Well ... how did it all start ? How was this dainty kind of music able spring up and ripe within the cellars and attics of Leeds ? Where did it come from, and where is it going to ? Follow me ... Last century, early in 1998, when fin de siecle was still at its finest, there were two creatures who did not know each other. Or let's say ... hardly. They had seen each other on a couple of random occasions, on which they had exchanged a maximum of seven words. But then, on the 18th of October 1998, Somehelp brought them - and their guitars (one four- and another six-string) - together. It was a rainy Sunday afternoon, it was - with lots of sunshine through the badly insulated window. However, this hardly bothered Geert and Tim, who for the first time COMMUNICATED. There was music, but no band ... After a few similar occasions, Somehelp created Liz - a girl with a guitar and her own voice. A meeting was - as they say - arranged on the 6th of December 1998 ... but never happened ! The night before Leeds criminality had cruelly struck and simultaneously robbed Tim's house and Geert's house. The experience was so traumatic that any future plans about music were temporarily frozen. Both Tim and Geert pursued a short career of fighting organized crime in Leeds. Justice - non est ... Tim moved to another house - far far away, over the hills. And Geert dreamed of strangling burglars. However, as their anger gradually became less, their interest in music increased again. Ultimately, two months later, on the 14th of Febraury 1999, Liz AT LAST joined Tim and Geert for a short but tasteful jam session. Only once or twice, though. Because the idea of them providing living-room-entertainment had started to annoy the three musicians. So - another two months later, we find Tim, Liz and Geert making up their minds about A NEW FUTURE. On Monday, the 26th of April 1999 Geert contacts Mister Mark of the Old Chapel studios - for a considerable amount of money, they can use a superbly equipped room with hi-tech P.A.'s and bass-amps. Or so it seemed. Friday afternoon, from 11am till 1 pm they met, and had some nice and loud jams. In fact, the feeling of playing there became addictive, and very soon Tim Geert and Liz found themselves going there every week, on Sunday afternoons (when everyone's usually asleep). Having the opportunity, the space, and the inclination to create more noise, without upsetting any neighbours, they started dreaming about a percussionist - a drummer - a Tommy. Since Somehelp wasn't able to offer them any assistance now, they decided to act on their own behalf - and contact a complete stranger - the 'available drummer' who left an ad in the local music shop - which Geert took. On the 18th of May, he gave Tommy a call, and arranged a meeting the day after. Tim, Liz and Geert got together in Geert's Victorian dining room - waiting for the mystery Tommy. The latter's car, however, sulkily ran out of petrol, which made all waiting in vain. However, patience persevered so that the same night fortune agreed to strike in a more pleasant way. She dubbed the budding band 'The Absence' .... Thank you - After localizing Tommy again, a new meeting was arranged, 10 days later. This time in the Old Chapel Studios - and with Tommy's drumkit ---- ! On the 29th of May 1999, the Absence was finally complete, and had their first full scale jam-session. Ready to conquer Leeds --- Mmmm - that didn't happen instantly, for the simple reason that 1 month and 5 days later, Geert had to leave for Belgium, enjoying an office job for 3 months. Being a student he had run completely out of money ... but let's not dwell on that too long. On the 2nd of october, Geert happily returned to Leeds, called up Liz and Tim, made sure that Tommy was still an 'available drummer' (yes he was !), and 8 days later, the band was back in the Old Chapel Studios - for a great reunion session !!! The evenement was celebrated by introducing - for the first time - original material to the playlist. Weather was born ! There was reason for happiness - so Tommy bought a new drumkit, early November. It was red and twice as large. From now on, the weekly practise sessions became an absolute delight - even if it were just to witness Tommy's extremily steep rise to star-drummership - No royal horses or men could drag him away from that kit - no uncharted drum-roll or fill-in has ever been safe from him since that very day. The end of the year brought us festivities galore - 2000, how impressive ... Still, Geert was exempt from those - he was back in Belgium again, suffering from an infection on his left lung. Or pleuresy, as they call it. Fever, pain ... and singing ->no way ! Unpleasant indeed. However, only of a short nature: on the thirteenth of January he was back in Leeds, with his lung slightly scarred, but with the option of singing available to him again. Now - that WAS a good thing, because a mere two days later, the Absence took their instruments to the Leeds College of Music. Invited by Steve and Richard they got into the recording studios to lay down some demos. Hard work (mainly for Steve and Richard) produced the basic track for Weather. More was to be done at a later date. They didn't waste any precious time, though, because one week later, the band had their FIRST GIG. Yes - on the twenty-second of January 2000 Marianne and Josine organised a well-acclaimed >>> E i g h t i e s - p a r t y <<< in the upstairs room of the Fenton. About 50 great people showed up and had a cool time, dancing on shaky eighties tapes and a short set-list of 8 live songs. Weather and Such A Long Time already featured on an otherwise cover-based programme. Two days after that - why wait ? - the four of them were back in the recording studio. That night they recorded 1 take, live in the studio, of Kiss. Within the same 2 hours the track was already mixed and put unto DAT tape. The first song finished for posterity... In February things were heating up - Skybluesky was founded as the management agency of the band. At the same time Tim designed the band's l o g o - after the professionals had copped out. There were also talks about P.O.-boxes, websites and email accounts ... On the 25th of March, they have the third and last (for the time being) recording session at the Leeds College of Music. Just one more afternoon, in which they finished Weather and recorded When I'm Old from scratch. They had three songs now, mixed onto a DAT-tape - the official DEMO. If you want to know more about those, just follow me and click here : RELEASES (click if you CAN). In preparation for the tape and for further promotional use, the Absence members had their first photo-session with Eva - in and around the Old Chapel Studios. The email-account was opened on yahoo - and the postbox was ready to receive your mail ! That same month, also the official the Absence W E B S I T E saw the day of light - and it has been gradually growing ever since. The opening was just in time to produce some promo for their next gig, again at the Fenton - this time within the context of 'BBC Music Live'. A small group of people (promotion didn't work out yet - hey you, ever heard of the Internet ?) rocked their souls out to the New Sound of a 15-songs set-list. Most of the tunes were original compositions this time ! Can you wait to hear more ?? So .... if you've read all the way down to here - I bet you must be really a die-hard fan ! Or just became one - See you then, on the next gig ! - Frederik Van Der Gruysch, 14.06.00 |
Well ... how did it all start ? How was this dainty kind of music able spring up and ripe within the cellars and attics of Leeds ? Where did it come from, and where is it going to ? Follow me ... Last century, early in 1998, when fin de siecle was still at its finest, there were two creatures who did not know each other. Or let's say ... hardly. They had seen each other on a couple of random occasions, on which they had exchanged a maximum of seven words. But then, on the 18th of October 1998, Somehelp brought them - and their guitars (one four- and another six-string) - together. It was a rainy Sunday afternoon, it was - with lots of sunshine through the badly insulated window. However, this hardly bothered Geert and Tim, who for the first time COMMUNICATED. There was music, but no band ... After a few similar occasions, Somehelp created Liz - a girl with a guitar and her own voice. A meeting was - as they say - arranged on the 6th of December 1998 ... but never happened ! The night before Leeds criminality had cruelly struck and simultaneously robbed Tim's house and Geert's house. The experience was so traumatic that any future plans about music were temporarily frozen. Both Tim and Geert pursued a short career of fighting organized crime in Leeds. Justice - non est ... Tim moved to another house - far far away, over the hills. And Geert dreamed of strangling burglars. However, as their anger gradually became less, their interest in music increased again. Ultimately, two months later, on the 14th of Febraury 1999, Liz AT LAST joined Tim and Geert for a short but tasteful jam session. Only once or twice, though. Because the idea of them providing living-room-entertainment had started to annoy the three musicians. So - another two months later, we find Tim, Liz and Geert making up their minds about A NEW FUTURE. On Monday, the 26th of April 1999 Geert contacts Mister Mark of the Old Chapel studios - for a considerable amount of money, they can use a superbly equipped room with hi-tech P.A.'s and bass-amps. Or so it seemed. Friday afternoon, from 11am till 1 pm they met, and had some nice and loud jams. In fact, the feeling of playing there became addictive, and very soon Tim Geert and Liz found themselves going there every week, on Sunday afternoons (when everyone's usually asleep). Having the opportunity, the space, and the inclination to create more noise, without upsetting any neighbours, they started dreaming about a percussionist - a drummer - a Tommy. Since Somehelp wasn't able to offer them any assistance now, they decided to act on their own behalf - and contact a complete stranger - the 'available drummer' who left an ad in the local music shop - which Geert took. On the 18th of May, he gave Tommy a call, and arranged a meeting the day after. Tim, Liz and Geert got together in Geert's Victorian dining room - waiting for the mystery Tommy. The latter's car, however, sulkily ran out of petrol, which made all waiting in vain. However, patience persevered so that the same night fortune agreed to strike in a more pleasant way. She dubbed the budding band 'The Absence' .... Thank you - After localizing Tommy again, a new meeting was arranged, 10 days later. This time in the Old Chapel Studios - and with Tommy's drumkit ---- ! On the 29th of May 1999, the Absence was finally complete, and had their first full scale jam-session. Ready to conquer Leeds --- Mmmm - that didn't happen instantly, for the simple reason that 1 month and 5 days later, Geert had to leave for Belgium, enjoying an office job for 3 months. Being a student he had run completely out of money ... but let's not dwell on that too long. On the 2nd of october, Geert happily returned to Leeds, called up Liz and Tim, made sure that Tommy was still an 'available drummer' (yes he was !), and 8 days later, the band was back in the Old Chapel Studios - for a great reunion session !!! The evenement was celebrated by introducing - for the first time - original material to the playlist. Weather was born ! There was reason for happiness - so Tommy bought a new drumkit, early November. It was red and twice as large. From now on, the weekly practise sessions became an absolute delight - even if it were just to witness Tommy's extremily steep rise to star-drummership - No royal horses or men could drag him away from that kit - no uncharted drum-roll or fill-in has ever been safe from him since that very day. The end of the year brought us festivities galore - 2000, how impressive ... Still, Geert was exempt from those - he was back in Belgium again, suffering from an infection on his left lung. Or pleuresy, as they call it. Fever, pain ... and singing ->no way ! Unpleasant indeed. However, only of a short nature: on the thirteenth of January he was back in Leeds, with his lung slightly scarred, but with the option of singing available to him again. Now - that WAS a good thing, because a mere two days later, the Absence took their instruments to the Leeds College of Music. Invited by Steve and Richard they got into the recording studios to lay down some demos. Hard work (mainly for Steve and Richard) produced the basic track for Weather. More was to be done at a later date. They didn't waste any precious time, though, because one week later, the band had their FIRST GIG. Yes - on the twenty-second of January 2000 Marianne and Josine organised a well-acclaimed >>> E i g h t i e s - p a r t y <<< in the upstairs room of the Fenton. About 50 great people showed up and had a cool time, dancing on shaky eighties tapes and a short set-list of 8 live songs. Weather and Such A Long Time already featured on an otherwise cover-based programme. Two days after that - why wait ? - the four of them were back in the recording studio. That night they recorded 1 take, live in the studio, of Kiss. Within the same 2 hours the track was already mixed and put unto DAT tape. The first song finished for posterity... In February things were heating up - Skybluesky was founded as the management agency of the band. At the same time Tim designed the band's l o g o - after the professionals had copped out. There were also talks about P.O.-boxes, websites and email accounts ... On the 25th of March, they have the third and last (for the time being) recording session at the Leeds College of Music. Just one more afternoon, in which they finished Weather and recorded When I'm Old from scratch. They had three songs now, mixed onto a DAT-tape - the official DEMO. If you want to know more about those, just follow me and click here : RELEASES (click if you CAN). In preparation for the tape and for further promotional use, the Absence members had their first photo-session with Eva - in and around the Old Chapel Studios. The email-account was opened on yahoo - and the postbox was ready to receive your mail ! That same month, also the official the Absence W E B S I T E saw the day of light - and it has been gradually growing ever since. The opening was just in time to produce some promo for their next gig, again at the Fenton - this time within the context of 'BBC Music Live'. A small group of people (promotion didn't work out yet - hey you, ever heard of the Internet ?) rocked their souls out to the New Sound of a 15-songs set-list. Most of the tunes were original compositions this time ! Can you wait to hear more ?? So .... if you've read all the way down to here - I bet you must be really a die-hard fan ! Or just became one - See you then, on the next gig ! - Frederik Van Der Gruysch, 14.06.00 |
This page was last updated on:
5 October, 2001
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photo by Eva De Visscher |
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A concise and truthful -- e s s a y -- on the band's origins, and developments. by Frederik Van Der Gruysch |
photo by Eva De Visscher |
