Violent Soho
It is difficult to equate the sleepy outer Brisbane suburb of Mansfield with an international success story…
It is difficult to equate the sleepy outer Brisbane suburb of Mansfield with an international success story. Yet spawning from Queensland's bible belt come 4 piece Violent Soho, who are well on the way to achieving exactly that.
The band was borne of a reaction against everything and everyone. Wearing their hearts firmly emblazoned across their home made t-shirts, these four unlikely lads scream it loud and proud with a guttural roar that does not let up from beginning to end.
Having kicked around Brisbane for the last 5 years, Violent Soho (James Tidswell - guitars, Luke Boerdam - vocals, guitars, Michael Richards - drums and Luke Henery - Bass) took everyone by surprise with their 2008 self funded, self released debut LP "We Don't Belong Here". The album spawned the Triple J hit Love is A Heavy Word, and saw the band traversing the nation numerous times, including slots at some of Australia's major festivals Homebake, Falls, Laneway and Southbound.
After touring the length and breadth of their homeland numerous times, the lads packed their bags at the end of 2008 and headed over international waters for a whirlwind run of showcases that saw them performing in London, New York and LA to a host of industry who's who, including the infamous Rick Rubin (at his studio in Malibu) and Sonic Youth's main man Thurston Moore. The latter stood tall at the front of a New York showcase in Lower East side hipster hangout Piano's, dancing his way through the set and applauding loudly. It was this meeting that spawned the beginning of a beautiful relationship between Mr Moore and Messrs Soho.
By early 2009, the band had signed with Moore's prestigious Ecstatic Peace label and were once again headed overseas, this time to the peace and quiet of the Welsh countryside. They ventured to Rockfield Studio's, where albums by Queen, Stone Roses, Oasis and Black Sabbath had been recorded , and settled into the farmland Violent Soho would call home for the next 5 weeks. The boys were introduced to their producer Gil Norton (Pixies, Foo Fighters, Distillers) and started laying down the tracks that would constitute their international debut album. While tracking the record, the band also managed to sneak away from the studios for a day excursion where they performed at the legendary hard rock Download festival in Donnington. Upon completion of this process, Luke Boerdam made the trip out to LA to mix the record with none other than mixer extraordinaire Rich Costey (Muse, Foo Fighters).
Relocating to Brooklyn New York at the end of last year to prepare for the worldwide release of the album, the band barely had time to get used to their new apartment before heading out around the USA on tour with Built To Spill and music veterans Dinosaur Jr. Driving through snow took some getting used too for a bunch of Bris-vegas natives, but the band prevailed and continue to build a solid fan base delivering their frantic live show on constant laps of the country. Most recently, they have just commenced a massive US tour throughout March/April with fellow ear-bleeders The Bronx, and are set to announce a triumphant homecoming tour very soon.
Violent Soho, the album not the band, is clearly one of the most explosive rock records you will hear this year. Lead single Jesus Stole My Girlfriend is already causing major waves on radio stations across the globe, and currently sits in the Billboard Top 40 Rock songs chart and the Canadian Top 20 airplay chart. The song itself is a melodic sledgehammer and powerful statement of intent, and a clear sign why this unassuming quartet of Aussie lads is sure to be considered one of the most exciting new guitar bands in the world by year's end. Songs like monolithic album opener 'Here Be Dragons' and the twisted fury of 'Muscle Junkie' seethe with power, the acoustic 'Outsider' indicates a band that can still deliver the knockout blow with the volume turned right down, while 'Narrow Ways' glides with effortless simmering tension that is sure to get under your skin.
$19.95