Some U.S. Press release action in the house -CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS EAT YOUR HEART OUT 

“A new album is building buzz on music blogs for its upbeat sound,  wistful lyrics — and unusual price.” “WALL STREET JOURNAL

“Davey’s ability to create such delicious and bizarrely logical imagery through his lyrics proves to be one of the defining strengths of Secrets of the witching hour.” – The Guardian

“Husky soulful vocals and a mixture of lazy, hazy-day summer songs, bursts of heart-string yanking nostalgia and slow bittersweet melodies”  - NME  

The Crimea attempt to conquer the Americas by candlelight and chinese whispers with the official U.S release of their free album “Secrets of the Witching Hour” on July 14th 2008. Long before Prince, Coldplay, and the likes decided to give their music away for free, Back when Thom Yorke was still goin “MP.. what?”.The Crimea were the original pioneers of this revolutionary marketing concept. They became the first established band to release a ‘free album’ in late spring 2007, a landmark industry event which led them to appear in Q magazine’s “Top Five Moments That Changed Music History”, receiving global news attention from the Hindu Times to the Hollywood reporter, and everything in between. The Crimea are a cottage industry with global notoriety. By harnessing the all-encompassing, global reach of the internet, they have radically boosted their revenue streams through syncs, increased profile, and therefore increased live audiences and CD, merchandise sales to form the basis of a brave new business model that places the emphasis back squarely on artistic development and control.  

If you sit there and think,
Who am I?
How did I get here?
what is going to happen when I die?
You can scare the hell out of yourself
For all our science and philosophy
 Nobody actually knows what happens after the last gasp,
Where we go?
Or what we become?
After the last gasp

The above are the opening lines of “Secrets of the Witching Hour“. Released in the USA on July 14th for one week as a free download on Tripwire, then available to download for the duration of all time at www.thecrimea.net , The exclusive U.S.A version of the album has “tywanna jo baskette’ a mysterious songstress from the deepest darkest South, whispering spooky sweet nothings between the songs, The album is free to all, with nothing required from the listeners in return - not even an email address.Recorded above a sweatshop in East London, a crumbling house in Norwich and in the wilds of Latvia. The record was produced by the band over seven agonizing months, ably assisted by Dave Allen (The Cure).

The Crimea first came to light in 2004 when Davey gave a demo to the legendary John Peel who happened to walk past as Davey was sweeping the streets of Soho - John played all 11 tracks and a band was born. The Crimea have always asked people to stop and think, they have been blazing their own trail for years, get played when babies are born and people are buried.

“That could go on for another three quarters of an hour as far as I’m concerned” – John Peel  

“Secrets of the Witching Hour” has been creeping virally and stealthily into peoples conscious, the counter can only go up, Venice beach isn’t gonna know what hit it, the vikings are coming, the Dunkirk landings are going to look like the Boston tea party, “Secrets of the Witching Hour” is coming to America for all eternity, the Crimea perform the following U.S. dates: 

July 
12 NY Cake shop ; 13 NY Union hall;  14 NY Mccarren park 8pm,Bedford/north 12th entrance, outdoor East coast release gig/party; 15 Boston,  TT the bears; 16 LA, Tangiers; 17 LA Silverlake; 18 San Diego Epicentre; 19 LA Venice beach P zone, 8 pm, outdoor West coast release gig/party; 22 NY  Goodbye Blue Monday 

Most bands release things on Tuesdays.  Once again bucking conventional trends, the Crimea released their latest single ‘The 48a Waiting Steps’ on  30 June…a Monday, if you can believe it.  (Think of it as a gift to the common working man and woman out there who normally look upon Mondays with much dread.)    After an unscheduled run to Curry’s for some gear (no, not that kind of gear, we’re talking the proper electrical stuff), the release party got under way at legendary Sister Ray records.  Were you lucky enough to score one of 100 exclusive limited editions of the single, complete with the chickenscratch masquerading as lyrics personally hand-scrawled by Mr. Macmanus?  If you were, lucky you…because that means you probably got the chance to see them again at their secret gig later that evening.  (Tell us what you think/what you thought at the official Crimea message boards, why don’t ya?)But having reported all that it’s time to get down to some bidness.  Reviews!

• Room 13 is up first with a glowing bit of praise for the new single. It’s so nice that we’ll even forgive lovely Jim at Room 13 for misspelling Davey’s name (it’s not Davy as in the former Monkee). 
• Glasswerk aptly notes that ‘Davey Macmanus trembles over another epic short player…”
• Contact Music gave the single a respectable 7/10.
• Beat Surrender offers 3/5 More reviews are on the way so stayed tuned.

Or be sure to notify us if you see a kind word or two floating about that’s worth sharing. 

 The man Ledlin does it again. My new favourite Crimea fan was at The Enterprise on May 8th to video the whole thing, and Davey’s just upped the majority to his Youtube page. Long gone are the days when you just got a shitty cassette recording using some old headphones as a mic, or even my poor attempts at minidisc recording with excess base levels. Hell this guy even makes my dad’s MP4 recording digital camera redundant. It’s like there’s no use for me in the world no more Oh well, quality vid time Check the rest out at youtube.com/user/daveymacmanus.

And don’t forget, if you wanna see them there’s no better place than at Sister Ray records in London on this coming Monday (30th June). Not only will you get a chance to buy a hard copy of the new single and a special instore apperance but you’ll also get access to the evening’s secret gig with non other than old skool Crimea guitar goddess Julz Parker featuring one way or another. Meanwhile I’ll be stuck here praying to god the J meister’s doing his thing again as it’s the only way I’m gonna get to see owt. O spare room where for art thou?

Dear all those who are concerned

THe CRimea are trying to reach gold in the next week or so,, so we can put out a new press release next week,,, when our single comes out,,, I know that begging letters are a worrying thing

but if anyone hasnt downloaded “secrets of the witching hour” could you possibly go to www.thecrimea.net and download, its free

and if you are gifted with your tongue please tell anyone you see, and if you only communicate by computer like Stephen Hawkins, please email anyone you should wish asking them to download it

it’s free

thank you very much

davey

Davey just posted a live performance of ‘Jellyfish’ from The Crimea’s Enterprise gig on 06 May 08. Check it out at his YouTube Channel.

You want ‘em, you need ‘em, we got ‘em…  

• As of this midnight GMT,  The Crimea’s video for 48a Waiting Steps is #12 on the Top 20 most watched video list at e-music TV.  Let’s help it move up the charts, whaddya say?   Click on the link, watch, repeat. 
• Originally posted 30 May, it’ll be new to you if you haven’t read it yet - noizemakesenemies.co.uk story on the upcoming single. 
• Music-News.com interview with Andrew and Davey 
• The press release over at Mi2N, a music industry website

By the way - clarification over the Glasgow gig…It’s actually Saturday, 05 July.  Not on the seventh as I erroneously reported.  Sorry for the confusion!    

If you’re thinking about going to a show and wondering who else will be there — come on over to the official Crimea forum and just ask!  It’s a great way to connect with like-minded folks from at least three or four continents.  I promise we’re friendly, although there is a strange fascination with thongs that you may find puzzling, if not slightly disturbing depending on your tolerance level.  Nevertheless, we’re having fun so consider this your formal invitation to join us.  

West Coasters, sync your iCals with these 2 new Crimea shows :

• July 18th - Epicenter in San Diego  (8pm) Advanced tix are $7/ $9 day of show
• July 19th - Venice Beach, Los Angeles (7pm) Free show, the West Coast version of the Official SOTWH release party. 

Also, you’ll want to check back here on a regular basis because there’s a LOT of press and other stuff in the pipeline.   In the meantime, check out this interview here,  see Davey’s little promo blurb for 7-Digital here, CultureDeluxe.com’s review of 48a Waiting Steps here, and by the way, did you people forget there’s a competition going on?  This guy didn’t - he’s the first entry in the “make your own video for the 48a Waiting Steps” thing.  (Maybe a winner will actually be declared, unlike the ‘remix Loop-A-Loop’ thing…)  

If you’re looking for something to do in London Thursday night (05 June), might I suggest popping down to the North London Tavern around 7:30-ish, which should give you enough time to gather a fine spirit from the bar before Davey and Joe take the stage at 8pm. Davey said this is a warm-up gig for the *free* Proud Gallery solo set on Sunday afternoon (08 June) and the full Crimea gig at the Enterprise on Monday (09 June). It’s only 5 quid to get in and there are two other acts on after Davey and Joe. (Burning Leaves at 9pm, Rodney Fisher & the rest).The Crimea are bringing their candle-lit shows to Cardiff and Glasgow next month. Catch them at The Gate in Cardiff on Wednesday, 02 July and at the Barfly upstairs in Glasgow on Monday, 07 July.Finally - one more new London gig - Bush Hall on Wednesday 09 July.  Crimea by candle light in an Edwardian- era music hall…if you haven’t been to this venue check out the website.  Chandeliers, fancy millwork…stunning.   All I can say is they better play there again when I move back to London!Watch this space - there are probably more shows in the pipeline!

A few posts ago I mentioned the Tripwire Podcost (#037) that featured the ‘Always on My Mind’ mash-up and Loop-A-Loop.  Well the blackbirds’ best friend (otherwise known as Davey to you and me) let me know that at 50-ish minutes into the podcast there’s an interview he did with the DJ. Granted, the DJ gets a tad few more words in than Davey did but bless him, at least he was enthusiastic about the band.  So follow this link,  scroll down the page until you find the embedded player, and just fast forward to the 50-ish minute point

And a quick update about the Playground at the Proud solo gig happening this Sunday — Davey goes on at 4pm.

Proving once again that I sadly reside in “fly-over country”, the Crimea have announced two shows on the west coast.

July 16th - Tangier (2138 Hilhurst Avenue ,between Los Feliz & Ambrose; Los Angeles 90027) Show starts at 8.30pm

July 17th - Silverlake (4019 Sunset Blvd & Parkman Avenue, Silverlake, CA ). Show starts at 9pm.

And omg — just learned that Silverlake is the home of infamous DJ Lance Rock who is recently of Yo Gabba Gabba fame…one of the absolute coolest shows ever to be on TV. Period. Get us an autograph, will ya boys?

“You gotta dig a gig that is not only FREE but also describes Davey as ‘a living legend’. Hey, they certainly get it.

The Playground is a series of shows at the Proud Gallery in Camden described as “an afternoon session with the cream of London’s Acoustic talent and rock burlesque show evolving into a full blown indie electro-riot as the sun sets and the horses go to sleep.”

Davey treats us to one of his famous Sunday solo performances in the ‘Acoustic Afternoon’ session. The event kicks off at 2pm , D goes on at 4pm…For more info, here is The Playground Press Release

Well, while some of us may have been engaging in too much drink or having BBQs in the rain over the Bank Holiday weekend, Davey slogged on with a show at Two Floors on Sunday followed by the Rob da Bank appearance in the small hours of Tuesday morning. In case you didn’t stay up for it, the radio appearance will be on Rob’s webpage for one more week. Rumor has it that Christopher has a digital recording of Davey’s performance. Maybe if he is merciful, kind, and loving he would consider SHARING them with us HERE at HIS website.

Really, Christopher. Is this what it’s come to? I have to beg…on your own site?

Moving on - new interview new interview new interview here from seatwave.com. It’s another interview before this peculiar Rage Into Spring show in Shoreditch that none of us seemed to know a stinking thing about. Well, a little light was shed on this. Rage gigs– you have to be a member of their thing/club/whatever,  and you get priority invites to their shindigs and tix at a discounted rate. So our  collective worries that we had suddenly becomel so frightfully uncool that The Crimea didn’t want us turning up at their shows…just a load of rubbish, really.

My exclusive reign as the only person on this side of the Atlantic who had ever known the glory of well-penned Davey Macmanus lyric has, fortunately, come to a resounding end. My fellow residents of the North American continent, now is the time to step up and do some PR gunslinging on behalf of The Crimea by joining the US Street Team. Come on…it’s gonna be fun. And there are all sorts of grand perks like free entry into Crimea gigs. Find out more by e-mailing Martin at thecrimea.teamamerica@yahoo.com

Last but not least -Davey and The Crimea turn up on the latest Tripwire Podcast (that’s #037 if you’re keeping score) in the form of the now-infamous mash up “Always on My Mind” and “Loop-A-Loop”. Thanks to Tripwire for giving them the Pole Position in the podcast.

Way out where the ocean meets oblivion…?
Note that by 26th they mean very late night Sunday (25th), or very early morning 26th.

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A bit of mandolin on a Sunday evening…seriously, how can you go wrong? The late great John Dowland will certainly be smiling (ok, so he was a lute player…whatever. I just like to give the old boy a plug whenever I can).

Davey and Joe will be joining The Big Sur Sunday Sessions this Sunday, 25 May. Catch it at Two Floors in Soho, London W1 (Kingly Street off Carnaby). It all kicks off at 3pm and goes all the way to…what! 1am?!!? Sorry - just reading the details for the first time myself. That’s a pretty big chunk of time…will see if I can find out what time Davey and Joe take the stage.

If you’re on Facebook, you can check out The Big Sur Sunday Sessions events page here and RSVP.

UPDATE - J&D go on at 9pm.   But if you’re one of the first 50 people at the venue when the whole shin-dig kicks off, you will get a **free drink.**