What did Hawk do 2009?

Well, the short answer is.....lots.... much more than we ever imagined, its been the busiest and most exciting year we've had as a band.....heres the long answer....

Having only released our debut album at the end of 2008 it seems an age since we were the 3 piece that recorded those songs, we are a different band now, for a start theres 4 of us, we've now played close to 100 gigs with Matt.

2009 encompased us releasing our music on many different compilations including our first release on Brew and Dance to the Radio, major party giggle power 20000.....


Nasa vs Esa Video - Februrary
In February we began planning and filming our first ever music video. With Roach productions at the Helm we created the space themed video for ‘Nasa vs Esa’ from our debut album. The video turned out to be a lot of fun to do, we made most of the props ourselves from many Blue Peter style weekends and we were more than happy with the result....



We also went to Scotland for the first of 3 visits with the more than delightful Errander

I Hate this, do you like it? Zombie Video

Shortly after we'd completed the 'Nasa vs Esa' video Danny North got in contact with us, he said he had a copy of our album and would love to take some photos of us...somehow this spawned into him making his directorial debut for 'I Hate this, do you like it?' which would eventually end up being released on our 'A. Or Not?' Ep in September.
The whole experience was a lot of hard work but ridicoulous fun, from planning out the logisitics, to the 100+ extras that came down for filming to the silly amounts of Jam and Jelly that were used.......take a gander at some of the photos from the filming........






To say we were pleased and excited and happy with the outcome is an understatement, Danny, Roach, Make Up Artists all the extras we're amazing and we really can take little credit for this video.




Kong Tour - July


In July we toured with our now label mates Kong, this was in support of their new album 'Snake Magnet.' We played our asses off on this tour and i think we really rose to the challenge, this tour was a lot of fun and we are very thankful to Kong for opportunity to do this....good people...good band....



Leeds/Reading Festival - August
In August we played Leeds/Reading festival which was ridiculous fun and culiminated in us being mentioned 3 times in one issue of NME, odd, yes….










We were also featured on the front cover of a magazine for the first time, Leeds' very own vibrations magazine were kind enough to put our ugly mugs on the front, photography by the genius of Danny North:



A. Or Not? released - September
Our first release as a 4 piece was our ep ‘A. Or Not?’ This came out on 9th September, we had a delightful release gig with the mighty Blacklisters, These Monsters and Godzilla Black, this also marked the premiere of the zombie themed 'I hate this, do you like it?'



Recording diary with Jason Sanderson in Barnsley:
part 1


part 2


part 3




Crossfire Massacre - Halloween - October
On 31st October (Halloween) we played at the Crossfire Massacre, which was a massive party in a random car park in London……. Cue insanity and people kicking the crap out of each other.



Video Diary of Halloween Crossfire Massacre:




Scorpieau - Dance to the Radio
In late July Dance to The Radio asked if we would like to contribute a song to their 4x12 series, a resounding yes was uttered, especially since heavy bands dont tend to get released on DTTR




Us and Them compilation


In November Gavin Lawson of Yes Boss fame released a compilation CD funded by Leeds Art Council entitled ‘Us and them’ the basic premise being DJs remixing bands songs and Bands doing versions of the DJs songs, our contribution being ‘Reverse 2012’ ….have a goosey at Gavs video remix of ‘I hate this, do you like it?’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkmJqqbrEcQ

Recording diary of 'Reverse 2012' at Ghosttown Studios:


Fall of Troy Tour
In November we joined Fall of Troy for part of their Uk tour, really nice chaps and a thoroughly lovely time was had.....
A full diary of those gigs is here:

http://chickenhawkpecks.blogspot.com/2009/11/gigs-with-fall-of-troy-so-far.html

New album recording begins - November/December
Since Matt joined we've been constantly writing new stuff but with the ridiculously busy year we've had there hasn't been much time to concentrate on purely writing for our next album however during November and December we began writing and recording the album at Ghost town studios with Ross Halden.

The particular aim being to push ourselves, try new things and not repeat what we had done previously. What we have recorded so far in my opinion blows everything we have done before out of the water, diversity will be the real key to this next album and we're all really looking forward to hearing the final thing once we get there....

oh yeah new email: chickenhawkband@googlemail.com

Hawk

x

Second lot of album sessions......

Bonjourno, welcome to, Chickenhawk : recording the new album, Part II, "This time it's personal", with myself - Roberto as your host.

This is what happened........

(Cue nonsense)

Friday 18th (Evening Only)
We aren't full time rockers yet, so any recording midweek or outside of holidays has to be done in the evenings. Theres no Mathew 'Barry' Reid tonight, so its just the three of us that play things on strings. Tonights aim is to add layers, textures and beef to the three songs we have previously recorded drums and guitars for: 'Pla' 'Bees' and 'King' (soon to be renamed).
We have the tools but we need cider, mulled wine and a man called Ross........

Everything seems to be going swimmingly so far during the recording even with the minor creative differences that sometimes rear their ugly head, it's still all good stuff that is happening. The whole album so far is a definate step up from the first one, then again i have to say that, in all honesty this is so much more a band album than the first one, plus its the first one with Barry Reid involved. Theres no bass yet so its tempting to beef the guitars out to compensate. I think 'Pla' is my favourite so far, the double kick on it is pretty special and goes through a lot of different moods within the song. Sticks triumphant harmonized part in the middle is so brilliant, ive been singing it ever since.

Something bizarre happens at around 2am. I had an idea for the intro to 'King', i dont know what happened but suddenly we're all on the floor (including Ross) turning knobs, dials and switches. A bit of 'internet-daddy-wizard-magic' (aka producing) and the intro is born. Its good, thats my opinion, tell me yours in 2010 please. By 3:30 ideas and madness has set in, we decide to call it a night, i couldnt even tell you the last thing we were doing. I promised Ross mulled wine though, Stick's attempt at heating it on a radiator didnt work...maybe tomorrow......


Saturday 19th (Evening Only)
More recording drums drums drums, 2 new songs to record drums for today. Recording begins at roughly 7pm, Mat lays down some delightful parts for songs with the working titles of 'I'm not your mate' and 'Shuffle' although everyone probably knows them as different song names at this point (we're yet to decide on the final names). I would describe shuffle as a restrained affair with hints of doom and maybe even an element of TREX, yes we said TREX. Im not your mate is a full on balls out rock fest, get your downpicking out boys and girls....

Mat puts in a beat in Shuffle that i didnt think would find a place on a chickenhawk album, it has and its banging..... Wait and see folks.

Next stick lays down some mighty rhythm guitar tracks, while the rest of us trade off Phil Anselmo impressions.....cue chugs.... New songs are different in styles again and will add some delightful variety to the album but it all gels great. Rhythm tracking is finished at 3:30am and its time for bed.

Sunday 20th (Allday)
After myself and the 'daddy-wizard' (Ross) had finished our delightful breakfast at a cafe bar ran by 3 camp elderly gentlemen, it was time to record more drums for the 'Slow one' (the working titles we have for these songs are very inventive). For those unaware of Ghosttown Studios, it is run in a giant room almost like a scout hut. This room + this time of year - central heating = frozen digits. Thankfully Ross has many heaters to get our bodies thawing. Barry Reid and I run through the song a good few times to make sure its bob on and Mat lays down some impressive drum tracking. Again this track is all over the place... polyrhythms, d-beats, straight forward beats. Listening to the drum tracks alone gives you a much greater sense of the power of Mat, can't wait to add guitars to this one. Oh yeah, you want a description of this one... slow, widdly, moody and face melting... I'd be an ace reviewer tut' tut'...

We have some videos of these sessions to follow, keep tuned in...

Hawk

Album progress

Cider up kids: This week we are back in the studio, tracking a further 2 songs. The 3 songs we have layed down so far go under the working titles of 'bees' 'king' and 'fast' some are more complete than others, there is still lots of work to be done.........Mr. Ghosttown is doing a cracking job.....


2010 is shaping up to be a very busy year for us.....stay tuned lots of information to come soon including some more recording videos, tours and downloads..........POWER