It's January 1998 and Dan Russell decides to put yet another band together. Once again, he places an ad in the trusty Free Ads newspaper for the West of England, 'Trade It'. It reads..."Singer Songwriter Guitarist seeks 3 more of the same, one of whom must be a lead guitarist, and all able to harmonise, to recreate Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young type combo. Other influences include the Beach Boys, Steely Dan, America, Doobie Brothers, Eagles, Daryl Hall & John Oates..."
Since 1991, Dan had formed various bands, playing 70s West Coast Music
and his own compositions, under such illustrious names as the Sundown Pilgrims, Blue Oranges, Plankton Brothers, Wine Dark Sea, DC8, Ukiah and Sunset Run, the latter of which which broke up in the Summer of 1997. During that time Dan played over 100 gigs. He wrote his first song in 1975 and in the 25 years since then he has written over 750... an average of about 30 per year.
In answer to the ad, singer songwriters came and went until, in March 1998, Mark O'Callaghan came and stayed. An incredibly original electric guitarist, his catchy off beat songs, many about the sleepy mid-Somerset town where he lived, immediately appealed greatly to Dan.
So much so that he had moved there with his family by the end of August! At the same time, Chris Davies, a singer songwriter from Wiltshire joined Dan and Mark to complete the first incarnation of Longwave. Chris had a beautiful voice and wrote finely crafted, melodic, but derivative, songs. He also seemed insistent that the trio rehearse in Wiltshire. He was far too perfectionist. In fact, although the harmony blend was lovely, the trio only worked on 3 songs in the 5 months it was together as a unit, playing just one gig ! Chris was a little superior in his ideas of not wanting to play musician sessions, and that was why he left. It was ironic that his religious persuasion was unintentionally highlighted in one of the three songs they worked on... Dan's "Yellow Moon", or is that "Yellow Moonie"!
So much so that he had moved there with his family by the end of August! At the same time, Chris Davies, a singer songwriter from Wiltshire joined Dan and Mark to complete the first incarnation of Longwave. Chris had a beautiful voice and wrote finely crafted, melodic, but derivative, songs. He also seemed insistent that the trio rehearse in Wiltshire. He was far too perfectionist. In fact, although the harmony blend was lovely, the trio only worked on 3 songs in the 5 months it was together as a unit, playing just one gig ! Chris was a little superior in his ideas of not wanting to play musician sessions, and that was why he left. It was ironic that his religious persuasion was unintentionally highlighted in one of the three songs they worked on... Dan's "Yellow Moon", or is that "Yellow Moonie"!
After Chris left, Dan and Mark abandoned the idea of an acoustic trio and decided to look for a drummer and bassist instead to complete a more conventional line up. Shortly afterwards, Dan Perry, a work colleague of Mark's, joined on bass guitar. He also brought with him a Spanish guitar on which he played some really weird psychadelic songs... with titles such as "Sub Atomic Garage"! The guys worked really hard on their arrangements, developing a lovely, close three part harmony sound, along with complicated arrangements involving three or more guitar parts for each of the songs.....harmonising guitars, if you will.
From late August to early November 1998 the guys played a number of live dates and were ready to make their first album, even though they had still not found a drummer/percussionist at that point. They entered Jim Ramsey's Elwood P. Studio in Wells, Somerset, on November 2nd 1998, not to re-emerge with the album mixed until January 2000. Jim, an excellent singer songwriter of much experience, really liked the songs the band brought to him. His creative influence was soon apparent, not to mention his excellent lead guitar playing, keyboard and 'organic' percussion skills, which complimented the songs perfectly.
Dan and Mark were well pleased with their work, with Mark designing the album artwork for an evetual release in August 2000. 'Musaic', as the album was to be known, was well-received by all those that heard it, filling the band with encouragement. However, an unfortunate casualty of the album sessions was Dan Perry, who left the band in the summer of 1999 due to illness, midway through recording, having contributed 2 songs to the project. Thankfully he is now well again and has put together a new band around his own unique compositions. With their album finally complete at the end of January 2000, and after over a year of not playing live, Dan and Mark decide to put a band together to promote their recorded efforts, and to "just get out of the studio".
Dan and Mark were well pleased with their work, with Mark designing the album artwork for an evetual release in August 2000. 'Musaic', as the album was to be known, was well-received by all those that heard it, filling the band with encouragement. However, an unfortunate casualty of the album sessions was Dan Perry, who left the band in the summer of 1999 due to illness, midway through recording, having contributed 2 songs to the project. Thankfully he is now well again and has put together a new band around his own unique compositions. With their album finally complete at the end of January 2000, and after over a year of not playing live, Dan and Mark decide to put a band together to promote their recorded efforts, and to "just get out of the studio".
Dan's ideas of a ten-piece band (!) were rapidly formulated into a five-piece. Late January 2000, and Maddus Mickus joined on lead guitar and Katy B came along with harmony vocals, keyboard and bass guitar skills.
Maddus had previously played with heavy rock, hard rock and rhythm and blues bands, but with Longwave he has shown some wonderfully neat and melodic jazz influenced playing. He also brought some straight talking discipline to the overall sound of the band, as well as his own compositions. Katy's wonderful sense of harmony and her voice sealed the perfect tonal blend with Dan and Mark's, creating the nucleus of the band, which was to remian until the end.
The band was increased to five for a short while when a second lead guitarist, Coz Smith, joined mid-February 2000. Unfortunately, he was unable to commit to gigs or practice sessions, due to work commitments, and he was asked to leave in April, which he did without any animosity. The perrenial quest for a drummer
finally seemed to come to an end with the arrival of Dave Jones, a former drummer in one of Dan's earlier bands - Sundown Pilgrims. Dave had auditioned with Longwave earlier, along with Max Ottolangui (Sunset Run), but both been unable to join due to other band commitments. Likewise, percussionist Neil Robinson loved the music but was unable to commit. Dave finally joined in August 2000, thus completing the Longwave team sheet in readiness to take 'Musaic' to the masses.
The band gigged regularly throughout late 2000 and early 2001, picking up favourable reviews for both the live performances and the 'Musaic' album. An E.P. called 'Radio 4 Songs' was recorded in March 2001, the band now operating under the new name of Longwave after a democratic vote. The old name Sway was deemed to be unsuitable. In May 2001, Dave Jones suddenly departed from the line-up and the search was back on for a sticksman. The band were also on the look-out for a singer to take care of Mark's lead vocal on stage. In July 2001 the band announced the arrival of new drummer Stuart Woolfries and singer Lindsay Richards, swelling the band's number to six. However, the ship was not steadied for long - Stuart Woolfries left Longwave after playing his third gig with the band at the Wunderbar, Midsomer Norton on September 29th. His reasons were financial. The following day, singer Lindsey Richards quits the band also. She gives impending college commitments as her reason for going. Ironically, due to a serious illness during August and September, she never played a single gig with the band. In mid October drummer Nick Savage, after hearing demos, provisionally decides to join the band. There is also interest from 4 female vocalists in the joint-frontman vacancy.
Maddus had previously played with heavy rock, hard rock and rhythm and blues bands, but with Longwave he has shown some wonderfully neat and melodic jazz influenced playing. He also brought some straight talking discipline to the overall sound of the band, as well as his own compositions. Katy's wonderful sense of harmony and her voice sealed the perfect tonal blend with Dan and Mark's, creating the nucleus of the band, which was to remian until the end.
The band was increased to five for a short while when a second lead guitarist, Coz Smith, joined mid-February 2000. Unfortunately, he was unable to commit to gigs or practice sessions, due to work commitments, and he was asked to leave in April, which he did without any animosity. The perrenial quest for a drummer
finally seemed to come to an end with the arrival of Dave Jones, a former drummer in one of Dan's earlier bands - Sundown Pilgrims. Dave had auditioned with Longwave earlier, along with Max Ottolangui (Sunset Run), but both been unable to join due to other band commitments. Likewise, percussionist Neil Robinson loved the music but was unable to commit. Dave finally joined in August 2000, thus completing the Longwave team sheet in readiness to take 'Musaic' to the masses.
The band gigged regularly throughout late 2000 and early 2001, picking up favourable reviews for both the live performances and the 'Musaic' album. An E.P. called 'Radio 4 Songs' was recorded in March 2001, the band now operating under the new name of Longwave after a democratic vote. The old name Sway was deemed to be unsuitable. In May 2001, Dave Jones suddenly departed from the line-up and the search was back on for a sticksman. The band were also on the look-out for a singer to take care of Mark's lead vocal on stage. In July 2001 the band announced the arrival of new drummer Stuart Woolfries and singer Lindsay Richards, swelling the band's number to six. However, the ship was not steadied for long - Stuart Woolfries left Longwave after playing his third gig with the band at the Wunderbar, Midsomer Norton on September 29th. His reasons were financial. The following day, singer Lindsey Richards quits the band also. She gives impending college commitments as her reason for going. Ironically, due to a serious illness during August and September, she never played a single gig with the band. In mid October drummer Nick Savage, after hearing demos, provisionally decides to join the band. There is also interest from 4 female vocalists in the joint-frontman vacancy.
In December 2001, following failed attempts to stabilise the Longwave line-up, Mark O'Callaghan announces his intention to quit the band after months of soul searching, his reasons centering on the frequent hardships and disappointments of finding and establishing a new drummer. Dan accepts his decision with no animosity and decides that Longwave has run it's course. Mick signals his intention to work on a solo project, similarly Dan, whose 'Road To California' project is already underway with producer Jason Allen. Four of Dan's new songs are added to six from the post-'Musaic' recording sessions to form a posthumous second album-proper called 'Not Waving But Drowning?' which gains an official release on 24th December 2001. And thus the story ends, well, comes to a hesistant pause anyhow. After 2 albums, 2 EPs, over 40 gigs and more than a dozen members, Radio Longwave broadcast it's last transmission and, with a faint crackle of static, fades into the ether, having dispensed a healthy dose of quality music upon the listening World. Longwave over and out. For now that is...
[To Be Continued...?]
Aynsley Bogelbone - January 2001, updated December 2001
Aynsley Bogelbone - January 2001, updated December 2001
1998
Rummer, Bristol............3/3
Hat and Feather, Bath.....9/6
Mitre, Glastonbury.........28/8
Mitre, Glastonbury.........11/9
Mitre, Glastonbury..........20/11
Mitre, Glastonbury..........4/12
1999
Pheasant, Wookey..........13/2
Elim Church, Wells.........20/6
Fowler's Haven, Wells.....7/7
Milsom Street, Bath......... 8/7
Fowler's Haven, Wells......15/8
J.T.'s, West Hunspill..........26/11
Pheasant, Wookey..........13/2
Elim Church, Wells.........20/6
Fowler's Haven, Wells.....7/7
Milsom Street, Bath......... 8/7
Fowler's Haven, Wells......15/8
J.T.'s, West Hunspill..........26/11
2000
Farrington Inn, Farrington......6/3
Farrington Inn, Farrington......13/3
Old Down Inn, Emborough.....19/3
Old Down Inn, Emborough......26/3
Old Down Inn, Emborough......9/4
Old Down Inn, Emborough......16/4
Crown, Wells.........................18/5
Old Down Inn, Emborough.......21/5
Mick's, Wells........................27/5
Bristol Comedy Pub, Bristol.......19/6
Mitre, Glastonbury......................14/7
Methodist Hall, Wells.......................29/7
Jim's, Burcott...............................5/8
Farrington Inn, Farrington Gurney....7/8
Cafe Bleu, Wells................................1/9
The Prom, Bristol...............................10/12
Farrington Inn, Farrington......6/3
Farrington Inn, Farrington......13/3
Old Down Inn, Emborough.....19/3
Old Down Inn, Emborough......26/3
Old Down Inn, Emborough......9/4
Old Down Inn, Emborough......16/4
Crown, Wells.........................18/5
Old Down Inn, Emborough.......21/5
Mick's, Wells........................27/5
Bristol Comedy Pub, Bristol.......19/6
Mitre, Glastonbury......................14/7
Methodist Hall, Wells.......................29/7
Jim's, Burcott...............................5/8
Farrington Inn, Farrington Gurney....7/8
Cafe Bleu, Wells................................1/9
The Prom, Bristol...............................10/12
2001
Farmhouse, Bath................................28/1
Farmhouse, Bath................................10/2
McCluskys, Bristol..............................7/3
Prince Of Theives, Bristol....................1/5
Albert Inn, Bristol...........................3/5
Prince Of Theives, Bristol....................8/5
Comedy Pub, Bristol............................14/5
Prince Of Theives, Bristol.....................15/5
Greenbank, Bristol............................16/5
Prince Of Theives, Bristol....................22/5
Greenbank, Bristol............................23/5
Vaultz, Bristol...............................15/8
Moles Club, Bath..............................20/8
Wunderbar, Midsomer Norton....................29/9
Farmhouse, Bath................................28/1
Farmhouse, Bath................................10/2
McCluskys, Bristol..............................7/3
Prince Of Theives, Bristol....................1/5
Albert Inn, Bristol...........................3/5
Prince Of Theives, Bristol....................8/5
Comedy Pub, Bristol............................14/5
Prince Of Theives, Bristol.....................15/5
Greenbank, Bristol............................16/5
Prince Of Theives, Bristol....................22/5
Greenbank, Bristol............................23/5
Vaultz, Bristol...............................15/8
Moles Club, Bath..............................20/8
Wunderbar, Midsomer Norton....................29/9
Background picture - Dan Russell's father, Victor - Hertfordshire 1950
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Created, hosted & maintained by Hand Made Sites (UK)