My Band - Have a Listen, Lads

Well how's this, then. We entered ('we' being my band, 'The Format') TripleJJJ's Unearthed* comp for a laugh and we made it to the final round. My eyes still water, I was laughing so hard. But anyway, they whacked one of our songs up on the site so it could be heard by the general public, and I thought that my fellow TB'ers might be interested to hear why I'm so incredibly famous and the epitomy of modesty. Tell me what you think, too. That'd be great.

The Format - Cute

Go here, be dazzled. ^



*For you guys outside Australia, it's a competition run by TripleJJJ (one of the big 3 local radio stations) nation-wide where any unsigned band can send in a song. It gets judged, and if the people listening like it, you get major support and props if you pull through to the final 3 winners. MAJOR support and props.

 

Jeezus, that was quick. What kinda connection are you flying on? I don't even believe you listened to it. But thanks for the compliment

 

I guess you're... saying good things? I'm not sure. We get 'Tool' comparisons all the time, so I'm geared up to kill people who do that

Cheers, matey.

 

Hey thanks for listening and throwing your comments my way, boys. I dig constructive criticism and muffled praise just as much as each other

Tell you the truth, I haven't heard what the song sounds like in .MP3 form, but I'm guessing that the treble frequencies have shot up and that the bass and kicks have all but disappeared? Tends to happen, that. We recorded and mastered this song (and the four others on the demo it came from) ourselves in our own tiny little studio, so it's very far from perfect.

The solo being repetitive... that's interesting. I mean, that's the idea of it. It's virtually a two-note solo. We don't see it so much as a time for the guitar to show off, but rather as just another 'layer to the tapestry', so to speak. I don't think Hammet or Dimebag-esque playing would be particularly tasteful or flow very well in context. The average non-musician would disagree with ALL of you and say that 'that solo rocked', I think - because it grooves well above the supporting music, it repeats in places and thus is easily understandable to Joe Regular, and leads into the final part of the song nicely (at least, I think so). Don't think for a second that Chris (the man behind the ax) isn't capable of shredding with utmost skill and fervour; the boy has chops and - this is gonna kill you all - I've learnt so much from him about 'playing for the song'. Yes, I learnt things from a 6-banger, orright!

We're commercial; everyone out there has gotta dig it and find something that touches them or else what good are we doing making their ears bleed trying to convince? Hopefully we're not pissing off all the musicians listening who are craving something a little more complex. It's difficult to craft a song which everybody likes for every reason, as you boys have demonstrated.

Thanks for the comments, they're on board. Keep 'em coming!

 

Cheers, bro I wasn't offended, man, don't get me wrong. But you're being a bit vague - more 'exciting' in what way? Note choice? Number of notes? Tempo? Effect usage? Direction?

 

A fellow Melbourner! How's that? What's up, man?
Hate to beat my own chest, but we've been hailed as the slickest rhythm section on the Victorian rock circuit - but I don't expect you to believe that until you come see us live. Which you can do, real soon...
>>> WEDNESDAY 9th of JULY at...
>>> The Mercury Lounge, (inside Crown Casino) at 10:15pm. Cover charge is $5. Big event, this one - it's TripleM's Launchpad series. I'm quaking.

That'd be wicked if you could rock up to that one. Looks to be (hopefully) massive. And you can catch the songs with the all-important screaming in 'em, too

 

The verses modulate from that quirky Bb octave pattern up to Gb (so you're right on with it so far), which still 'bounces' off a Bb note. I challenge you to suss out the bridge - yes, the tapped chord (hint: gotta use your right hand thumb and index simultaneously, and your left hand index!) and everything. Garn, mate! You can do it!

God, I _despise_ my LTD with a passion, bro! The downer is that I have to use it live as our songs require a 5 string, so no cool Spector. If you hop in early you might catch me warming up (er, SHOWING OFF) on my 4, though.

I'm not sure about the exact nature of the show, but we're in the middle slot (it kicks off with a band who's name I have since forgotten at 9:30 or something) and I think the idea is for the current 'cream of the underground' to get a chance at impressing some big-wigs. Lots of industry reps will be in attendance, apparently.
Ditch hockey! You won't be able to live with yourself if you don't!