Hello gorgeous!

Those of you that are all signed up to our mailing list will already know, and have even done the deed,  that we had a very special announcement to make on Saturday.

That announcement is that our 3rd EP — DRENCHED — is now available all over the interwebs!

You can grab DRENCHED from any of the main online music places such as iTunes, 7digital (mp3), Amazon UK (mp3), and so on :0)

We look forward to hearing what you think about it – please leave a review on iTunes or wherever you get DRENCHED from or on our Facebook Page and we’ll see it.

If you want a CD copy come and see us at a show – we’ve already dished some out at The Crouch End Festival which we headlined. 100 lucky guests at a private party we rocked also got their mits on a copy.

If you think that the tracklisting format looks a bit odd – well, with all the news recently about Pirate Bay and other torrent sites, we thought it would be fun to format the track names as if they had been downloaded from one of those sites

We’re guessing that you’ve seen the first video single from the EP. Just in case, here it is:

We can’t wait to hear what you have to say about it – was there a track not on Drenched that you felt should have been?

What’s your favourite song on there?

Let us know

The fuzztastic four have some very exciting news SUBSETTERs!

I can not only reveal that SUBSET’s first festival date of 2012 is only a matter of weeks away – but so is the follow-up to their extremely well-received Mahogany EP.

The new SUBSET EP will be called Drenched.

I am not allowed to tell you the track listing but there have been a few previews passed around (contact us if you would like an early listen in order to review it) and the feedback has already been fantastic!

A range of promoters, journalists, producers, trend-setters, and artist managers have been kind enough to let us quote their reactions below:

“SUBSET has put together some of the best music. I am using their songs as a sample to hold other artists standard to. These guys are hardworking, I can really see that. They have choruses that are nothing short of legendary! They are the new era of new grunge!”

Adam Leblanc AKL Agency – West Hollywood – US

“Oh I like this; really! Their music is so beautiful. Each time I listen to their songs I like it more and more… these songs are basically sex”

HACKNEY LOVE E-zine - UK

“What I like about Subset is that they’re not like anyone else out there. I’ve listened to SO many bands for Paradiddles, Plectrums and Posers it’s good to have something where no comparisons can instantly be made, something that’s a bit edgy. I like Romain’s voice and I’m very picky about vocals/singers.”

Jayne Kemish – Paradiddles, Plectrums and Posers

“Right up my street! It’s like a hybrid of Nirvana and 80s Matchbox. Incredible”

Jason Hall – UnderPass Promotion - Craufurd Arms Milton Keynes – UK

“Dark, moody and motivated… Queens of the Stone Age meets Metallica”

Symptomatic Promotions – London - UK

“I love it when the singer screams, very raging and edgy. This will appeal to the Grunge, Alternative and Heavier crowds. SUBSET has me even more excited than before!”

John Bromage – Avatar Management - Los Angeles - US

“Wow! Very varied style, sounds really good. Great leads and harmonies. I like the melodies and riffs. You guys keep at it!”

Aeon Promotions / Bloodstock Festival – Hampshire – UK

“Yes, I like Powercut! Surprisingly, I’m not much into garage rock but the song is really cool. It has a great rhythm, it’s very catchy… which is cool for a single”

Serena Biskyt – New Media Film Festival – Los Angeles/London

“I like the Drenched EP! Powercut has a cool video and it feels like dancing in the dark. Guitars and vocals are good and it rocks!”

Tim Russell – Director/Producer at Inner Circle Universal Recordings Ltd – UK

“SUBSET has produced a genuinely great quality EP with Drenched — it has a great selection of, in my opinion, their best songs with great, catchy, dance-along riffs and passionate gritty vocals”

Danny Brown – Danny Computer Scientist blog – UK

“‘DRENCHED’ is brilliant! Very dynamic, the voice is epic, and the guitars go really well with it. The breakdown is a full on thunder storm, complete with lightning! You guys are just mental, there’s such a natural aura coming from you!”

Lauren Brandon – Greenbank Studios – Luton – UK

“A mix of punk and hard hitting abundant fuzz! The songs are as powerful as the roars of lions. If they were tattoos, they would be full sleeves as they’re just in your face and hard to miss. I love the vocal dynamic range from soft and soothing to a powerful screaming growl”

Shane Gravestock – Cor Blimey Promotions – UK

“The voice… gives me some kind of unique solar energy and freshness at the same time. I like it a lot. It’s great!”

Donatello De Latte – Puglia News – Italy

“Really like the groove, melody and rhythm. It [has] got stuck in my head!”

Marie Gaidoukoff – University of Marseille Provence Student Union – France

“I like it! Crazy, quirky, cool, dancy, trashy! I like the crazy explosions, the dynamic and energy in the vocals. Good sound; powerful and garagy!”

Matteo DiCugno – Sound Engineer – Grove Music Studios

“The drumming is so good, my brother is now trying to learn it. The vocals really carry you. Very varied!”

Sara Dalati – Burberry HQ - UK

Yup, Drenched is certainly shaping up to be a monster as the new line-up of Rom, Rob, Jay and Lya has already proved to be a potent mix at their latest shows in London and Wolverton.

Crouch End and Dunstable Rocks Festivals Confirmed

You can catch the fuzzy foursome in all their glory when they step up to play The Crouch End Festival on May 5th.

They are also one of the first bands to be confirmed for this year’s Dunstable Rocks Festival on August 18th.

These are the first of their festival dates to be publicised – more  will be released once the ink has dried

Drenched will be released in mid-May but stay tuned as more news and videos appear for the new EP.

Remember to keep checking for the latest news on the SUBSET Facebook Page or on the gig page right here on this site

Hello SUBSETTERs!

We’re nearly through the second month of the year and we already have loads of big news for you all.

We officially have a new, full-time, drummer, there was some craziness in Chichester over the weekend and SUBSET has been asked to support a renowned grunge band from California on their pre-tour show with Killing Joke!

Good times abound at SUBSET HQ!

The big news for the new fuzztastic four is that they have been asked to open for L.A. hard rock band The Icarus Line.

The Icarus Line are currently on their third European tour and, as well as performing with Killing Joke this year, they have asked your own fuzzy foursome to warm the crowd up at their show at The Craufurd Arms – before they go on to play The Roundhouse in Camden with Jazz and the lads the following night.

Needless to say, the guys and gal of SUBSET are really looking forward to this.

Rom enthuses “It is a massive deal for us as, for the first time in 2 years, SUBSET is being given a good slot opening for a bigger band in an industry venue and a chance to have a leap forward”.

Rob adds “We realise that a lot of SUBSETTERs live in London, and getting to Milton Keynes might not be easy midweek, but we really need to put word out there – this might be that landmark gig for us; The one that people talk about in two or three years’ time”.

The band have toured extensively including US, Japan, Austrialia and Europe and opened for the likes of Primal Scream, A Perfect Circle, Lemonheads and  Wolfmother to name a few.

This is where you can find the Facebook Event and tickets for the March 7th show can be grabbed here.

Following on from the news that ex-Skin Drummer, Lya, had started working with the three amigos – she has decided that everything “feels just right” and has become the official drummer for SUBSET.

Rom said “It’s great to be four again. Lya is enthusiastic and a great drummer who has loads of ideas. SUBSET can push forward now”.

Rob agrees: “We have been lucky to have good friends like Arran and Dan that have helped us out but it did feel like it was 3+1 rather than 4. It’s not that we didn’t get along, and they are really talented drummers, it’s just that we always knew that they weren’t staying.”

“Yeah, it’s like when you look after somebody’s pet and you know you’ve got to give it back after a while – you have to try and not get too attached” adds Jay. 

In other news – Rom and Lya were busy working in a Chichester studio. At the end of the session an impromptu house party started with plenty of drinks and other things going around.

Lya recalls “it was all good, a great vibe. People there were excited that a band signed to a US label was recording in Chichester. But things got out of hand when a fight broke out”

Rom chips in “we had people coming up to us asking for gig slots, production and partnership deals. It was mad. I couldn’t believe it”

If this is how 2012 is starting for the crazy quartet then we can only hope that it continues to get even better.

SUBSET are already on the list for four UK festivals with more to come.

Keep updated by Liking the Facebook page or adding your email address for the monthly SUBSET newsletter.

Happy Friday to you all SUBSETTERs!

It looks like we in the UK need to brace ourselves for a bit of a freeze over the next week – but you know it’s going to be warm in your favourite drinking den

The gang will be up very early tomorrow as they will be shooting more pics and video footage around North London.

This is all in preparation for their next EP which will be out soon – want to know when this happens before anyone else? You had better make sure you’re on the VIP list

Good news – SUBSET has been confirmed for one festival already this year and is currently working with a few other organisers in order to agree slots in some more.

While we’re chatting about festivals, the fuzzy foursome are putting themselves up for a competition that will give them the chance to play Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park, London this year!

The only ‘Battle of the Bands’ thing SUBSET have attempted previously was when they had only been together for about 6 months – they ended up getting to the regional finals. So, who knows where they could get with 3 years behind them?

As with all these things they need your help.

Don’t worry – it wont cost you anything -in fact…

We’re GIVING you a FREE single!

All we need you to do is download Lucid Dreamer for free from here

The winners from the regional download sections will then go into live gig rounds until the winners are decided and it is they who get to play in Hyde Park.

Who would love to see SUBSET show the crowd what they can do on a big stage?

If you’ve subscribed to our newsletter you’ll be getting your latest dose of fuzz emailed direct to you in a week or so – if you’re not on the list then you’d better get on it like Technotronic!

Til next time

Cheers n beers!

Web Monkey Underling

Hey there SUBSETTERs!

It is, as near as damn it, the weekend!

What have you got planned? We hope that it involves plenty of drinking and dancing whatever you’re up to.

Things are nice and busy here at SUBSET HQ – but in a good way.

The lads are busy finishing off their brand-spanking new tracks at a secret French location. These will be released in the second-half of 2012 but don’t worry – the gang will have something for you to listen to a lot sooner than that. I told you that SUBSET never sleeps!

During a rare moment of not having newly formed Fuzz tracks kicking out of the studio monitors, Rom asked SUBSET (amongst many others) producer Zool to share his thoughts.

You see, Zool has worked on almost all of the SUBSET releases and has seen the group grow in to the current fearsome fuzz-monster you know and love.

It’s great to see that you are spreading the word as well – we have watched the Facebook Group grow since the new year and now it’s broken past the 900 ‘Likes’ mark! The SUBSETTER party bus is getting huge – we thank you all!

You will also be glad to hear that SUBSET have started to take gig bookings as well as continuing to pester the UK’s festival organisers. Keep checking the tour date listing.

You may have noticed that there’s a new photo gallery up – why not check out the larger version?

Well, I’d better get back to sorting out the next email newsletter. It has some very important news to let the subscribers know about first.

If you are not already on our mailing list then stick your details in the box over there on the right-hand side and you’ll be one of the lucky ones to get the breaking news first

Til next time.

Chief SUBSET Webmonkey

Greetings SUBSETTERs and welcome to the other side of the new year.

We all hope that 2012 has started off well for you and that you have plenty to look forward to over the next 12 months – SUBSET certainly has!

Everyone here at SUBSET HQ is busy chasing, hassling, poking and prodding various representatives of myriad UK festivals (as well as a few international ones) in order to get your favourite fuzzsters on as many festival line-ups this year as possible. They really want to get to play for you all and they enjoy a good festival as much as anyone reading this :0)

“Festivals are great, especially when you’re there with a bunch of buddies” enthuses Rob. “Yeah,” agrees Jay “the fact that you leave the real world outside and only have to think about three things: Which band to see next, what to drink next and what to eat next”. Rom adds: “sleeping is optional!”.

They are currently in contact with loads of festivals from the small local bashes all the way to the big boys such as Sonisphere, Download and Glastonbury.

“We hope that they all take us seriously no matter what size they are” says Rom “We want to play them all even if it is the first slot in the morning – once the dedicated music fans and seagulls see us and hear us they will remember us”. “We definitely need to play these festivals this year before the world ends on December 12th” states Jay. “That’s rubbish and you know it” says Rob “Marty McFly went to 2015 so the world can’t end in 2012!” Who are we to challenge Rob’s knowledge of the Back to the Future series of films?

If you are arranging a festival or have a favourite local one which we might have missed please let us know at the usual email address: SUBSETuk@gmail.com

The lads have kicked off their year with a very constructive first session at the Fuzz Cave and have started filming footage for a new video to be released very soon. During the shoot the very talented Adrien Daste snapped some behind the scenes photo’s which can be seen on the band’s Facebook page here.

Talking about video’s – in response to your Christmas wishes the lads have started to film interviews in order to answer some of the questions you have about them. The first in the series is a candid question and answer session with Jay ‘The Sheriff’ Garrett. The interview covers how long he has been playing bass, which other bands he has played in as well as his martial arts background and his day job and much more. There will be more to follow as soon as Rob and Rom are sober enough to answer questions.

You can catch up on any videos which you may have missed at SUBSET’s video channel here

Keep coming back for more videos and more news!

Here’s Jay’s interview:

Hey there festive SUBSETTERs!

We hope that we find you with glass in hand and snacking on crisps and chocolate

It’s that time of the year when we are all able to forget about the day job for a few days and concentrate on catching up with the people we care about – friends, family and the occassional overly-affectionate drunk on the tube. But it’s all good.

As it’s Christmas Eve eve we thought we’d better squirt out a quick crimbo message to you all – while we are still able to form sentances and get most of the spelling correct.

It’s safe to say that you have all made our 2011 memorable and that each and every one of you has made even the trickier times fun. We count ourselves very lucky to have had your support over the last 3 years and we can’t wait to show you what we have in store for 2012 – we’re kind of giddy about it already!

But, before we get into what we are planning for next year, we want to take this opportunity to thank every single one of you gorgeous SUBSETTERs for buying the Mahogany EP that we released in June. We are proud of it, you all made it happen, and everyone seems to like how it came out. Remember – Mahogany would never had been made if it wasn’t for you. Thank you.

We have another EP planned for early in the new year and we hope to be hitting more festivals in 2012!

Rob, Rom and Jay all look forward to seeing you in the new year and, hopefully, the three amigos will be joined by a full-time drummer in order to venture once more as the Fuzztastic Four!

Fuzzy Christmas and a Rockin’ New Year from all at SUBSET HQ

Much love and peace

How the devil are you all?

As you have probably gathered by the not-so-subtle title above, the lads are off being unsober right now celebrating their third year together as SUBSET

That’s right – it was a dark evening in Milton Keynes, back on November 29 2008, that first saw Rob, Rom, Jay and Steve step in to a rehearsal studio together as a band to start writing what would be first unleashed to the public 4 months later. When you think that Christmas and New Year was in amongst that time it’s pretty remarkable that they managed to stay away from parties for long enough to write anything!

Looking back at those early days Jay reminisces: “Rob, Rom and I had worked together in bands before and when we started toying with the idea of forming a back-to-basics, DIY, plug-and-play no frills rock band Rob introduced us to Steve – 4 months later we were on the line-up at The Motherbar in Hoxton; albeit as ‘But We Barely Know Each Other’. Good times!”

Over the three years there has been no sign of them slowing down.

Rom says: “We are always writing the next EP or the Album. We have always ideas and they are filed away in a secret bunker in Iceland ready to fill everyones headphones and speakers with fuzz!”

SUBSET has managed to self-release 2 EPs and 3 singles, a total of 12 tracks many with videos (check out their YouTube channel!) with another release pencilled in for early 2012.

Rob adds: “As well as writing and recording our main passion is playing live. We love to have a hectic gigging schedule and we’re often hitting 3 gigs a week with the occassional 2 gigs on the same day just to keep it spicy”

Adding to that spice SUBSET have decided to throw their collective hats in the ring and challenge Simon Cowell’s “Corporate Karaoke” X-Factor winner for Christmas Number 1. Even though the three amigo’s would love to see Lucid Dreamer on this year’s top spot they would like the single to generate some cash for Shelter.

“There’s lots of people sleeping rough and you can see it everywhere in London. People are spending £100s on gifts ignoring those that have no one to help them and nothing to celebrate, so we want to send the money from this campaign to Shelter so that it can help” says Rom.

To join the campaign and raise some money for a very good and much needed cause head over to the special Facebook page here: Lucid Dreamer for Christmas Number 1

Even though you might want to go and buy that track right now – WAIT! – buy it between December 12th and 16th so that it get’s counted for the Christmas chart, you never know

We look forward to sharing the next 3 years and beyond with you SUBSETTERs!

Happy birthday Fuzzsters!

Has it really been almost a month since we last chatted?

That’s ridiculous but just goes to show how time flies when you’re working hard and partying even harder!

So, I feel that an update as to what the lads have been up to these last few weeks is in order – what do you think?

That was a rhetorical question by the way – I’ve cranked up this computer so it’s going to get used!

Now then… where should I start…? (yet another one of those rhetorical things).

Well; Rob, Rom, Jay and Arran all took a trip to the south coast (granted, Arran was already there) to record some brand new SUBSET material. I realise that I am ever so biased but the rough mixes sound huge! RR&J would like to thank Arran for not only providing his most excellent skills as a drummist but for being the perfect host. Thanks also to Debi and Blyth for sharing their home with the terrible trio.

The fruits of their recent labour should appear early in 2012 but, as I said, the tracks do sound promising even though their temporary names are as silly as you’d expect from this lot.

The Diverse FM showcase went down a storm and the lads came away from the stage buzzing (and drinking). They knew it was going to go well when the bus driver on the way from Luton to Dunny asked for a CD! Many CD’s were handed out and the Three Amigos met and chatted with as many SUBSETTERs as they could – sorry if they didn’t get to you.

Thanks to all of you that made it to the show at Go Bowling in Dunstable – especially Daz for constantly feeding the guys with beer!

As the Chief Web Monkey mentioned last time, SUBSET are back at the Arc this coming Friday (11th November) and will then be playing some tunes at The Hideaway’s first Grunge Club Night. That’s right – SUBSET and their friends have been allowed to share their music collections in public! Come on down and check out their floor-fillers

It then goes a bit experimental with a host of Unplugged sessions at North 19, The Boogaloo and the Horatia but, come November 18th, they will all be back at full volume to help good friends Calling All Astronauts celebrate their debut single release at Nambucca!!!

Naturally, CAA will be headlining this special night and, as well as SUBSET adding some fuzz rock to the proceedings, Byron and Tribal Riot feature on the no-holds-barred line-up! After the live tunes have finished there then will be a club night with DJs from Teenage Kicks, Unbelievable and Beautiful People playing Alt Rock, Heavy Indie, Post-Punk, Emo, Industrial, Goth and Nu Metal favourites.

Add you name to the Facebook Event list here.

Click here for the £3 advanced tickets

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November 25th will see the lads back down on the south coast – this time at Felpham Community College in Bognor Regis helping to get the ‘Raise ya Hands’ event noticed and heard. Let’s face it, if there’s anyone that can make themselves heard it’s this bunch of mother-fuzzsters! This charity event is to raise money for deprived young people overseas – a VERY worthwhile cause.

November will be nicely rounded off the day after (that’s the 26th folks) with a special night hosted in SUBSET’s secret hideout – The Fuzz Cave!

As always – the full gig details can be found on the Gigs Page of the official SUBSET website – anything else you need to know, just hop on to the Facebook Page, the Facebook Group, squirt them an email or say hi on Twitter.

Sorted.

Wollop.

Hello SUBSETTERs!

It has been a while aint it?

It’s actually been over a month since we dusted off our futuristic typewriter and punched out a few words to be displayed on the interweblogosphere so it has fallen to me, Chief Web Monkey, to attempt to throw a few words, sentences and, should I be brave enough, paragraphs together in order to service an update to you – the mighty army of SUBSETTERs!

~there really should be some soul-stirring music right there but hey, we’re on a budget remember!~

Anyhoooo……

SUBSET Need a Permanent Drummer

What’s been happening at SUBSET HQ lately has been the continued quest for a drummer. We’re even getting to the point where talk about letters to Santa are being taken seriously.

They have assistance – Dan has been tremendous and Arran has been mind-boggingly supportive. You see, we are based in London and yet Arran, a music student, travels all the way from Chichester on the south coast on Saturday morning to spend 4-or-so hours with the lads in the Fuzz Cave only to then head back home. This is a round trip of 6 hours folks!

Now, if a fan, SUBSETTER and friend can do this surely there is a more local drummer that would enjoy touring with Rob, Rom and Jay? Is there?

SUBSET is a democracy – everyone has a say in what music is written and released. Everyone is free to bounce riffs, rhythms and rhubarb back and forth and the band already is actively seeking festival slots for next year.

This year it was planned to beat the 2010 achievement and hit the magic 100 gigs in 1 year – the fuzzy foursome were on target but as the three amigos are having to plead with drummers that are already busy doing what they do, unfortunately, some shows are having to be rescheduled.

RR&J hate having to give back-word to those hard working promoters and gig-setter-upperers but, lets face it, SUBSET wouldn’t be SUBSET without those pounding beats.

Still Planning

The lack of a fixed drummer does not mean that the fuzzy threesome have been sat drinking Sancerre in the Autumn sun – no way José!

There are a few new songs being prepared for the live shows and there are plans afoot to have a SUBSET drum-kit which will live in the Fuzz Cave so that the lads can release their inner Lombardo, Carey, Grohl, Benante, Freese or Bonham. Chances are it will sound more like them releasing their inner Animal though The upshot of this is that they can continue to write and record new material for the upcoming EP/Album without having to order in a take-away drummist every time.

Still Gigging

SUBSET do have some shows coming up too!

The nearest being a Halloween Special in Dunstable being thrown by Diverse FM featuring big friends of the fuzz: Dutch Order and As Daylight Dies. The party is happening at Go Bowling! and should be plenty of fun!

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The lads then head down south for gigs in Plymouth, Ivybridge and Gloucester before returning to The Arc in Angel, London.

The last time SUBSET were at The Arc they packed the place and so have been asked to come back to see if it was actually just a fluke. Come on down as it’s free to get in and the pizzas are amazing – so’s the deals on Jagermeister

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SUBSET are especially proud to have been asked to help with a charity fund-raiser down in Bognor Regis. The ‘Raise ya Hands’ event will be taking part at Felpham Community College so, if you’re in the area, please come along and see how you can help.

View Larger Map

Well, I hope you feel suitably updated and that I haven’t been too rubbish – I’m kinda out of practise with this kinda thing. I usually have my underlings perform such basic duties.

Oh, well – it’s what team work is all about I suppose.

Until next time SUBSETTERS – Drink, Dance and Burn!