[Mon 09th Jun 08] It's been too long

I haven't written a blog in ages…..some part due to laziness, but mostly due to being so busy that i forget what we have been doing.

 Here's a quick run down of what we have done.

1. Tour with My Passion. Amazing guys, i love them dearly and would happily spend a year cooped up on a bus with those guys swapping dirty jokes and fast food sauces.

2. Lost a bassist. Kitty has decided it is time to part company with the band for the forseeable future due to ill health. We miss her and i know she is really happy when she still hears from fans.

3. Written a LOT of new music. Watch this space.

4. Ben has broken all of his cymbals.

5. I have declared the The Raconteurs album Consolers of the Lonely ‘Album of the Year’ already. Buy it.

6. We have been preparing to release single number 2.

7. Helping our roadie and driver Mr Reeves prepare to drive to Mongolia in a fucked up little Ford Escort in the name of charity.

We don't have loads of shows this summer as the live scene closes down for hte festival season, so try to come say hi at one of the ones on the tour page. I'm sure i'll see some of you at Reading this year.

Jon

[Tue 15th Jan 08] New year '08

Happy new year everyone! So much has happened already i feel this is going to be a good year for the toys! So far this year (all 15 days of it) i got out of my shitty job which is great coz it gives me loads of time to do more band stuff and dont have to get up early any more!

Then we had a little tour of italy which we just got back from. Italy was amazing, so many tasty ladies and so much tasty food! The last venue we played was really cool, to play on the same stage as a lot of my heroes like tool, nirvana, queens of the stone age was a great experience.

Looking forward to our next tour with my ruin and die so fluid in a couple of days. I think coming back from italy has given us all a hunger for just getting out on the road and playing every night. Then it is the release of the album which is very exciting, we\'ve had a lot of good reviews of it so far which gives me a massive sense of achievement and I\'m so proud to be a part of it. I just hope its been worth the wait for you guys!

See you on the road

si.

[Wed 09th Jan 08] Thank You Toni & Guy in Winchester

It is Wednesday night and I have just finished packing for Italy.  We are heading off early tomorrow morning to Gatwick.  I have to say I am so excited that I don\'t think I will be sleeping tonight.  It has taken me 4 hours to pack and repack, I am so indecisive.

Today was a day of us sorting ourselves out.  We started off the day getting our hair cut at Toni & Guys in Winchester, where they took very good care of ourselves and made us look super sexy, apart from Ben who was already sorted on the hair front.  After that we went and got our euros and other supplies such as strings and clothes.  At one point Ben was begging in the street, he made 2 pence in a minute, not bad really.

I have no idea if we will be able to get online when we are out in Italy, so don\'t panic if you don\'t hear from us in the next couple of days.  We will be filming and taking loads of photos of our adventures and posting them when we get back.  

Caio (that is about all the Italian I know)

Kitty xxx

[Mon 07th Jan 08] I have butterflies

I have butterflies swirling around in my stomach and as a result I am not sleeping very well and when I do I constantly dream of being on stage, which isn't a bad thing.  We are counting down the days until we go to Italy, 3 now.  There is still so much to do, like sorting out what clothes and shoes I am going to take, getting some euros, going to Tony and Guy in Winchester, where the nice people are going to spruce us up and I guess getting all our equipment together.  

It will be odd gigging with out the assistance of our roadie, Mr Richard Reeves, it means I will have to lift stuff.  I just had a look on google map to see where exactly we are going.  Milan, Cesena and Grosseto are all quite far apart, so looks like we will be spending a lot of time on the road.  It should make a nice change from the usual roads such as the M3, M25, M6 and A34 (I hate that road).  

With so much to do I guess I should get on and do stuff, I think I shall start to pack my suitcase, which is always a pain trying to keep it under the weight limit.  

Kitty xxx

[Wed 02nd Jan 08] Happy New Year

2007 has gone and what a year it was for us.  Highlights for Plastic Toys included loads of gigs all over the country and going to PopKomm in Germany, where we met and played with Hanoi Rocks.  We also managed to get our first single "Let Me Feel the Love" into the top 30 singles chart, all by our own hard work.  Unfortunately, there was one low point when Mike decided to leave us to focus on his own music, but we soon found Ben and it feels better than ever.

2008 is going to be a hectic one.  In a few days time we are jetting off to Italy to play a few dates out there.  I can't wait, I love Italy and going on aeroplanes:)  Though I can't decide on how large a suitcase to take, as I am hoping to hit the shops in Milan and stock up on other Italian treats.  Then we get back to head off around the UK supporting My Ruin and Die So Fluid.  February 4th is the release date for our debut album "For Tonight Only".  We have already had some really positive reviews about it.  I can't wait for you all to hear it, we are very proud of it and relieved that it is finally going to be heard.  I would reccommend that you get the CD version, as the artwork is so cool and you can check me out in my nurses outfit.  If you get one of the first 500 copies then you are in for an extra treat. The rest of 2008 will consist of more touring around the UK and Europe.

Thank you to everyone that has come to see us, bought the single and given us their support in 2007.  Hope you all have a happy and successful 2008!

Kit­ty xxxx

[Thu 15th Nov 07] What goes on in YOUR toilet?

Being indie (that means indepedndant, not sounding like Oasis) means we do ALL our own business dealings. Most bands releasing records can just focus on gigging and what they will wear onstage, but we deal with PR, booking shows, arrangeing pressing for the CD's, printing posters, meeting distributors, struggling with web design, looking through contracts and so on and on and on and on and on etc.

We made this decision to go through all this so we could keep control of the one thing we really care about in all of this and that is the music! So anyway, the upshot of it is that from time to time i get to pretend to be a busniessman and have to go to conferences and meetings where people in eye liner are exclusively female. Most of the industry people have been amazingly cool and i am welcomed rather than eyed with suspicion. Often thse things take place in a bar or cafe but every now and then something bigger comes along, usually in London. When this happens there is one thing that ALWAYS freaks me out and that is this. When you go to the toilet there is a guy in there hwo helps you wash your hands. Why?! I'm 27 years old, i can wash my own hands or pick up a towel myself. What kind of world do we live in? Are London busniessmen incapable of self ablution (that means washing kids, nothing kinky!)? Maybe he's there offering other servies a hick like me doesn't understand, but i always feel really uncomfortable and wonder if by washing my own hands i'm snubbing him of his one true joy (he might just be in it for the fun, not the money afterall?) or making his day as he doesn't have to tend to my post ‘visit’ hands?
Either way it adds a certain element of discomfort when just going for a quick slash.

That's it. Pointless blog, but if anyone wants to share their expereinces of similar weird expereinces that to other people seem totally normal then put it in our forum.

Jon

[Thu 01st Nov 07] All the gigs

Have you seen we're playing with My Ruin? And have you seen the Italian shows we have booked? It's going to be awesome and i can't wait to get out there.

Only decision is what do i wear?

[Mon 22nd Oct 07] MSI support slot last week.

 Hey there people!

Last week we did a show supporting Mindless Self Indulgence at the Brook in Southampton. We sold shit loads of tickets to this one so thanks to everyone who came down to show us their support.

 I think we played better that night than we have done in a while, it all just came together right and felt good up onstage. Something i needed as we have had a string of gigs with tech problems ruining the vibe as of late. We were scheduled to be on at 8.30 but the tour manager moved us to 8.10 so i know some people missed the 1st part of the set which sucks. Then during our last song something pretty weird happened; some hapless roadie was sent onstage to try to tell us to stop right there and then. That is a new one on me…..we were told to play 30 minutes so thats what we did and just ignored him. Couldn't they wait 30 seconds?

Anyway…there is a review of the night up on www.ampedrevi­ews.net that is worth checking out as well as some pics from the show too, one of which is below. You'll see MSI cover their drums with the weirdest peice of cloth whilst the support bands are playing. Its some cream thing with pictures of cats all over it. ‘Cool’.

Cheers

Jon

[Tue 09th Oct 07] Back from Berlin

Hello Plastic People (:
We've been very busy recently. Done a bunch more gigs all about the place, had another BBQ, drank a lot more, partied hard, the usual! We have an acoustic gig coming up on the 12th in Southampton, come along for fun and acoustic frolics with some surprise songs thrown in. Promises to be a giggle!

We recently came back from playing the Popkomm festival in Berlin, which was amazing. We had a wicked time, met some cool (and crazy) people, sampled the local beers and ales, ate out at a lot of nice places. Jon, Si and I went for a Mexican one day, which was strange as it was not spicey in the slightest, as the Europeans don't seem to enjoy spicey food like us boys. It was still very nice, and we had fun talking to the waitress and feeding sparrows.

 

We shared an apartment with the lovely Laura Imbruglia, which was a lot of fun. She sings and plays guitar, check out her stuff here. We all got on really well and had a bunch of giggles. Go and see her live and buy her album!

 

The gig itself was good, except huge technical difficulties with the bass and guitars. We battled through and did well in the end, much to the delight of the European audience. It was cool to finally play in front of a load of people from other countries. Hopefully not for the last time!!!

 

On after us were the legendary Hanoi Rocks. It was excellent hanging out backstage with them before the show, nice bunch of guys! Jon also had to speak as part of a panel alongside Michael Monroe talking about record labels at the Popkomm indusrty convention thing. He had a name tag and everything. Made him look all sophisticated, it did.

 

We had a rather interesting gig in Oxford the other day… won't go too much into it, but it wasn't ideal, and to top it all off, Si got a parking ticket!
The Renegade Marshall, our esteemed roadie is planning to go off to Mongolia next year, only thing is he's driving there in a car no bigger than a 1 litre. It shall, of course, be modified with a toaster and chip fryer…
Anyway, back to myspace adding. Hope everyone is doing grand and hope to see you at a gig
soon!

Ben
xxx

P.S. sign up to the street team you fiends!

[Thu 30th Aug 07] Pirate adventure

So who has been to one of our gigs and seen a long haired Jesus look-a-like setting up our gear? Well for those who don't know this is Mr Richard Reeves, our roadie extraordinaire, New Forest ranger and a very good friend of mine and the rest of the band. He is totally mad, but that's why we love him. Well, this weekend just gone was a long one here in the UK and we had no gigs so we decided to take advantage of the situation and get outside. Bare our pasty limbs to the scorching sun and try not to shrivel up like little vampires.

Reeves has a boat, a tiny little tub he names The Glorious Spud. Well a crew of us went fishing and generally messing about in Southampton water, so if you saw a group of dangerously incompetant people pulling up onto private beaches we shouldn't be on, setting huge bonfires and almost sinking our boat within only 3 feet of the shore, well that was us. Oh and to top it off the lovely Linzi pointed out i might need sun cream just as i left. Well, being a boy i had totally overlooked this, so she gave me some…..i have to say i looked pretty cool smothered in gold glitter sun cream. But its ok we looked much more manly once we were covered in blood from the fish we were dispatching, much to the horror of the onboard female.

Just been booking some more shows and working on new music this week. All the songs sound very different from previous Plastic Toys material, i'm interested to see where it goes. In the meantime we have some cool shows lined up, especially tomorrow wit hthe mighty My Passion! Can't wait to see those guys again.

Until next time,

Jon x

[Tue 21st Aug 07] Jon's car dies

Today my car died. Too many trips up the M3 crammed with band equipment i think. So im broke and car-less. If anyone feels the need to give me money/a new car/a private helicopter please feel free.

1st pinky the mic stand dies, now this. What's next? Getting hit by a falling light onstage?

Jon

[Thu 09th Aug 07] **Gigs n stuff**

Hello, Ben again!
Hope everyone is well. We've been gigging about the place, had some really cool shows recently. How cool is that about Let Me Feel The Love going in at number 30?! We're all really excited about it, thanks so much to everyone who bought it! My family saw it in HMV on Oxford Street the other day, took a picture too I think. Still having a lot of fun in the band, messing about. Had a few parties and BBQ's recently with the band, preeetttty fun!! Including a very savage game of spin the bottle, where someone ended up in hospital…

Got a bunch of gigs coming up too, including another trip to lovely Barrow! Let's try and make this one even better than last time. Also Germany next month, which we're all well excited about. Playing the Popkomm festival! Another show with our buddies My Passion at the end of this month too which should be a lot of fun. Get involved!!!

Ben

xxx

[Mon 06th Aug 07] number 30

Wow…our 1st single is just 2 weeks old and already we're in the charts!

This is all down to you guys getting out there and showing your support. We're not a huge band on a major label with millions of pounds pumped into advertising. We're a small independant band that relies on word of mouth and street teamers to help get the word out there, so thank you all for buying the single and not just downloading a freebie!

Jon

[Wed 01st Aug 07] Stand up and be counted

Show your support at our London show next week @ The Metro.

…we have a MASSIVELY important gig next tuesday @ The metro in London.

We need our most hardcore, energetic fans there cheering us on.

If you're from Southampton we can get you there, in and back for just 8 quid!!!!!!!!!

Get yourselves to the gig and dance like you're life depends on it!!

18+

If you need info just e-mail us info (at) plas­tictoys.co.uk

[Mon 30th Jul 07] Barnstock

For the last few years a guy who lives near me has put on a totally free music festival called Barnstock and so far we've played every event. It's a low key show but hats off to him as its amazingly well run and is as much fun as any of the bigger festivals. I managed to fall offstage before we'd even played actually…..serves me right for being polite and stepping out of the way for someone carrying an amp to pass by (hand nothing to do with beer honest! haha). Still, no harm done, just a slight covering of mud and amazingly no-one saw me do it.

Anyway, we played our set set and got asked back for an encore and played Superfreak whilst everyone danced in the mud and pissing rain. The last band of the night finished with a 15 minute long version of Johnnie B Good and Simon and I joined them onstage for a little singing, moonwalking and maraca shaking.

Right, it's been 1 week since the single was released and the response has been incredible. We've received hundreds of messages from fans saying they love the cd and wishing us well. We can't thank you enough, your support means everything! Keep spreading the word…..you're doing a great job.

Oh, if you're in London get yourselves along to the Metro show on the 7th August, i think its going to be one great night.

Cheers

Jon

[Wed 25th Jul 07] Mike years

Most of you know that Mike left the band earlier this year, we had some amazing times, some shitty times and loads of laughs. I was scouring our video back log and found a load of clips that i wanted to put together to remind me and the guys of those days…...so click here to go see it.

Jon x

[Mon 23rd Jul 07] Ben - First Blog

I joined the band like 3 months ago and have loved every minute since. We've been all over the place playing shows, made a video, released a single and had lots of fun. The Portsmouth gig the other day realised one of my ambitions to play the Wedgewood Rooms – I've been trying to do that for years and finally got to play it – to a sold out crowd! Cheers everyone who made it so amazing. Also cheers to everyone I've met so far through this band, everyone's been really nice, and cheers to Jon, Kitty and Si for taking me in (: The single is out today, I hope everyone has ordered one, I have! This new website's a bit swanky, isn't it?

Ben xxx

[Thu 19th Jul 07] Shiny Toy Guns

that was one of the best shows ever. We had an incredible time. The crowd had so much energy we couldn't help but feed of it. Midas were great as were the Shinys.
I want to thank Ian @ The Wedgewood Rooms for letting us play the show and all our fans who turned up, get sweaty and partied with us.
I took some amazing photos of the audience from the stage but my camera seems to have gone walkabout so if i find it i'll post pics. If not then you'll just have to use your imagination. Glo-sticks, sharp haircuts and jumping.
If you took any pics you want to share send them to me at jon (at) plas­tictoys.co.uk

Cheers

Jon
x

[Wed 18th Jul 07] Pinky Dies

Pinky, my mic stand that i have been used at every PT gig since we started died after the Blissfields show. Go look at his glory years on the gallery page.

Jon
x