Paul Hawkins & Thee Awkward Silences

Paul Hawkins and Thee Awkward Silences – Bettsie Trotwood’s – Single launch ‘’The Battle is Over’’

I shall start this inscribed half wit ramble parchment with a comparison – Paul Hawkins is Daniel Johnston, but has not been diagnosed with clinical insanity –yet. Paul Hawkins is the young Daniel Johnston, greased odd ball, over flowing with unrequited love advancements – All penned under an immature light associating love and sex as one. His desire to find either fuels the steam turbines of the powerful locomotive that is PHATAS.
It is clear from the start of this gig we are witnessing outsiders. What a refreshing change to watch a band which doesn’t lick its own Jagger shaped leathery Tsvangirais (Ghet-urban for testicles/ incidentally the meat of 2 veg is called a Mugabe), of course Hawkins has an ego – indeed it grows, teetering and beyond the lip of arrogance. – But you can’t quite take the man seriously – or as seriously as he takes himself, but you must admire and feel the bonfire that dances in the hollow of his belly. An inferno that cannot be faked. A blaze that is so readily extinguished in night theatres of London by the bands who have nothing to say and nothing to believe in. I know what it is that I believe in with Paul Hawkins – it is the eternity I felt as an irresponsible teenager, it is the uncontrolled laughter I had after a hit beneath the milky moon. It is the bright realization that nothing will ever be quite as it was, it is knowing the is ness of contours of skin.
This is propped and held straight by the skeleton of the band – surreal – surreal is the drum who hits skins garmented as a 1940’s chef from the French resistance, surreal – surreal is the Bassist plucking mad, bejewelled with a necklace made from an old picture frame, mad – mad is the guitarist wearing a P-51 fighter pilot helmet and 3D specs. Mad – mad is the pianist.
They plough through a well greased set, no energy is lost. One can see they are a band that truly believes in themselves. Indeed they are a band who are mostly believed in by others. Huw Stephens recently invited them to Maida Vale to record 4 tracks exclusively for the BBC and also play at Latitude. Paul Hawkins is The Fall but fun, it is a glistening jewel in the muddied crown of trendy Indie music. Long may they live. I truly hope that they will break through into a larger consciousness of pop; it’s exactly what it needs. Will it happen? Paul Hawkins is like marmite you either love him or you hate him. I love him I’ll let you decide.

www.silenceisawkward.com