Wille And The Bandits (Page 1 of 2)

When we were in London a few weeks ago, we caught Wille and the Bandits at the Borderline. Before going I had checked out a few of their videos on youtube and have to admit I was a little apprehensive. Wasn't quite what I was used to listening to. However, when we saw them live I thought they were great. They were so much fun and had such a good beat to their songs. It really was a blast to see them. They had a big crowd and quite a few were loud and obnoxious, but we were right in front and tried as best we could to ignore the rude, drunk ones.
A few songs in, they made an announcement that they wanted to record a live video of their song, Miles Away. They didn't want to spend the money on professionals so they asked everyone to get out their cameras and phones and record and for people to send the files to their email and if they used your footage, they would credit you. Well, you know I was all over that I have received confirmation that they received the file, but I'm still waiting to hear back on the final product. Would be cool if it all works out.

Here is the whole show:
Hot Rocks https://youtu.be/VDyMM2jTCXo

Gypsy Woman/Jack the Lad https://youtu.be/4iso8V1XhA0

Watch You Grow https://youtu.be/6esURVlHirQ

Living Free https://youtu.be/-hUc9zDdMaI

Black Magic Woman https://youtu.be/LCqDYDFTzFA

Miles Away https://youtu.be/YPmAIPEeD74

Forgiveness https://youtu.be/E9Vpgfa0Z58

Under The Grove https://youtu.be/NzUcgYIo7Zg

Love Me https://youtu.be/7Z8wDOSoY2I

Chill Out https://youtu.be/C0ltKT8bZk4

Bad News https://youtu.be/-0IsZcrcyPI

Galloping Horses https://youtu.be/KV4yF0Q3r1g

Virgin Eyes https://youtu.be/WaSb6L1RSXY

Angel https://youtu.be/DESl_T5O0jw

1970 https://youtu.be/k2Wj6rLCmu8

All three of the guys are top notch musicians. Wille is quite outstanding on slide, and really enjoyed watching the bass player especially with the modern looking stand up bass. Wille really reminds me of Gene Wilder in Charlie and the Chocolate factory. He has a similar face and what with the top hat he wears and a kind of devilish look on his face he is quite a cool character to watch. Really enjoyed the whole show.

14th Oct @ The Cluny2

Another fantastic gig by Wille, Mat & Andrew on Friday night, the sound these three guys whip up is just like no other: in some ways, a sax player and exotic dancer away from vintage Hawkwind with the near cosmic soundscapes they generate.

Most of the set was drawn from the new album, Steal,, the opening moment starting with a haunting keyboard refrain and Scared of The Sun. Unfortunately, this seemed to have put some pesky Cornish Piskies in Matt’s bass, so while he did a lttle maintenance, Wille & Andrew “busked” a ragtime number. Once sorted, Matt’s six-string bass was fully operational and the guys tore into the new material such as Miles Away; Hot Rocks; Crossfire Memories; Living Free & Bad News with the rocking 1970 bringing the house down as the encore after Wille, Matt & Andrew put everything into set closer Angel.

When not on the six-string bass, Matt really showed his worth on the 5-string electric double bass, which looks not unlike a canoe outrigger; Wille swapping from his wired up acoustic to lapjack slide; it kind of makes you feel for Andrew being stuck behind the drum kit, but boy, can that guy drum. It just amazes me that a band who look like buskers can take such an assortment of instruments and weave such a full, almost symphonic sound while keep it earthy & raw.

Rest of the 2016 tour:-
   Oct 19 The Winchester Bournemouth, United Kingdom
   Oct 20 Hole In The Wall Exeter, United Kingdom
   Oct 21 The Junction Plymouth, United Kingdom
   Oct 22 The Factory Barnstaple, United Kingdom
   Oct 25 The Basement Chelmsford, United Kingdom
   Oct 26 Talking Heads Southampton, United Kingdom
   Oct 27 Sticky Mikes Frog Bar Brighton, Uk
   Oct 28 100 Club London, United Kingdom
   Oct 29 Thekla Bristol, United Kingdom
   Oct 30 West Coast Arts Tenby, United Kingdom
   Nov 01 Bennigans Bar Londonderry, United Kingdom
   Nov 03 Monroes Galway, Ireland   
   Nov 04 De Barras Clonakilty, Ireland
   Nov 05 Fibber Magees Dublin, Ireland   
   Nov 06 3rd Space (Acoustic Show) Llandudno, United Kingdom
   Nov 12 UK BLUES CHALLENGE@Robin 2 Bilston, United Kingdom

  Nov 13 De Noot (4pm start) Hoogland, Netherlands
   Nov 15 Yard Club Cologne, Germany   
   Nov 16 Indra Club Hamburg, Germany
   Nov 17 Music Hall Worpswede, Germany   
   Nov 18 Diemelkukt Marsberg, Germany
   Nov 19 Speicher Schwerin, Germany
   Nov 20 Kulturkeller Fulda, Germany
   Nov 21 Soundso Leipzig, Germany   
   Nov 22 Legends Lounge Munich, Germany   
   Nov 30 Muhle Hunziken Rubigen, Switzerland
   Dec 02 Blues Garage Isernhagen, Germany

10th Oct - Newcastle Cluny 2

Mid October, it must be time for Wille & The Bandits. Love it when you can set your calendar by gigs, and by the same token, you can rely on another blast of a show. Can't say anything I haven't already in this thread; this time round though it was Matt's bass solos that really were outstanding. If anything, they are backing down on the "cosmic surf hippy" vibe and maturing a bit more main-stream rock, but still good, sorry make that great.

Get to the shows early and catch Australian guest support Claude Hay; the ultimate "recycling-one-man-band"; you won't be disappointed.

Feb 17th - Hartlepool Supporters

Well, if Sean Webster was the wrecking ball at Hartlepool, then WATB were the tornado that swept the debris clean away. Not an enviable task, following someone like Sean and the groove he was in, but WATB were more than up for the challenge on their 1st visit to Supporters Club (they mentioned “monkey-hangers” once but I think they got away with it…). It certainly was a case of Good Times and Living Free and rocking like it was 1970 as they knuckled down and just did what the do best.; Wille’s feral howl and wicked slide lap-jack, Matthew’s searing bass runs and Andrew’s fluid drumming uniting into something that’s almost primal.

Nobody in the packed house left following Sean’s set until WATB’s last notes faded into the night air, followed by a roar of Hartlepool’s approval that these guys can assuredly return.

Three top class musicians working seamlessly together; what's not to like?

The Live CD is made up of track recorded on the road over the last couple of years by their sound engineer and made into a typical set list. Only available on the road, for now at least, and was selling very well at Hartlepool.

"Wille Edwards; Cornwall based musician, eclectic songwriter, and front man of internationally acclaimed band Wille and the Bandits will embark on a solo tour of the UK in November, Wille hopes to raise awareness of homelessness in the UK and help raise money through a charity single.
The tour will cross the south of the UK; between shows Wille will volunteer with charities that support those who find themselves homeless or at risk of homelessness, he hopes to be able to gain some insight into the lives of some of the UKs 320,000 homeless."
(Shelter, the National Campaign for Homeless People Limited)

25 Nov Hawthorns Hotel  Glastonbury
26 Nov The Railway  Winchester
27 Nov Nordon Farm  Maidenhead
28 Nov Tring Park Blues Tring
29 Nov Barrelhouse  Totnes
30 Nov Hunton Village Hall  Maidstone
1 Dec The Green Note  London

From Wille [Edwards]

Hello friends and fans of Wille and the Bandits,

Firstly, I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has come down to all our shows and have supported us over the years. It means so much to me. You guys give me the platform to live my dream.

As many of you are aware, Matt and Andy are moving on from Wille and the Bandits and next year the band will become a four piece, adding multi- instrumentalist Matthew Gallagher who will be playing keyboards, guitar, percussion and backing vocals along with Harry Mackaill who will be on Bass and singing duties and Finn McAuley who will be playing drums and percussion.

From early rehearsals, this is set to take the Bandits sound to a new level while also complimenting what has been created previously. With three way harmonies and extra melody from the Hammond organ the band is in a great place musically: This has always been the most important thing to all of us, past and present, involved with WATB as we enter this new era for the band.

The UK tour, which will be from late February to early April, will be travelling all over the country, playing some of our favourite venues including The Thekla in Bristol, Deaf Institute in Manchester and the world famous 100 club in London.

Make Love feat new 4-piece line-up - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43QJwDucNnE

Newcastle Cluny - 6th March
Well, Troy Redfern certainly threw down a gauntlet on Friday night. Even if I knew which end of a Fender to blow down, i wouldn’t have wanted to follow that and of the few that could, it was up to Wille & The Bamdits (2.0).
Have to admit, this line-up change was the other reason for venturing out and they did not disappoint. Wille still has a primal howl of a voice and stirs up surfadelic landscapes, especially on the electro/acoustic hymn that is Angel. Keyboards, an unexpected addition but hit the perfect balance of “being these” but not overpowering. Again, superb backline, maybe a tad more muscular than of old but the main thing I picked-up or rather didn’t was a missing bass string, or two. However you want to look, yes, there are changes, but this band still bites, and surfs. great introduction tour, bodes well for next studio foray.