The Camels
Encyclopedia
The Camels are an Australian rock band from Sydney, New South Wales, formed in late 1999 by brothers Jamie Holt and Tim Holt (guitar & vocals), along with Matt Smedley (bass) and Dave Springer (drums).
(The Church
) in October 2002. "The Party's Over/Summertime" (double A-side single) was released in December 2003 and received generous airplay on Triple J
national radio and also Sydney's Nova 96.9 radio. "Over When I Met You" was the follow-up single released shortly before the All You Ever Needed album was independently released through Shock Records
in May 2004.
The band began touring Australia extensively in the second half of 2004, and while the album's title track was becoming one of the band's best known radio songs, they also become known for their live acoustic version of Frankie Valli
's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", performed on Triple J
's weekly cover song segment. The band finished the year with an appearance at the Homebake
festival in December 2004 & also the release of a remix of "Summertime" by DJ Regal of UK Hip-Hop act The Wiseguys
.
2005 saw the band continue touring relentlessly, this time embarking on their first major national headlining tour "The Camels Coastal Surfari". They performed over 60 shows in 4 months,including a support slot with their international heroes Cake
, and earned a reputation as one of Australia's hardest working bands. Sydney's Drum Media & Adelaide's Time Off magazines both featured cover stories for The Camels' national tour.
The band returned to the studio in September 2005 to record the follow-up single "On Top Of The World", a tribute to Edmund Hillary
& Tenzing Norgay
, the first two people to climb Mount Everest
. This was recorded in Melbourne's Birdland Studios with producer Lindsay Gravina. After a performance at the Come Together Music Festival
The band was then commissioned to write 3 songs for a documentary about Sydney's Bra Boys
surf gang from Maroubra and returned to Birdland for the recording.
2006 saw the band record three tracks for the Bra Boys
documentary, as well as songwriter Jamie Holt contributing the film's theme song "My Brothers' Keeper" & 18 other pieces for the original score. The film was released on the 15th of March 2007, and has become Australia's highest-grossing documentary.
In December 2006, The Camels recorded Romance with producer Tim Whitten which became lead single on The Romance EP, released 17 March 2007 through Roadshow Music. The Romance EP also features two tracks from the Bra Boys
documentary.
The Camels are due to embark on the "Causing Trouble" national tour to promote their latest release.
Camels By Candlelight at Sydney's Hopetoun Hotel. The annual Christmas
Extravaganza sees the band joined by an array of guest vocalists from
other local bands to perform traditional and not-so-traditional versions
of Christmas songs. The event has become a local institution in Sydney's
music scene, selling out each year faster than the last. The band is
preparing this year for their 7th annual event to once again see that
the Christmas spirit in consumed in abundance.
Tim Holt - vocals & guitar
Matt Smedley - bass & vocals
David Springer - drums & vocals
History
After cutting their teeth in the pub circuit around Sydney, The Camels began recording their self-funded debut album All You Ever Needed with producer Tim PowlesTim Powles
Tim Powles is a music producer and artist originally from New Zealand, and though now an Australian resident, he is of English/Irish descent. Also known as timEbandit Powles, his main instrument and first love was the drum kit and tuned percussion. In the 70's he won a scholarship to join the New...
(The Church
The Church (band)
The Church is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980. Initially associated with new wave and the neo-psychedelic sound of the mid 1980s, their music later became more reminiscent of progressive rock, featuring long instrumental jams and complex guitar interplay...
) in October 2002. "The Party's Over/Summertime" (double A-side single) was released in December 2003 and received generous airplay on Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
national radio and also Sydney's Nova 96.9 radio. "Over When I Met You" was the follow-up single released shortly before the All You Ever Needed album was independently released through Shock Records
Shock Records
Shock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
in May 2004.
The band began touring Australia extensively in the second half of 2004, and while the album's title track was becoming one of the band's best known radio songs, they also become known for their live acoustic version of Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli is an American musician, most famous as frontman of The Four Seasons. He is well-known for his unusually powerful falsetto singing voice...
's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", performed on Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
's weekly cover song segment. The band finished the year with an appearance at the Homebake
Homebake
Homebake is an annual Australian rock festival, featuring an all-Australian lineup . The festival was first held on 4 January 1996 at Belongil Fields in Byron Bay, on the far north coast of New South Wales...
festival in December 2004 & also the release of a remix of "Summertime" by DJ Regal of UK Hip-Hop act The Wiseguys
The Wiseguys
The Wiseguys was a British electronica and hip hop band that was responsible for creating the song "Start the Commotion" that was in a Mitsubishi TV advertisement, as well as the films Lizzie McGuire, Zoolander and Kangaroo Jack; and "Ooh La La", which was used in Budweiser commercials...
.
2005 saw the band continue touring relentlessly, this time embarking on their first major national headlining tour "The Camels Coastal Surfari". They performed over 60 shows in 4 months,including a support slot with their international heroes Cake
Cake (band)
Cake is an American alternative rock band from Sacramento, California. Consisting of singer John McCrea, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, guitarist Xan McCurdy, bassist Gabe Nelson and drummer Paulo Baldi, the band has been noted for McCrea's sarcastic lyrics and deadpan voice, DiFiore's trumpet parts, and...
, and earned a reputation as one of Australia's hardest working bands. Sydney's Drum Media & Adelaide's Time Off magazines both featured cover stories for The Camels' national tour.
The band returned to the studio in September 2005 to record the follow-up single "On Top Of The World", a tribute to Edmund Hillary
Edmund Hillary
Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE , was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953 at the age of 33, he and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest – see Timeline of climbing Mount Everest...
& Tenzing Norgay
Tenzing Norgay
Padma Bhushan, Supradipta-Manyabara-Nepal-Tara Tenzing Norgay, GM born Namgyal Wangdi and often referred to as Sherpa Tenzing, was a Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer...
, the first two people to climb Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
. This was recorded in Melbourne's Birdland Studios with producer Lindsay Gravina. After a performance at the Come Together Music Festival
Come Together Music Festival
Come Together is an all-ages Australian music festival performed at Luna Park Sydney. Beginning in 2005, it was originally two separate events, one in April and one in September. In 2006, a two-day festival was held in June , and the festival was again on the same long weekend in 2007...
The band was then commissioned to write 3 songs for a documentary about Sydney's Bra Boys
Bra Boys
The Bra Boys is an Australian surf gang founded and based in Maroubra, an eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. Dating back to the 1990s, the gang has gained notoriety through violent clashes with members of the public and police...
surf gang from Maroubra and returned to Birdland for the recording.
2006 saw the band record three tracks for the Bra Boys
Bra Boys
The Bra Boys is an Australian surf gang founded and based in Maroubra, an eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. Dating back to the 1990s, the gang has gained notoriety through violent clashes with members of the public and police...
documentary, as well as songwriter Jamie Holt contributing the film's theme song "My Brothers' Keeper" & 18 other pieces for the original score. The film was released on the 15th of March 2007, and has become Australia's highest-grossing documentary.
In December 2006, The Camels recorded Romance with producer Tim Whitten which became lead single on The Romance EP, released 17 March 2007 through Roadshow Music. The Romance EP also features two tracks from the Bra Boys
Bra Boys
The Bra Boys is an Australian surf gang founded and based in Maroubra, an eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. Dating back to the 1990s, the gang has gained notoriety through violent clashes with members of the public and police...
documentary.
The Camels are due to embark on the "Causing Trouble" national tour to promote their latest release.
Camels By Candlelight
Each Christmas since 2000, The Camels have hosted an event known asCamels By Candlelight at Sydney's Hopetoun Hotel. The annual Christmas
Extravaganza sees the band joined by an array of guest vocalists from
other local bands to perform traditional and not-so-traditional versions
of Christmas songs. The event has become a local institution in Sydney's
music scene, selling out each year faster than the last. The band is
preparing this year for their 7th annual event to once again see that
the Christmas spirit in consumed in abundance.
Members
Jamie Holt - lead vocals & guitarTim Holt - vocals & guitar
Matt Smedley - bass & vocals
David Springer - drums & vocals
Singles
- "Over When I Met You" - Shock RecordsShock RecordsShock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
(2004) - "Times We Had" - Shock RecordsShock RecordsShock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
(2006)