THE ROOSEVELT SESSIONS: FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS ARE BACK WITH A NEW LINE UP, NEW EP AND USA TOUR IN NOVEMBER

 

Fun Lovin’ Criminals have released ‘The Roosevelt Sessions’, their first EP of original music in more than a decade, as they prepare for a USA tour.

 

“The Roosevelt Sessions” is a jazz-laden four-track cut sprinkled with biting political satire, nostalgic samples romanticising life in New York, and their signature world-weary commentary on rising above a life of crime.

 

Charismatic multi-instrumentalist Brian ‘Fast’ Leiser is on lead vocal duties following the departure of Huey Morgan in November last year. 

 

Fast and drummer Frank Benbini have recruited guitarist Naim Cortazzi, formerly with the Manchester band Happy Mondays and soul star Beverley Knight, to restore the trio.

 

“Shake It Loose”, the second track on the EP, addresses the mental health issues that inspired Fast and Frank to create new music and perform to their fans worldwide after the departure of Morgan.

 

With silky backing vocals from Benbini, Fast, with his smokey Brooklyn drawl, laments, “back then you didn’t listen, to what was true, now it’s all we wanna hear from you. It’s not about right, it’s not about wrong.”

 

The last album of original music from Fun Lovin’ Criminals was Classic Fantastic, released in 2010, and ‘The Roosevelt Sessions’ gives fans a taste of the new Criminals sound ahead of more new music slated for release in 2023.

 

“Fun Lovin’ Criminals are entering a new chapter,” said Fast, “with a steely focus on creating new music that our fans will love. 

 

“Our new EP is a return to our gritty early days in NYC, particularly with the way the music has been composed. 

 

“Our fans in England have loved our recent live shows and we will be touring Europe and the USA in October and November; performing in some cities we haven’t visited since the nineties.”