spinynorman Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 My kids growing up were huge Reef fans and it didn't take much for them to convert me. Anyway, last Wednesday I was idly browing the what's on email from our local tribute band venue and noticed "Them Is Me" - ex-Reef, Gary Stringer, Jack Bessant. So last night we're two feet from Stringer climbing all over the monitors and the bar and trying to swing on the lighting rig, and Bessant glaring at the crowd, thumping a very battered sunburst Precision through an 8x10 Ampeg fridge and a Mesa Bass 400. I think that's the best 8 quid I've ever spent on a gig. Just watching Bessant was worth twice that, at least. No Reef songs, by the way, but with the stuff they play now they don't need to go backwards. [url="http://www.myspace.com/themismeofficial"]http://www.myspace.com/themismeofficial[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRadford Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 I loved the "rides" album, and a few songs off the others, will give the new stuff a listen too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 I hated the f**kers. Glad you had a good time though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 [quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='609750' date='Sep 27 2009, 01:02 AM']I hated the f**kers. Glad you had a good time though [/quote] Me too. Had to turn down a chance to support Them Is Me last year 'cos of a diary clash - and 'cos noone in the band wanted to support them. :snob: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foal30 Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 I liked that ballad, crikey what was it called. Did a Jeans ad launch this band? I seem to remember ye olde music press battering too. the singer had nice hair Kindness/Weakness got it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 Any Reef fans? Put your hands up. (sic) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 Loved Reef, still do. Great bass playing on all the albums. Saw them live once at Bournemouth, at a surfers against sewage christmas ball, still one of the best gigs i've ever been to, Jack Bessent lying on his back crowd surfing, still playing his stingray5, class. So excited about this news, anybody know if there is an album yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geddys nose Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 Sounds good but I liked Reef a lot (Come to think of it I Like most bands from around then) I was a proper TFI Fanboy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William James Easton Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 i was reef nuts back then.... them is me, not so keen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 Not really a fan as such but their gig in the Lemon Tree here in Aberdeen (circa 2000) goes down as probably the best gig of my life. The place was heaving, it was stupidly loud, massive party atmosphere and crowd surfing a plenty. Our singer had a jam and got his acoustic guitar signed earlier that day in a grotty pub near by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 I liked their earlier stuff, before Gary Stringer started using his 'distinctive style' on every song. I used to be in a band with Jack Bessant's cousin. Not a lot of people know that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesparky Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Personally i love 'em. It's just my type of music, and very good live - I went to see them umpteen times and i'm also in one of their videos! Nice bunch of guys to boot too. Maybe they're not everyone's cup of tea, but no band ever is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubs Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Reef were great. I loved the first album - some great tunes on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tee Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 I remember seeing them when they were unsigned in '93 i think it was, at the Fulham Swan on Fulham Broadway. They were called 'Naked' back then (the name of the single on the Sony Mini Disc advert). I saw them again at the Camden Underworld in '95 where they played through their debut album, which i still think is a pretty good album. Great gig, they mingled with the crowd too, so i chatted to them. Support acts on the night were Bullyrag and Kula Shaker. I saw them a few times after that too. I guess i was a big Reef fan at the time, although i didn't really like their last couple of studio albums. First two albums for me. I'm not really into the new band. At least i checked them out when they first came out and didn't float my boat much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 I like the first album. I seem to remember that their B sides were particularly good too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William James Easton Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 [quote name='Ray' post='610774' date='Sep 28 2009, 01:03 PM']I like the first album. I seem to remember that their B sides were particularly good too.[/quote] yes the b sides where excellent. sadly i have every single on all cd versions and vinyl when available. my favourite?... Resignation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 My favorite was Consideration. I remember making a big deal about it at the time and demanding to my g/f that it be played at my funeral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinynorman Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) [quote name='TommyK' post='609814' date='Sep 27 2009, 08:54 AM']Loved Reef, still do. Great bass playing on all the albums. Saw them live once at Bournemouth, at a surfers against sewage christmas ball, still one of the best gigs i've ever been to, Jack Bessent lying on his back crowd surfing, still playing his stingray5, class. So excited about this news, anybody know if there is an album yet?[/quote] There is an album. And a T Shirt. [url="http://www.themisme.com/shop.htm"]http://www.themisme.com/shop.htm[/url] Before the last song Gary Stringer said something like - "It's been rough going round, but tonight's been fun". So could be they aren't going down so well, though I really can't see why. I wouldn't judge them by what's on MySpace, they're much better live, but I like that kind of riff-based rock, having been weened on stuff like that. They came out in front of 200 people paying £8 a ticket and performed like it was a stadium. If nothing else I'd give them credit for that. Edited September 28, 2009 by spinynorman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesparky Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 [quote name='Ou7shined' post='610797' date='Sep 28 2009, 12:22 PM']My favorite was Consideration. I remember making a big deal about it at the time and demanding to my g/f that it be played at my funeral. [/quote] Ha ha! me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesparky Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 [quote name='William James Easton' post='610781' date='Sep 28 2009, 12:12 PM']yes the b sides where excellent. sadly i have every single on all cd versions and vinyl when available. my favourite?... Resignation.[/quote] Yup, me too, took me ages to get hold of the purple tape... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William James Easton Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 [quote name='bluesparky' post='611446' date='Sep 28 2009, 11:21 PM']Yup, me too, took me ages to get hold of the purple tape...[/quote] never got the purple tape. or 'the best of' lost intrest by then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisAngryman Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I saw Them is Me at The haymakers in Cambridge on saturday and they were awesome, blew the roof off the place. Really cool guys and spent time after the gig thanking everyone for coming, massive stage presence, you could tell they had done it all before. The chap on guitar is fantastic has really great tone and is imacluate to the album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Saw them with 3CR and 'A' in 1998 really good show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fac51hacienda Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 [quote name='bluesparky' post='611446' date='Sep 28 2009, 10:21 PM']Yup, me too, took me ages to get hold of the purple tape...[/quote] I'm trying to get hold of a copy of Reef's (Naked) Purple Tape. I used to have one (won it from the Reef fan club back in the day) but it got nicked when I was at uni in a burgulary on my home - If anyone has a copy they'd sell (or knows where there is one for sale) please email me: [email protected] Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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