BILLY THE KID SIGNS TO XMR

Xtra Mile Recordings can announce the signing of Canadian singer/ songwriter BILLY THE KID for a worldwide deal. She joins the likes of Frank Turner, Against Me!, Larry and His Flask, Beans On Toast, Cheap Girls, To Kill A King, Northcote, and many many more as the label and the roster continues to expand in the UK and all across the globe.

Billy has been busy in London recording tracks for her fourth full length album working with Frank Turner as producer. Title, tracklisting and artwork all to be unveiled in due course but for now, here’s a video of the two of them working together: 

Billy The Kid is a regular face on the North American underground touring circuit and a prolific writer amassing a wealth of music, firstly with her band Billy & The Lost Boys and more recently as a solo artist. She has collaborated with such artists as Garth Hudson (The Band/Bob Dylan), Randy Cooke (Ringo Starr/Dave Stewart) Stan Behrens (Willie Dixon/Ruth Brown/the Four Tops) and just recently, producer Jamie Candiloro (Ryan Adams and Willie Nelson). But she is best known for her creative crowd-sourcing campaigns.

In true DIY spirit 2010 saw work begin on her debut solo full-length album ‘Ours’. In addition to pre-orders and specialized bundles, Billy travelled across the continent to play fundraisers, anniversaries, birthday parties and private concerts as well as going camping, white water rafting and rock climbing with fans. One year later, she was back at it again, with a second album ‘Stars, Exploding’ ready to be recorded with her dream producer, Candiloro. Surprise bundles, birthday presents, and fan-requested cover songs helped fund this latest effort, recorded in LA and complete with a chance encounter with the Kid’s favourite songwriter, Ryan Adams.

However, Billy knew that she couldn’t keep hitting up fans for money to fund her continuous out-pouring of music and with no real other options, Billy was ready to quit music all together after she had finished on the Warped Acoustic Basement Tour last summer. As with so often the case you have to hit rock bottom to see a way to the top and a chance day-off in Toronto resulted in meeting Frank Turner who was in town headlining Lee’s Palace venue. They got on, Frank invited her on stage for a Neil Young cover and a friendship was born. In the audience was Xtra Mile’s managing director Charlie Caplowe who instantly saw the promise in this home-grown star.

Charlie says of the signing: “As soon as I saw Billy I thought she was really cool, with a great voice and infectious enthusiasm. I was also really impressed with her DIY attitude and thought she would fit right in at Xtra Mile. We’re thrilled to have her on board.”

Billy says: “In a world that's constantly asking us to doubt and question ourselves, it's always been important to me to ‘stick to my guns’ when it comes to music. It was the one thing I wasn't willing to compromise, so much so that I remained independent for more than half of my life. Eight (or something) albums later, I am very happy to announce that I have finally found a home with Xtra Mile Recordings and I am looking forward to the (not so lonely!) future!

 

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XTRA MILE RECORDINGS ANNOUNCE NEW SIGNINGS: CHEAP GIRLS

We are proud to announce the signing of Michigan three-piece Cheap Girls for a worldwide deal. They join the label as it continues to expand in the UK and across the globe with an ever-growing roster that includes Frank Turner, Against Me!, Larry and His Flask, Beans On Toast, Sonic Boom Six, To Kill A King, Northcote, Jamie Lenman and many many more. And, with a brand new album due in Spring and touring plans being confirmed, Cheap Girls is a key release for Xtra Mile in 2014. 

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Formed in 2007, Cheap Girls consist of brothers Ben and Ian Graham (drums and vocals/bass respectively) and guitarist Adam Aymor. The band was started with the straight forward intentions of playing simple and loud rock songs – an approach they still abide by 7 years later. The have released three critically applauded studio albums: ‘Find Me A Drink Home’ which was initially self-released in 2008; quickly followed 2009’s sophomore full-length ‘My Roaring 20s’. Their third full-length, ‘Giant Orange’, released early 2012, was recorded and produced by Against Me’s Laura Jane Grace in her Total Treble Studio in Elkton, Florida. Describing working with the band, Laura said: “With Cheap Girls you not only have an authentic Midwestern rock band in the vein of the Replacements, Soul Asylum, Sugar and early Smoking Popes but you also have an incredibly talented lyricist and songwriter in Ian Graham. I’m lucky to have gotten the chance to work with them.”

A sentiment echoed by Xtra Mile’s manager Charlie Caplowe: “We’re delighted at the chance to work with Cheap Girls. I have seen them play a few times in the States and have been blown away with their infectious songs and likeable characters. They are a welcomed addition to the family.”

Ian from the band says: "It’s with many levels of pleasure that we’re able to announce to you our recent signing to Xtra Mile Recordings. They’ve been nothing short of amazing and supportive in regards to this album we’ve been recording for the last two months and we’re very excited to have them handle the album’s release worldwide. 

“The hard facts are simply that we’ve found a very comfortable, endlessly-supportive label that has allowed us to make exactly the album we’ve been wanting to make for some years now and that album will see the light-of-day this spring. Not to mention that their staff are some of the most enjoyable, enthusiastic, outgoing individuals that we’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. We couldn’t be more thrilled for you to hear the songs we’ve come up with this time around. There’ll be a song, an album title, some photos and a release date to share in the very near future. Thanks to everyone for being with us through the years and all the years to come.”

Here’s a wonderful video from the band themselves on announcing the new working partnership – thanks to Ian and Ben’s Dad who they woke from an afternoon nap especially for the task;

Chris T-T And The Hoordrats - new single and live in 2014

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NEW SINGLE ‘BURY ME WITH A SCARAB’
+ UK HEADLINE TOUR

 “Chris T-T should’ve been offered a knighthood for services to English underground music by now.” THE ARTSDESK

 “Chris T-T proved his ability to write intelligent, endearing songs, now he and The Hoodrats smash the shit out of everything. Fiercely exciting.” ROCKSOUND

Following the release of his ninth studio album The Bear - which came out on 7th October 2013– Chris kicks off 2014 with a full band headline tour in January. Having just completed a run of intimate solo shows supporting Emily Barker and The Red Clay Halo, these new dates with his band The Hoodrats will be rock-ya-face-off full-band assaults bringing the full sonic magnitude of The Bear to the fore. The tour coincides with the release of his new single ‘Bury Me With A Scarab’ out on 10th February 2014, with b-sides including a cover of Low’s ‘Laser Beam’ and exclusive song ‘Boredom Is A State Of Grace’. 

Full UK tour details are:
CHRIS T-T & THE HOODRATS + special guest Oxygen Thief
JANUARY 2014
Wed 8 Jan          BBC6Music Marc Riley show
Thur 9 Jan          EXETER Cavern Club
Fri 10 Jan            FALMOUTH University
Sat 11 Jan            BRIGHTON Bermuda Triangle **
Sun 12 Jan          OXFORD Truck Store (instore)
Tue 14 Jan          MANCHESTER venue tba
Thu 16 Jan          SOUTHAMPTON Joiners Arms
Fri 17 Jan            BRISTOL Thekla
Sat 18 Jan           LONDON Bush Hall
(supporting Tom Robinson Band)
Sun 19 Jan          LONDON Lexington ***

** special guests Fighting Fiction  *** special guests Smallgang

The Bear is Chris’s third album for label Xtra Mile Recordings. Recorded with his band The Hoodrats, together they have departed from the paired down introspection of 2010’s Love Is Not Rescue and instead created a full-on psych rock record with hints of Sebadoh, early Hold Steady, early Yo La Tengo, or Blur at their heavier moments and with a nod to grimy garage-y 60s like The Faces and Animals. Channelling these influences, Chris and his band taped the album close to live, completing songs in 3 or 4 takes just as those bands would have done back then. The result is a fascinating and excitingly fresh sounding record and some of his best work to date. 

Since 1999 T-T has released nine albums, including a trilogy about London: The 253 (2001), London Is Sinking (2003) and Capital (2008), as well as alt-folk protest classic 9 Red Songs (2005) and the inward-looking Love Is Not Rescue (2010). Based in Brighton but restlessly mobile, he has written for The Morning Star, Louder Than War, Huffington Post, New Public Thinkers and others. Alongside writing and touring, Chris speaks regularly at conferences and runs seminars and workshops.

A great, powerful indie rock record of an ilk that isn’t often heard these days. THE RUCKUS
Superb. Wonderfully open and rough hewn. A real immediacy, even on the album’s quieter moments, that perfectly serves up razor-edged lyrics. File under essential listening. BEAT SURRENDER

www.christt.com & www.xtramilerecordings.com & www.twitter.com/christt

 

AGAINST ME! Brand new track!

Against Me! have released another song from their highly anticipated full-length album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues released worldwide on Xtra Mile Recordings on 20th January 2014 (and through Against Me!'s own Total Treble label in North America on January 21 and Resist Records in Australia).

Listen to the world premiere of "Black Me Out" from our new album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues. Available on January 21, 2014. Winter 2014 Headlining Tour with support on the entire run by The Sidekicks and The Shondes. Purchase tickets here: http://www.againstme.net/tour.

Titled ‘Black Me Out’ the song's acoustic version has been road-tested extensively by frontwoman Laura Jane Grace but receives the full-band treatment on the band's forthcoming album.Transgender Dysphoria Blues is now available for pre-order through iTunes HERE, which offers an instant download of another track from the album, ‘FUCKMYLIFE666’. Physical presale for the album can be found at Xtra Mile Recordings webstore HERE and a Banquet Records HERE.

Photo taken by Ryan Russell

Photo taken by Ryan Russell

Transgender Dysphoria Blues is the intense follow-up to the band's previous full-length album, White Crosses, and stands as another major benchmark for the band and its career spanning 10+ years. Recorded at Studio 606, Earth Sound Studio, Motor Studio, Total Treble Studio and mixed by Billy Bush (Garbage, Muse, Tegan and Sara), Transgender Dysphoria Blues is an insightful and highly-provocative 10-song offering written by Laura Jane Grace, whose material examines one's grappling with gender dysphoria, the loss of a young friend and pure self-discovery, as well as love and ultimate acceptance. Featuring Grace's signature, explicit songwriting and dominant vocals, the album also features longtime guitarist/vocalist James Bowman, drummer Atom Willard and Fat Mike of NOFX on bass for "FUCKMYLIFE666" and "Unconditional Love."

With its lineup firmly in place that includes new bassist Inge Johansson of The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Against Me! are about to embark on an extensive tour of USA and are currently putting together a tour of UK and Europe for spring 2014.