Luke Ritchie - vocals, rhythm guitar Andrew Dunn - lead guitar Martin Goodfellow - drums James Hoskins - bass
SEVENBALL emerged late February of 1997, winning the prestigious York Battle of the Bands with their third ever live performance. A fearsome determination and an original, raw sound, propelled the band past the competition, to secure them invaluable studio time, from which emerged the highly acclaimed debut E.P - Bright Boy.
The nucleus of the band
is the kinetic partnership of Luke Ritchie (vocals, rhythm guitar)
and Andrew Dunn (lead guitar), a collaboration of such intensity
and passion that has, on more than several occasions, left audiences
with aching limbs. Luke's powerhouse vocals rip through a twisted
canvas of visceral emotion, guiding, commanding and hauntingly
honest. His rich and distinctive tones blend smoke-scarred depth
with a gentle, and deceptively bright falsetto, while Andrew's
dangerous and inspired guitar drives the unstoppable momentum
of their music. His lap slide in particular possesses a charged,
mesmerising rhythm that demands support of highest degree.
On bass guitar, James Hoskins provides a muscular and
resonant flow, guaranteed to make an audience groove, precise
and funky and accentuated by the fresh drumming of Martin Goodfellow.
As a complete unit, James' full flavour and Martin's un-restrained,
aggressive power, supply SEVENBALL with the ability to play to
their full potential.
SEVENBALL's output has been described as "understated power with tinges of sadness and pain." (Sullen Soundz Experience) and "Gorgeously intense, serious music." (Here Magazine).
Their Bright Boy E.P, distributed by Translution Records and sold through HMV and Virgin, garnered much acclaim and brought them to the attention of Sony Records, with many reviews concentrating on the striking vocals: "Luke Ritchie's vocals are gravel laden, yet soar above the spacious web of electro-acoustic guitars being spun beneath them".
Their music has been compared to that of Ben Harper, Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin and Jeff Buckley; "Dark ballads the like of which Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots used to come out with at their most inspired moments." (Here Magazine), "Imagine Jeff Buckley crossed with Pearl Jam and the result is Sevenball. Emotional stuff!" (Vision newspaper).
In 2003 the band re-located to London and have been gigging extensively throughout the capital and across the UK. Their efforts have not gone un-noticed. The Mean Fiddler group have signed them up for a number of showcase appearances and ex-Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland has approached Luke Ritchie for possible inclusion in his next project.
Luke was invited to meet the star recently at a five-star hotel in Kensington. Since leaving the famed nu-metal band, Wes has been searching for a singer to replace Fred Durst. After hearing a Sevenball demo he contacted frontman Luke and may work with him in the future. Luke is looking forward to the prospect and recalls their meeting. "I was expecting it to be all sex, drugs and rock and roll, but we actually chatted over a cream tea. We talked loads about music and he told quite a few bits of juicy gossip. I'd never leave Sevenball but it would be great to work with such a huge star. I'm very flattered that he wants to use my singing."
Review of Sevenball Blakey gig 21st February 2002 Photos of Sevenball at the 2002 Blakey Festival Photos - live at Blakey 25th March 2004 Back to the Band Index Page
