Name Alex Neilson Role Singer | Music group Trembling Bells | |
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Movies Jandek: Glasgow Sunday, Jandek: Newcastle Sunday, Jandek: Glasgow Friday Albums The Marble Downs, The Sovereign Self, Abandoned Love, The Constant Pageant, Is It the Sea? Similar People Richard Youngs, Lavinia Blackwall, Will Oldham, Matt Sweeney, Lal Waterson | ||
Alex Neilson - My Son David
Alex Neilson (born 1982) is an English drummer, percussionist and singer who is based in Glasgow but grew up in Leeds. He is a founding member and main songwriter of folk-rock group Trembling Bells. He is also known for his continuing collaborations with Alasdair Roberts and Richard Youngs, and for his work with elusive American singer/songwriter Jandek, for whom he has drummed regularly - four of these live performances have been released by Corwood Industries as Glasgow Sunday, Newcastle Sunday, Glasgow Monday and Glasgow Friday on both CD and DVD. He has also drummed for Will Oldham (Bonnie 'Prince' Billy), firstly on a Scottish tour in April 2006.
Contents
Additionally Neilson has performed alongside a large number of bands and artists including Lucky Luke, The One Ensemble of Daniel Padden, Ashtray Navigations, Alastair Galbraith, Isobel Campbell, Ben Reynolds, Matt Valentine, David Keenan, Baby Dee, Tanakh, Six Organs of Admittance and Taurpis Tula, as well as Directing Hand and Scatter, both of which he founded. Collaborating with other musicians, including Trembling Bells members, he's accompanied on tour several folk artists who have enjoyed a late rediscovery of their work, including Scott Fagan, Nick Garrie, Mike Heron and Shirley Collins. He's also drummed on Collins's 2016 comeback album, Lodestar.
Neilson's debut solo album, Vermillion, was released under the name Alex Rex in April 2017.
Alex neilson sings george collins
Tours
In early 2007, Neilson left his position at Glasgow based record shop and distribution company Volcanic Tongue and rejoined Oldham for some tour dates and subsequently spent much of this year touring with Alasdair Roberts, with Ben Reynolds (as Motor Ghost), with David Keenan (as Tight Meat) and with a fresh incarnation of Directing Hand consisting of himself and vocalist/harpist Lavinia Blackwall.
In 2008, he toured with Baby Dee - he is heard on Dee's Safe Inside The Day record - and Current 93. He has already appeared on a handful of Current 93 releases and has been confirmed on their Durtro webpage as a participant in various forthcoming recordings. A new Will Oldham live album featuring Neilson has also been released.
Neilson has spent much of late 2008 and early 2009 concentrating on his latest project Trembling Bells. The band consists of Neilson on drums and vocals, Lavinia Blackwall on lead vocals and guitar, Big Mike Hastings on guitar and Simon Shaw on bass guitar. Their debut LP "Carbeth" released on Honest Jon records to widespread critical acclaim in the spring of 2009. The second LP was due out in the spring of 2010. Neilson also has spent considerable time on tour with Ben Chasny and his ensemble which makes up Six Organs of Admittance live.
In early 2013, Neilson joined forces with artist Lucy Stein and artist/writer/musician Sybren Renema in Death Shanties, a saxophone-drum duo with live visuals. Their mini-tour and self-released CD-R were generally well received.
Discography
Solo (Alex Rex)
Ashtray Navigations
Death Shanties
Directing Hand
Tight Meat Duo/Trio
Trembling Bells
Richard Youngs & Alex Neilson