Who they are:
Father Of Boon are a ten-legged, wrong-headed beast hailing from the frenzied wilds of the East London/Essex borders. Coming together around the turn of the century, they have since made it their business to construct a pleasing hybrid of offkey punk sounds - with an emphasis on groove, melody, originality and bad monkeylike dancing – which has no qualms about dragging established musical boundaries outside in order to administer a good, solid kicking. Although whether they're actually any good or not is entirely up to you.
They first came to public attention in 2002, when the track 'Health Boy' was included on a split EP from the tiny now-defunct London imprint Growlwow which also featured the likes of Fridge. The song was given numerous plays on Steve Lamacq's Radio One show, and the band embarked upon a hectic gigging schedule which saw them open for Electrelane and Ikara Colt. Both bands were said to be 'impressed'. Except for Electrelane, who simply thought they were 'idiots'.
In summer 2004, the band were given their first taste of the white van lifestyle when they were invited to support the now-defunct Welsh shitrockers Mclusky on their UK tour. The ensuing favourable press from the two-week stint saw them being compared to a range of artists as diverse as Fugazi, Les Savy Fav, Sweep The Leg Johnny, The Fall, Spoon and even The Streets. The band returned home with many kind words buzzing through their tiny little heads, and having sold out of 'Absolutely Everything Is Excellent', the limited edition EP which they had issued to accompany the dates. Songs from the EP also received airplay on 6Music and XFM around this time. A lifestyle characterised by constant Travellodge patronage - as well as a medley of hollow, fleeting and medically dangerous sexual relationships - looked odds-on.
Then, however, things went slightly awry, as the band parted company with their longstanding drummer. After an enforced break brought on by a drawn-out and frenzied search for a replacement, the affable and irrepressible Mr Paul Parker has now been recruited and the band have come back stronger and tighter than ever. Their self-financed debut album has just been finished and will be upon us in 2007 once a suitably accomodating record company has the foresight to put it in the shops.
The band want to make both themselves and other people happy.
They can be contacted at [email protected]
Things people have said:
Drowned In Sound
"'A Matter Of Stubborn Pride' is a disparaging yet interesting introduction to Father Of Boon's world"
Playlouder
"These guys could record themselves dropping spoons into a kitchen sink grinder and it would still sound melodic."
Pop Musicology
"Insurrectionary, guerilla violence and veiled tunefulness combine to massively entertaining effect."
Unearthed Treasures
"An album full of surprises."
Moles.co.uk
"Prog rock finally being progressive again"
Rock Feedback.com
"Psychedelic, quantum offerings of saxophone-splattered wrench-rock."