The Tubs
The Tubs | |
|---|---|
 The Tubs at Fulford Arms, York in October 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Cardiff, Wales |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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The Tubs are a Welsh indie rock band formed by Owen Williams and George Nicholls in 2018. The pair had both previously been in the band Joanna Gruesome. They have released one full-length album, and two EPs, all on independent record labels.
History
[edit]Owen Williams and George Nicholls were long time friends who formed the indie noise band Joanna Gruesome in 2010 and achieved some cult success. The band split up in 2017 and Williams went on to form the band Ex Vöid with singer Lan McArdle.[1][2] They continued to work together in the GN Band and Sniffany & The Nits.
They initially claimed that they formed The Tubs in 2018 after Williams and Nicholls were trapped in a Welsh caravan park in a storm and started writing songs to pass the time, but later admitted this wasn't true.[2] The band was fleshed out with additional guitarist Steve Stonholt, drummer Matthew Green and (also ex-Joanna Gruesome) bassist Max Warren. They released their debut single I Don't Know How It Works in February 2020 and followed it up with an EP Names in July 2021.[3]
The band slimmed to a four piece and their debut album Dead Meat was released in January 2023 on Trouble In Mind records, receiving generally positive reviews. According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Dead Meat received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 from five critic scores.[4] and featuring on several year end lists including Mojo, Stereogum and The Observer’s Kitty Empire's top 10.
Comedian and actor Mark Proksch appeared in a video for their 2023 track Round the Bend.
Their music has been described as influenced by 1980s college rock bands such as R.E.M., Pylon and The Chills and British folk rock, in particular Williams' voice has been likened to Richard Thompson.[5]
In October 2024 the band announced their second album, Cotton Crown, would be released on 7 March 2025 on Trouble In Mind.[6]
Gob Nation
[edit]The Tubs are part of a loose collective of groups, collectively known as Gob Nation. As well as playing in The Tubs, members play in other bands such as Ex-Vöid, The Snivellers, The GN Band, Garden Centre, PC World and Sniffany & the Nits. The collective's work extends to running a music studio, video production and even a publishing imprint for poetry and lyrics.[7]
Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]- I Don't Know How It Works (Prefect, 2020)
- Names EP (Prefect, 2021)
Albums
[edit]- Dead Meat (Trouble In Mind Records, 2023)
- Cotton Crown (Trouble in Mind Records, 2025)
References
[edit]- ^ "Band to watch: The Tubs". Stereogum. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ a b Chick, Stevie (5 May 2023). "MOJO Rising: The Tubs". News. Mojo. ISSN 1351-0193. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ "Crystal Ball:A Quick Review of the New EP from The Tubs". A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "Dead Meat by the Tubs Reviews and Tracks – Metacritic". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. n.d. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ Chick, Stevie (5 May 2023). "MOJO Rising: The Tubs". Mojo. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ Deville, Chris (21 October 2024). "The Tubs – "Freak Mode"". Stereogum. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "'We're like a frat house': meet Gob Nation, south London's oddball music collective". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
