VIDEO: “Dreaming”
Allo Darlin’ is the music of Australian-born, London-based songwriter Elizabeth Morris. Originally from a country town in Queensland, Elizabeth moved to London in 2005 and, inspired to write songs by her purchase of a ukulele from the famous Duke of Uke shop in Brick Lane, began to make music.
Although Elizabeth has been releasing music under various guises since 2007, it wasnʼt until 2009 that Elizabeth hooked up with Paul Rains (guitar), Bill Botting (bass) and Michael Collins (drums) and Allo Darlinʼ was properly born. Elizabeth and Bill are from Australia, Mike and Paul are from Kent, and they all play in other bands too – Elizabeth is in Tender Trap, Paul and Michael are in Hexicon, Bill is one half of Moustache of Insanity and also in Darren Hayman and the Secondary Modern.
Early in 2009, augmented by Terry Edwards of Tindersticks / Gallon Drunk fame on trumpet and sax, Allo Darlinʼ cut their first single, “Henry Rollins Don’t Dance,” released in 2009 on the cult WeePOP label. Much to their surprise, “Henry Rollins” started getting airplay on BBC Radio 1, 6 Music and XFM and the like, and received glowing reviews in places such as the Metro, The Fly and The Guardian, the latter calling it “the best indiepop song for years”. The bandʼs single that followed, “The Polaroid Song,” was named as one of Drowned In Soundʼs Top 50 singles of 2009, while their latest single “Dreaming” was voted Single Of The Week by Jarvis Cocker, Peter Hook and Huw Stephens on Steve Lamacq’s BBC 6music round table (beating MGMT, The Radio Dept. and Kate Nash in the process!).
In their brief lifetime Allo Darlinʼ have been interviewed (three times) by Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music and also recorded live session for John Kennedy on XFM and Lauren Laverne on 6 Music. Theyʼve played Indietracks Festival, stealing the show with their impromptu station platform performance two years ago and this year playing on Fridayʼs main stage, have toured in Sweden and Germany, and appeared at the prestigious Swn Festival in Cardiff promoted by BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens. In March of this year they headed out on their first major UK tour as support to The School, followed by trips to the States for SXSW festival, NY Popfest and an East Coast tour, the appearance at NY Popfest leading to a glowing review on the front page of The New York Times website! Steve Lamacq also selected them as his choice for BBCʼs Introducing week, resulting in a session at Maida Vale and a filmed interview for the BBC, and theyʼll shortly be returning to XFM for a full electric session.
Now signed to Fortuna POP!, the UK home of 2009ʼs biggest indie success story The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, they released their self-titled debut album, recorded at Soup Studios (The Wave Pictures, Letʼs Wrestle) below the Duke of Uke, in June in the UK and it will now see a proper US release in Oct. The album runs the spectrum from joyous, breezy, punky, jump-around pop with fabulous harmonies to sparse ukulele and steel guitar heartbreakers. They will shortly be making not one but two appearances at this yearʼs End Of The Road festival before another jaunt to America for CMJ festival and a US tour.
ALLO DARLIN’
Oct 16 – Venue TBA – Philadelphia, PA *
Oct 17 – Velvet Lounge – Washington, DC
Oct 18 – PAs – Boston, MA
Oct 19 – House Show – New Brunswick, NJ
Oct 20 – Oct 21 CMJ – New York, NY
Oct 25 – Spaceland – Los Angeles, CA
Oct 27 – Rickshaw Stop – San Fransisco, CA
Oct 28 – Venue TBA – Portland, OR
Oct 29 – Rendezvous – Seattle, WA
Oct 30 – Mondo-ween at the Rock Shop, Brooklyn, NY
* = w/ Brown Recluse
Allo Darlin’
Allo Darlin’
(In The Red)
Street Date: Oct. 12, 2010
1. Dreaming
2. The Polaroid Song
3. Silver Dollars
4. Kiss Your Lips
5. Heartbeat Chilli
6. If Loneliness Was Art
7. Woody Allen
8. Let’s Go Swimming
9. My Heart is a Drummer
10. What Will Be Will Be
ALLO DARLIN’ LINKS:
MySpace : http://www.myspace.com/allodarlin
Artist Page : http://allodarlin.com/