This could be attributed to the fact that he spent a few years prior to the band's success, participating as part of the committee that put on the UK's first "Ladyfest" in London,[1] and also numerous fundraisers around this time.

[2] He has been seen with various other bands, such as Quasi (in which his wife Joanna Bolme plays bass), Comet Gain, and Jeffrey Lewis – guesting as a drummer all times.

In 2008, he recorded vocals for a track called "I Would Like to be Forgiven" by fellow Wakefield band The Research, and appeared in the music video for Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks' song "Gardenia".

In 2009, on very short notice, he played bass with Franz Ferdinand during two of their shows supporting Green Day when bassist Bob Hardy forgot about a wedding he had been invited to.

[3] In 2010, he contributed his bass playing as part of ex-Grandaddy guitarist Jim Fairchild's new project All Smiles, appearing on the album Staylow and Mighty.