Today, celebrated Welsh alt-rock band The Joy Formidable, are excited to share their brand new single & video “The Hat.” The track follows the band’s single “Cut Your Face” which was released last month. “The Hat” is out today on all streaming platforms via Enci Records in North America, Full Time Hobby / Hassle in Europe and Soundly Distro in the rest of the world. On …
Imagine (Bears and) Dragons — the Magic of The Joy Formidable’s Aaarth A review by Peter Dysart For several years now, The Joy Formidable have been one of the hardest working and most enjoyable bands on tour. The places they’ve toured have covered the globe and the places they’ve called home have moved as well. All along the way they’ve acquired a solid and faithful following and some lasting friendships. That exposure to …
Hitch, A Wild Ride or Hitch, A Musical in 13 Parts A review of The Joy Formidable’s Latest Album By Peter Dysart As a preface, this album was released six months ago and from the week of its release, I’ve been listening intently. As the band’s third full release, Hitch was immediately a bit of …
Are We Falling In Love?
A review of The Joy Formidable’s cover of Badalamenti and Lynch’s Falling.
By Peter Dysart
I’m typically not a huge fan of covers, especially if the original song was a classic already. I will make exceptions, though.
By Peter Dysart It’s been a blustery overcast morning. The steady rain has formed rivulets and puddles all over the lawn. Hot cup in hand, I’ve opened the email and click on a link to a new song. Within seconds of sound waves pushing a few bars of The Joy Formidable’s stompy new Aruthrol single …
By Peter Dysart ‘My favourite habit,’ as I’m calling them now, have returned with new music and an interesting new project. It was about a month ago that I received word from the band that they had a new project in the works, and that something would be arriving soon. The Saturday before last I …
It’s been an exceptional year in music, so I’m breaking with tradition to create a “best of” list of sorts. My 2013 list includes nine favourites, actually. Why only nine? It was nearly impossible to name a tenth and leave off everything else, so I’ll leave it there. Subjective though these lists may be, one …
What started out easily enough as an interview with The Joy Formidable this year ended in a fantastic journey. This past spring, I sat down with Ritzy and Rhydian of The Joy Formidable to have an open and frank discussion on the state of affairs in their world and the music business in general. With …
PD: Friday morning came like a dull thud. Fell out of bed and down to breakfast just before the kitchen shut. The morning was more challenging than any previous that week, and I hated missing perfectly good sets starting at noon, but there are only so many 03.00 roll-ins one can manage without deleterious effect …
Mike Hughes: Thursday was another hot one in Austin. I was playing with that ‘SXSW conundrum’ — do I go and see British bands, especially ones that are going to be playing down the road from me in a few weeks? The decision today was a resounding yes, so I said farewell for a few …
So, Mike speaking here. I’m sitting in Austin-Bergstrom Airport at the end of my second SXSW. I’ve got the cans on to drown out the sound. You can’t knock it, there’s 3 live bands playing in the airport departure lounge on the Monday after it’s all over, but I need to concentrate. On the way …
A review of Wolf’s Law by The Joy Formidable By Peter Dysart “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” — T. S. Eliot Risk is essential to a strong and thriving creative process, but it’s also central to the survival instinct. Popular artists from any …
I can’t recall the last time a song had me at a single listen. No, that’s not true. I do recall and it just so happens it was from same band. So what is it, exactly, that’s going on here? “This Ladder Is Ours” is the third new release from TJF and the second song …
Going on three years now, my favourite band has been The Joy Formidable and I have done little to hide that fact. They are easily one of the highest energy and emotionally satisfying acts on tour and the gigs are mounting, each one better than the last. One hardly notices that their debut album is …
The Joy Formidable’s most recent US tour has been a huge success by the looks of things. They have been playing some new songs, notably ‘Silent Treatment’ brilliantly captured here by Paul Gormley. Paul’s a mate of mine and a TJF nut, as evidenced from his nipping over from the UK to NYC to catch …
I met with The Joy Formidable this past December prior to their last show of the year at the Vogue Theater in the Broad Ripple, Indiana. With my better half in tow, Pam and I sat down to a lengthy discussion with a band on what has been a very long and successful year for …
So much has already been written about The Joy Formidable that its nearly cliché to discuss the band’s size, sound, attitude, relationships, or comment on all the attention they’ve recently been paid by other musicians, the press, or the late night show circuit in America. However, one common theme that keeps being bandied about is …
The accompaniments of fame just keep rolling in for The Joy Formidable. Here are Ritzy, Matt and Rhyd on no less than Letterman, and doing a mighty fine job. They have just played such a well thought out game. The thing that really, I mean REALLY blows me away is that I have played this …
So, you’re driving about town and this song comes on the radio, and you’re thinking — this is one of the best f*&$ing rock songs I’ve heard in a long long time. But then the DJ doesn’t tell you what you were listening to, so you keep recycling the lyrics in your head over and …
The Joy Formidable have been an EPB favorite for a long time now. Here’s Mike Hughes on a recent show: “I know I’ve been banging on about The Joy Formidable for the last two years. I’ll try to be objective. Let’s do that comparison thing. The moment they walked on stage tonight at Koko, the …
SXSW 2011, Part 4 This report has four parts. Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 Friday Another important aspect of SXSW is that it is truly an international affair, with many new and established music acts from around the world. I heard a lovely Columbian singer yesterday who was channeling …
. The Joy Formidable – POPINJAY from Steve Orchard on Vimeo. . The Joy Formidable EPK from Nick Jewell on Vimeo. .
. . . . . And live at the Mural Amphitheatre, Seattle Center: . .
SXSW 2011, Part 4 This report has four parts. Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 This leads me to another interesting fact about SXSW. As I headed across town to Mellow Johnny’s for the next show, I took note that businesses far and wide participated in this event. That meant …
SXSW 2011, Part 4 This report has four parts. Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 Wednesday was a trip to Fader Fort to see my favourite rock band make its SXSW debut on a big stage. A hasty cancellation allowed The Joy Formidable to take the stage and give an …
SXSW 2011, Part 4 This report has four parts. Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 Every year in America, the coming of spring is celebrated with March Madness, a competition among 68 of college basketball’s most passionate teams to gain the title of National Champions. It’s great fun but it’s …
The great Mike Hughes includes some incredible photos of The Joy Formidable, your next huge thing, in the review on his Catshoegazing blog. http://catshoegazing.blogspot.com/2011/03/joy-formidable-live-at-levis-store.html
Love Will Make Our Ears Bleed, Again: The Joy Formidable, “The Big Roar,” by Peter Raffington Dysart
The Joy Formidable – Music – More Music Videos Valentine’s Day has come and gone and good riddance. In what could be antithetical to modern analogs of Valentine’s Day, the Joy Formidable’s debut CD, “The Big Roar,” is a release of mammoth proportions, dark emotions, and impossibly gigantic and brilliant sounds. It’s an effort is …
In my book, music is supposed to be fun, and why not. But it also should reach out and grab my ears, arrest my attention, lock in and not let go until its finish. Much like a growling dog biting down on the leg end of your jeans, it’s music that must be attended to. …