Old House Playground were formed in the spring of 2005 in Athens (Greece) by Tryfon Lazos and Evangelos Vasilakos as the evolution of Plaything, a group that served as fertile ground for the two talented composers’ and musicians’ early experimentation with matching different kinds of music to creatively produce inspired new concepts and sounds. Plaything recorded 2 demos, a total of 6 songs, which received very good reviews from the music press in many countries around the world including USA, Canada, UK, Israel, Argentina, Spain, Japan, and Greece. After some changes in its rhythm section, Old House Playground reached their current line up which also includes Conor Loughran and Andreas Venetantes.
Significantly more mature and experienced in both writing and performing, Old House Playground now present their self produced debut, “The Whore and the Dog”, a full-length album of original songs that constitute a unique blend of jazz, blues, rock, Avant-garde, alternative, rebetika (Greek folk outcast’s music) even a scent of flamenco. Imagine Tom Waits and White Stripes meeting with Madrugada and Miles Davis in a smoky alley bar of the 1940’s and singing their way through a night of Bukowskily sad, subtly ironic reflection on lost love passion and angst. The songs were produced by Tryfon Lazos and Evangelos Vasilakos, recorded at Musicon studios and mixed by John Toudas (has worked with Greek bands like Human Touch, and Iasis). In 2007 the band recorded a different version of the song “Ain’t Gonna Rain Today” (the original version will be included on the bands debut album) for the compilation “The Bee Sides” (Dreamworks Factory, 2007).
So far the band has played in many of most popular live venues in Athens (alone, with other bands like Night On Earth and others or supporting foreign acts.) such as as well as in other cities in Greece and in Ireland.
Old House Playground are presently in the process of finding a record label to release their debut album. Τhey are also writing new material aiming at experimenting further with their sound and the boundaries of their music. Since September 2009 they are base in Manchester (UK) where they have already started performing live with great success.
NEWS
"Blue Girl" by Old House Playground track of the week 07/02/010-13/02/010 at Local Beat section of Stereoworld music portal:
"Sobers surrounded by the guitar which is imposed where and when needed, without giving the sense of being superfluous even for a single moment. The voice and the guitar riffs are the blues cornerstones developed in an alterative way of American origin on top of a jazzy rhythm section which is led by the double bass and the catalytic drum parts. “Blue Girl” is without question a self-illuminated sound jewel, the shine of which does not fade away after it has been listened to. It stays there in order to point out the importance of Old House Playground, a quartet which moves the audience every time it gives a performance. If there was meritocracy in our country, these people would have already been hailed as the next big thing in the alternative scene. You can enjoy “Blue Girl”, which is included in their one and only album “The Whore and the Dog” (2006) through their profile on Myspace (www.myspace.com/oldhouseplayground). We eagerly expect their second step." (Panagiotis Stathopoulos - www.stereoworld.gr/articles.php)
GROUP MEMBERS
Tryfon Lazos: Vocals, guitars
Evangelos Vasilakos: Guitars
Conor Loughran: Double bass
Andreas Venetantes: Drums, percussion
INFLUENCES
Roots, rock, rebetika, jazz, folk, flamenco, blues, whatever we are listening to.
BAND PAGES ON THE NET
www.myspace.com/oldhouseplayground
www.reverbnation.com/oldhouseplayground
www.jumpingfish.gr/OldHousePlayground
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=69004846322#!/group.php?gid=69004846322&v=info&edit_info=all