Ant Gig diary page

Sings sensitive like a glass of strong water would lay him dead - SELECT. Recommended listening, oh yes! - NME.COM.

ANT GIG DIARY PAGE.

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1997.

01. 20/03/97. My first ever show as ANT, was at the tiny 12 Bar Club off Denmark Street, London, with Electrascope, Hefner and Rhatigan, on a Cushy Productions night. My five song set consisted of; The Cure For Broken Hearts, Faithful, You've lost your appeal, Tongues and The Trick. (Faithful now only exists as a 4 track demo). I think it went well as Suzanne Rhatigan, who had a monthly residency there, kindly invited me back to play on the next five Cushy nights. I was off...

02. 17/04/97. 12 Bar Club with Rhatigan, Nick Lewis, Shoshone and Simon Breed. My set included new songs Easy, Spoil and Not The Best We Could Do, the latter wasn't the best I could do and was later binned. Although a demo does still exist.

03. 15/05/97. 12 Bar Club with Rhatigan, Spongefinger (featuring Jack Hefner on pedal steel) and Julie Anne McCambridge. I played a new song, No One's Looking.

04. 26/06/97. 12 Bar Club with Rhatigan, The New Bad Things and Hefner, I played a very quiet set including The Only Girl and Fly On Your Wall.

05. 17/07/97. 12 Bar Club with Rhatigan, Spongefinger, Port Friendly and Peachfuzz (featuring Erlend from Kings Of Convenience and Carolina from Jet Johnson). I was joined on stage by Suzanne with her new short haircut, wearing an equally short skirt! She sang backing on Easy and Your Heart Got Bored. The moment was caught in a cheeky review by Cushy season ticket holder Scott - 'Cushy regular Ant played some of his gentle solo songs. He was joined on harmony vocals by Suzanne Rattigan on 'It's Too Late'. The latter stealing attention from the audience as she bent over to adjust the amp. Ant's set was perfect to relax and meditate to. Most people not talking through it.'

06. 21/08/97. 12 Bar Club with Rhatigan , Umbrella Heaven and Snowy. For those of you who have never been there, the 12 Bar Club is really tiny and has a balcony looking down onto the stage from which you can only see the performers head if they stand up. Downstairs you can only see their legs! Some nights there you could bring the whole place to an eerie hush, other times it seemed as if nobody even noticed you were up on stage, there was so much chatter! But you could always hear Suzanne going around sshing people. Those were the days!

07. 24/09/97. My first show away from the safety of the 12 Bar Club was a support for Snowy at the Rheingold Club (an old strip joint I think) off Oxford Street in London. I remember there was a comedienne and a poet in support. My set featured The Queue To Your Heart for the first time.

08. 11/12/97. I returned to the 12 Bar Club to play the christmas Cushy show with the wonderful Rhatigan, the super energetic Nick Lewis, the not so tiny Tiny Too and Paul the girl.

1998.

09. 19/03/98. As Hefner became busier and busier, there was less time to do solo gigs, so I played just once in 1998, back at the 12 Bar Club with Rhatigan, Bromide and The Clientele. Not Sleeping The Same Way featured in the set and I was joined onstage for the first time by Johnny Viola Greswell with viola, for two songs, The Queue To Your Heart and Tongues.

1999.

10. 18/01/99. Another busy year Hefnering so just 4 shows in 1999. For my tenth show I was back at the 12 Bar Club with Rhatigan , White Hotel and the fab Gina Birch. My set list included Where happiness Begins.

11. 17/05/99. To celebrate the release of my first 7" single, I played a special show at the Poetry Cafe in London to a jam packed basement. I played a nine song set where Johnny Viola joined me on stage for Tongues, Easy, Spoil and The Queue To Your Heart. Support was from Long Good Lucks charming frontman Eugene.

12. 03/06/99. I was back in the 12 Bar Club again supporting Rhatigan, this time with Ray and Spectacle. Again Johhny Viola and his magic fingers joined me onstage for the last four songs. The set included a new song called Pathway. Around this time, I got my first mentions in the listings: 'Ant, Hefner's drummer doing tortured indie'. Tortured indie??

13. 27/09/99. I returned to the 12 Bar Club once more with Rhatigan and guests. My set included three new songs History, Any Girl Can Make Me Smile and Not Pleased To See Me

2000.

14. 13/01/00. At the 12 Bar with Rhatigan and Long Good Luck (featuring Jen from Evil World). I played some brand new songs, The Gentlest Kiss, Come To The Phone, Take Me Away and Safe Warm Love, all of which were later ditched, except Come To The Phone which has not yet been released.

15. 17/01/00. Gig number fifteen saw my first show at the ROTA sessions at the Notting Hill Arts Club. A cool white room with no stage. I supported a guy called Jeb Loy Nichols and Willis.

16. 10/02/00. It was back to the 12 Bar Club with a very late show for the drunks after sets from Woodbine and Suzanne Rhatigan.

17. 18/02/00. I returned to the Poetry Cafe for the second time, supported by the wonderfully quirky Jack Hayter and his lovely folk songs. I did a ten song set including a new song with the working title Our Hearts No Longer Burn which later became Maybe Love Will Return.

18. 24/05/00. I supported Kathryn Wiliams (what a voice) with Neville Clay at a sold out show at The Spitz in London. You could hear a pin drop.

19. 08/06/00. 12 Bar Club with Rhatigan and this time Fiel Garvie. I played Maybe Love Will Return again.

20. 15/07/00. ROTA this time on the Saturday afternoon slot with Dakota Oak Trio, Jeb Loy Niccols and Discordia. Lots of talking.

21. 12/08/00. My first show outside of London and outside in the fresh air, was at the beautiful Emmaboda Festival in Sweden. I was on the small stage in the afternoon rain in the middle of the pine woods. I played; You've Lost Your Appeal, The Queue To Your Heart, Where Happiness Begins, Not Sleeping The Same Way, The Cure For Broken Hearts, I Hope You'll Always Be There and Fly On Your Wall. Also playing that weekend were the Trembling Blue Stars, Harvey Williams and Spearmint amongst others. My set was recorded by P3 Radio and later broadcast several times on national Swedish radio. I was also interviewed by Ika for P3POP.

22. 15/09/00. Cronan in Gothenburg. A sold out show at supporting Swede pop band The Subteranean Pop Orchestra.

23. 04/10/00. Back in England I supported Long Good Luck in the tiny upstairs room of The Betsey Trotwood in London, on an Evil World night with Darren Hefner and Baxendale djing. I was described in Time Out as 'Hefner sidekicks ANT in support'.

2001.

24. 09/01/01. I started off the year with a Track and Field 'Winter Sprinter' supporting Birdie and Lincoln at the Toynbee Hall Arts Cafe in Aldgate East London, to a sold out room that also sold pizzas. The gig was nicely reviewed by Ben Clancey for NME.COM- ' File away your copies of Hefner's latest sex obsessed album, and realise that there's a passionate songwriter in the band. It's Ant, the drummer, who moonlights with his guitar, exploring all of those lovelorn issues he's spent hours contemplating while hugging a tear stained pillowcase. One man, one acoustic guitar and many moments of poignant introspection with a cool poise. Recommended listening, oh yes.' And Track and Field had this to say - ' Ant has just taken to the stage and the sold out signs have been posted. I'd never thought a solo set by a drummer could be so moving but ANT proves there's more strings to his bow than simply tub thumping for Darren Hayman. You've Lost Your Appeal is the best Hefner song never played by Hefner.'

25. 15/03/01. At the legendary punk venue, the Hope and Anchor in Islington London, I played my 25th gig, on an acoustic night supporting my mate Simon and his band Bromide with The Eulipians. Double basses galore!

26. 07/04/01. I was back for the third time at the ROTA sessons at the Notting Hill Arts Club this time supporting Neil Halstead.

27. 24/05/01. I supported Jack Hayter at the Betsy Trotwood. I tricked him into headlining by saying I only had enough songs to play for twenty minutes! Ha! Ha! Jack rose to the occasion.

28. 06/06/01. I supported Parachute (featuring Hendricks of Fortune and Glory) at the Dublin Castle with Rube and Science. I played Waste The Days Away, A Long Way To Blow A Kiss and I Always Hurt The One That I Love for the first time. I was described on the flyer as - 'A dark horse of the tearjerkin' Nick Drake, via anyone on Cherry Red circa 1982, kind. Very nice.'

29. 14/06/01. I was back at the 12 Bar Club with old pals Rhatigan and Jack Hayter. My set featured the debut of When I Need You To.

30. 15/10/01. My thirtieth show back at the 12 Bar Club this time with Simon's Bromide. I played Today As Yesterday for the first time.

31. 13/12/01. I finished off the year with the christmas Cushy at the 12 Bar Club with cushy regulars Rhatigan, Lianne Hall and Micheal J Sheehy.

2002.

32. 13/04/02. ROTA, Notting Hill Arts Club, London. My fourth time! This time with Jack Hayter in support (I couldn't trick him this time) and Byrne, celebrating the release of my debut album A Long Way To Blow A Kiss. I played a 12 song set, including April Rain, using Zoom, my new Japanese drum machine. The show was reviewed by Soundsxp, who said this - 'He strums his guitar like a bedroom troubadour, avoiding eye contact and addressing his girlfriend in the front row. His voice is gentle and the songs delicate and full of emotion, refective, sweet and soulful. The loveliest song is Any Girl Can Make Me Smile which lyrically continues 'but only you can make me cry' which pretty much sums up where ANT resides musically. One for late nights, before deep conversations and for men in touch with their feminine sides.' It was also reviewed sweetly by Paul at Siverjuice fanzine - 'What can you say about Mr Harding?! Songs to die for and then to die for again. Sweet strawberry syrup laden tunes sung by a tall, broad man with a voice that you really don't expect to come from such a gentleman! The word sweet was invented for this man's muse. Anyone who can sing "any girl can make me smile but only you can make me cry" and not make you projectile vomit on the spot deserves some kind of gong. If you see that this man's on in London go and see him. You'll come away heart in mouth and a gibbering mass of emotions. He's converting the doubters into devotees by the day.'

33. 20/04/02. Toynbee Hall Arts Cafe, Track and Field, London. With Bromide and Pre War Yard Sale in support. An 11 song set also with the drum machine.

34. 1/05/02. Kickstart, Inkonst, Malm�, Sweden. On 27th April I moved to Sweden. Wasting no time, my first gig was for Kickstart at Inkonst in Malm�. I was on quite late after a melodic bunch called Achordian. There were only about 30 people there, that's if I was seeing double!

35. 10/05/02. Blekingska Nation, Lund,Sweden. A students only gig where I played a 12 song set to one of the loudest talking audiences ever. Hard work but fun.

36. 15/06/02. Cronan, Gothenburg, Sweden. With the Meta Band in support. I did That Shining Smile for the first time.

37. 8/08/02. Emmaboda Festival, Sweden. On the main stage this time. I did ten songs in sunshine so bright that I couldn't see the numbers on my drum machine. My set was: Today As Yesterday, The Trick, The Queue To Your Heart, I Always Hurt The One That I Love, Any Girl Can Make Me Smile, Where Happiness Begins, You've Lost Your Appeal, The Cure For Broken Hearts, That Shining Smile and I Hope You'll Always Be There. Also playing were Mull Historical Society, Quickspace, Moneybrother, The Clientele and The Bear Quartet amongst others. The Sm�landsposten newspaper had this to say - 'His voice is tiny compared to his big body, only accompanied by a guitar and a drum machine, surely the big stage seems a bit empty but his pleasantly, sleepy pop actually fills it up quite well. The little he plays from 2 year old EP Cures For Broken Hearts are the most straightforward, the other songs have a bit of difficulty breaking through the festival noise. A pity, for ANT, in all his simplicity, is charming.' Aftonbladet newspaper said this - 'Apart from the well known names, some of the more noticable ones were... ANT, from British band Hefner, with his gentle guitar pop.'

38. 23/10/02. Sm�lands Nation, Lund, Sweden. I played another students only gig to another noisy crowd and a 12 song set with the drum machine featuring The Silence Has Broken and Every Drop Of Rain.

39. 29/10/02. Vinylbar, Malmo, Sweden.. I was supposed to be supporting J Mascis in the big venue KB but he went down with a kidney stone the previous night so I somehow ended up playing in the small bar instead, going on after Pelle Ossler. Nice though.

40. 19/12/02. Track and Field, The Betsey Trotwood, London. Downstairs this time with Jack Hayter and Michaelmass in support and Darren and John from Hefner on DJ duty. I played Cry Your Little Eyes Out for the first time.

41. 21/12/02. ROTA, Notting Hill Arts Club, London. My fifth visit!!! This time with Meets Johnson (Gavin from Meets Guitar and Carolina from Jet Johnson) and Azalia Snail. Nice gig as always.

2003.

42. 21/02/03. Blekingska Nation, Lund, Sweden. I went on a bit earlier this time but I swear it was even noisier! Those Swedish students like to drink and talk loudly about it! I did There Are Grey Clouds In This Sky Too.

43. 16/05/03. Cox 18, Milan, Italy. I was lucky enough to do my first Italian shows in May, thanks to the wonderful Homesleep records. The first supporting Trumans Water. I messed up the end of the opening song The Trick due to a sudden crack of feed back (sound guy asleep already??) and somehow went into the end of You've Lost Your Appeal instead! The whole performance was captured on video by the venue through a small mic placed next to the vocal mic. I haven't seen the footage but I'm guessing they'll be a few good shots of my fillings and gold tooth!

44. 17/05/03. The Container, Bologna, Italy. Supporting Catpower and Women And Children. I played Floating On The Breeze for the first time to a crowd of over 500 people most of whom were talking about Catpower. Not an easy gig! I spent ages waiting for a soundcheck, then spent ages soundchecking the guitar (the sound guy was real picky) and all for nothing as I forgot to turn on my EQ pedal, so the guitar must have sounded awful! I blame the surprise burst of applause as I walked on stage for my uncharacteristic memory lapse.

45. 18/05/03. The Thermos, Ancona, Italy. I finished the mini tour by playing an intimate solo show with a mammoth 14 song set to a very polite audience who kept wanting more, or were jst being polite!

46. 23/05/03. Jug of Ale, Moseley, Birmingham, England. (Quite a culture shock having just played in Italy), The venue was just across the road from the Fortune and Glory offices so no excuses for Hendricks not showing up! I played a brand new song in the set called Up Sticks And Go to a small but surprisingly loud chattering crowd!

47. 24/05/03. Gojonnygogogogo3 Festival, Josephs Well, Leeds, England. Loads and loads of cool bands (Hyper Kinako, Milky Wimpshake, The Language of Flowers, Yumi Yumi, The Loves, Antihero, Zombina and the Skeletones, The Blue Minkies, Bilge Pump, The Motherf***ers and The Seven Inches) I did Up Sticks And Go again to a real nice polite audience, while my guitar sounded like it was made of tin, sound guy asleep again?

48. 19/07/03. We and You Festival, Bulltoftapark, Malm�, Sweden. Back home I played this sweet and very indie festival outside in the sunshine with Niccokick, Action Biker and Gordon from Ballboy amongst others. It was all pine trees, rabbits and indie kids!

49. 17/08/03. Malm� festival. I was on the lounge stage in the early afternoon summer sun and I played Mountains for the first time. I used my tiny Peewee Harmonica on Not Sleeping The Same Way to a small crowd including kids, pregnant mums to be and dogs.

50. 24/08/03. The Homesleep Weekender, Parco Belvedere, Ancona, Italy. A beautiful setting in a park on top of a hill overlooking the harbour. I played late in the evening, under the stars, after Meets Guitar, and before Emidio Clementi, to over 700 people. It doesn't get much better than that!

51. 30/08/03. Rota, Notting Hill Arts Club, London. I was back in London headlining a Saturday afternoon slot at the ROTA sessions (my sixth time here) with slightly morose Italian band Morose in support. It was reviewed for Soundsxp, who said this - 'Every song is a feather light tale of love lost and found that should make even grown Soundsxp editors cry or smile accordingly. Any Girl Can Make Me Smile, You've Lost Your Appeal and Mountains sparkle like raindrops on a sunny day but it's the final pairing of Cry Your Little Eyes Out followed by The Cure For Broken Hearts that caps a sublime show. When it's this gorgeous, ridicule is nothing to be scared of.'

52. 28/09/03. Distro, Inkonst, Malmo, Sweden. Free on a Sunday afternoon with a funky band called Now.

53. 5/12/03. YAIL (Young Alive In Love) UFO, Malmo, Sweden. I walked down the street and around the corner for my closest gig to home ever, supporting State Of Samuel. Not many people.

2004.

54. 11/04/04. Camden Monarch, Track and Field all dayer Pow To The People 5 with Bearsuit, The Cribs, The Loves, St Thomas, The Stained Glass Heroes, The Projects, The Radio Dept and Herman Dune. I did When Your Heart Breaks (Into Many Little Pieces) for the first time to a nice audience whilst the PA system gently hummed.

55. 7/05/04. Marsalino bar, Bologna Italy. I was back in Italy for a solo show at this very cool restaurant/bar. A sold out room with dogs barking outside! A real fun gig. I felt like a proper troubadour at last!

56. 8/05/04. Covo Club, Bologna Italy for an acoustic night with that talented wee chap Gordon from Ballboy in support. A big loud venue, too big and loud for us, but a good gig nonetheless.

57. 29/05/04. Rundgang Festival, Wamopark, Karlskrona Sweden. With Paddington DC, The Kid, Handsome Train, Second Hand Furniture, Richard Reagh, The Happy Couple, U.N.P.O.C, Corduroy Utd, First Floor Power and Jens Lekman. It was sunny but cold and the audience seemed happy to sit miles away from the stage out on the grass. Was anyone listening?!

58. 11/09/04. ROTA, Notting Hill Arts Club, London. The seventh time, this time with Loner. I played standing up for the first time (I'm bored of sitting down) and previewed some new tracks from the next album, including: Slipped Away, Haven't You Got Anywhere Left You Can Run To? and Change With The Season. A nice gig.

59. 24/10/04. Glassfabriken, Malmo, Sweden. I celebrated the release of the new compilation album Sad To See It's Morning, standing up again, at a very intimate Sunday afternoon show organised by Songs I Wish I Had Written, in a small cafe (the ice cream factory) just a couple of streets away from home.

60. 26/11/04. Blekingska Nation, Lund. My third visit to this very very noisy venue, this time to support my old bandmate Darren Hayman as his first solo tour of Sweden rolled into town. The crowd was even noisier than usual (especially as the buffer wall had been knocked down between the bar and the stage) but a fun show none the less. I even joined Darren at the end of his set for those Hefner classics The Librarian and The Hymn For The Things We Didn't Do.

2006.

61. 09/03/06. Water Rats Theatre London. My first gig in ages was with Track and Field supporting my old band mate Darren Hayman. I played tracks from the new album (standing again) including: In Your Dreams,Those Memories and Spent Too Long Walking With No Heart To Follow. Also playing were The Beatnik Filmstars.

62. 30/03/06. La Casa 139, Milan, Italy. I was back in Italy for a short tour to promote the album. A nice little acoustic venue where I played a 13 song set including: We Didn't Move A Muscle for the first time and 2 new songs, I Couldn't Remember The Dream and Smile Your Best Smile.

63. 31/03/06. DNA Club, Padova, Italy with Bosvelt in support. I played another 13 song set including the new song These Long Dark Country Roads.

64. 01/04/06. Covo Club, Bologna, Italy with support from Pecksniff. A great show where I played a whopping 16 song set (including 4 encores) featuring She'll Be Home Soon for the first time.

65. 22/11/06. Ex Haus in Trier, Germany. The German tour started in a small room in an old monastry, lit by fairy lights. Support was from German singer songwriter Rieke Deekelsen. I encored with a cover of Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.

66. 23/11/06. Komma, Esslingen, Germany. We were late but the crowd didn't mind. Nice small room, very nice crowd.

67. 24/11/06. Fuldablick in Kassel, Germany. Small room, small crowd but they were very kind. 2 encores I think!

68. 25/11/06. Privat Club, Berlin, Germany. Lovely room, but a noisy crowd! Support from the gorgeous Ian Fays.

69. 26/11/06. Stereowonderland, Koln, Germany. Small room, small crowd, but fun.

70. 27/11/06. Pop Society, Jos Fritz Cafe, Frieberg, Germany. Jam packed cafe! Very very noisy! But some people were listening!

71. 28/11/06. Sudstadt, Munich, Germany. Wonderful crowd, great place! My favourite gig so far!

2007.

72. 19/03/07. No Fun Club, Udine, Italy. It snowed outside! Opening act was the lovely Fr Luzzi. I played He's The Bee's Knees for the first time.

73. 20/03/07. CSO Bruno, Trento, Italy. Cold inside! Lovely audience. 16 song set (4 encores)!

74. 21/03/07. La Casa 139, Milano, Italy. Supporting Le Man Avec Les Lunettes at the My Honey Records compilation CD Let It Bee release. Played He's The Bee's Knees as a trio with LMALL!

75. 22/03/07. Sea Fox Pub, Monzambano, Mantova, Italy. In an English pub in a small Italian town! Nice little show.

76. 23/03/07. Zion Club, Morbio Inferiore, Switzerland. Supporting LMALL again, did He's The Bee's Knees as a trio again. Nice place.

77. 24/03/07. Covo Club, Bologna, Italy. Supporting Thousands Millions. Noisy crowd but I love the Covo.

78. 25/03/07. Zuni, Ferrara, Italy. Great place, great food! Played after Pazi Mine.

79. 09/06/07. Rota, Notting Hill Arts Club, London. I was joined onstage (at my 8th Rota gig) for part of the set by Darren (Hayman) on Wurlitzer piano and James Milne on bass guitar. Also playing were my friends: Jack Hayter, Houdie, Spinmaster Plantpot and James Hill. A lovely little gig, where people sang along with me!

Molte grazie a Daniele Rumori, Stefano Masselli, Anna Cerabino, Aris & Monia. Muchas gracias Miguel Mateo Sarribas. Tack s� mycket till Henrik M�rtensson, �se Harding och Joacim Nilsson. Many thanks to Suzanne Harding, James Moore, Rob Brewer and Bob Stuart. You can see more of Bob's photos at www.underexposed.org.uk