The Electric Soft Parade are an English indie rock band from Brighton, comprising siblings Alex and Tom White, who are the creative core of the band, as well as a number of other musicians who they record and perform live with; Matthew Twaites from Restlesslist on bass and Mathew Priest from Dodgy on drums.
Alex and Tom formed Fixed Ascent, which became The Feltro Media (with bassist Alistair Gavan, now of Diomedes), before renaming themselves The Soft Parade and signing to indie label DB in early 2001 (without Gavan). They added the 'Electric' part of their name shortly after their early singles began getting some attention in the rock press - they were threatened with legal action by a Doors tribute band if they did not change it. This did not halt their rise to (relative) fame at all, however, and their debut album, Holes In The Wall, was issued in February 2002. It was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize later that year, although they did not win the award.
Their second album, The American Adventure appeared in October 2003, now on BMG records.
Alex and Tom have since started a side project in the form of Brakes with British Sea Power's ex keyboardist Eamon Hamilton and Marc Beatty of The Tenderfoot. The White brothers have also been assisting up-and-coming Brighton acts such as The Pipettes and Actress Hands. In January 2008 Tom has been drumming with British Sea Power, filling in for their usual drummer, Wood, who had injured himself while decorating.
The band released the six-track The Human Body EP on Truck Records in December 2005, with more than enough ideas for a third full-length LP, released April 2007 (titled No Need to Be Downhearted, a lyric from a song called "15 Ways" by The Fall from the Middle Class Revolt album)
The U.S. Human Body EP released in May 2006 on Better Looking Records included the bonus track The Captain. The Electric Soft Parade made their first U.S. appearance at the South by Southwest Festival in March and played at The Great Escape Festival, Brighton in May.
Following their appearance at the Truck Festival, Oxford in July 2006 they have a track on the festival compilation, titled The Friday Before Christmas. They played Europa Music Festival, Rotterdam and End Of The Road Festival, Dorset in September, followed by a UK Tour in September/October.
They next released a 7" single, Life in the Backseat, in November 2006, backed with Actress Hands' Why the Sale? (part of a limited series to mark the 10th anniversary of Truck Festival in 2007). The song also appeared on the It's Not Like Christmas compilation in aid of the Shelter charity.
In March/April 2007 they made their second visit to the South by Southwest Festival, took part in A Tribute To Billy MacKenzie at Shepherds Bush Empire in aid of Sound Seekers and played a UK tour. There was also an extensive USA tour in May/June 2007 with Brakes
Truck Records released the single If That's the Case, Then I Don't Know in April. Misunderstanding followed on July 23rd, on 7" single and download, including covers of Blue It Is by Billy MacKenzie and Across The Universe by The Beatles
July/August 2007 Electric Soft Parade made appearances at UK and European Festivals in Austria, France, Switzerland and Germany. September saw the band play at the re-scheduled Truck Festival
The final single to be taken from No Need To Be Downhearted, Appropriate Ending, was released on 26th November as a digital download. It includes two covers, Happiness by Elliott Smith and Friends Of The Heroes by The Aislers Set
The band toured during October to December 2007 with shows in France, Belgium, Spain, United Kingdom and Germany.
The beginning of 2008 will see shows in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France including dates supporting Ian Brown
The Electric Soft Parade's Silent to the Dark is included on the Dermot O'Leary compilation CD The Saturday Sessions released July 23rd 2007 and also features on the Isle Of Wight Festival 2004 DVD.
