BIGSOUND LIVE
and ‘the other two’. We have three guitars, one bass, drums and a singer. The music we play has been described as garage pop a few times. Come and listen and describe it how you want.
The BIGSOUND Live component of the annual industry showcase has been taken to a whole new level in 2012, expanding to cover 12 different venues in the Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct, which in turn means that 120 different bands from around Australia (with a handful of overseas bands thrown in for good measure) will be showcasing in Brisbane over the two nights of Wednesday 12 September and Thursday 13 September. You can purchase a pass for both nights (or a single night pass for either) which gets you into all of the venues, meaning that you have the pick of the country’s up-and-coming bands at your disposal (with some already established names also throwing their weight behind the event), which is pretty freaking exciting no matter which way you spin it. We spoke to just a few of the many great bands converging on Brisbane for BIGSOUND next month, trying to find out just why we should catch them amidst the craziness and what they’re looking forward to the most from the experience: before us). Plus, we haven’t played any of these new songs live before, so it’ll be a nice test. Why should people come and see you from amongst the myriad bands at BIGSOUND? Because we’re good.
Member/role: Steve – metallituar and vocals; José – bass and card tricks; D-Rad – drums and groupie slayer.
Hometown: Perth Short description of your band and your music: We play a pretty eclectic indie mix. 44th Sunset have evolved a lot over the past two and a half years. We have had a pretty big year starting out with Southbound and the Big Day Out. BIGSOUND is our first foray out to the world of showcasing and a chance to cross the desert...
Why should people come and see you from amongst the myriad bands at BIGSOUND? We are probably the least known band... It’s the unknown factor. By the end of BIGSOUND this will not be the case (hopefully!) and you will be kicking yourself that you have missed the best gig of the two nights (although Velociraptor are pretty good and fellow Perthians Brow Horn aren’t too bad either).
Hometown: Sydney
What are you hoping to achieve from showcasing at BIGSOUND? World domination and/or maybe a free sandwich.
Member/role: Nik – lead singer, songwriter, guitarist; Jess – backing vocals, keys; Joe – drums; Jack – guitar; Michael – bass
KING CANNONS Member/role:
Luke Yeoward - lead Singer, guitarist, songwriter. Hometown: Melbourne Short description of your band and your music: Roots-influenced rock and pop music. What are you hoping to achieve from showcasing at BIGSOUND? We want to reach people we have yet to reach in the music community. We want to let them know that soulful handcrafted music performed with conviction is STILL here, and it is still important to people.
MILLIONS Member/role: Ted – guitar
Why should people come and see you from amongst the myriad bands at BIGSOUND? You will have more of a chance of feeling excited and energised after watching King Cannons then you will watching anyone else on the bill.
Hometown: Brisbane Short description of your band and your music: We play pop and we like to have a good time whilst doing so. What are you hoping to achieve from showcasing at BIGSOUND? A good time, also maybe some international interest would be nice from agents/labels/ whoever else can pimp us out.
Hometown: Sydney
Hometown: Melbourne (via Wellington) Short description of your band and your music: Daggy, new-school drum machines, lots of strangled guitar sounds, quite a lot of singing, dramatic choruses and songs about my parents. Also the odd Laurie Anderson-esque repetitive vocal sample. What are you hoping to achieve from showcasing at BIGSOUND? An escape from freezing Melbourne, and the chance to hang out with Kirin J Callahan (he’s playing just 38 • TIME OFF
Member/role: Aaron – Keyboardist Hometown: Brisbane
Short description of your band and your music: We are one big family – we’re all related in different ways. We love music that tells stories and takes you somewhere else. What are you hoping to achieve from showcasing at BIGSOUND? There’s such a good lineup, we’re looking forward to seeing lots of great music and are excited about the opportunity to play to so many new people. Big Sound has such a buzz about it, and for people to hear our music in that environment will be wicked. Why should people come and see you from amongst the myriad bands at BIGSOUND? Because we’re trying to write really good songs and we have so much fun playing them. Also, Charlie bought new boots.
ALL THE COLOURS
Member/role: Josh Moriarty- vocals/guitar/keys Hometown: Melbourne Short description of your band and your music: Citing themselves as progressive vintage, All The Colours have the ambition of making great music and girls dance. With influences such as the failsafe classics off a Tarantino soundtrack, it’s little wonder this band is quickly and surely making a name for itself. Think ‘60s Motown dress sense akin to the Four Tops but with the swagger of Elvis and the guitar solos of Zeppelin.’ What are you hoping to achieve from showcasing at BIGSOUND? Having someone like Franky Sharp in Wayne’s World smoking a cigar come up to us after our show and say, ‘You kids have got what it takes, I think you are gonna go far in this business. How would you like a record deal?’ Why should people come and see you from amongst the myriad bands at BIGSOUND? Come see us and find out…
Short description of your band and your music: We are a five-piece electronic group containing a mixture of electronic pop with influential strains coming from jazz, indie, rock and dance. It includes dynamic sections all infused with a fun, dance-orientated vibe. We have a mix of electronic instruments (samplers, synths, keys), live drums, bass and guitar with an injection of saxophone and trumpet, which gives it a unique kind of energy. An all-round fun time!
Why should people come and see you from amongst the myriad bands at BIGSOUND? Our time slot is a tough one, but our unique spin on electronic music fused with saxophone and trumpet offers a live performance unlike any other. Our on-stage energy gives audiences a real sense of connection. If you’ve already seen Ball Park Music, come on down to Magic City at 10.30pm Wednesday to see what the fuss is all about and witness the fitness... See you there!
Member/role: Charlene Collins – vocals, guitar; Chris Collins – vocals, guitar
Member/role: Jessica Cornelius - singing, instruments and fake drums.
PIGEON
What are you hoping to achieve from showcasing at BIGSOUND? Our aim for BIGSOUND lies mainly in performing our best/honest show to a crowd that we’ve previously never had a chance to play to. We are excited to be performing in front of the industry delegates and festival punters and to see what opportunities may stem from it.
TIGERTOWN
TEETH & TONGUE
Why should people come and see you from amongst the myriad bands at BIGSOUND? I guess if you are into Charlie And The Chocolate Factory you might be interested in watching us, as our lead singer bears a striking resemblance to a young Gene Wilder. Has a heap of golden tickets too. Come along, Brissie, we would love to see you there.
What are you hoping to achieve from showcasing at BIGSOUND? Getting those contracts signed!! Coming from Perth, it can be hard to get the industry out to see us play so getting over to BIGSOUND gives us the chance to get the job done! Finalising label, agent and management so a pretty big half-hour set... Launching our single which is being mixed by JP Fung.
STEP-PANTHER
Short description of your band and your music: Three farmers wielding axes – but with no wood to chop – writing love songs for each other.
44TH SUNSET
What are you hoping to achieve from showcasing at BIGSOUND? Most importantly we are trying to put on an entertaining and tight show for all that are involved. Personally I want to watch a lot of bands and talk to a lot of people. There are some great bands playing up there this year. In terms of what we are trying to achieve as a band, I’m not too sure, maybe our manager has more in store on that side of things. All we can worry about is playing well, and the rest will follow.
LOON LAKE
Member/role: Sime – guitar, backing vocals Hometown: Tarrawingee originally (Country Vic). Now living in the big smoke of Melbourne. Short description of your band and your music: We are five blokes, which include three brothers
themusic.com.au
YOUNG MEN DEAD
Member/role: Dean Foran – drummer Hometown: Brisbane Short description of your band and your music: We are four tall friends that share a love of dance music, synthesizers, tribal drums and epic harmonies. The rest of the Young Men Dead story wrote itself. What are you hoping to achieve from showcasing at BIGSOUND? BIGSOUND is an exciting opportunity for us to reach new audiences and hopefully have our music burn the ears off people we respect within the industry. Why should people come and see you from amongst the myriad bands at BIGSOUND? We’ve just come off the back of our first interstate shows and we are keen as mustard to show off to everyone. We’ll be releasing a single any day now and our EP will not be far behind. It’s like we’ve created some sort of rabid sound animal and it won’t stay caged for much longer. Come along, poke a stick between the bars and experience YMD for yourself. BIGSOUND Live takes place in Fortitude Valley on Wednesday 12 September and Thursday 13 September: for more information on BIGSOUND LIVE and the bands playing, head to themusic.com.au/festivals/qld/big-sound/, and for ticketing and program information head to qmusic.com.au/bigsound/2012.