Best known for her work with Crass founder Steve Ignorant, Huddersfield (UK) based Carol Hodge is a seven-fingered singer and pianist who has spent much of the last few years on keys and BVs touring with Steve’s acoustic project Slice Of Life. She was a lead vocalist in Steve Ignorant’s Last Supper, performing the songs of Crass on a world tour in 2011. 2020 sees her revisiting the Crass material, singing and playing keys on the Ignorant tour, booked so far for the UK and mainland Europe.
As well as dabbling in anarcho-punk, Carol currently provides live keys and BVs for Texan rockers Ryan Hamilton And The Harlequin Ghosts (Stevie Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records), and makes occasional guest appearances on keys with The Membranes and The Ginger Wildheart Band. Carol has recently finished recording her second studio album, Savage Purge. Due for release on 30th April 2020 on Carol’s own label, Midnight Stamp, the album was produced by Dave Draper (Kerbdog, Dodgy, Ginger Wildheart, The Professionals, Jazmin Bean). The title was inspired partly by the Post World War II épuration sauvage that took place in France, in which many innocent women were tortured. Lyrical themes include domestic abuse, beauty standards, self love, alcoholism and the dark frontiers of mental health. “But don’t let that put you off!” says Carol. “It’s an album full of hope, energy, self-discovery and positivity. A lot has happened in my life over the past couple of years that I felt I needed to purge musically. I think everything I do is always tinged with dark humour, and, as with my own daily experience, this album is all about striking the balance between articulating despair and rediscovering a lust for life. We’re all doomed, but there is still a funny side to inevitable cataclysm.”
Musically, the album has thus far drawn comparisons to Stevie Nicks, Elton John, Regina Spektor, Garbage and Weezer. Described by Louder Than War as “The Adele for people into radical politics…a UK 2018 equivalent to the Tapestry-era Carole King”, Carol’s debut album Hold On To That Flame was released in 2018 on independent label Chopback, and published by Bomber Music. The album was featured in Louder Than War’s Top 25 list of 2018, and received numerous favourable reviews, as well as extensive independent and online radio play. Likened variously to Amanda Palmer, St.Vincent, Cat Power, Kate Bush and Alex Harvey, Carol’s live performances are an honest and emotional affair, peppered liberally with her between-song Northern English wit. She has toured extensively over the past two years, playing festivals, small venues and living rooms all over the UK. In August 2019, she played a run of gigs in support of Los Angeles artist Julia Othmer.
Album track Fallibility was released in August 2018 and features a music video shot by Mark Richards (Slaves, Wonk Unit, Maid Of Ace, The Cravats, Dirt Box Disco). The visual spectacle showcases Carol’s ability to spin around quickly in a wedding dress and consume large quantities of chocolate cake. https://youtu.be/CC8L_oE8wVE 2020 will see Carol touring the UK to promote Savage Purge, including playing Rebellion and 0161 Festival, as well as filming several music videos.
For further info visit: https://carolhodge.co.uk
