Eve in 2014 to play an impromptu show at a house party. The initial lineup featured Higgins as vocalist and Harmer on drums, alongside Saul Adamczewski and Lias Kaci Saoudi of Fat White Family on bass and guitar, respectively.[1] The group then continued as a quintet, with Everett (drums), Romans-Hopcraft (bass), and Whalley (noise/electronics) replacing Adamczewski and Saoudi.
Career
[edit]Khaki Tears, the band's debut album, was released by Trashmouth Records on May 11, 2015.[2] Described as "the finest of filth" and "fractured rock and roll at its best" by Louder Than War, the band explains the album's title as "the time it takes for you to pluck up the courage for something" and "the ability to cry while eating your cake no matter what it's made of".[3][4]
The album was followed by the single Big Wilma/Neon Tongues, produced by Dan Carey and released with The Leaf Label on 12 January 2018. Described as a "mix of in-your-face punk and sinister electronica", the single was made available on a limited edition run of 300 7" singles.[5][6][7] Clash called the group "the sleaziest, most debauched, and downright addictive experiences in London's guitar underground right now".[8]
Warmduscher's second album, Whale City, was released with The Leaf Label on 1 June 2018 and has been described by the band as "a playground for the people that have stepped above and beyond their comfort zone".[9] Too Many Blogs called the album "dangerously debauched, infested with twisted riffs and cleverly assembled by Dan Carey’s production".[10] "Standing On The Corner", the second single from Whale City, was released on 6 April 2018 and called a "knock out blow" by Clash Magazine.[11] "1000 Whispers", the third single, followed on 16 May 2018.[12] Saul Adamczewski left the band shortly after the recording of Whale City. Fellow Fat White Family bandmate Adam J Harmer took over on guitar for Warmduscher.
On 11 November 2019, the band released their third album Tainted Lunch, which featured guest appearances by Iggy Pop and Kool Keith.[13][14] The album was recorded in just four days, with producer Dan Carey, and garnered widespread acclaim.[15] BBC Radio 6 Music placed the album at #6 in their Albums of the Year 2019 and The Line Of Best Fit awarded it a 9/10, calling the album "gritty, poppy, tasty, and utter, utter filth".[16][17]
Warmduscher released European Cowboy in 2020 for Record Store Day. The EP features three remixes by Soulwax, Savage Gary, and Decius and was limited to 1000 vinyl copies.
Warmduscher released At The Hotspot in 2022 and was released by Bella Union and was produced by Al Doyle and Joe Goddard from Hot Chip.
Warmduscher's latest album Too Cold to Hold was released in 2024 and produced by bassist Benjamin Romans Hopcraft and Jamie Neville.
Band name
[edit]The name "Warmduscher" is German which literally translates to "warm showerer", colloquially a derogatory term referring to somebody who is perceived as a wimp, or as not tough enough for life.[18]
Other projects
[edit]Guitarist Adam J. Harmer is also a full-time member of the South London band Fat White Family, which also includes Lias Kaci Saoudi (a short-lived early member of Warmduscher), and founding member Saul Adamczewski.
Bass guitarist Benjamin Romans-Hopcraft is one-half of the duo Insecure Men, alongside Saul Adamczewski. Romans-Hopcraft notes: "He's a complicated customer, but I've learned so much from Saul."[19] He is also currently in Miss Tiny alongside producer Dan Carey.
Prior to forming the band in London, Clams Baker ran club nights in Manhattan, New York and was mentored by drag queens.[19]
Personal lives
[edit]Multi-instrumentalist Marley Mackey is the son of Pulp bass guitarist Steve Mackey,[19] while Quinn Whalley is the son of Slade lead vocalist Steve Whalley, who replaced Noddy Holder between 1992 and 2005.[19]
Band members
[edit]Current members
- Craig Higgins (Clams Baker Jr.) – lead vocals (2014–present)
- Adam J. Harmer (Quicksand) – guitar (2014–present)
- Benjamin Romans-Hopcraft (Mr. Salt Fingers Lovecraft) – bass guitar (2014–present)
- Quinn Whalley (The Witherer) – various instruments
- Marley Mackey (Three Piece aka. the Worm) – various instruments
- Bleu Ottis (Bleucifer) – drums
Former members
- Saul Adamczewski – guitar, bass guitar (2014)
- Lias Kaci Saoudi – guitar (2014)
- Jack Everett – drums
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]- Khaki Tears (2015)
- Whale City (2018)
- Tainted Lunch (2019)
- At the Hotspot (2022)
- Too Cold to Hold (2024)
EPs
[edit]- European Cowboy (2020)
Singles
[edit]- "1000 Whispers" (2018)
- "Standing On The Corner" (2018)
- "Big Wilma/Neon Tongues" (2018)
- "Midnight Dipper" (2019)
- "Disco Peanuts" (2019)
- "Wild Flowers" (2022)
- "Fatso" (2022)
- "8 Minute Machines" (2022)
- Fashion Week (2024)
- Pure at the Heart (2024)
- Stayin Alive (2024)
- Cleopatras (2024)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c DW, D.; Wray, Daniel Dylan (21 May 2018). "A Glorious Day Out with Buzzing Post-Punks Warmduscher". Vice. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ "Warmduscher - Khaki Tears". Discogs.com. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ Gillespie, Roxy (5 August 2015). "Louder Than War Album Review". Louderthanwar.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ Dickson, William (11 August 2015). "Hang Yourself: An Interview With WARMDÜSCHER". Thequietus.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ Doran, John (12 January 2018). "LISTEN: Warmduscher Single Big Wilma". Thequietus.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ Gillespie, Roxy (19 January 2018). "Warmduscher: Big Wilma – single review". Louderthanwar.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ "Warmduscher Are Playing By Their Own Rules". Clashmusic.com. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ^ Murray, Robin (6 April 2018). "You Need This New Warmduscher Track In Your Life". Clashmusic.com. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ "Whale City". Theleaflabel.com. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ Crossland, Jake (3 June 2018). "Album Review: Warmduscher - Whale City". Toomanyblogs.co.uk. Too Many Blogs. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ "Warmduscher - Standing On The Corner". Theleaflabel.com. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ Maher, Amelia (16 May 2018). "Warmduscher's "1000 Whispers" is a brooding slither of mammoth rock'n'roll". Thelineofbestfit.com. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^ Murray, Robin (24 July 2019). "Warmduscher Joined By Iggy Pop On New Album 'Tainted Lunch'". Clash. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ "Warmduscher - new album, single & video Published 24 July 2019 by DM". The Leaf Label. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ "Warmduscher - Tainted Lunch". The Leaf Label. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ "BBC Radio 6 Music announces its Albums of the Year 2019". BBC. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "You might need to take a shower after listening to Warmduscher's Tainted Lunch". The Line Of Best Fit. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ "Warmduscher | DW | 12.09.2011". DW.COM. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d Eccleston, Danny (October 2024). "Are London Agents of Chaos Warmduscher Too Hot to Handle?". Mojo.
Warmduscher
View on GrokipediaHistory
Formation
Warmduscher formed spontaneously on New Year's Eve 2014 in London, emerging as an impromptu house party band intended as a one-off performance for amusement among friends.[5] The group's origins were rooted in the city's vibrant underground music scene, with members drawing from overlapping projects in the post-punk and electronic spheres.[6] The initial lineup centered on Craig Louis Higgins Jr., known as Clams Baker Jr., handling vocals; Adam J. Harmer on drums; Saul Adamczewski and Lias Kaci Saoudi contributing on guitar and bass; alongside early collaborators including Jack Everett on additional percussion and Ben Romans-Hopcraft on bass.[5][7] These musicians, many with prior ties to acts like Fat White Family—where Adamczewski, Saoudi, and Everett had been involved—brought a raw, improvisational energy influenced by London's south-of-the-river DIY ethos.[8] The band quickly aligned with the underground circuit, performing chaotic sets at intimate venues like the Windmill in Brixton, where their frenetic style and humorous antics resonated with the local post-punk community.[5] Warmduscher's debut album, Khaki Tears, arrived on April 6, 2015, via the independent Trashmouth Records, capturing their unpolished, genre-blending sound in a collection of lo-fi tracks produced by Liam D. May.[9] The record, featuring songs like "Uncle Sleepover" and "The Salamander," was recorded with minimal planning, reflecting the band's ad-hoc beginnings and earning praise for its "fractured garage rock" vibe within London's alternative circles.[10] Early live shows supporting the album solidified their reputation for unpredictable performances, often marked by onstage mishaps and a party-like atmosphere that echoed the scene's irreverent spirit.[8] By 2018, Warmduscher had evolved enough to release their second album, Whale City, on June 1 via The Leaf Label, signaling growing interest from established indie imprints and broadening their reach beyond the underground.[11] Produced with a slightly more refined edge while retaining their chaotic core, the album included the lead single "Big Wilma," which highlighted their fusion of punk riffs and electronic flourishes, attracting attention from wider music press and festival circuits. This release marked a pivotal step, transitioning the band from house-party origins to a more structured outfit still deeply embedded in London's post-punk lineage.[6]Career development
Warmduscher's third album, Tainted Lunch, was released on November 1, 2019, through The Leaf Label, marking a pivotal step in their progression with guest appearances from Iggy Pop and Kool Keith that amplified their chaotic, genre-blending sound.[12][13] The album received strong critical praise for its energetic post-punk and funk fusion, earning an average score of 78/100 on Album of the Year and acclaim from outlets like Louder Than War for its infectious, hedonistic vibe.[14][15] However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 severely disrupted promotional activities and live performances, limiting the band's ability to build momentum through tours and forcing a pivot to virtual engagements during lockdowns.[16] In 2022, Warmduscher signed with Bella Union and released their fourth album, At the Hotspot, on April 1, produced by Hot Chip's Joe Goddard and Al Doyle, which refined their raucous style into a more groove-oriented disco-punk hybrid.[17][18] The record garnered widespread positive reception, with Louder Than War naming it Album of the Week for its "squelchy low down dirty disco post-punk funk" and an Album of the Year average of 77/100, solidifying their reputation beyond underground circuits.[19][20] This period saw the band resume extensive touring, including a headline slot at Glastonbury Festival's Park Stage in June 2022 and subsequent UK and European dates in 2022–2023 that showcased their high-energy live shows to growing audiences.[21][22] By 2024, Warmduscher transitioned to their own imprint, Strap Originals, for their fifth album, Too Cold to Hold, released on November 15 and self-produced by the band, featuring notable collaborators such as Irvine Welsh on a spoken introduction, Lianne La Havas, Confidence Man's Janet Planet, Jeshi, and CouCou Chloe.[23][24] The album continued their evolution, blending post-punk with eclectic elements and earning praise for its "dazzlingly eclectic and honest" approach, with an Album of the Year score of 78/100 and reviews highlighting its bold maturation.[25][26] Supporting this release, the band expanded internationally with a North American headline tour in February–March 2025, spanning cities like Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and New York, alongside UK and European shows in late 2024 and into 2025, reflecting their ascent to broader "eccentric post-punk" recognition in contemporary critiques.[27][28]Artistry
Musical style
Warmduscher's music is primarily classified as post-punk, infused with funk, disco, and krautrock elements, often described as "groove-obsessed" and "ramshackle" in its energetic, fragmented delivery.[29] The band's sound features turbulent guitars and bouncing basslines that drive repetitive, polyrhythmic grooves, drawing from influences like gqom—a South African house variant—alongside hip-hop flavors and psychedelic undertones, creating a twisted, funky chaos that blends macho rock with dark disco.[6][30][31] Central to their style are the eclectic vocals of frontman Clams Baker Jr., who delivers an American-style croon ranging from James Brown-inspired narration and screams to spoken-word poetry, often layered with surreal, hellish humor and irony in the lyrics.[6][30] These lyrics explore themes of disenfranchisement, politics, and absurdity through spontaneous, irreverent lines, complemented by psychedelic guitar riffs and locked-in dance beats that evoke a gritty, cinematic sleaze.[6][30][32] In production, Warmduscher's early work, such as the 2015 debut Khaki Tears, embraced a raw, lo-fi aesthetic born from improvisation, capturing unpolished energy in short, on-the-spot tracks.[33] Later albums like Too Cold to Hold (2024) mark an evolution toward more structured, self-produced mixes that retain chaotic spontaneity while incorporating polished elements like horn sections and house-inspired rhythms, reflecting a deliberate shift from pure jam sessions to cohesive yet bohemian arrangements.[33][30] Their live performances amplify this style through high-energy, improvisational sets that emphasize chaos and audience interaction, with manic stage presence, swaying crowds, and on-the-spot lyrical tweaks fostering a party-like riptide of movement and participation.[6][34][32]Band name and persona
The band name "Warmduscher" translates from German to "warm shower" or "someone who takes a warm shower," and serves as slang for a "wimp" or soft individual who shies away from cold showers.[3][35] Frontman Clams Baker Jr. selected the name during the group's 2014 formation for its absurd and humorous undertones, aligning with their irreverent approach to music and identity.[35] Warmduscher's members enhance their eccentric, theatrical image through adopted stage aliases, including Clams Baker Jr., Lightnin' Jack Everett, and Marley Mackey.[36][37] These pseudonyms contribute to the band's portrayal as a shadowy collective of anonymous figures, fostering a sense of mystery and playfulness in their public presentation.[38] The group's visual and thematic persona reflects bohemian and metropolitan influences, evoking a free-spirited, urban existence rooted in London's underbelly.[3] Artwork and music videos often incorporate surreal, gritty aesthetics, such as chromatic blends of live-action and animation in tracks like "Midnight Dipper," which capture a nostalgically chaotic vibe.[39] This style underscores their anti-authority edge, seen in elements like tattooed rebellion and AI-generated surreal imagery shared on social media.[3] These elements collectively brand Warmduscher as a ramshackle group of London miscreants, emphasizing cultural clashes and unpretentious energy, as evident in promotions for their 2024 album Too Cold to Hold.[40][3]Members and associated acts
Current members
Warmduscher's current lineup consists of six core members, who have collaborated on the band's evolving sound since the early 2020s, blending post-punk, funk, and electronic elements in their recordings and live performances.[4][25]- Craig Higgins (Clams Baker Jr.): Lead vocals. As the band's charismatic frontman, Higgins delivers surreal, drawling lyrics with a Pentecostal-like intensity, serving as a primary songwriter and shaping the group's eccentric persona; originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, he formed the band in 2014 amid London's underground scene.[4][41][3]
- Benjamin Romans-Hopcraft (Mr. Salt Fingers Lovecraft): Bass guitar. A founding member since 2014, Romans-Hopcraft lays down the band's groovy basslines, providing a foundational pulse across their eclectic styles; he is also a key member of Fat White Family.[4][3]
- Adam J. Harmer (Quicksand): Guitar. An original member from the band's 2014 inception, Harmer originally played drums before shifting to guitar, contributing driving riffs that fuel the group's energetic, chaotic rhythms on recent albums like Too Cold to Hold.[4][25][37]
- Quinn Whalley (The Witherer): Keyboards and synthesizers. Whalley adds layered electronic textures and noise elements, enhancing the band's fusion of rock and house influences; he is a core member of Paranoid London and Decius.[4][42][43]
- Marley Mackey (Three Piece AKA The Worm): Keyboards and electronics. Mackey brings multi-genre production flair to the group's sound, contributing to the atmospheric and experimental aspects of their music; he is the son of late Pulp bassist Steve Mackey.[4][44]
- Bleu Ottis Wright (Bleucifer): Drums. Wright delivers propulsive, jazz-inflected percussion that underpins the band's live chaos and studio dynamics, particularly evident on their 2024 album Too Cold to Hold.[4][25][45]