Ballo and Lee first got together writing songs with a guitar and a few beers
about two years ago. Tim and Ballo are related so they recruited Tim's wicked
drumming skills, then their mate John joined with his several expensive guitars,
introducing Herb who up until joining the band played guitar, but soon adapted
to the Bass. A collaboration of 5 talented musicians and singers began forming SMALLTALK.
The band is from Sheffield, with the name SmallTalk coming from the average
height of the band being about 5 foot and a fag end, except for Uncie Herb!
The band has been together since around January 2003, and did their first
gig back in March 2004 for family and friends. This was a huge success,
with an audience of over 200 - they could only just fit everyone in! You
should listen to their tracks and decide for yourselves, and keep posted
for more tracks as the band currently have around 15 recorded.
They played the DeepEnd on 6th May 2004 for
a last minute gig. They only had 2 hours to organise their set and equipment
and it went down a storm! With many people commenting on how impressed they
were with the band's performance.
Could it get better for this new band? Oh yes! On the 16th May SmallTalk
were requested to play a set of 8 of their original songs at the Octagon.
A big gig for such a new band. Using the backline used by
Supergrass (who had been playing the previous night), SmallTalk performed
as an experienced, professional band. They looked cool and comfortable,
as though they’d been playing gigs as big as this for years. The crowd
of around 500 were certainly impressed.
Since then SmallTalk have gone on stronger and stronger, more recently
headlining the DeepEnd on more than one occasion, and also supporting
and headlining at the Boardwalk.
SmallTalk hope to get many more gigs lined up in the near future, just
keep checking their Website for details - and new tracks/CD sales.
They already have a number of fantastic original songs recorded, and are
currently working on new material in preparation for recording. CDs are
available at either their gigs, or through their website.
Their music can be described as different to anything else, but has a
definite Rock n Roll/Blues feel to it. People have tried to compare
them to other bands, but with difficulty.
SmallTalk definitely have the drive and the songs to reach the top,
and as a relatively new band there is certainly a lot more to come
as musically they keep improving and producing fresh ideas. If you
can get to a gig and see them live, you certainly won't be disappointed.
You'll have their songs buzzing around your head for days!