Big Strides is a London-based 3-piece band that plays an original mix of blues, rock, jazz and funk. With an original lineup consisting of Marcus O'Neill (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Lewis Kirk (drums) and Tom Pi (double bass), Chris Kelly replaced Tom Pi as double bassist in 2006.

Big Strides
Background information
OriginLondon, England
GenresIndie
Blues-rock
Funk rock
Years active2003–present
LabelsTall Order Records
EMI (Japan)
India/Rough Trade (Germany)
MembersLewis Kirk
Marcus O'Neill
Chris Kelly
Past membersTom Pi
WebsiteOfficial website

Their first album Small Town, Big Strides was released in 2005 on their own label, Tall Order Records. The first single "Suicidal" notched up 300,000 downloads in the US and prompted Jonathan Ross on BBC Radio 2 to comment "I can't decide if I love it or if it upsets me".[citation needed]

After regular appearances at Ronnie Scott's, tours of the UK and performances at Glastonbury, They signed to management Brett_Leboff at Monumental Management Ltd from 2006 to 2011 and first went to Japan in 2006 to play at Summer Sonic, following a sudden rush of import album sales. Their second album "Cry It All Out" was picked up for release in Japan (EMI) and Germany (India Media/ Rough Trade).

The breadth and variety of Big Strides' influences has seen them support a wide range of artists including Roy Ayers, Horace Andy, Damien Rice, Bloc Party and Arctic Monkeys.[1]

Discography edit

Albums edit

Album information
Small Town, Big Strides
  • Released: 6 June 2005 (UK) 4 April 2007 (Japan)
  • Produced by Dan Swift
  • Singles: "Suicidal", "I Do Not Fear Jazz"
Cry It All Out
  • Released: 25 September 2006 (UK) 4 October 2006 (Japan)
  • Produced by Dan Swift
  • Singles: "Let's Get Nice", "Smiling", "Always Together", "Whisky"
Super Custom Limited
  • Released: 17 November 2008 (UK)
  • Produced by Dan Swift
  • Singles: "Hen Night Limousine (Digital Only)",

Singles edit

Single information
Suicidal
  • Released: Radiotone 29 November 2004 (UK)
  • Other Tracks: "Carfire", "Back To The Lemon"
I Do Not Fear Jazz
  • Released: Tall Order Records 19 September 2005 (UK)
  • Other Tracks: "Cookies — Donald's Theme ", "Better (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)", "Bob Weissfeldner's Album Trailer "
Let's Get Nice
  • Released: Tall Order Records 27 March 2006 (UK)
  • Other Tracks: "Brudenell Groove", "Sad Songs"
Smiling (Big Strides song)|Smiling
  • Released: Tall Order Records 11 September 2006 (UK)
  • Other Tracks: "Seeya Then", "1000 Sleeps"
Always Together
  • Released: Tall Order Records 26 February 2007 (UK)
  • Other Tracks: "What's Wrong With Lucy", "Soundcheck Bitch"
She Drinks Whisky
  • Released: Tall Order Records 9 July 2007 (UK)
  • Other Tracks: "Winter Sunlight", "Sour Cream"
Hen Night Limousine
  • Released: Tall Order Records 17 November 2008 (UK)

References edit

  1. ^ "Tall Order records". Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2008.