I saw the Swansea Sound on Saturday. At some point during the gig Hue Williams, the frontman, ex-Pooh Sticks, introduced the rest of the band. First he started with the drummer, Ian Button from Death in Vegas and Thrashing Doves. Then he mentions Rob Pursey from Heavenly, Tender Trap, Marine Research and The Five Year Plan. Then Amelia Fletcher from Talulah Gosh, all the bands Rob has been (sans The Five Year Plan) and all the indie bands everyone knows. Then Bob Collins from The Dentists. But he didn’t introduce himself! What other bands was Hue on?

Aside from the amazing Pooh Sticks, I know he was in Huegenius who released a 7″ on Damaged Goods (probably needs a post on the blog!) and the Dumb Angels. But am I missing any other bands? I don’t know. These are the ones I have records from. And the Dumb Angels was the last one I got, many years back, so I thought, why not revisit on the blog?

There is the one song on the 7″, that appears on both sides. It is a cover of Brian Wilson’s “Love and Mercy”. The 7″ was released in 1988 by Fierce Recordings (Fright033), was limited to 500 copies and came in a red sleeve printed with black ink with photos of Brian, including the one on the cover with the firefighter helmet. The sleeve is credited to Potential Graphics who did a few Pooh Sticks releases.

On the back we see the people involved in the Dumb Angels. As mention Hue from the Pooh Sticks on vocals, Saucerman – Heavy Dude on vocals, Nuggles Burrito from Ten Foot Boneless on bass, Trudi from the Pooh Sticks on vocals, Johny Scuzznuts from Saucerband on guitar, Voice of God on pretentious verse and Che Duvalier on drums.

Right, many strange names there. Che Duvalier wasn’t that complicated to track down, it is Andrew Griffiths from the band Shame that hailed from Swansea and released the magnificent 7″ “Real Tears” on Fierce Recordings. I’ve written about his band and I would love to interview him and find more about them.

Saucerman was in the bands Longjaw and Knucklehead and also released some solo stuff on Fierce Recordings.

Discogs lists two compilation appearances for the Dumb Angels. One is unofficial of course, it is a CDR released in 2009 by the radio station WFMU from New Jersey. The “Cherries Jubileeee” was put together by DJ Terre T for the Marathon Premium of 2009. I am not familiar with most of the bands on the compilation, the Dumb Angels appear with “Love and Mercy” as the 5th song.

The other compilation hails from Germany and I am not 100% sure if it is the same Dumb Angels as the one I am writing about. It may be a different one. The compilation is called “The Kittenblood Compilation Vol. 2” and dates from 1999. It was released by Thunderwoman (THW 024). The song included is called “Crazy Baby”. But again take it with a pinch of salt. I can’t confirm this is the Hue-fronted Dumb Angels.

There is absolutely no other details about the band online. It seems it may have been just formed for the recording of this 7″. Even for just the one song (that would explain why both sides have the same track). A Swansea supergroup. Did they collaborate in any other forms through the years? Did they ever play live? Why did they decide to record this cover? Why not an original track?

Many questions could be asked about this band. Maybe we’ll get to know more details in the future!

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Listen
Dumb Angels  – Love and Mercy