David Devant & His Spirit Wife

David Devant and His Spirit Wife are an indie/art rock band from Brighton, England. They are named after the English magician and early film exhibitor, David Devant (1868–1941).

History

David Devant and His Spirit Wife formed in Brighton in the early 1990s. At this time the band were known for outlandish onstage antics and elaborate props employed by the onstage "Spectral Roadies", such as carrots grated into their hair during performance of the song "Ginger". The band's first album, Don Spirit Specs Now! was released on cassette in 1993.

In 1996, Devant were the house band for the single-series sitcom Asylum, performing segments in every episode from their Work, Lovelife, Miscellaneous album, released the following year. The lead-in track "Ginger" provided the programme's title music.

The band were behind a short film, Light On The Surface, in the early nineties set in a motorway service station and featuring the original pop video to their first single, "Cookie". They were also the subject of a Channel 4 documentary in the late nineties which followed them on tour with Work, Lovelife, Miscellaneous and finished ominously with their lead singer, The Vessel, burning his Bela Lugosi-style wig as they planned to change their uniquely theatrical performances, possibly as a result of a cutting NME review which implied they were "hiding behind" the theatrics.

Lead guitarist, Foz Foster also known as Foz? (Foz Questionmark), left and was briefly replaced by John Pope during the 2000 recording of Shiney On The Inside. By the release of their second album, Shiney on the Inside, the band's live theatrics had been scaled back. Foz? returned to the band after this and was involved in the recording of the 2004 album Power Words For Better Living, writing the music for the track "Social Comet".

The friendship between Vessel and Eddie Argos, lead singer of the art rock band, Art Brut, saw the two bands unite for a gig at the Tate Britain in 2004.

Side projects

Mikey Georgeson began collaborating with Jyoti Mishra in 2001, under the band name of Carfax. The duo released two albums, Memento From The Digital Age and Minky Pauve.

While the band continue to do live performances, Georgeson launched a solo career under the pseudonym of Mr Solo. In November 2005, Mr Solo took part in a benefit show for War Child at Oxford House of Bethnal Green on the same bill as comedian Richard Herring and Chris Difford of Squeeze. Solo kicked off the evening with a version of "Whole Wide World" and also sang the old Devant favourite, "Pimlico". His next performance was as the support act for a David Devant show at Brighton's Komedia club in July 2006. Mr Solo has since gone on to perform regularly at venues across London, and released an album All Will Be Revealed in 2007, including several tracks ("Three Wishes", "Genius") which were previously recorded for Minky Pauve. In 2010 he released a second album, Wonders Never Cease.

Performing as Mr Solo, Georgeson has also made a number of appearances as part of This Happy Band, a loose collective of artists, poets and musicians who have performed together at art events including 'Dead Season / Live Art' for Limbo Arts in Margate^[1] and Nunhead Open Exhibition 2009 and 2011.^[2] Mr Solo is also a member of The Glam Chops, a side project of Art Brut's Eddie Argos who have appeared on Mark Reilly's 6 Music show.

Georgeson is a lecturer at the University of East London,^[3] and has produced artwork shown by Sartorial Contemporary Art and Dulwich Picture Gallery.^[4]

James Foster is part of a performance art musical double act, Foster and Gilvan, who perform regularly by themselves and as part of Badstock Puppets and the Karaoke Circus. Both Foster and Georgeson have made a number of special guest appearances with Martin White's Mystery Fax Machine Orchestra.

Personnel

• The Vessel (Mikey Georgeson, also known by pseudonym Mr Solo) (lead vocals, keyboards, guitar)
• Foz? (James Foster) (guitar)
• The Colonel (Jem) (bass)
• Professor Rimschott (Graham) (drums)
• ICEman (Nick Curry) (spectral roadie)
• Cocky Young'un (Gary) (spectral roadie)
• Lantern (projections)
• John Pope (Jon Klein)

Discography

Albums

• Don Spirit Specs Now! (1993) [Cassette Only]
• Work, Lovelife, Miscellaneous (1997)
• Shiney On The Inside (1998)
• Power Words For Better Living (2004)
• The Lost World Of David Devant (2006)

Singles

• "Pimlico" Humbug Records HUM4 1995
• "Cookie"
• "Ginger"
• "This Is For Real"
• "Lie Detector"
• "Radar"
• "Space Daddy"
• "Contact" Outstanding Records OSTRS002 10 May 2004
• "About It" Outstanding Records OSTRS003 8 November 2004

References

1. ^ http://www.limboarts.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11:this-happy-band&catid=2:pastevents&Itemid=2
2. ^ http://www.thesurgery.turnpiece.net/gallery/1897
3. ^ http://www.uel.ac.uk/adi/staff/mikeygeorgeson/
4. ^ http://dulwichonview.org.uk/2011/09/23/last-chance-to-see-an-out-of-the-bird-box-exhibition/

• David Devant and his Spirit Wife: Shiney On The Inside
• Interview with DD&HSW - The Horse: Interviews
• Mr Solo - official website

External links

• David Devant and His Spirit Wife
• myspace page
• Mr Solo with This Happy Band at 'Dead Season / Live Art' for Limbo Arts
• Mr Solo with This Happy Band at Nunhead Open Exhibition 2009
• Mikey Georgeson at Sartorial Contemporary
• Bird Boxes at Dulwich Picture Gallery.