Formed in the summer of 1977, 2.3 were Sheffield’s first new wave/pink band. Following gigs with The Stranglers, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Tom Robinson Band, Generation X, Steel Pulse, The Rezillos, Doctors of Madness, Cabaret Voltaire and others, they were signed by Edinburgh label Fast Products whose artists included The Mekons, Gang of Fourand immediately following 2.3, The Human League. The 2.3 single “All Time Low” was released in February 1978 and immediately entered the alternative chart top 10 and was single of the week in NME.
Fast Products was later acquired by EMI who released a compilation album “The first year plan” and more recently on the history of Sheffield music CD series released by Cherry Red – “Dreams to fill the vacuum”.
2.3 split in late 1978 with Paul Shaft leaving to form experimental band de tian who later became the highly acclaimed creative jazz influenced Bass Tone Trap with Shaft now playing double bass. de tian released an EP “Two Spires Split” and had a track featured on the compilation album “Bouquet of Steel”.
Bass Tone Trap were active as a recording and gigging band for 5 years during which time they headlined the Bracknell Jazz Festival and released their debut album, Trapping. Trapping later acquired by Italian label Music a la Coque and re-released on CD.
Often hailed as a minor underground classic shortly after its 1983 release on LP, this rather zany jazz-rock outing seldom fails to entertain, even thirty years after the fact. On this effort, billed as a jazz-punk release, the British sextet’s uncanny methodology is supplanted by Frank Zappa-like quirkiness, free-form jazz workouts and tuneful themes. Bassist Paul Shaft doubles as a vocalist. He spoofs rock ‘n’ roll with tongue-in-cheek choruses atop odd-metered backbeats, wily horn passages, and John Jasnoch’s psycho wah-wah electric guitar licks. All About Jazz, Oct. 2006.
After a spell working as a session musician in the US, Shaft moved to Kent and in 2018 following the death of drummer Haydn Boyes-Weston, reformed 2.3 with original guitarist Paul Bower. The band were invited to perform at Sheffield’s Tramlines Festival where they openeed the event playing to a packed audience of original fans. A 3 track EP was recorded at Tileyard studios, London, produced by Martyn Ware (Human League, Heaven 17, Terrance Trent Derby, Tina Turner), released by Native Records.
Following creation of their own studio in Wadhurst they released their debut album, “ New Clear Waves” , largely consisting of songs from 77/78.
Two further appearances at Tramlines followed together with gigs in London and the South East. Bower decided to take time out from 2.3 to travel and pursue a solo career. Shaft recruited local musicians Aidan Lee – bass, Ed Price – lead guitar and Ellie Thomas – drums and 2.3 became a 4 piece with Shaft switching to rhythm guitar. A second album, “Songs of the Lost” was released in 2020. Around the same time Shaft reformed de tian and signed to Discus Music to release a concept album “Transcriptome”. This album received rave reviews and extensive radio play worldwide.
With Ed currently on sabbatical with Motor Raider, 2.3 currently perform as they started out, as a 3 piece, but often include guests including Martin Archer (horns), Rob Maxson III (guitars), Emilija Wellbrock (vocals) and Paul Hague, (electronics).2.3 are a band with a long history who are based in T-Wells but have yet to play any of the local live events. They play songs about life with attitude and a social conscience.
