¡Hola amigos!

Yes yes yes the rumours are TRUE. We are indeed flying out to Mexico City this November for a very special Day of the Dead themed Birdeatsbaby gig… or two or three! Not only that but we are bringing the dangerously talented Ms Emberhoney with us for support!

The exact location is yet to be confirmed but for now if you are based in Mexico and would like to be updated about the shows please head to the official tour event HERE, join the Birdeatsbaby Mexico Fanpage and keep your eyes peeled… we are rehearsing our Spanish in preparation: ¡Dios mío! ¿Soy vegetariano?

There will also be a very special Mexican themed WEBCAST PARTY on August 2nd (especially for the El Scary Witches and Hexen el Libro Negro, Anniversary) where the bands will play songs on request, collaborate together, and answer questions live to the fans. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be Mexican to tune in

IN OTHER NEWS…

Our next single is in the pipeline. All we can tell you is that it will be titled ‘Ghosts‘, have a matching music video, and will be released around September 13th with a special launch party at the legendary London Water Rats. Event details HERE.

We also have the very beautiful handmade BIRDEATSBABY SONGBOOKS (piano/vocals) back on sale in the webstore! You can get your piano mitts on em right HERE.

Finally, there is a string of more local tourdates coming up (and with our new violinist Tessa to boot!), most notable with goth-metal giants ASP, and the weird and wonderful Coppelius in Germany, and many more to be booked still… if you’re interested in having us in your venue, club or house party please email band@birdeatsbaby.co.uk and we’ll try our best to make it happen! Be sure to buy tickets early to avoid disappointment!

Dearest birds,

This news may come as a shock to you, but behind the scenes this has been coming for a very long time. Our beloved friend and violinist/singer Keely McDonald has made the very difficult decision to part ways with the band.

Although she will still be very much involved with us, both with the band and as a friend, she will no longer be part of our official line-up

We are very very very sad to see her go, but we know this is the best thing for the band, and for her. Some very exciting and positive changes have been happening in her life over the past year, so although it’s sad, we are very happy for her.

In her own words…

“Hello everyone, I thought I’d take a few minutes to let everyone know my reasons: After a lot of thought and deliberation I have decided not to continue playing with Birdeatsbaby. It was not an easy decision to come to by any means and I will miss the thrills and shenanigans of playing gigs and going on tour with my best friends. Especially the tour, which I have to thank for a near permanent twitch!
In the past few years my life has had some fantastic changes that have shifted my priorities, unfortunately that doesn’t leave much time or energy for playing in the best band in the world.
Fear not! I will still be contributing to the music and band I love in as many ways as I can. The new album is the best so far, and who knows maybe I’ll pop in for the odd Wembley Stadium gig. Just to be polite.
I finish with a few choice words which I wish to be inscribed on my headstone…. ‘I regret nothing!’ “

So, we’re sorry for this sad news, but we must look forward to the future, and continue to make the weird and wonderful music that we do. And I’m sure we have not seen the last of Keely…

Thank you Keely for all your hard work – we could not have done this band without you. All the best for everything and we’ll see you down the pub later
xxxxxx

If you want to stay in touch with Keely, follow her on twitter here and tumblr here

So… who’s the new violinist? OMG!

We’re incredibly excited to invite the amazingly talented and beautiful Tessa Gilles to our bird-family. She has played with numerous exciting bands such as The Mummers, Sweet Sweet Lies, Paul Diello and is now adding the Birdeatsbaby string to her bow!

You can see Tessa and her magical violin at our next gig!

We will be re-launching the band in August/September with a new single, new line-up and a totally new sound. So do not not fear… Birdeatsbaby is still very much going forwards, and we’ve only just begun to show you what we can do… Next week we will send out another bulletin to let you know about some VERY EXCITING TOUR NEWS.

So as always, thank you for your support… it’s not been an easy path for us the last few months, but we know our next record is going to explode. Literally.

Love & Feathers,

Mishkin, Katha, Garry, Keely and Tessa x x x

Hello birds,

The time has come. The Mishkin Fitzgerald solo record is out… NOW.

‘Present Company’ is out now digitally on Itunes, Bandcamp or available to buy as a CD at the Birdeatsbaby webstore.

If you are still thinking about coming to the launch party in Brighton tonight, there are still just a few tickets left… but they will not last! Get them here. Support is from She Makes War, Emberhoney & Samantha Horwill. It WILL be made of epicness.

I worked very hard on this record, and literally poured my heart and soul into it. But, I must say it would not have been possible without my producer, collaborator, fellow musician and friend Forbes Coleman. A HUGE thanks goes to him for helping create this.

Thank you also to everyone else who has helped with it’s creation (that includes YOU), I feel very lucky to know such amazing people. I hope you enjoy the album as much as I enjoyed making it

Right, enough talk, where’s my dress? And a bottle of champagne? Now I’m ready for the launch party… see you there!!!

Love & Feathers,

Mishkin x

Dearest Birds,

We hope you are well and keeping warm. It’s bloody freezing in Brighton…

What have we been up to? We have been continuing the recording for our new album and it’s sounding tasty. We hope to release a single or at least a preview by the summer… and it looks like we may be touring again very soon too… where would you like us to play? Seriously. Let us know. We’re having a vote here on Facebook too.

If you want to hear all about what to expect from the new Birdeatsbaby material, read our last blog ‘Looking back, Looking forward’ here.

BUT! There are some other rather interesting goings-on right now we feel you should be aware of!

Firstly, our very own Mishkin has been nominated for a ‘Brighton Music Award‘ this year. While we have no idea who nominated her (thank you)… it is very exciting! We would be extremely grateful if you could vote for her right HERE

We need your vote, it just takes about 20 seconds to complete. Voting closes tomorrow so please don’t delay!

Birdeatsbaby have also been selected as finalists to open for ASP on their German tour! You can select us as your favourites by going HERE and hopefully we’ll be able to add these dates to our European tour

Whilst on the subject of Mishkin… this Saturday she plays for the first time as singer/synth player in the Electrodancemathrock (yeah, it’s a genre) band Cat Fire Radio.

It’s going to be a free gig upstairs at Brighton’s Pav Tav and there WILL be dancing. All details about that HERE.

But what about the birds you say? Our next gig fast approaches on Sunday 10th March…

We are fortunate enough to be headlining the night, and sharing the stage some of the best bands around: Death In Texas, Simonne & The Dark Stars and Emberhoney. We have seen and/or played with each of these bands before… so we know how epic this will be.

This night is happening at The Rattlesnake, Angel, London on Sunday 10th March.  Tickets are available HERE and include a free compilation EP. Woop whoop!

We are also opening for Pink Narcissus at their EP launch party in Brighton at The Blind Tiger on Tuesday 12th March so if you can’t make the London show… do come along. As Katha will be unable to make this show… we have a surprise mystery drummer stepping in for the show…

Till then birdies, stay warm and cosy, and safe in the knowledge that we are working hard to fight crimes against music.

Love & Feathers,

Birdeatsbaby x x

Dear birds,

Mishkin here.

I know it’s a little bit late to do a ‘Happy New Year email’ but we’ve been so very busy at The Nest I’ve only just gotten round to my post-2012 blog. In case you haven’t been keeping up-to-date on the ole Facebooks I’m currently based in Chemnitz, Germany, laying down drum parts with Katha for our new album. Oh my it is already sounding so exciting I can barely contain myself.

2012 was definitely an eventful year for us. We lost and gained another drummer, released our second album ‘Feast of Hammers’, made even more music videos, toured America and Europe and begin to write for our next record… frankly, we’re EXHAUSTED.

But, onwards and upwards! We never stop.

This year we really want to work hard on creating an album that represents our new sound and direction. This is the album that we’ve always wanted to make.

Our very hearts and souls and sweat and blood and tears are (almost literally) going into it. We are working together on writing, lyrics, ideas, production, instrumentation. And for the first time, it is completely a group process… which is very exciting for us.

We’ve added a few more instruments and layers to our sound so you can definitely expect something quite different. The lyrical subject matter comes directly from our experiences together as a band that we’ve been through these past years, and therefore I think the songs are more emotional, bolder, honest and there’s something everybody can relate to. We have an amazing time as a band, it is an extremely rewarding and creative thing, but it is sometimes incredibly hard work… This album is a celebration of our journey to get to where we are today.

We also want to say a big thank you to those who have followed us throughout the years, your support is amazing. And hello to the ‘new birds!’ It is truly the greatest experience to meet you at our shows, seeing your comments afterwards and generally connecting with you all.

Right, enough waffle. So, as we look back on 2012…. I thought we’d do our year in pictures…

Keely rocking out at the Incitatus video shoot.

The release of our second album, produced by Jason Rubal. Read our review from The Quietus here.

Katha joins the band!

Freeeezing cold at the Anchor video shoot. Garry braces himself against the cold!

Our unforgettable tour in America. Watch the scandalous videos here.

Mishkin recording her solo record…

…and the boxing themed video for her first single ‘Present Company’

Being on the BBC Introducing show with Simon Price! Watch the live videos here!

…and receiving some beautiful artwork from you lovely people.

Mishkin also traveled to Mexico City for a show… you can read my blog about that HERE

It’s been an eventful year so say the least!

THE FUTURE:

Ho ho ho and all that bollocks!

We hope that whatever you’re up to at this time of year that you’re finding time to relax and unwind, over-eat and get far too drunk. We’ve had an incredible 2012, and we’re very happy that the world hasn’t ended… just yet.

…well sort of.

…it’s good to see she’s still working hard on promoting the band in Germany
2013 is going to be even bigger as we’ll be finishing off our new record which is as yet: untitled. Suggestions please? It’s going to sound rather big, we have some instrumentation additions… and some special guests to be announced. Excited? HELL YEAH!

As a Christmas treat we’ve decided to reveal another new photograph (taken by Matt Pulzer). Here you go!

Dearest birds,

This is a super-very-quick email to remind you of some very important things coming up in bird-land…

Firstly… there are still a handful of tickets left for Mishkin’s solo launch party in Brighton THIS SATURDAY. As you can see she is… a little excited.

If you are lucky enough to get one you will be part of an exclusive live studio audience and the first people to witness the solo record in it’s entirety. You will also be able to hang out before and after the show with everybody involved – and we would certainly love to meet and have a drink with you Please feel free to bring cameras… and your dancing shoes.

For the gig, Mishkin is collaborating with fellow band members Keely & Garry (of course), our producer Forbes, Taylor + The Baron from EMBERHONEY (fantastic Brighton band who are a bit like Leonard Cohen mixed with Marlene Dietrich), Amy Hill (Aussie singer-songwirter folk country beach girl) and James Gasson (multi-instrumentalist and producer). These are some of the very best musicians about and we are very lucky to be working with them!

To give you a flavour of what’s to come here’s Mishkin & Taylor ‘rocking out’ to one of the tracks at practice today.

Hello birds,

It’s Mishkin here. I’m writing to share with you my very first music video and single ‘Present Company’.

First of all I must tell you a little bit about the process.

This is Forbes.

We became friends through another band we played in together briefly called The Black Gardenias. He works at Brighton’s only non-profit, lottery funded studio, called Audiobeach Studios. He plays almost every instrument (yes he’s one of them), and has been helping me with the arrangements and production on these tracks.

When I first took the songs to Forbes about a year ago they were just little bits and pieces that were either too soft or just not-quiet-Birdeatsbaby material and I didn’t really know what to do with them. I left this track ‘Present Company’ recorded with piano and vocals and said something like ‘er I dunno I quite like synths and stuff.’

A choir, guitars, bass, drums, synth and a string quartet later he came back with the finished product. It blew my tiny little mind. I played it to my husband. It also blew his mind. You get the point.

It is actually one of the best songs (personally) I think I’ve written and all you Birdeatsbaby fans will be happy to know we’ve finished writing the new bird record too…and we’re making it with Forbes in 2013.

The music video is out TODAY. YES.

I have several other people to thank for it’s creation. Firstly to Diggary (my trainer) for letting us use his boxing gym. I cannot recommend The Stables highly enough if you’re interested in joining up head to the website here. I started boxing and training there about a year ago and it rocks. Hitting things is fun too.

I also have to thank Ben Wallace and Polly Harvey for lending us lighting, camera equipment and for the ever amazing photography. Please check out Polly’s work at Polstar Photography here and Ben runs a theatre in London here. They are very very cool.

The video was put together by our video creator Dominic William Stoate (who is responsible for many of the BEB genius videos) and filmed by himself and co-director Matthew Kinealy. A huge thanks to them both for coming up from Devon to help make this. I think it is the best one yet.

Finally, to all the actors, helpers, and everybody else involved. It was very very fun because of you. Please tag yourself in the video, and don’t forget to SHARE SHARE SHARE! This is my first video so I need it to make a big impact! Thank you for your constant support.

The single itself will be launched on December 1st at a tiny tiny location in Brighton. I am selling only 15 tickets which are available to buy here, get em quick. Details on the event are on Facebook here.

So without further ado…

WATCH PRESENT COMPANY MUSIC VIDEO

Follow Mishkin on TUMBLR, TWITTER and FACEBOOK.

It’s high time I blogged about my trip to the land of tequila, sombreros and Frida Kahlo.

So, this was the first holiday I have had with my husband in about 3 years (he’s a patient man), and I decided to book a gig, surely that says something about me and my inability to switch off and take fucking holiday? Ha! Well, anyway, I think I finally relaxed and spent the last few days of the holiday mooching by the beach and drinking a lot of ridiculously named cocktails. My Spanish consists of very little, but of course the important stuff ‘uno cervesa’, ‘quarto questa’ and ‘gracias’. I’m getting by just fine!

Mexico is very impressive.

It was my first visit to this part of the world, and although I’ve covered the southern states of the USA in some detail (see the video blog from our USA tour), I don’t think I’ve quite experienced a place like Mexico before. I shall do my best to describe…

Flying into the city was a sight to see – lights and lights and lights stretched out as far as the eye can see. London is NOTHING compared to the size of Mexico city… my mind was blown by it’s sheer size, and the amount of people crammed into it. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Upon arrival Dara and myself were enthusiastically met at the airport by some of the Mexican Birdeatsbaby fans holding a large sign and waving… If every place I visited had this kind of welcome it would be fab. We took a taxi ride to the part of the city where our hotel was and chatted to our new friends and guides Gerry, Claudia and Zhade.
We were then lavished with Day of the Dead gifts: sugar skulls and pan de muertos (dead bread). I was pretty happy by this point.

After sampling some ‘chilli relleno’ for dinner and the local beer ‘Modello’ we collapsed into the hotel beds after being awake for an obscene amount of time. We stayed in the party district and despite the Day of the Dead celebrations going on late into the night we were too shattered to hear any of it. zzz…

Green mole sauce. Delicious.

The following day was gig day, and I was also able to catch up with Emilio (the amazing artist who designed the BEB ‘Hang Myself’ mugs).

Dara and I were stunned to hear he not only spoke English, but Japanese… Russian… and now Finnish, cos you know, why not learn the hardest languages in the world?

The show was very special for me – the whole place was packed full of birds, people who had come from a long way to hear the music. For the first time I got the audience to sing along to a new song from the solo record ‘Raise The Bar’. You can check the video here (also hear my husband singing very loudly). As well as airing most of the new tracks from ‘Present Company’, I played some Birdeatsbaby songs and could hear many people (mostly Claudia) singing along. I also received some beautiful artwork and lots and lots of hugs. Even Link from Zelda turned up (my favourite computer game character).

And then we drank tequila. So much tequila.

More to come soon…

Mishkin x

Dear birds,

Summer is over. Our tour is finished. Are we taking a break? Fuck no!

We’re writing to let you know that although we’e been a little quiet at the moment, we have been making some rather big plans. We can now confirm that we have begun working on our new record. Oh yes. We will commence recording on Tuesday.

We can’t tell you much more, except we’re working with the rather excellent Forbes Coleman at Audiobeach Studios, Brighton and we are very excited to get started. Forbes is a drummer, guitarist, bassist, pianist, singer, producer… the list goes on and on. Talented bastard. Anyway, rather than let him record the entire thing himself (Billy Corgan style) we’re heading to the studio next week with some beers, some instruments, and a brand new new song…

Here is Forbes holding a piece of foam. I don’t think he knows I have this photo.

GIGS you say? Well… If you’d like to catch us at our next Brighton show, we are playing THIS SUNDAY at The Hope with Thomas Truax: a steampunker-mad-professor-creator-of-instruments. He looks like this:

His songs are strange, abstract and very beautiful. Tickets available HERE.

Finally, if you haven’t already heard, Mishkin is flying out to Mexico City on November 3rd for a very special showcase of her new record. She will also be playing some acoustic Birdeatsbaby songs, and perhaps some covers too… More information on that HERE. The whole band will, someday make it out there too, but if you can’t wait till then here is a special message from the band to all our birds in Mexico!

Till then, hasta pronto!

Love, Birdeatsbaby x x x x x x

MERCH OF THE MONTH:

Limited edition TOUR 2012 T-shirts.
Only a few left in stock!

MUSIC OF THE MONTH:

We’re loving Death in Texas.
Listen to them here.

Follow the birds…
TWATTER / FACEBOOKS