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Supergrass debut new material at Christmas homecoming gig
Band billed as Santagrass as they get festive during explosive Oxford gig

December 19, 2009
http://www.nme.com/news/supergrass/48962



Supergrass debuted new song 'Hip Replacement' during their Christmas gig last night (December 18).

The band played the hometown gig at Oxford's Regal venue to a heaving audience in a night that saw them billed as 'Santagrass'.

Playing an 18 song set, the band threw in several surprises, including a full-band cover of Tommie Connor's classic Christmas song 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus'.

Singer Gaz Coombes had earlier told NME.COM that the specially-chosen set had initially worried him slightly because he hadn't played some of the songs in so long.

"With 'Moving' I had to go through it just to remind myself of the lyrics!" he joked. "It's nice though, I think this is our third Christmas gig now."

The band even had special memorabilia made to mark the occasion, such as Santagrass mugs, and fans were served mulled wine to help them get into the festive spirit.

Debuting new song 'Hip Replacement', Coombes informed the audience that the band have "been buried in the studio making our new album" for the past few months.

Fan favourites 'St Petersburg', 'Alright' and 'Mary' were well received by the audience, many of whom had come dressed in Santa hats, while Supergrass' sound was bolstered for much of the set by Coombes' younger brother Charley on guitar (making it three Coombes brothers onstage in total, including keyboardist Rob).

Before playing early single 'Caught By The Fuzz', Gaz Coombes pointed out that the story behind the song (about a youth who gets caught by police for smoking marijuana) was particularly relevant to the location of the gig.

"This next song is actually about a little incident that happened just a couple of hundred yards down there," he explained, pointing towards Oxford's Cowley Street.

Supergrass ended their set in explosive fashion, bringing out a bevvy of girls dressed in santa costumes and firing ticker tape from a makeshift cannon (borrowed from The Flaming Lips, according to the band) into the audience during the encore of 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus' and 'Pumping On Your Stereo'.

Supergrass played:

'Sun Hits The Sky'
'Diamond Hoo Ha Man'
'Bad Blood'
'She's So Loose'
'Mary'
'Hip Replacement'
'Rebel In You'
'Moving'
'Ghost Of A Friend'
'Alright'
'St Petersburg'
'Brecon Beacons'/'Outside'
'Time'
'Richard III'
'Caught By The Fuzz'
'Strange Ones'
'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus'
'Pumping On Your Stereo'

Supergrass members swap instruments on 'chaotic' new album
Band gearing up to release Can-influenced record this May

January 26, 2010
http://www.nme.com/news/supergrass/49422



Supergrass have revealed that their new album sees the trio swap instruments on some tracks.

The band, who are currently putting the finishing touches to the record, told that the recording process has seen them try a few new studio tricks out for the first time.

"We're using bits of drones through the tracks," frontman Gaz Coombes explained, adding that The Beatles' 'Tomorrow Never Knows' – also a drone – is a primary influence and that the band have been "doing a bit of freestyle" jamming in the studio. "This record's actually been very collaborative," Coombes continued. "It's been cool to try something different and chaotic."

With a working title of 'Release The Drones', "two or three tracks" see the band swapping instruments, according to Coombes, with bassist Mick Quinn and drummer Danny Goffey changing roles on the title track.

Another song, 'Tractor Man', is "an ode to the working farmer", who also stated that the band have been listening to a lot of Can and krautrock while making the album.

Although no release date has been confirmed, the band are hoping to release the follow-up to 2008's 'Diamond Hoo Ha' this May. It's set to be their first album release on new label Cooking Vinyl, after the band "mutually agreed to part ways" with Parlophone and EMI in 2008.

Another one of my fave bands, already new titles by Teenage Fanclub, Devo and now this tell me this year my offer another bumper crop of excellent new music.

Rick A.

Supergrass calls it quits
http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/04/1 ... -it-quits/

After 17 years and six studio albums, Supergrass announces (via BBC) its split. The U.K. outfit will play a series of farewell shows in Glasgow, Manchester, and London before their its gig in Paris on June 11th.

Diamond Hoo Ha, which was released in 2008, marked the band’s sixth and final LP. They had reportedly begun working on number seven, tentatively titled Release the Drones, during the summer of 2009. It is not yet known whether any material from it will be released.

The members of Supergrass, lead singer and guitarist Gaz Coombes, bassist Mick Quinn, keyboardist Rob Coombes, and drummer Danny Goffey, have also not detailed any future endeavors. However, most recently, Gaz Coombes and Goffey formed a new pr released a covers album produced by Radiohead collaborator Nigel Godrich under the moniker The Hot Rats.

Supergrass to split after farewell shows this summer
Band to call it a day due to '17-year itch'

April 12, 2010
http://www.nme.com/news/supergrass/50616



Supergrass have announced they are to split up.

The band, joking, sighted a "17-year itch" for the reason to call it a day after six studio albums.

“Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years," explained the group in a statement. "We still love each other but, cliché notwithstanding, musical differences have led to us moving on and of course we all wish each other well in the future."

The band had been working on a new album, but there is no word on whether this will be released or not.

Supergrass are set to play four farewell shows, with tickets going on sale on Friday (April 16) at 9am (BST).

Glasgow Barrowland (June 8)
Manchester Academy (9)
London O2 Academy Brixton (10)
Paris La Cigalle (11)

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Oh no, another excellent band no longer with us. I was really looking forward to their new album.

Let's hope for a great compile to celebrate their long career.

Rick A.

The album has been officially cancelled now, so there won't be a farewell release. I'm still hoping that what the boys had recorded for Release The Drones will leak out in some form.

For the time being, snippets from the recording sessions can still be heard by clicking the crystal ball on this webpage. There's a different demo playing in a loop every day:

http://www.childrenofthemonkeybasket.co ... arkly.html

Thanks Linda as always.

Rick A.