Gecko (band)
Encyclopedia
Gecko are an upbeat acoustic band currently based in South East London
, but with many ties back in the South West
. Influences include Lightyear
and Randy Newman
.
) and Si Cole (Bass
/Orangutan
) have been playing together since 2001, after meeting at school in Gloucestershire. They showed early promise with the Ska Punk
band In Blue Jeans (2002–2006), with which Will developed his writing style and discovered his sound. In 2006 Will created Gecko as a music project which he pursued whilst at Access to Music college in Bristol, supported by Si Cole who trained there as a session musician
. Gecko enjoyed regular live shows in and around Bristol
, where he recorded Gecko's first two albums (Terrible Lizard and Songs in the Key of Lizard). In September 2008 Will and Si moved to east London to study at the Bristish Academy of New Music.
, Sonic Boom Six
, Chris Murray, The Aggrolites
, Malakai
, The Skints, Babar Luck
and John Hegley
.
In May 2009 Gecko opened the main stage of Bristol Vegan Fayre alongside The King Blues
and Ian Dury
's band The Blockheads
.
In August 2009 Gecko embarked on the 'Aint that like a lizard? tour' - three weeks of shows from London to Edinburgh.
In September 2009 Gecko released their new EP 'Stop, Look, Lizard!' at The Cooler in Bristol, bringing in Bristol heavyweights Sadies Doll and First Degree Burns in support.
In November 2009 Gecko embarked on the 'Stop, Look, Lizard!' Tour including shows with Bellatrix and The Boxettes and The Skints and a debut performance at Banquet records' clubnight New Slang in Kingston.
. Other plays include Fresh on the Net with Tom Robinson
on BBC Radio 6 as well as plays on BBC Radio Bristol
and Kerrang Radio.
In August 2009 Gecko recorded a session for BBC Bristol Introducing promoting the release of new EP 'Stop, Look, Lizard!'.
On Tuesday December the 14th, Itch Fox, lead singer of The King Blues
chose Gecko's song 'Falling down' as his song for 2009 in Mike Davies' sounds of 2009 wrap up show on BBC Radio 1.
Si Cole - Bass
/Orangutan
Gabriel Casey- Key Board/Piano/Percussion/vocals/Guitar
Ben Mckone- Drums
+ Numerous guest musicians
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, but with many ties back in the South West
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
. Influences include Lightyear
Lightyear (band)
Lightyear were a UK 7-piece ska punk band. They formed in 1997 in Derby, England.They signed to Household Name Records in 2001, and the band released two full-length albums via the label...
and Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
.
History
Will S–T (Vocals/GuitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) and Si Cole (Bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
/Orangutan
Orangutan
Orangutans are the only exclusively Asian genus of extant great ape. The largest living arboreal animals, they have proportionally longer arms than the other, more terrestrial, great apes. They are among the most intelligent primates and use a variety of sophisticated tools, also making sleeping...
) have been playing together since 2001, after meeting at school in Gloucestershire. They showed early promise with the Ska Punk
Ska punk
Ska punk is a fusion music genre that combines ska and punk rock. It achieved its highest level of commercial success in the United States in the late 1990s. Ska-core is a subgenre of ska punk, blending ska with hardcore punk.The characteristics of ska punk vary, due to the fusion of contrasting...
band In Blue Jeans (2002–2006), with which Will developed his writing style and discovered his sound. In 2006 Will created Gecko as a music project which he pursued whilst at Access to Music college in Bristol, supported by Si Cole who trained there as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
. Gecko enjoyed regular live shows in and around Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, where he recorded Gecko's first two albums (Terrible Lizard and Songs in the Key of Lizard). In September 2008 Will and Si moved to east London to study at the Bristish Academy of New Music.
Live shows
Gecko have played alongside many acts including The King BluesThe King Blues
The King Blues are a punk band from London, England, credited for fusing ska and folk together with influences from punk rock and hardcore punk. Tariq Ali described the band's sounds as 'rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of this country. A new generation of musicians are...
, Sonic Boom Six
Sonic Boom Six
Sonic Boom Six are a five-piece rock band from Manchester, United Kingdom. Their eclectic sound combines different elements of several genres and has been described by Kerrang! as "taking ska, pop, grime, dubstep, punk and metal apart, then rebuilding them as a hyperactive hybrid"...
, Chris Murray, The Aggrolites
The Aggrolites
The Aggrolites are a reggae and ska band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002.- Overview :The Aggrolites are an amalgamation of two previous Los Angeles reggae and ska bands, the Vessels and the Rhythm Doctors. They formed in 2002 as a live backing band for reggae icon Derrick Morgan, and...
, Malakai
Malakai (band)
Malachai are a two-piece band from Bristol, England. They were renamed Malachai in 2010 from the previous spelling Malakai after the band discovered that the name Malikai was already owned by an American rap artist. They comprise of Gee and DJ Scott Hendy...
, The Skints, Babar Luck
Babar Luck
Babar Luck is a songwriter and musician based in the UK. Born in Pakistan in 1970 & moving to London at the age of 8 years, Babar Luck found solace in the world & sounds of music....
and John Hegley
John Hegley
John Richard Hegley is an English performance poet, comedian, musician and songwriter.-Early life:He was born in the Newington Green area of Islington, London, England, into a Roman Catholic household. He was brought up in Luton and Bristol...
.
In May 2009 Gecko opened the main stage of Bristol Vegan Fayre alongside The King Blues
The King Blues
The King Blues are a punk band from London, England, credited for fusing ska and folk together with influences from punk rock and hardcore punk. Tariq Ali described the band's sounds as 'rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of this country. A new generation of musicians are...
and Ian Dury
Ian Dury
Ian Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
's band The Blockheads
The Blockheads
The Blockheads are an English rock and roll band. Originally fronted by vocalist Ian Dury as Ian Dury and the Blockheads, the band has continued to perform since Dury's death in 2000. Current members include Chaz Jankel , Norman Watt-Roy , Mick Gallagher , John Turnbull and Davey Payne...
.
In August 2009 Gecko embarked on the 'Aint that like a lizard? tour' - three weeks of shows from London to Edinburgh.
In September 2009 Gecko released their new EP 'Stop, Look, Lizard!' at The Cooler in Bristol, bringing in Bristol heavyweights Sadies Doll and First Degree Burns in support.
In November 2009 Gecko embarked on the 'Stop, Look, Lizard!' Tour including shows with Bellatrix and The Boxettes and The Skints and a debut performance at Banquet records' clubnight New Slang in Kingston.
Radio play
Since May 2009 Gecko have received numerous plays on Mike Davies's show on BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. Other plays include Fresh on the Net with Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson is an English singer-songwriter, bassist and radio presenter, better known for the hits "Glad to Be Gay", "2-4-6-8 Motorway", and "Don't Take No for an Answer", with his Tom Robinson Band...
on BBC Radio 6 as well as plays on BBC Radio Bristol
BBC Radio Bristol
BBC Radio Bristol is the BBC Local Radio service for the English city of Bristol and the surrounding former Avon area. Launched in September 1970, it broadcasts from Broadcasting House in Bristol on FM frequencies 94.9 MHz , 104.6 MHz , 103.6 MHz , on AM 1548 kHz and on DAB.The...
and Kerrang Radio.
In August 2009 Gecko recorded a session for BBC Bristol Introducing promoting the release of new EP 'Stop, Look, Lizard!'.
On Tuesday December the 14th, Itch Fox, lead singer of The King Blues
The King Blues
The King Blues are a punk band from London, England, credited for fusing ska and folk together with influences from punk rock and hardcore punk. Tariq Ali described the band's sounds as 'rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of this country. A new generation of musicians are...
chose Gecko's song 'Falling down' as his song for 2009 in Mike Davies' sounds of 2009 wrap up show on BBC Radio 1.
Band members
Will S-T - Vocals/GuitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
Si Cole - Bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
/Orangutan
Orangutan
Orangutans are the only exclusively Asian genus of extant great ape. The largest living arboreal animals, they have proportionally longer arms than the other, more terrestrial, great apes. They are among the most intelligent primates and use a variety of sophisticated tools, also making sleeping...
Gabriel Casey- Key Board/Piano/Percussion/vocals/Guitar
Ben Mckone- Drums
+ Numerous guest musicians
Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Terrible Lizard | White Label |
| 2008 | Songs in the Key of Lizard | White Label |
EPs
| Year | EP | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Stop, Look, Lizard! | White Label |