Just Like Janus

Hello,

This week, just like Janus, we are looking into the past and forward into the future towards what may lie ahead.

2012 has been a good year for us, this time last year we weren't even a twinkle in the eye so to speak, and it wasn't until the spring that Crimson Clocks became the living breathing beast that it is now. In the nine months since we got together many good things have happened. We've gigged with BB Black Dog, Birthrite, Gladstone, Metropolis, The Cogkneys, Count Rostoff, Seas of Mirth and others. We have written numerous songs, recorded an EP of our greatest hits ☺ (currently selling like hot Christmas cakes), been included in shows from Sounds of Steam and Stephen C Davis, and met some fine people along the way, yourself included of course. We would like to thank everyone for their support during the year.

So what does next year hold? To begin with we are at The Roadhouse in Stirchley on the 8th January for our Glastonbudget audition, and on 2nd February we will be at Psychedelic Steampunk at the Pavillion along with many of the bands mentioned above. While April sees us in Leicester for the Selling Mars Book Launch, another not to be missed event. We aim to be a lot like the weeping angels this coming year, open your eyes and there we are before you - only less deadly and slightly more pleasant company, we also aim to misbehave as usual of course.

We hope to see you in the coming months, and wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year. As ever, if you would like to comment or contact us please do so through our facebook page. 

As Mark Twain said "Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving Hell with them as usual.".

Thanks for reading, until next time, farewell

The Christmas Party

Hello,

We begin this week with the horrible news that all of the equipment belonging to BB Black Dog was stolen in the early hours of the 22nd of December. A full list of everything that was taken can be found here, if you do spot any of the items please contact them.

On Saturday we were at The Snooty Fox in Wakefield, for the Steampunk Christmas Party where we met up with Lord Monty Jacques III (LMJ III), Gladstone, Birthrite and of course BB Black Dog (who had organised the event). Also there with an array of excellent steampunk products for sale was Jacklyn Hyde.

The show began with LMJ III who compared and performed throughout the evening, and then the curtain rose and we were on. Our set list had a couple of new additions, Safe Pair of Hands and everyones Christmas favourite, Dead by Christmas. We were highly honoured, not to mention excited, to have Cloud Gingeris McBuggerballs V from Gladstone join us on stage to play lead guitar during Dead by Christmas (thank you Mr McB.). It's safe to say he was as brilliant as ever, and that his performance was a stark contrast to the truly awful jokes told during our set.

Next came Birthrite, with yet another highly polished performance. They were swiftly followed by Gladstone with their mixture of originals and covers - even their originals are now becoming classics, let alone the covers.

Finally, headlining the show, and proving they truly are unstoppable it was BB Black Dog. Who else could have all of their equipment stolen and still put on a great show? A fitting end to a great night.

Our next appearance will be at The Roadhouse in Stirchley on 8th January for our Glastonbudget Audition, we would be most grateful if you could be there to support us on the night.

We would like to wish you all the very best for the holiday season (and beyond of course), and please remember to drink responsibly - be sure to use a glass, you're less likely to spill any that way.

Thank you for reading, if you would like to contact us please do via our Facebook page, until next time, be merry...

The Lowest of the Low

Hello,

Welcome to this weeks blog which features an interview with our bass player Colin, hence the title (it refers to him and not the notes he plays, but please don't tell him that).

Firstly there is just time to mention that on the 22nd we will be at A Steampunk Christmas Party in Wakefield with a host of quality steampunk bands and people. We hope to see you there.

And now, the aforementioned interview, Crimson Clocks would like to point out that the opinions expressed below are purely those of the the individual and are not representative of the band.

Name; Colin

Instrument; Bass

Tell me about your musical background;
I joined Crimson Clocks when they first formed as kazoo player, but was rapidly demoted to bass, although I have been told that if I am considered worthy, at some point I may be promoted to roadie. Fame and fortune are a mere lifetime away.

Who or what do you consider to be major influences on your music/playing?
One of the first bass lines I learned was Strutter by KISS, followed by about a dozen or so more of their songs so Gene Simmons, also Paul Simonon from The Clash (and more recently Gorillaz) - I really like the ska/reggae rhythms that he uses. Listening to John Paul Jones and Geezer Butler a lot has possibly also influenced how I play.

Favourite Bands/artists/composers - and why?
The Clash, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and KISS as mentioned above. Metallica, Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures and Primus - I'm a bass player how could I not like Primus?. That also includes Les Claypool's other projects, I think he's kind of the Spike Milligan of music and varies between genius and a good kind of insanity. It's also the variety in what he does, if you listen to Amos Moses, Iowan Gal which he plays on a bass banjo and then Eclectic Electric there is a massive difference in style. He even did a slap bass version of Master of Puppets.

What interests do you have in addition to music?
Strength sports, so powerlifting, weightlifting and strongman competitions. I competed in powerlifting for years, but am just a spectator now. Also I have a love of steam engines and steam power generally, not to the level where I have in-depth knowledge, but I get a real kick out of standing next to them and watching, getting covered in little bits of soot is the only downside to it.

Any interesting facts or stories about yourself that you feel people need to know about about?
I mentioned powerlifting above, I've held British and European championship titles and broken three British records in that.


Luckily the interview ended at that point. Fear not though, it won't be repeated.

So that's all for this week folks, thanks for reading (assuming you made it through the interview unscathed), if you would like to contact us please do so through our Facebook page.

Until next time farewell...

Lord Kitchener Says....

Hello,

And welcome to this weeks edition of the blog. Currently we are in the midst of preparations for the Steampunk Christmas Party  at The Snooty Fox in Wakefield on the 22nd of December. We may even have a couple of new songs, and a special guest star joining us on stage. Apparently there is no truth in the rumour that The Snooty Fox is the very bar where a woman walked in, asked for a double entendre,  and the barman gave her one.

Following the Steampunk Christmas Party we will return to Birmingham for Christmas, only to re-emerge from Crimson Clock Tower in the New Year, just in time for our Glastonbudget audition at The Roadhouse on the 8th of January, thanks to those that have already offered their support on the evening.

Once again, thanks for reading and if you would like to comment or get in touch please do so via our Facebook page, until next time, farewell

December Comes....

Hello,

It's been another busy week at Crimson Clock Tower, new songs being written, breaking the ice off the beds in the morning, and considering lighting the fire - it is December after all. Even Quasar has got into the spirit of the winter and has taken up ice sculpting, so far he has managed to create three ice cubes.

This week we were again included in the Sounds of Steam broadcast, which can be found here, a very entertaining show from the guys including topics such as gaming from the Victorian era and steampunk gaming in the modern era.

We have also reached number 10 in the Reverbnation Other charts for Birmingham (UK), and would like to thank everyone for their support in making it happen.

Our next gig is of course A Steampunk Christmas Party on 22nd December with Steampunk Funk Bizarre with Lord Montague Jacques the 3rd, Birthrite and BB Black Dog and, rumour has it, another guest that is yet to be announced. Hopefully not Jacob Marley and his rattlin' chains. As ever our EP will be on sale at the gig, the perfect Christmas present, even if we do say so ourselves.

Our first gig of next year will be at The Roadhouse in Birmingham on the 8th January, this will be an audition for Glastonbudget and we would be most grateful for your support on the night. What better way to start the New Year and chase away the post Christmas blues? (apart from that, obviously).

Once again thanks for reading and until next time, farewell.