Planet Events (who I know nothing about, get in touch) present the rather wonderful Jeffrey Lewis and his band. Last time I saw him it was in Buffalo Bar which isn't the best place to watch live music and was worse at the time as it didn't have a stage!! It'll be good to see him in the more accommodating confines of Clwb Ifor Bach.

When other Sidewalk performers the Moldy Peaches signed to Rough Trade Records in late 2000, they recommended Jeffrey's cassette recordings to label head Geoff Travis, and Rough Trade has since released three full-length Jeffrey Lewis CDs in America, England and Europe, garnering glowing press and a devoted following for the idiosyncratic illustrator/songwriter.

Like his Rough Trade releases, and an art/music/DVD box set project (released on England's Hallso label), Lewis's shows can range between "lo-fi folk and sci-fi punk" as well as occasionally incorporating "low budget videos" (large color illustrations displayed to accompany songs). It is only since 2002 that Jeffrey and Jack have become an "official" band, with various friends trading time in the drum seat.

The Jeffrey Lewis Band has toured the US, UK and Europe sharing bills along the way with Cornershop, the Fall, Beth Orton, Frank Black, Daniel Johnston, Scout Niblett, the Mountain Goats, Radio4, Adam Green, Kimya Dawson, British Sea Power, the Fiery Furnaces, Thurston Moore, the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, Devendra Banhart, and others.

"The Big Apple's best-kept secret" - NME

"Jeffrey Lewis: 'The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane' - Best Indie Album of 2002; like his drawings, his music is witty, animated and true." - New York Daily News

"Bizarre but brilliant. Jeffrey Lewis could well be [New York's] ace in the hole." - Uncut

The Wave Pictures are Dave Tattersall, Franic Rozycki and Jonny ''Huddersfield'' Helm. In 1998 Franic and Dave lived in a village called Wymeswold where they started playing music together, with Hugh J. Noble on drums. The band was called Blind Summit. When Hugh decided he didn't want to play drums he went to Exeter to study Philosophy instead. The band changed it's name to The Wave Pictures. Hugh was replaced by several drummers, until Jonny "Huddersfield" Helm became the permanent replacement.

For a few years Dave, Franic and Jonny lived apart, meeting up sporadically to play music. They kept on writing songs and recording, and they played shows across the UK and in France and New York. During this time highlights included playing at the Mofo Festival in Paris at the invitation of friends Herman Dune, and playing shows with The Jeffrey Lewis Band. Dave also sang The Wave Pictures song "Dust Off Your Heart" with Herman Dune on a radio session for the late great John Peel. The Wave Pictures also served as backing band and co-songwriters for John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats, the results featuring on a seven-inch single released by 4AD records.

Last summer, the band finally moved together and currently share a flat in Bethnal Green, London. They are more active than ever. They have toured Spain and Sweden with the mighty Darren Hayman, formerly of Hefner, and played several times in Berlin and France.

7:30pm | £9/£10 | buy tickets from Diverse and Spillers

Labels: clwb ifor bach, jeffrey lewis, the wave pictures