Ok I can't be arsed to modify this much, but here is what I've just sent as a bulletin on myspace, and posted on our band blog.

Basically the drummer in my band 4 or 5 Magicians has gone part-time, so we need a live drummer to join and play the majority of our shows.

We've released a well received single on Alcopop/Big Scary Monsters - 8/10 drowned in sound review : http://www.drownedinsound.com/release/view/11684

This is an interview for Drowned In Sound : http://discover.drownedinsound.com/articles/2292888

We've been on Huw Stephens' and Steve Lamacq's shows on Radio 1, both are big fans.

We sound broadly like late 80's / early 90's American alt-rock - Pavement, Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr, Guided By Voices, Built To Spill, Pixies, Nirvana, REM, Weezer, Flaming Lips etc.

Here is our myspace page : www.myspace.com/4or5magicians

Slightly modified original post below :

Happy New Year! Big news in the world of 4 or 5 Magicians!

After a long chat between me and Mike, it has been mutually decided that he is going to step down to a less committal position in the band. Mike didn't want to be travelling around all over the place doing shows, and I didn't want to be in a position where I was having to turn shows down. This is a good thing, not least because it means Mike will now be able to concentrate on his rather good solo project - have a listen if you haven't already he has some new songs up - www.myspace.com/mikelord1

Mike isn't off for good though, we're still living together and will still be able to play each other demos and talk about whether we think each others songs are good or shit. He will also be contributing keyboards and noises to our forthcoming recordings with Ian Button, and will continue as a live member at local shows, playing either drums or keyboards, including playing drums, or maybe even a bit of both at our show in Brighton on January 22nd.

Until then, we have two shows booked - in Cambridge on the 10th with Johnny Foreigner and Cats in Paris, and in Norwich on the 18th with Pale Man Made and Trick Babies. For these shows, I'll be moving to drums and attempting to sing at the same time, and my old friend Graham Pembrey will be stepping in on guitar, attempting to play devilishly difficult and technically outstanding four chords a song. Don't shake your head in disbelief - it should be perfectly do-able, I spent most of my teenage weekends in a band (incidentally with Graham on guitar) where I sang and played drums, modelling myself on Darren Jessee from Ben Folds Five, so it's something that comes pretty naturally to me.

However, this is hardly an ideal setup, and we will be wanting to add a live drummer to the setup to play the majority of our live shows, so if you play drums, want to join 4 or 5 Magicians, and are happy with, and able to fulfil more or less all the following criteria, then please get in contact!

You would...

- be a competent drummer with a bit of flair, but able to accept that creative input is on my terms as the songwriter and recording drummer. I.E. Creative input is more than welcome in rehearsal, but if I tell you to play a certain thing, then you need to be happy with actually doing it how I want you to!
- be a reasonable, reliable, amiable, easy going, easy to work with sorta person.
- be generally available to play shows around the UK, and rehearse fairly regularly in Brighton or Croydon (south london). I.E. ideally not employed, but at least in a flexible job ... or in a university course where you don't mind missing the odd class to do gigs (like Sam the Bass player).
- have an appreciation of the music we do and the general style we play in. It isn't essential that you know every Built To Spill b-side inside out, but it is essential that you have an appreciation of alternative drumming, and are willing to listen to, learn about, and appreciate our influences.
- understand that you wouldn't be making any money out of the band at this stage apart from the odd £10 here and there from shows. However, it wouldn't cost you anything to be in the band either apart from the occasional £10 on excess travel costs not completely covered by gig fees, or contribution towards rehearsal room hire. We are expecting later in the year to be making money from the band and living the rockstar lifestyle though!
- understand you would be the live drummer, and probably not be playing on recordings, unless of course you were amazing, and more suitable for playing on certain songs than me!
- own, at very least, your own cymbals (hi hat, ride, crash), kick pedal, and snare drum, but ideally your own full kit.

Also ideally, but not essentially, you would ...

- be able to play the guitar as well, so during live shows we could swap around a bit.
- be able to drive, and maybe even have a van or a large car!
- be of similar age to the rest of us (between 20 and 25), though anything from a mature 18 year old to an immature 30 year old would be fine!

In addition to this, there are going to be times when the Sams (bass and guitar) aren't going to be able to play a show, and at this stage Graham isn't joining as a permanent member, so if there are any guitarists, bass players, or keyboard players who want to learn the songs, and come to a couple of rehearsals at your leisure with a view to playing occasional live shows with us, then also, please get in touch!

And further to this, we are still very much looking for a brass section (primarily a trumpet, trombone, and tuba ... but any brass instruments really), and to be honest, any other instruments too (woodwind, strings, whatever), just get in touch letting me know what you do and I'll see if I can think of a way of working it in to the band.

Contact me through here, or email fourorfivemagicians[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk

2008 is gonna be a big year for us, so be a part of something big!

Dan x