This Wicked Tongue

This Wicked Tongue

This Wicked Tongue is a female-fronted hard rock group from Worcester, UK. The band forms in April 2010 and develops around a line-up built from local musicians already jamming together in Si’s Ancient Addicts project. It settles into a four-piece format, and its members share original songs equally, with no single member taking seniority over the others.

Formation and line-up

The band begins after Tina is approached by the organiser of the Bridge Bash festival at Great Witley near Worcester. After seeing her perform solo, he offers her a support slot with Athlete if she can put a band together and persuade the festival committee. Tina is already rehearsing with Si, Haydn and James Allin, and they take the chance to become her band.

A demo of Tina’s song Paradise is prepared quickly, followed by a practice and informal interview session where the band also plays The Simpsons Are On At Six and Chains. That performance secures the booking. The early line-up features Si on lead guitar, Haydn on bass and James Allin on drums, with Tina as vocalist. By July 2011, the line-up settles to Haydn and Tina from the original group, joined by Rob Taylor on bass and Ben Pemberton on drums.

Name and repertoire

The band considers several possible names, including “The Tina V Band”, “Tina and the Radio” and “Hot Sho The Roine”, before choosing This Wicked Tongue. The name comes from a P.J. Harvey song, originally from the album Stories of the Sea. Early set lists include Tina’s songs Worthy Deceit and Paradise, the developing joint composition Painted Picture, and covers of Bob Dylan’s All Along The Watchtower, Aly and AJ’s The Potential Breakup Song, and Juliana Hatfield’s Dumb Fun.

Sound and performance

The group’s sound is described as hard-edged, inventive and grungy rock, with strong contrasts and breakdowns. The vocals and harmonies are notable for ranging from soft to forceful, with an R&B-like sensitivity, rapid word placement and irregular rhythmic phrasing. Live performance is a significant part of the band’s identity, with the group presented as visually assured, tightly playing and energetic, with especially powerful and precise drumming supporting the stage show.

Activity and approach

This Wicked Tongue practices and gigs regularly and remains unsigned, building its reputation through reviews, radio play, live dates and online presence on a limited budget. The band presents itself as serious about developing recognition for its music while also emphasising the enjoyment it takes from performing.