TOY SOLDIERS
Our lads are back in Greece, currently offering their services to the nation in that noble tradition known as mandatory military duty; which is ironic, considering their greatest weapon has always been stringed instruments, not a gun. Between marching drills and peeling potatoes (or whatever it is they’re trusted with), they’ve had plenty of time to reflect. And in those long, contemplative hours, they’ve realised just how much they miss making music, and how badly they need to get back to the stage.
So, they’ve sparked a little internal uprising, pushing the band to get back in motion rather than let things sit idle. The result? Some lovely plans now in motion, including our headline show at the O2 Academy.
To kick things off, we’ve secured the first 100 tickets for the price of a pint—because, well, we can. You’d think a band like the Rolling Stones, with their decades of legacy and mountains of cash, could offer something similar to their loyal fans. But instead, they’re charging £1,000 for front-row seats. Nothing screams “punk spirit” like an invoice the size of two months worth of rent, right?
Anyway, we’re clearly the bigger band. I mean, have you seen how much Mick Jagger weighs these days?
Just drop us a line if you are interested in those early-bird tickets!
The Ghost of Future Perfect Continuous
2016 has been an interesting year! We made new friends, matured a little further, and started to better understand both ourselves and the world around us.
Being an independent act means we operate entirely on our own terms, but planning an album is considerably more challenging when you’re not funded to focus solely on music. On top of that, there’s the constant balancing act of maintaining relationships among band members, coordinating schedules, and carving out time for both the group and life itself. Releasing music is a heavy undertaking that only feels complete the moment it’s out in the world… and then it’s time to begin all over again.
We started our journey in a small city in Greece years ago. There was no real scene to support us: we were too soft for the metalheads, too aggressive for the rockers, too polished for the punks. English-language guitar rock did not have a huge audience there at the time, so we relocated to the motherland of post-punk about four years ago. That decision definitely contributed to the longer gaps between releases.
This year we’ve played some great shows, supported a few charities doing incredible work, released a sneak peek of an upcoming video, and gathered more material for our third full-length album. Recording it is going to be a real challenge, as both Damos and the Saint are serving their national service.
We’ve got a few releases lined up for the coming year, and don’t forget about the bracelets for World Vision! There’s something deeply fulfilling about improving someone’s life; and that is perhaps the most beautiful expression of capitalistic guilt.
A warm welcome to Konstantinos, Marco, and Dimitris! Huge thanks to our friends and families for their unwavering support and last but certainly not least, thank you for reading.
Happy New Year!
So this is Christmas…
Across the world, people are embracing this beautiful tradition of spreading kindness through acts of generosity that carry the hope that the goodwill will last well beyond the season.
If your Christmas shopping hasn’t completely emptied the piggy bank, we’ve got something special to offer: you can now pre-order a unique line of handmade bracelets, lovingly crafted from our used guitar strings. Not only do they carry a piece of our journey, but all proceeds will go to support the incredible work of World Vision.
These aren’t just accessories—they’re small acts of compassion in wearable form.
Find out more and place your pre-order at www.comfortdollproject.com. Let’s make this season truly meaningful.
Live in Exile
We finally carved out some time to go through the footage from last year’s gig at the Newcastle Miners’ Institute, and we’re genuinely chuffed with how it turned out. So, if you haven’t already, subscribe to our YouTube channel, because we’ll be uploading some highlights soon.
While that’s rolling out, we’re also working on a release of the show, complete with a 16-page booklet and some rather tasty bonus content.
Dates and Updates
Thanos will be performing a special acoustic set in support of Children North-East on September 10th at Westgarth, Middlesbrough. It’s a cause close to our hearts, and we’re proud to contribute through music.
But that’s just the beginning.
Fourteen days later, Phase will be back in full force, joining forces with our beloved friends Antimatter for a powerful show in Thessaloniki—a proper return to form for the full-band experience. In the meantime, we’re also planning a TBA acoustic gig in Larisa, somewhere in between, so keep your ears to the ground for more details.
Oh, and yes, it is about time to release some new music, don’t you think?
