Sukilove

IN SHORT : Sukilove is a 5-piece band from Antwerp, Belgium lead by Pascal Deweze (Chitlin' Fooks, Metal Molly,...) who play warped blues-pop-folk-psychedelica. They started out in 2000, released a mini album in 2002 and have released 3 full albums since, all on PIAS (Europe) and Parasol (US) Records. New album "Good is in your bones" has been out since september 2006, a US release is scheduled for april 2007. LONG : In the summer of 2000 Pascal Deweze writes a number of quiet acoustic songs to form a nightly antidote to the loud Metal Molly concerts. These are primarily meant as personal relaxation after a night of rocking out. The songs end up on a demo-for-friends-only, called “Songs of Home and Country”. With the help of a drummer living on the top floor in the same house (Stoffel Verlackt) and a stand up bassplayer who lives three houses to the left in the same street (Pieter Van Buyten), they suddenly turn into an acoustic live group called Sukilove. To make things a bit more difficult, the group is temporarily completed by Carol Van Dyk of Bettie Serveert and they mutate into a group called ‘Chitlin’ Fooks’. They record two full albums filled with ‘dusty old folk and country music’ and tour the US in 2001. March 2002 finally sees the release of the first Sukilove EP ‘Talking in the Dark’, on the American Parasol label and later on the Dutch Waaghals label. The CD contains crackling home recordings, both acoustic and heartfelt. Meanwhile, they’ve been joined by extra guitar player Helder Deploige. In Belgium, the singles 'Make sure my grave = kept clean' and 'Talking in the dark' become radiohits on national radio (Studio Brussel and Radio 1). 'Talking in the dark' becomes ‘Hotshot’ of the week, climbs high in the Belgian alternative charts and is nominated for a ZAMU award in the category “Song of the year”. In October of 2002, the first full CD ‘Sukilove’ is released on their own label Sukilovesrecords, licensed through PIAS Records. The home recordings of the EP are replaced by a full group sound where the acoustic guitars adopt the swagger of electric guitars. Distortion pedals are declared taboo and the result is orchestral pop in the purest sense of the word. The track 'As long as I survive tonight' is released as the first single off the record. Sukilove defends Belgian’s honour in the Dutch tv-show Barend & Van Dorp and a elaborate tour through the Netherlands as support act for Bettie Serveert sees them perform at such places as the Paradiso in Amsterdam and the Eurosonic festival. Prominent Dutch politician Wouter Bos declares 'As long as I survive tonight' to be his favorite song in 2002. Those in the know are still figuring out whether or not to take this as a compliment. Encouraged by positive reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone magazine and Popmatters, the Sukilovers flee to the US in October 2003 to tour the East Coast for a few weeks. Producer John Morand (Sparlehorse, Cracker and lately Belgian group Mint as well) hears the ‘Sukilove’ album and invites them to come over and make music for a couple of days at his Sound of Music Studios in Richmond, VA. Once there, the first three songs of the next album ‘You Kill Me’ are swiftly recorded in one and a half day. The collaborational vibe is good and they go on to record the rest of the album in Januari 2004 in the (now deceased) Brooklyn Studio in Breukelen, NL. 'You kill me' is released in april 2004, again on Parasol and Sukilovesrecords/PIAS. Popmatters claims :'One of the most interesting rock records of the year !'. The album waves goodbye to the 'Gram Parsons influenced orchestral pop' (according to All Music Guide) that dominated the debut album and says “Hello!” to blues-influenced noise pop. 'It seems Deweze has managed to incorporate all his influences from former bands such as Metal Molly, Shadowgraphic City, Chitlin’ Fooks and the early Sukilove, put it in a Belgian blender and out came ‘You Kill Me’ as the quirky result', is an oft heard statement. Most critics are baffled by the new direction of sound. No more sweet harmonies, no more traditional songs. “Where is the old Sukilove?” The correct answer: dusting off their former distortion pedals. After the album is recorded a couple of line-up changes take place : in the middle of 2004 Pieter Van Buyten hands his bass-duties over to Tim Vandenbergh and Sjoerd Bruil gets to be the new guitar hero. At the beginning of 2005 Sukilove receives the keys to their own temporary recording room at the TRIX Music Centre in Antwerp. Some extraneous organs are sold to raise money and the Sukilovers build their own music laboratory. Free from the financial pressure of expensive studio-time, there is ample time to try out things and fail, then try some more and miraculously succeed. In March 2006 the recording sessions are completed for and Pascal Deweze flies to San Francisco to visit the Tiny Telephone studio and give the tapes to the experienced hands of mixer Aaron Prellwitz (Neil Young, Death Cab for Cutie, Sun Kil Moon, Cex, The Yellow Press, Mountain Goats). The new album is not a return to the acoustic pop of the old days, nor is it a logical follow-up to the distortion-sound of ‘You Kill Me’. ‘Good Is In Your Bones’ is simply the next step of what could well be the most stubborn popgroup in Belgium. In July 2006 Sukilove is featured on the MOJO CD celebrating the 40th year since The Beatles' Revolver came out, called "Revolver Reloaded". Sukilove treat George's "Love you to" to a darker version. Other artists include Neil Casal, Ed Harcourt and Jim Reid of The Jesus and Marychain ao. In august the first single "Blood and milk makes holy" sees daylight. The full album 'Good is in your bones' will be in the shops on the 25th of september. (In Belgium and Holland that is : a US release is scheduled for early 2007). Sukilove = Pascal Deweze songs/vocals/guitar (Metal Molly, Chitlin' Fooks, I H8 Camera, Shadowgraphic City, Mitsoobishi Jacson) Stoffel Verlackt drums/vocals (El Tattoo del Tigre, ex-Flowers for Breakfast, ex-Metal Molly, Kakkewieten) Antoon Offeciers keyboards/vocals (Assunto Mano, Kakkewieten, Helder) Tim Vandenbergh bas/vocals (Bal des Boiteux) Sjoerd Bruil gitaar/vocals (Black Cassette) Short bio group-members Pascal Deweze : started out as singer/bassplayer with comet/group Metal Molly in 1996. Bowie, Torhout/Werchter and Pinkpop were impressed by their culthit 'Orange'. Goes on to play with Nemo, Mitsoobishi Jacson (with Mauro Pawlowski, who now plays with dEUS), Chitlin' Fooks (with Carol Van Dyk from Bettie Serveert) and Shadowgraphic City (with Mauro Pawlowski and Carol Van Dyk). Releases 1 or more records with most groups and has a number of radiohits with them. Plays live kinda often. Collaborated on several Bettie Serveert albums, played bass on the last (live) album by Alex Chilton, wrote music for a number of plays and –together with Mauro Pawlowski- wrote the soundtrack for the VPRO film ‘Gezocht : Man’ by Patrice Toye. He has also produced several groups/albums. Currently busy with a short Metal Molly reunion tour, solo concerts, a new Mitsoobishi Jacson album, live improvisation group I H8 Camera, Benny Zen, Black Cassette and producing The Van Jets’ debut album. Stoffel Verlackt : the co-brain behind El Tattoo del Tigre, the 28-member mambo sensation of the Low Countries. Used to play with cult group Flowers For Breakfast and became a temporary member of Metal Molly during the days of their 'The Golden Country' album. Keeps himself busy nowadays writing music for theatre (for instance: De Kakkewieten) and engineering/producing records (for instance: Assunta Mano). Antoon Offeciers : gifted jazzpianist, classic rock-lover, musical glutton and all-round friendly guy. A household name in and around Antwerp, providing piano for rock, jazz and theatre music. Busy preparing and composing his own jazz album, in pre-production for the new Assunta Mano album and playing live with Helder. Tim Vandenbergh : Founding member of the 'sort-a-folk-meets-something-else' collective Bal de Boiteux whose second record, produced by Stef Kamil Carlens, has just been released on the HA! label. Sjoerd Bruil : new kid on da block, also occupied with his own swampfunktrio 'Black Cassette', which involves Jeroen 'I love Sarah' Stevens and Pascal Deweze. A debut EP is planned for the autumn of 2006.