Happy As Larry

Happy As Larry Bio:

Happy As Larry are five friends from the south of England. Owen and Darren went to school together and grew up as great friends. They went into business together and formed Unit 6 rehearsal studios. It was through the Unit 6 rehearsal facility they met many new musicians.
First they met a bass player, Greyum. He had been playing with a band known as Failsafe but he wasn't happy. Greyum got to know Owen and Darren well and even took a part time job at the studios. It wasn't long before Greyum had left Failsafe and started jamming with Owen and Darren. Soon enough, he brought Steve into the mix. Steve had played drums in a previous band with Greyum and it really showed. The bass lines and drum beats intertwined perfectly, a match on the scale of Cook and Vicious, Burr and Harris, Moon and Entwistle, Rosie and Jim.....

The songs were coming together nicely and, shortly after that, Stone, who had been rehearsing with his other band - the now defunct Templeball (Not the Scottish band), stumbled drunkenly into the Happy As Larry camp, stared at everyone blankly, burped and slurred out an almost indecipherable offer to sing for them. Obviously the lads were a bit cautious, "Stone's a waster" they would say, "Aah, but he has character" would be the reply. They decided to risk it with Stone. The first few practices as a complete five piece went by and something wasn't clicking.
But on around the fifth or sixth practice it all fell into place. The drums were solid, the bass groovy, the rhythm guitar tight, the lead flowing and the vocals soaring. Things were going well now and Happy As Larry completed writing four songs.

Owen was owed some studio time and the band decided that now was the time to get in the studio. They took the long trek to Vivid Studios and had an open door session. Stone, as usual, was pissed by midday, the rest of the guys stoned. Friends and family flitted in throughout the two days Happy As Larry spent there, much to the annoyance of the studio owner Justin. The band got the songs done though and emerged from that session with Tick Tock, Mother Natures Girl, Watching Stars and Sky Blue. Stone didn't like the sound of the recordings. He didn't feel they captured the true sound of the band, and slowly everyone started to agree. That is why these recordings haven't seen the light of day. Happy As Larry may decide in the future to post these recordings on this site but it is more likely that the live video streams of these songs will be used. But, if you hassle the band enough they may post the mp3's to you.

Anyway, a few months later and there were four more songs written and completed. The band had moved forward and the new songs were better than the previous four, and had the titles Locomotive, Measured Life, Never The Jackpot and Wishing For Better. Happy As Larry now felt confident enough to take their music to the live arena and a slot was arranged for them to play on a four band bill at the legendary Joiners pub in Southampton. The gig was a blinding success, Happy As Larry played a set tighter than a nuns chuff and their music was enjoyed by each and every one of the 100 strong crowd. The two bands following them had a tough job.

It was not long after this triumphant gig that an old friend of Steve's moved back into the area and he started coming to the Happy As Larry practice sessions. During this time it emerged he was a bit of keyboard player so, by way of default, Woody was drafted in to play keyboards for the band. Alas, it was a short lived affair. Woody only had one rehearsal with the group as a keyboardist when Greyum dropped the bombshell that he was leaving the band to pursue other,
more financially beneficial, avenues. It was a bit of a shock, and the lads were stunned for a time until it emerged that even though Woody had joined on keyboards, he was actually a very gifted guitarist. So, ironically, Woody took over on bass. I just wanna say that again so I make it clear. Woody played keyboards, but actually plays guitar, so he became the bands bassist. Within a month the set was tight again and one new song had been introduced and finished, while
another had been introduced but still needed work.

Happy As Larry again went into Vivid Studios, but this time holed themselves up with no visitors and no distractions. Stones drinking had abated, no guests had been invited to the studio and Happy As Larry really knuckled down to work, all the while continuing to smoke copious amounts. Four songs came out of that session, Locomotive, Wishing For Better and Never The Jackpot were joined by the new offering Blinded By (The Northern Lights). This time the boys had got it right. The sound was much more indicative of Happy As Larry.

A second gig was set up at a Unit 6 showcase night at The Hobbit in Southampton and yet again they performed a superb live show ended with the emotional, still in progress, Material Thinking. Greyum was in the audience and I'm sure there was a slight look of regret in his eyes. The band had played so well, thay captured the audience completely, and the free CDs the band offered at the end of the set disappeared within minutes. HAPPY AS LARRY had arrived........... The guys have now written 4 new songs that are waiting, no begging, to be recorded; along with the dramatic Material Thinking we have Every Emotion, Look Forward To The Little Things, Shades That Hide The Sun and Took It All. It's an exciting time........