It’s a tale of two cities; a tale of two bands and might leave you wondering: “What the Dickens is going on in the world of music!”
However its all good news and we’ll start with a wedding.
Birdpen front man Dave Pen (right) married his sweetheart Nicola last Friday and a joyous occasion it was.
His best man was Mike Bird the “other half” of that fine Southampton duo.
At the reception I was reliably informed that if the ceremony had been held in France, Dave’s European fans would have been scaling the walls.
Pour quoi?
Dave is also in Archive, an avant-garde British collective, who on Sunday are headlining the last night of “Rock en Seine” in Paris.
With ‘Foo Fighters’ topping the bill on Friday and ‘Arctic Monkeys’ Saturday, you can appreciate the heights Archive have reached.
Side of stage will be Mike Bird. He’s also Archive’s guitar and keyboard tech and, as he points out, “It’s a billing the band will undoubtedly feel the pressure to step up to. The fact they are playing with a 32 piece orchestra will make the show quite a spectacle!”
He’ tech’d from Fleet Foxes to Sophie Ellis-Bextor which means: “I am always surrounded by music and meeting like minded people.”
These experiences are rubbing off on Birdpen and naturally opening bigger doors on the continent.
With a second album written and waiting to be recorded all they need is a British backer to line their nest.
First published in the Southern Daily Echo, 26th August 2011
