Picture yourself in an abandoned theme park. The rollercoaster is dilapidated, the merry go round a collection of twisted metal and cobwebs. The big top still stands, although shabby and dirty, in the middle of the park. Suddenly, the old tent lights up and strange music booms from the inside, cutting through the humid night air. A constant, throbbing beat grows faster as you run towards the thin streak of light shining from the entrance. The music seems to encompass everything around you; the decaying carnival, the deep night and the long grass brushing past your legs. There is no hint of danger as you burst through the tent flap and into the bright surrounds of the Big Top’s interior. Standing on a stage in front of you are five young men with powerful voices and a sound like no other; they are Rocketsmiths.
Brisbane’s Rocketsmiths are one of the best up and coming bands in the Australian music scene at the moment and recent times have proven why. After releasing their second critically acclaimed EP, “Meet Horace and Clyde” in July 2007, the band have gone from strength to strength all over the country after a series of impressive tours, support slots and incredibly exciting and energetic headline shows. The past 18 months have seen them share the stage with the likes of We Are Scientists (USA), Presidents of The United States of America (USA), Juliette And The Licks (USA), British India, Operator Please, The Whitlams, The Gin Club, Little Red, The Boat People, Bluejuice, The Paper Scissors, The John Steel Singers, Yves Klein Blue and Cuthbert & The Night Walkers as well as being booked for both The Valley Fiesta and Festival Of The Sun playing alongside Gotye, Butterfingers, and Clare Bowditch.
Playing a style of music that has been dubbed everything from “Carnie Rock” to “Vaudevillian Indie Rock Popabilly”, Rocketsmiths sound (and play) like no other band in the Australian music scene and their latest EP, which is due to be released nationally in October this year, has the sound of a band realising their full potential musically and creatively. Produced and recorded by ARIA award-winning producer Magoo (Regurgitator, Operator Please, End Of Fashion, Kate Miller-Heidke) over a month at his Applewood Lane property in regional Queensland, this EP (named “Parts, Pieces.”) has music industry tongues wagging and the band’s fanbase unable to contain their excitement. “Parts, Pieces.” will be showcasing the band’s new sound, a unique mash up of indie rock, rockabilly and carnivalesque pop, with an obvious departure from the style that characterised their last release.
With plenty of new songs being written by the band that continue to explore a new change in direction and style, the Australian music industry is waiting with bated breath for the new EP and of course the band’s impending album. This energetic, exciting and extremely unique band are certainly ones to watch over the next 12 months with their style of music that is energetic yet restrained, quirky yet mature and hip yet totally uncool.
“These boys looked like they were about to explode from the amount of fun they were having onstage, and each song just got louder and faster and crazier. They definitely warmed the crowd up and stole the show for the night… The songs were all catchy and captivating and all these wonderful things that make it impossible to tear your eyes away for a second, and when their final song, “Tale of Two City Boys” ended, it was a little sad.”
(Fasterlouder.com.au)
“There's something really special about this track (Modern Life). I was pulled in at the very first verse and totally won over by the chorus. It's old school lo-fi rock with a bouncy brit edge. Great sing-along melodies, a couple of nice stops, some bop ba bahs and rockin' guitar riffs. The rest of The Rocketsmiths' EP is good - but this is really great!!”
(Dan Buhagiar – Triple J)
“Fun, distorted vocals and pure pop… This is a tops song and one you want to sing along to.” (Zan Rowe, Triple J)
“You'd be hard-pressed to find a more consistently entertaining or engaging local act than The Rocketsmiths. EP favourites Worth It and Modern Life are attacked with panache and gusto, while material from their October-due second EP is nothing short of impressive. Keep an ear out.”
(Andrew McMillen – Rave Magazine)
“Their sweet pop-inspired-punk-meets-country sound had the 400-plus crowd having a good ol’ shin-freaking-dig… they sure do know how to command a crowd and form allegiances.”
(Rachel Surgeoner – Rave Magazine)