Two Up and Coming Bands with Alonnisos Connections – Televox and Something Simple
They may not be internationally known today, but I predict that at some point soon the entire world will be familiar with two up and coming bands from Europe, Televox of Paris, and Something Simple from London, both of which have strong connections to the island of Alonnisos.
Televox
Televox is a three-piece rock/indie band founded by singer/songwriter Lorenz Plassmann (guitars), whose family has owned a home on Alonnisos for over thirty years. Andrea and I met Lorenz in 2007, and now consider him a very dear friend. Televox also features Renaud Pempie on bass guitar and Xavier Matrand plays the drums and piano. In addition to performing in France, the band has toured extensively in the U.K. since 2008. Televox released an E.P. “Dead Bird” (6 tracks) in May 2010 that is available on iTunes and Amazonmp3.com. The band played at London O2 in 2009, as 
finalists of the “Surface Unsigned Festival,” where they took 5th place out of 1,500 bands and 16 finalists! Over the past two years Televox has played more than 30 shows in France, the UK, and Belgium, and has been invited to perform at next year’s prestigious Montereau Festival in France. To listen to sample tracks of Televox’s music, which includes among other influences a U2 type sound, visit their MySpace page.
Something Simple
Something Simple is an 8-piece band with every member born and bred in and around London. Lester Salmins, whose family has owned a home on the Alonnisos for a few years now, plays bass and does vocals as well. We originally met Lester in 2009, and during our 2010 trip we had the pleasure to get to know him much better, and also had some great conversations with his lovely grand-mum (yia-yia) Christina. Something Simple includes these other talented musicians – Tom Shirm on keyboards, guitar and vocals, Greg Sanders, on guitar and vocals, Olly Lowe on drums, Callum Monaghan on lead and background vocals, Fabio De Oliveira on percussion, Leo Aarons-Richardson on the saxophone, and Alaric Taylor on the trumpet.
The band composes and plays its own hybrid funk brew - based firmly in all styles of dance music from the 60s to the present day – funk, reggae, hip-hop, drum & bass and more, always played live, and always infused with strong melodies and satisfying and interesting harmonic ideas. Because of the band’s immense talent and growing popularity in the U.K., during the summer of 2010 they were invited to perform at the internationally known Glastonbury Festival. To listen to sample tracks of Something Simple’s music, visit their MySpace page.
Lucky Luke Bar in Thessaloniki
On a final note for this post, I want to point out that Alonnisos additionally has a well-respected rock band/concert promoter who owns a vacation home on the island. A former rock and roll musician himself, Nikos Modiotis (pictured to your right) is also the owner of the Lucky Luke Bar in Thessaloniki, which originally opened in 1978. If you live in Thessaloniki or are visiting there, be sure to check out the Lucky Luke Bar, and if you get the chance to meet Nikos, who is a wonderful person, tell him Jeff and Andrea sent you!
Televox
Televox is a three-piece rock/indie band founded by singer/songwriter Lorenz Plassmann (guitars), whose family has owned a home on Alonnisos for over thirty years. Andrea and I met Lorenz in 2007, and now consider him a very dear friend. Televox also features Renaud Pempie on bass guitar and Xavier Matrand plays the drums and piano. In addition to performing in France, the band has toured extensively in the U.K. since 2008. Televox released an E.P. “Dead Bird” (6 tracks) in May 2010 that is available on iTunes and Amazonmp3.com. The band played at London O2 in 2009, as finalists of the “Surface Unsigned Festival,” where they took 5th place out of 1,500 bands and 16 finalists! Over the past two years Televox has played more than 30 shows in France, the UK, and Belgium, and has been invited to perform at next year’s prestigious Montereau Festival in France. To listen to sample tracks of Televox’s music, which includes among other influences a U2 type sound, visit their MySpace page. Something Simple
Something Simple is an 8-piece band with every member born and bred in and around London. Lester Salmins, whose family has owned a home on the Alonnisos for a few years now, plays bass and does vocals as well. We originally met Lester in 2009, and during our 2010 trip we had the pleasure to get to know him much better, and also had some great conversations with his lovely grand-mum (yia-yia) Christina. Something Simple includes these other talented musicians – Tom Shirm on keyboards, guitar and vocals, Greg Sanders, on guitar and vocals, Olly Lowe on drums, Callum Monaghan on lead and background vocals, Fabio De Oliveira on percussion, Leo Aarons-Richardson on the saxophone, and Alaric Taylor on the trumpet. The band composes and plays its own hybrid funk brew - based firmly in all styles of dance music from the 60s to the present day – funk, reggae, hip-hop, drum & bass and more, always played live, and always infused with strong melodies and satisfying and interesting harmonic ideas. Because of the band’s immense talent and growing popularity in the U.K., during the summer of 2010 they were invited to perform at the internationally known Glastonbury Festival. To listen to sample tracks of Something Simple’s music, visit their MySpace page. Lucky Luke Bar in Thessaloniki
On a final note for this post, I want to point out that Alonnisos additionally has a well-respected rock band/concert promoter who owns a vacation home on the island. A former rock and roll musician himself, Nikos Modiotis (pictured to your right) is also the owner of the Lucky Luke Bar in Thessaloniki, which originally opened in 1978. If you live in Thessaloniki or are visiting there, be sure to check out the Lucky Luke Bar, and if you get the chance to meet Nikos, who is a wonderful person, tell him Jeff and Andrea sent you!
Posted by Jeff Maziarek at 11/20/2010 5:56 PM 
Categories: Alonnisos - Miscellaneous
Tags: Televox Something Simple Nikos Modiotis Lucky Luke Bar
Categories: Alonnisos - Miscellaneous
Tags: Televox Something Simple Nikos Modiotis Lucky Luke Bar
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