Chris Knox + Penelope Swales - this Fri 3 Oct

Chris Knox + Penelope Swales (Aust) - this Fri 3 Oct

Hi there

Chris Knox (Toy Love / Tall Dwarfs) + Penelope Swales (Aust) $10 - door sales only 8.30pm Friday 3rd Oct

With singer / songwriter Glenn Bodger @ 7.30pm and the very very cool funk / dub band Mr Pink @ 11.30pm

Penelope Swales Dynamic Australian singer-songwriter Australian singer/songwriter Penelope Swales tours New Zealand in October 2003 to promote her new double CD "Monkey Comfort." Best described as a musical journalist, she constantly travels Australia and the world. She combines wry and often outrageous humour with her deep passion for people and issues. Amazingly prolific, this is her 7th solo CD.

The fruit of five years of writing, traveling and informal study, "Monkey Comfort" is a playful combination of anthropology and anthropomorphism that draws on the lush imagery of the natural world to describe the human condition.

Swales draws parallels between modern human society and naturally occurring ecosystems, pointing out the predators, scavengers, parasites, grazing herds in our midst even large companies are described as Leviathan creatures: "You and I are the plankton that the multinationals graze upon. You and I at the bottom, Bill Gates at the top."

Penelope was once asked to name a product she might be willing to endorse. She replied "Composting toilets." This independent singer-songwriter is passionate about the environment. And social justice, greed, corruption, genetic engineering and a heap of things you may expect of a contemporary folk artist.

What sets her apart is a compelling performing talent, honed over a decade or so of playing concerts and festivals around the world, and a wicked sense of humour to match her frankness. The exuberant Swales is a great acoustic guitarist, bold songwriter and spectacular vocalist in the style of Ani Di Franco or Michelle Shocked.

As well as her solo career Penelope is also renowned as a musical instrument maker. She is a member of the Australian group Totally Gourdgeous who perform on guitar, fiddle, shakers, djembe and fretless bass, all made by Penelope.

What the critics have to say about Penelope Swales ........ "Amazing" is one adjective that springs to mind. As well as her envious acoustic mastery and incredible and beautiful vocal range, Penelope's stage presence and communication with her audience simply amplified her performance.-Rave Magazine, Brisbane

Penelope Swales has definitely found her own distinct sound. The songs are rhythmically strong, and the lyrics are intelligent and a fair few steps left of centre.-On the Streets, Sydney

Penelope Swales is one of those performers that can simply stop the heart, wring the soul, lighten the spirit and invite comment... Described internationally as an acoustic guitar wiz, she stylistically swims somewhere around the islands known as Tracy Chapman and Michelle Shocked. - Beat Magazine, Melbourne

1st man: "What kind of music's this?" 2nd man: "I dunno.......But I like it!" Audience members - Goulburn Blues Festival

Chris Knox '...a cheerful misfit who has perfected the art of doing whatever the hell he wants!"

>From one of New Zealands very first punk bands in 1977, the to the more ambitiously melodic Toy Love, Chris has a reputation as a wonderful live performer, capable of frightening forays into the audience. Possessed of a superb voice, an ear for glorious melodies, a quick with and a taste for the unusual and eclectic when it comes to instruments and recording, Chris has carved himself a sizeable niche in the underground word.

Chris, in partnership with Alec Bathgate, his guitarist from Toy Love, eventually settled down as the Tall Dwarfs. These two have delivered a string of wonderfully demented records ever since (the latest, Stumpy, was released just this year). Tall Dwarfs projects have given both Chris and Alec the opportunity to take the do-it-yourself ethic as far as they like. These two accomplished graphic designers usually take turns at creating all visual aspects of Tall Dwarfs releases, resulting in unique packaging concepts and swags of stickers, postcards, day-glo covers and more

French magazine Rocksound recently referred to him as "that gentle psychopath, Chris Knox" - on a good night, with a banana-short bedecked Knox bearing down on you from a stage, maniacal grin fixed in place, we can definitely understand what they mean. But then there's also the guy who created "Not Given Lightly", the love song to end all love songs.

This is an opportunity not to be taken lightly, and the Temple is well honoured to present Chris at his finest.

Have you signed the online noise control petition yet? http://www.temple.co.nz/noise.htm

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