Banquet Records

Since Sean and I decided to put on an indie night with live bands at The Works, New Slang has become a feature of Kingston night life and Kingston indie music.  We’ve seen some of our favourite bands  in the world play on our door-step (Vampire Weekend, The Cribs, Maccabees, Alkaline Trio, Friendly Fires, Hot Chip, Frank Turner, Bombay Bicycle Club  and, er, Wheatus spring to mind)  We’ve had some amazing nights, loads of dancing, loads of fun, loads of stress, made the best of friends, made new enemies, moved venues twice, booked a hypnotist for a night club (terrible idea) had 22-many DJs, live karaoke and tribute nights!… had 3 games of SKATE, put out numerours 7”s on New Slang Records, hosted some incredible New Years Eve parties, and been blessed by having a consistently great crowd over the years, who enable us to do what we do.

While we’re here and celebrating doing this for FIVE YEARS, i’d like to publicy thank everyone who’s been involved in working hard to make it what it is, but particularly Sean Leahy, Dave House, Danny Sloan, Oscar, Tim Parker, Baylis, Mike, Salty, Tom Pennington, Aaron, Colleen,  Jane, Dan Tuck, Joe Murton, Sean Haughton, Milly, Punk Steve, Tall Dave, Ollie Thorn, Gary Ekins Guildford Dave, Mike Treat, Del, AD, Skye, Lewis Chaplin, Harry Orso, Piers, Alice, Harriet, Dasha, Hessleworth, Sheby, Guildford Dave, James Perou, Mark Jackson, Scouse Jack, Sean Sheehy, Andy Telling, Ben Lucas, Ska Steve, David Barrow, venue bosses Ian, Jason, Steve and Mark and anyone else i (hope i havent) forgotten.” - jt / new slang

In the five years we have been doing this Slow Club have been one of our favourite bands so we are delighted that they will be performing and celebrating with us…  we’re sure we can persuade them to do a ‘Happy Birthday’ song.  If The Wombats can, then Charles and Rebecca can…

Support comes from local duo Young Romance (Ex-Momeraths!)

Not only that but expect a whole lot of birthday celebration fun, games, extra guests, blasts from the past, cake, the infamous Jack Penata, the New Slang Zebra and plenty more…. 

After the bands we love to play dancey indie until 2am! Check out the birthday playlist:

Birthday Bicycle Club / Five Door Cinema Club / Fiver Brother / Bloc Birthday Party / Crystal Fivers / Mystery Gifts/ Los Cinqesinos / Party Brut / Hot Cake De Party / Cinq Turner / Shin Digs and more!

Tickets are priced at £5. That’s a pound for each year!

Doors at 9pm. Please Note: The Hippodrome is an 18+ Venue, Valid PHOTO ID will be required

Banquet Records are to release the debut S/T album by Philadelphia’s Young Statues in the UK and Ireland, next month; November 2011

We fully recommended for fans of Death Cab For Cutie, Band Of Horses, The Weakerthans, Into It. Over It & Tigers Jaw. Released in the US on Run For Cover Records (Man Overboard, The Wonder Years, Fireworks etc)

Check out a couple of tracks HERE http://youngstatues.bandcamp.com

In the winter of 2010, a spontaneous trip to Athens, GA became the birth of New Jersey/Philadelphia indie rock outfit YOUNG STATUES. The record first began to take shape at Chase Park Transduction Studios where a series of songs were recorded between friends—songs that were initially never intended to be released. Intrigued by the results of these sessions, songwriter and vocalist Carmen Cirignano decided to continue working on them with longtime producer and engineer Steve Poponi at the Gradwell House in Haddon Heights, NJ. It was here, with the help of bassist Tom Ryan and drummer Daniel Bogan, that these songs were transformed into the impressive debut record for a band comprised of longtime friends in the Philadelphia area music scene. Full of swelling guitars, intricate vocal melodies and introspective lyrics, YOUNG STATUES is evidence of a group of musicians who have honed their skills and made a record to be revered for its beauty, tact, and honesty. With its subtleties and urgency, this is a record to be listened to both alone and surrounded by friends. As their name implies, YOUNG STATUES are a youthful band, and with a debut this impressive, watching them age will be a graceful and stunning sight.

I cant remember the first time i met Dave House.  I think it was at The Ag in Camberley.  His band was playing, and i was wearing a Girl hoody.  Things which would make us clock each other..

Dave was very much a part of our Gravity DIP label.  The label run from my bedroom with Mark Jane and Dave’s input / runnings. It was from watching Dave’s bands for months on end which made me get to know him as a friend.  It was a respect and love for the music which nurtured the friendship, not the other way around.

We’ve done a lot together, Kingston’s Current was recorded in my old front room, we lived together, talked about girls together, skated together, had many a trip to various gigs and clubs (some good, some bad) road trips, and going through the fun and not-so-fun of a DIY punk label, trying to be DIP.   Apart from the time he tried to steal my Bouncing Souls shirt, its been good times all the way.

About 5 and a half years ago, when Mike and I had just taken on the shop, we needed an extra hand.  And what started as a a couple of afternoons a week while Dave was between jobs, turned into a couple of days, turned into a full time job.

Basically, whatever Dave throws himself into, he does perfectly, and beyond.  Admittedly the bar wasn’t very high to begin with…  i was knocking up flyers using Gary’s Paint Shop Pro art package.. Look at this!!  But soon Dave became involved in doing all of the art-work for the shows, clubs, and other stuff we do as a shop.  All the artistic branding of New Slang, Banquet, DANCE etc plus the very logisitics of New Slang, the label and loads more is done by Dave. 

The punk side of what we do (both the stocking of records and the shows we put on) is significantly enhanced not only by Dave’s knowledge and understanding, but also passion and care for a music scene which has made our lives (both for the better and worse) what they are today.

I cant really put onto a blog how much Dave has done for this company, and all for a fraction of the cash of what he’s worth, or for me personally.

Mike and I always have said, that Dave, Jane, Mike and me are the cornerstones of this place.  And if one of us left it would be really hard to carry on unaffected.  So to break it to everyone that Dave is leaving is a BIG DEAL.

Here’s Dave’s statement: “It’s with mixed emotions I tell you this is my last week at Banquet Records.  It’s been a massive journey since joining Jt, Mike & Buddy Peace back in 2006.  I started out listing funky / soulful house records on our website and posting out mail orders 2 afternoons a week.  At the time we maybe got 3-4 mail orders a day…at the point where I’m leaving we’re coming up on 75,000 and the job that started out as my 2 afternoons a week has turned into a department with 3 full timers and part time jobs for 4 more!  Being involved from the hardest years and seeing our collective ideas become a reality over time has been such a rewarding experience, I’m glad I was here to make a difference.

I’m still going to be involved with running the Banquet label (couple of new releases on the way soon) and overseeing some things I can’t let go of but on a day to day level this is goodbye!  For everyone I’ve worked with here - Jt, Mike, Jane, Piers, Oscar, Salty, Tom, Adam, Ollie, Max, Chris, Claire, Sam, Gary, Harry, Matt, Tim, Katie, Buddy Peace, Aaron, Milly, Andy, Joe, Dan, Skye, Sean, David, Adrian, Lewis & Danny Sloan thanks for a great 5 ½ years!”

Of course Dave is a friend.  But more than that he’s someone i’ve always looked up to.  He’s such a man, and to have worked with him for 5 years has not only been good for the company, but its good for me as a human.  Some of his quotes will live with me forever.

As a friend im delighted for Dave, and i think this change is probably the right decision for him. Changes in life situations and music in general, means that this job, and this money, with its so very many frustrations and limitations, is something that isnt for everyone for ever. 

As an employer its a really big void to fill.  Dave is, however, staying on in a kinda overseeing capacity. Dave will be involved in long term art and branding decisions, will continue to run the label, and will, no doubt still help us hook up shows (as he did with Bouncing Souls, Frank Turner etc gigs in the past), and i hope he’s back in a music artist capacity soon. 

I am excited for the fresh blood in the office and the shop.  With Aaron having just left too, its a changing time at Banquet…  But i dont think Dave can leave without people knowing how much he’s done for us, and how great a dude he is.

So here’s to Dave.  Changing the way the water flows 1980 - present

sincerly,  thanks for everything

i’ve been thinking about doing this for a couple of weeks.  i hurt my bum skating on Sunday so i’m in the office a bit more than i would usually be on a dry Tuesday afternoon.

We’ve been doing loads more urban / pop signing sessions recently.  I think the concensus amongst followers of Banquet and the like is that, ah thats cool, whatever pays the bills, as long as they keep doing all the cool stuff they do.  And i love that customers of ours see things this way.  Like if this enables us to have a Saves The Day instore or and we keep doing stuff like having New Found Glory play our local pub then thats all cool…

but you know what.  Thats not the driving force behind doing these signings.  In fact, very rarely do the signings even break even when you think of the extra costs, the opportunity cost and the high price that most majors still charge for new release albums to an independent shop.  The signing session itself is the end game.  The buzz you get off, particularly younger kids, meeting their heroes is so real.  The Ed Sheeran event was amazing to be a part of, but the recent signing sessions with Example, and last week Wretch 32 were also great times.  I mean, i do like some of Wretch32’s tunes (Unorthodox is a hit in anyone’s language, and Tractor is a tune), but that kind of music isnt why I personally do this job.  However, a big part of why we do this job is stuff like this: 

or this

How could you not wanna set that up?

Anyway, next up in the shop we have as diverse a range as Summer Camp, Professor Green, Rizzle Kicks and Saves The Day. http://www.banquetrecords.com/instores will tell you all you need to know