Former Utopia Explained

Former Utopia
Origin:	London, England, UK
Years Active:	2006–present
Genre:	Rock
Label:	Damnably
Current Members:	George Gargan Rama Russ Evans

Former Utopia is a rock band from London, England. They formed after meeting at a Silver Jews gig in 2006. The band toured the UK with Julie Doiron^[1] in 2009 and with smallgang^[2] 2011 and Europe with Shonen Knife^[3] in 2012. They have also shared stages with Bottomless Pit, Uzeda, COME, Bellini, Thee More Shallows, Chris Brokaw, Geoff Farina, Shannon Wright, David Grubbs^[4] and PW Long.

The band's Collapsar EP was self-recorded at Karma Studios in a day at Stoke Newington in 2012, and mixed and mastered by Matthew Barnhart at Echolab Studios in Denton. Released on Damnably^[5] in 2013, tracks from the EP received BBC Radio 6 Music airplay from Gideon Coe,^[6] and Tom Ravenscroft.^[7]

In 2013, the band were selected to play at Incubate^[8] Festival in Tilburg.

Band members

• George Gargan(guitar)
• Rama (Drums)
• Russ Evans(Bass)

George Gargan was formerly a member of the band Lazarus Clamp from 1999-2003 and played bass and sang on the albums The More We are The Funnier It Is (2004) and It Ain't What You Do It's What it Does to You (2008).^[9]

Discography

• Tiptoe Through The Tulips - 2009, Damnably
• Collapsar - 2013, Damnably

External links

• Former Utopia's website
• Former Utopia's Dammnably page
• Former Utopia Interview in Some Of It Is True
• Review in The Line Of Best Fit
• Review in Sodapop
• Review in Damusic
• Review in 3voor12
• Review in Pocket Jury
• Incubate Page for Former Utopia
• Former Utopia played on Gideon Coe's BBC 6 Music Radio Show
• FU played on Tom Ravenscroft BBC 6 Music Show

Notes and References

1. Web site: Julie Doiron – The Luminaire, London 30/09/09. The Line of Best Fit.
2. http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/half-measures-pub-rockers/story-12849344-detail/story.html
3. Web site: Shonen Knife, Former Utopia og Orphans: Loppen, København. Gaffa.dk.
4. Web site: . 31 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131102161100/http://www.cafeoto.co.uk/programme/DavidGrubbs.shtm . 2 November 2013 . dead .
5. Web site: NEW MUSIC: Former Utopia 'Collapsar' EP, and launch night preview ~ Slow Thrills . 31 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131102130451/http://www.slowthrills.com/2013/02/new-music-former-utopia-collapsar-ep.html . 2 November 2013 . dead .
6. Web site: BBC Radio 6 Music - Gideon Coe, 09/01/2013. BBC.
7. Web site: BBC Radio 6 Music - Tom Ravenscroft, 14/12/2012. BBC.
8. Web site: Former Utopia - Line-up - Incubate 2013 . 30 October 2013 . 3 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131103052303/http://incubate.org/2013/line-up/137/former-utopia . dead .
9. Web site: It ain't what you do its what it does to you, by Lazarus Clamp. Lazarusclamp.bandcamp.com.