Tricky Nixon

{{Short description|English pop rock band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Distinguish|Tricky Dicky (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Tricky Nixon | image = | caption = | image_size = | alias = | origin = Manchester | genre = Indie rock, indie pop | years_active = 2003–2006 | label = Fuzzbox | associated_acts = The Joy Formidable | website = | past_members = Rhydian Dafydd – vocals / guitar Ritzy Bryan – vocals / guitar Peter Gray – drums Joe Fairclough – bass }}

'''Tricky Nixon''' was a four-piece band from Manchester, England and was a former band of The Joy Formidable's vocalist/guitarist Ritzy Bryan and bassist Rhydian Dafydd.<ref name=" trickynixon-trickynixon">{{cite news| url = http://drownedinsound.com/releases/6840/reviews/493791-?relevant-artist| publisher = DrownedinSound| title = Tricky Nixon-Tricky Nixon| date = 21 Nov 2005| access-date = 20 June 2010| archive-date = 27 September 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100927095834/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/6840/reviews/493791-?relevant-artist| url-status = dead}}</ref> Their music has been described as "sleazy The Breeders guitar thrash and tasty harmonies, with sugar and spike boy-girl vocals and pummelling Pixies bass and drums."<ref name="ITC05 Fandango Lift Off">{{cite news| url =http://www.music-dash.co.uk/live/archivelive.asp?item=744| publisher = Manchestermusic| title = ITC05 Fandango Lift Off| date = 30 Sep 2005}}</ref> Their Welsh language song "Paid A Gofyn" ''("Don't Ask")'' was citied by Hefin Thomas on the ''BBC Radio Cymru'' website as "one of their top 10 favourite Welsh tracks of the decade" in 2009.<ref name="Caneuon y Ddegawd!">{{cite news| url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/webarchive/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Fc2%2F2009%2F12%2Fcaneuon_y_ddegawd.shtml| publisher = BBC Radio Cymru| title = Caneuon y Ddegawd!| date = 15 December 2009}}</ref>

==History==

===Formation=== Tricky Nixon formed in summer 2003 as ''Super 8's'' after the three founder members vocalist/guitarist Rhydian Dafydd, bassist Joe Fairclough and drummer Peter Gray recruited Ritzy Bryan as the second guitarist.

===Shows and early recordings=== The band initially put out a demo made up of three songs "Taxman", "All Over You" and "In My Head" that the band had already recorded for an album length demo.

During the In the City festival in Manchester, 2003, the band name changed from ''Super 8's'' to ''Tricky Nixon''.

In 2004 the first release from Tricky Nixon was an EP featuring three new tracks "Takin The Bait", "Jelly" and "You're So Money".<ref name=" Tricky Nixon: Untitled">{{cite news| url =http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/2246/| publisher = Dave Sugden| title = Tricky Nixon:Untitled| date = 8 Jan 2004}}</ref>

The EP was well received and the band were able to secure a national tour supporting Ariel X in April and several good support slots, most notably with Kaiser Chiefs.<ref name=" Brave New Ideas #3: Kaiser Chiefs. April 1st. London">{{cite news| url = http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/9249-brave-new-ideas-3--kaiser-chiefs-april-1st-london?relevant-artist| publisher = DrownedinSound| title = Brave New Ideas #3: Kaiser Chiefs| date = 19 March 2004| access-date = 20 June 2010| archive-date = 8 October 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121008045648/http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/9249-brave-new-ideas-3--kaiser-chiefs-april-1st-london?relevant-artist| url-status = dead}}</ref>

During that summer the band recorded a cover of The Smiths' "Panic" for Concrete Recordings' ''Ten From Ten'' compilation album.<ref name=" Ten From Ten Press Release">{{cite news| url =http://www.john-squire.com/articles/10for10_press.html| publisher = JSU| title = 10from10 Press Release | date = 13 Sep 2004}}</ref>

===Mclusky tour and ''Kick'' EP===

In November 2004 the band embarked on their highest profile tour to date supporting alternative rock band Mclusky.<ref name=" McLusky@Josephs Well">{{cite news| url =http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/3370/| publisher = LeedsMusicScene| title = McLusky@Josephs Well | date = 25 Nov 2004}}</ref>

The band's final release was six track ''Kick'' EP through Fuzzbox on 21 November 2005.<ref name=" trickynixon">{{cite news| url = http://drownedinsound.com/releases/6840| publisher = DrownedinSound| title = TrickyNixon-TrickyNixon| date = 21 Nov 2005| access-date = 20 June 2010| archive-date = 27 September 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100927103457/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/6840| url-status = dead}}</ref>

[[File:Thejoyformidableatreading.jpg|thumb|The Joy Formidable]]

===Breakup and post-Tricky Nixon=== In January 2006 drummer Peter Gray quit the band.

The remaining three members of the band formed new wave/post-punk band Sidecar Kisses<ref name=" sidecarkisses">{{cite news| url =http://www.maltamedia.com/artman2/publish/music/article_1800.shtml| publisher = Malta Media| title = British band Sidecar Kisses in Malta gig| date = 11 May 2007}}</ref> and following Sidecar Kisses' dissolution, Ritzy Bryan and Rhydian Dafydd went on to form art rock/indie pop band The Joy Formidable.

Peter Gray joined surf music/sci-fi group The VCs and more recently Manchester band Letters To Fiesta.

==Discography==

===Demos=== *''Benedict'' (2003) (CD) *''Super 8's'' EP (2003) (CD) *''Takin The Bait'' EP (Jan 2004) (CD)

===Compilations=== *''Panic'' (1 November 2004) (CD/vinyl/download) *''Paid a Gofyn'' (19 October 2005) (download)

===Singles=== *"Kick" (21 November 2005) (CD/download)

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Tricky Nixon}} Category:Welsh rock music groups