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We Are A Band

by Bag of Cans

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Bag Of Cans 'We Are A Band' debut album pressed on limited edition 'Beer' colour 12" vinyl.
    Limited to 200 copies!

    Includes unlimited streaming of We Are A Band via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    edition of 200 
    Purchasable with gift card

      £18 GBP or more 

     

1.
Spin Cycle 02:24
The spin cycle's an hour, til the clothes have been scoured. And it's on speed perfect. The colour leaks from a stray sock, like a shark attack on Baywatch. And it's on speed perfect. It won't get clean. It won't get clean. It won't get clean. It won't get clean. Round and round it goes, it goes. Round and round it goes, goes. Round and round it goes, goes. Round and round it goes, goes. Round and round it goes, goes. Round and round it goes, goes. Round and round it goes, goes. Round and round it goes, goes. Round and round it goes, goes. Round and round it goes, goes. And it's on speed perfect.
2.
Three cups of coffee, and a pint of Berocca (Oh no it doesn't do the trick) Eat about 5 times my daily caloric intake in one sitting (Oh no it doesn't do the trick) I'm gonna try and take a shower, but I'm going to spend most of my time sitting on the toilet and staring at the wall (Oh no it doesn't do the trick) I want a paracetamol, but has it been four hours since the last one? Am I, am I, am I going to die? (Oh no it doesn't do the trick) Oh hair of dog please save me from my life of sin. I'm feeling sick, this remedy is wearing thin. Hair of the dog. Hair of the dog, I love you baby Hair of the dog, I love you baby. Hair of the dog, hair of the dog, hair of the dog Go for a drive in your friend's car, shout abuse at pedestrians, tell them to get jobs (Oh no it doesn't do the trick) Go on the social media profile of everyone you've ever had sex with. (Oh no it doesn't do the trick) Crying crying crying crying crying and crying (Oh no it doesn't do the trick) Do you know what, I've, I've had enough of this, I've I've I've had enough Every day it's the same isn't it, really, you know weekends, weekdays they all blur into one long list of things that you don't actually want to do that much actually certain things you do want to do I shouldn't be too overdramatic I'm too dramatic and you know it's a bit self-absorbent really isn't it and I'm not enjoying this well I should be enjoying it I'm having a lovely time but at the same time you're always thinking about these other little things that you've got to do. Oh hair of dog please save me from my life of sin I'm feeling sick this remedy is wearing thin. Hair of the dog Hair of the dog, I love you baby (when I wake up in the morning) Hair of the dog, I love you baby (when I brush my teeth) Hair of the dog, I love you baby (on my way to work) Hair of the dog, I love you baby (just all of the time) Hair of the dog, hair of the dog, hair of the dog You know it doesn't do the trick.
3.
Chris Alice 03:12
I was walking down the street and I saw a caterpillar, he was looking pretty sweet getting bigger and bigger. I was walking down the street and I saw a caterpillar, he was looking pretty sweet, getting bigger and bigger. Woo Chris Alice, yeah, you're looking pretty. I was walking down the street and I saw a butterfly, she was looking hella fly decked out in a suit and tie. I was walking down the street and I saw a butterfly, she was looking hella fly decked out in a suit and tie. Woo Chris Alice, yeah, you're looking pretty. Chris Alice, yeah you're looking pretty. Woo It's bursting free. It's bursting free. It's bursting free. Yeah. Chris Alice, yeah, you're looking pretty fit.
4.
Pub Money 02:38
Try n write a cv for an interview from the kitchen you come into view saying Puuuuuuuuuuub Sack it off mate it's just for one, I'll finish this and then I'll come to the Puuuuuuuuuub I don't want to worry come on pub just take my money I'm a little short on money maybe pub don't take my money honey I've had a couple pints and now I'm drunk suddenly get a call from mum at the puuuuuub She's asking me when I'm coming home I tell her that I don't know I'm at the puuuuuub
5.
My milkman does too much cocaine (Milk and more, milk and more) There's something rotting in his tiny tiny tiny brain He won't leave me alone. (go away, go away) Fourteen messages on my answer phone. And I don't wanna be your friend. He tells me about tomorrow's milk. (what's it like, what's it like) And how it's gonna be on time. (that's a lie, that's a lie) Because my milkman's always late (he can't keep time, he can't keep time) He can't read a map, he's always off his milky face And I don't wanna be your friend. Tiny tiny, tiny tiny, tiny tiny brain Tiny tiny, tiny tiny, tiny tiny brain I said milkman, leave me alone, please stop coming to my home. I said milkman's gone insane, this milkman's got a tiny brain I said milkman, leave me alone, please stop coming to my home I said milkman's gone insane, this milkman's got a tiny brain This is getting quite intense, saw him hiding behind my garden fence Tried to ignore him at first but his behaviour keeps getting worse and worse. Even turns up when he's off shift, saw him in my window blowing me a kiss. Now I'm milking terrified and I'm fearing for my life from my Milkman Milkman Milkman Milkman Milkman Milkman Milkman Milkman And now I sleep ok at night. (Lock the doors, lock the doors) Pull down the blinds, turn off the lights (it's pitch black, it's pitch black) But what's that coming down the hall. (No escape, no escape) Squelchy milky boots, squelchy milky boots Milk and more, milk and more Milk and more, milk and more Milk and more, milk and more Milk and more, milk and more Milk and more, milk and more Milk and more, milk and more Milk and more, milk and more Milk and more, milk and more
6.
Two cold beers. To old fears. You know it's been too long. Oh man it's been too long. Tell me where have you been? And all that you've seen. What do you do now? What do you do now? I think you're better than me, and so do you. And darling I am sick of This scorecard bullshit, what a lovely picket fence And I am sick of I could help you out you know, have you spoke to so and so And I can't stand it. Pull a face to show you're grateful, hostage at the dinner table. We'll say grace. To save face. Oh, I believe now. Make believe now. On pastures green. Those ancient feet. Oh Jerusalem. Oh Jerusalem. I think you're better than me, and so do you. And darling I am sick of This scorecard bullshit, what a lovely picket fence. And I am sick of I could help you out you know, have you emailed so and so. And I can't stand it. Pull a face to show you're grateful, hostage at the dinner table. Hostage at the dinner table. Hostage at the dinner table. Hostage at the dinner table. Hostage at the dinner table. Hostage at the dinner table. Hostage at the dinner table. Hostage at the dinner table. Hostage at the dinner table. Hostage at the dinner table.
7.
Vasectomy 02:03
I don't wanna breed, get a vasectomy. I don't wanna breed, get a vasectomy. Because we all know, it's all for show. We all know, it's all for show. You get more education, mutual masturbation. The need to be respected, not what I expected. Because we all know, it's all for show. We all know (oh no), it's all for show. Because we all know, it's all for show. We all know (oh no), it's all for show. It's all for show. It's all for show. It's all for show. It's all for show. It's all for.
8.
Houseproud 02:57
I've got a new vacuum cleaner, yeah it couldn't be meaner, it's got powerful suction my carpets are so fresh. Look at my blinds yeah, yeah they're venetian, they're wooden and tasteful my Nan would be proud. Nah nah nah nah nah, I'm so houseproud. Nah nah nah nah nah I wanna be housebound. Taking a bath, and I notice some loose grouting. I start to poke the tiles and they start to fall out. Spend about two grand, you'll put about three grand on your property price, my god what have I become. Nah nah nah nah nah, I'm so houseproud. Nah nah nah nah nah I wanna be housebound. Because I've been drinking wine whilst cleaning the dishwasher, thought I'd multitask cause the salt was low and thinking about the times when I never. Nah nah nah nah nah, I'm so houseproud. Nah nah nah nah nah I wanna be housebound. Because I've been drinking wine whilst cleaning the dishwasher, thought I'd multitask cause the salt was low and thinking about the times when I never.
9.
Gaunt 03:37
How quickly they forget. I still remember it all. The pain don't get less. The hole don't get small. They ain't there to catch you when you fall. How quickly they forget. That look in your eyes. The words that you said. The tears that you cried. You say you're fine but that's a lie. Throwing rocks in the ocean, but they don't make a splash. On a sea of emotion, and you're lost without a match. With your compass spinning. Drowning feels like swimming. Crying feels like grinning. And losing feels like winning. With your compass spinning, With your compass spinning, With your compass spinning, With your compass spinning. How quickly they forget. The hugs that were warm. The voice that could mend. The calm in the storm. But you remember and that's worth more.
10.
Well I'm sorry mum that I was hungover this Christmas, It's not acceptable, no, it's not acceptable Well I'm sorry mum that I was still drunk this Christmas, It's not acceptable, no, it's not acceptable Well I came down in the morning and my eyes were pink, she said take a Christmas shower George you Christmas stink Well I'm sorry mum but you know, I'll do just the same next year Well I'm sorry mum that I was hungover this Christmas, It's not acceptable, no, it's not acceptable Sitting round the table and I feel like death, with last night's sick on every Christmas breath I'll take a sip of whiskey and hope that I make it through the year Well I'm sorry mum that I was hungover this Christmas, It's not acceptable, no, it's not acceptable So I down a glass of bubbly just to dull the chatter, it's all a bad joke like a Christmas cracker These chocolate coins are tasting funny, I've been eating real money Well I'm sorry mum that I was hungover this Christmas, It's not acceptable, no, it's not A shot of Drambuie amongst the blurry faces, whilst my nan says something that's slightly racist Open up the presents under the Christmas tree, turns out none of them were for me I said Well I'm sorry mum that I was hungover this Christmas, It's not acceptable, no, it's not acceptable Well I'm sorry mum that I was still drunk this Christmas, It's not acceptable, no, it's not acceptable.

about

‘We Are a Band’ is not only the debut album of anarchic Norwich five-piece Bag of Cans, but the group’s mantra too.

“We are a band, aren’t we”, someone had muttered at a rehearsal after the latest insect-themed anthem had been completed. It’d stuck. Like Mohammed Ali’s “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” or the Gallagher brother’s “madferit”, the phrase is often uttered into mirrors before gigs and to themselves in drunken moments of sincerity. Never ones for subtlety, the boys thought the phrase encapsulated everything they stood for, them being a band and all.

The new album sees Bag of Cans planting a flag in the ground, acting as a marker for the last five frenzied years that have seen them play packed-out headline sets in London and Norwich, while signing “lucrative” contracts in pubs with tremendously well put together ex-NME journalists.

The writing process for ‘We Are a Band’ stretches back to 2019, with set favourites 'Houseproud', 'Chris Alice' and even Yuletide paean 'Sorry Mum That I was Hungover Last Christmas' all featuring. Newbies 'Hostage at the Dinner Table', 'Milk and More', 'Vasectomy' and 'Gaunt' line up among recent single releases 'Pub Money' and 'Spin Cycle' - both of which have enjoyed airtime on BBC Radio 6, courtesy of his MacQship (Steve Lamacq). There’s also an ode to hangovers tucked in there too, in the bruising, slide-guitar laden 'Hair of the Dog'.

As huge fans of matrimony and the excitement that comes from the union of humans, the band struggled to categorise ‘We Are a Band’ in any way other than the following:

Something old: 'Houseproud', 'Chris Alice', 'Sorry Mum That I Was Hungover Last Christmas'.

Something new: 'Hostage at the Dinner Table', 'Milk and More', 'Vasectomy'.

Something borrowed: basically everything, mostly from Dingus Khan and Blur.

Something blue: 'Gaunt’s really sad because it’s about nans who are no longer with us.

Although the songs span either side of the pandemic, the tunes are tied together by the band’s infectious indie-rock melodies, their unrelenting desire for the absurd and pretty much anything that makes them giggle. It was recorded mostly live with Jason Baldock (an East Anglian producing and recording legend) in a WW2 bunker on a strange Norfolk industrial estate next to a prison. Sadly that’s now closed down but he’s moved into a repurposed fish warehouse in Great Yarmouth.

'We Are a Band' was made by George Baker (vocals / trumpet), George Bryce (guitar / vocals), Tom McGhie (guitar), Sam Watts (bass) and Joe Wilson (drums). Bag of Cans are a band, and there’s nothing anyone can say that proves they’re not.

Come see the Bag of Cans band playing 'We Are a Band' at these shows here and there:

JUNE 9TH | NORWICH ARTS CENTRE (album launch show)
JUNE 10TH | BRIGHTON GREEN DOOR STORE (w/ Astral Gray)
JULY 20TH-23RD | OXFORDSHIRE TRUCK FESTIVAL

credits

released June 9, 2023

Written By:
George Baker
Tom McGhie
George Bryce
Sam Watts
Joe Wilson

Producer By / Mixing By / Mastering By
Jason Baldock (The Crunch - Recording Studio)

Performed By:
George Baker – Vocals, Trumpet, Piano, Organ
Tom McGhie – Guitar, Vocals
George Bryce – Guitar, Vocals, Alto Sax
Sam Watts – Bass Guitar
Joe Wilson – Drums
Robin Evans – Slide Guitar, Vimto
Rob Milne – Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Clarinet
Jason Baldock - Wotsits, Organ, Backing Vocals

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Bag of Cans Norwich, UK

A bag of Nans. Imagine that. Just imagine.

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