Urban voodoo machine
The Urban Voodoo Machine are a “Bourbon Soaked Gypsy Blues Bop ‘n’
Stroll" band, based in Dalston, North London. (1) Their music comprises elements of
blues, gypsy music, crime jazz, rock'n'roll, ska, outlaw country, rockabilly, swing, spaghetti
westerns, and juke joint stomps.
They have received a high degree of critical acclaim for their music, and are renowned
for their live performances. Comprising generally between seven and twelve members on
stage, all dressed in their trademark black suits and red shirts. Live, their performances
are of the high-energy variety, the like not seen on London stages since The Clash,
early Dr Feelgood or the Pogues.
History
The Urban Voodoo Machine was formed in 2003 and was the brainchild of Norwegian born lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Paul-Ronney Angel (aka P-R). P-R had spent the preceding year writing and demoing songs with help from friends, and when offered a live gig he quickly assembled a group consisting of:

Nick Marsh (formerly of Flesh for Lulu) on guitar, The Rev. Gavin Smith on upright bass, Barney Hollington on violin (formerly of Miranda Sex Garden) The Late J.Roni-Moe on floor tom, snare and hi-hats, and Brother Jim Jones (formerly of Thee Hypnotics) on floor tom.
Their first gig was at the London School of Economic in April 2003, as support to The Flaming Stars, whose drummer Joe Whitney now plays washboard, Turkish drum and melodica for The Urban Voodoo Machine.

In February 2004 the band released a promotional only CD E.P. “Sounds From The Urban Voodoo Machine” through D-Bag recordings. This received positive reviews on websites such as Crud Magazine and Whisperinandhollerin. (2)

During 2005 the band’s sound was bolstered by the addition of Dr. Lloyd Gomez De Ville on trumpets, and the band embarked on a heavy touring schedule taking in Glastonbury Festival, Lost Vagueness, the Edinburgh Festival, and Ireland’s Electric Picnic Festival. The band also release a five-track CD E.P. “Ladies And Gentlemen! The Urban Voodoo Machine” via D-Bag Recordings.

Around this time, Jim Jones left the band to concentrate more on his own project, The Jim Jones Revue, and was replaced by Jary on floor tom and snare. Jim Jones still continues to make occasional appearances with the band both live and on record.

2006 saw the band continuing their touring schedule and extending their sphere of influence by setting up their own club night, Gypsy Hotel which is run from Barden’s Boudoir in Dalston. This started as a birthday party for Lady Ane Angel but has grown to become a regularly sold out event. Their resident DJ is DJ Scratchy (Barry Myers) who was the tour DJ for The Clash. The band regularly book diverse acts to play Gypsy Hotel and it has become so popular that Time Out was quoted as saying “The sort of night you'd go to if you have just 12 hours to live. A riotous party.”(3)
At around this time, the band released a further five-track CD E.P. “With Love From The Urban Voodoo Machine”, again through D-Bag Recordings, and the band’s ranks were further swelled with the addition of Slim (from The Blubbery Hellbellies) on accordion.

During 2007-2008, the band headlined stages at many festivals and played sold out shows throughout the U.K. and Europe. They also toured the U.S.A. and the U.K. with The Pogues, which received a rapturous reception. The band also went into the studio to record their debut album, enlisting the Pogues’ own Spider Stacy on tin whistle on one track.
June 2009 saw the release of the band’s first digital download single, “Always Out/Theme Form The Urban Voodoo Machine” which was praised by Classic Rock Magazine, who stated “If Gogol Bordello came from Dalston and listened to the Pogues and Nick Cave, then they’d probably be The Urban Voodoo Machine.” And “if David Lynch ever looks for a house band in the Blue Velvet bar he’s never opened, then this lot must be the prime contenders.” (4)

In quick succession during July 2009, the band sold out a show at the Hackney Empire, and released their debut album “Bourbon Soaked Gypsy Blues Bop ‘n’ Stroll” through Gypsy Hotel Records, a record company set up by the band allowing them complete independence and artistic control. The overwhelming critical response to the album was positive, with Classic Rock Magazine declaring it to be “one of the best-realised debut albums in recent years” and placing it within their top 50 best albums of 2009. Q Magazine stated “The U.V.M. rise above the mere cabaret by simply being very, very good.” The Vive le Punk website voted the album in their top 10 of 2009. (6)
Following this the band had a sell out show at London’s The Troxy, released their second digital download single “Orphan’s Lament/Last Dance of the Silver Wolf” through Gypsy Hotel Records, and shared some tour dates with the New York Dolls (by personal invitation) , before ending the year with several sell out shows.

2010 sees the band back in the studio putting the finishing touches to their second album which is provisionally titled “In Black ‘n’ Red” and is due for release late Summer/early Autumn . A further digital download single “Love Song #666/You Got Me (By The Balls)” is released on Valentine’s Day.

Current Members

*Paul-Ronney Angel - Vocals, harmonica, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, acoustic & electric guitars.
*Nick (Nasty) Marsh - Electric guitar & vocals.
*Barney Hollington Esq - Violin.
*Dr. Lloyd Gomez De Ville - Trumpet, vocals, tambourine & maracas.
*The Reverend Gavin Smith - Upright bass.
*Slim - Accordion.
*The Late J. Roni-Moe - Hi-hat, snare & floor tom.
*Jary - Floor tom & snare.
*Joe “Mongo” Whitney - Washboard, vocals, banjolele, hand drum & melodica.
Former Members
*Brother Jim Jones - Harmonica, vocals, one finger piano, floor tom & maracas.
Occasional Members/Regular Guests
*Lady Ane Angel - Gong.
*Lucifire - Tenor and alto saxophones, vocals.
*Dr. Vince Johnson - Percussion (repercussions).
*Spider Stacy - Tin whistle and vocals.
*Scratchy - Spanish guitar.
*Gavin “GC” Carroll - Bodhran.
*Son of Dave - Harmonica & human beatbox.
*Tom Spencer - Mandolin.
*Alex Ware-Woolf - Guitar.


Discography

Albums.

· Bourbon Soaked Gypsy Blues Bop ‘n’ Stroll (Gypsy Hotel Records 2009)

· In Black ‘n’ Red (Gypsy Hotel Records 2010 Summer/Autumn release)

E.P.s.

· Ladies And Gentlemen! The Urban Voodoo Machine. (D-Bag Records 2005)
(tracks “No Bail Blues/Killer Sound/Love Song #666/Alone in the City/Police Paranoia”.)

· With Love From The Urban Voodoo Machine. (D-Bag Records 2006)
(tracks “The Corpse In My Trunk/We Don’t Want Your Love/Getting Hot Going Down/Recipe For Disaster/Six Weeks On The Road”.)

Demos.
· Sounds From The Urban Voodoo Machine. (D-Bag Records 2004)
(tracks “Orphan’s Lament/The Real Criminals/Devil On A String/Emptiness/You Got Me By The Balls”.)

Digital Downloads.

· Always Out/Theme From The Urban Voodoo Machine (2009)
· Orphan’s Lament/Last Dance of the Silver Wolf/Orphan’s Lament video.(2009)
· Love Song #666/You Got Me( By The Balls) (2010)
(All released through Gypsy Hotel Records)
Tracks on Other Compilations.

· Oh, Lonesome You! Appeared on a CD issued with Dynamite Magazine. Issue 59 dated April 2009
· The Real Criminals. Appeared on “The Best of 2009” CD issued with Classic Rock Magazine. Issue 140 dated January 2010.
Notes.

1. http://theurbanvoodoomachine.com/content/
2. http://www.whisperinandhollerin.com/reviews/review.asp?id=1202
http://www.2-4-7- music.com/newsitems/coordinates/urban_voodoo_coordinates.asp
3. http://www.timeout.com/london/alternative-nightlife/event/172911/gypsy-hotel
4. http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/track-of-the-day-the-urban-voodoo-machine/
5. Review in Classic Rock Magazine. Issue 135 August 2009
6. http://vivelepunk.net/index.php?optioncom_content&taskview&id941&Itemid3
 
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