The Sundance Kids
Encyclopedia
The Sundance Kids are an Australian pop rock
band from Adelaide
, South Australia
, formed in 2006. The group began as the acoustic
trio of vocalist and guitarist Ash Gale, as well as guitarists Jason Shepherd and Luke Zecchin, before they were joined by bassist and vocalist Jeremy Wright with drummer Suresh Meyer.
The band released an extended play
(EP) in 2007, entitled Including the Atmosphere. In 2008, they toured with local acts such as Thirsty Merc
and went into record their debut album. They signed to Warner Music
in early 2009 and released their debut single "Solutions", which peaked at number 48 on the ARIA Singles Chart
. It was followed up by the single "Drive Away" and tours supporting Evermore and The All-American Rejects
. They released their debut studio album
Fall into Place
in September 2009, which peaked at number 50 on the ARIA Albums Chart
.
trio in Adelaide
, South Australia
in 2006, involving vocalist and guitarist Ash Gale, as well as guitarists Jason Shepherd and Luke Zecchin. The band soon became a full five-piece act, with bassist and vocalist Jeremy Wright and drummer Suresh Meyer joining. The formation came about in 2006, when the members all sat together in the car park of an Adelaide shopping centre eating takeaway pizza and discussing the future of the band. Gale described the meeting in 2009; "There was this weird chemistry thing going on and we were like, if we're going to do this let's go as hard as we possibly can". The band name, The Sundance Kids, came from the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
- which the members had never even seen until early 2009. Wright is a former member of the band ThinkTank (alongside the producer of Fall into Place, Darren Thompson). In the past he had toured with Idlewild
and Rancid
.
The band's debut release was the 2007 extended play
Including the Atmosphere. They followed it up with support slots on numerous national tours with Thirsty Merc
and Angelas Dish
, as well as touring alongside Avalon Drive
, where they would decide the headline act for each night by coin toss
.
they knew, keep to a budget and back themselves to take the direction they wanted to go. It was recorded in Adelaide over a couple of months during late 2008 and early 2009, with the help of sound engineer
Darren Thompson who works with a lot of interstate bands from around Australia. The band then sent the record to Los Angeles to be mixed by Brian Petrowsky.
The band were eventually signed to Warner Music
, with their first single
"Solutions", which originally appeared on their EP, being released in May 2009. It found mainstream radio airplay and consequently peaked at number 48 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart
. The album's second single, "Drive Away", was released in June 2009 and also attracted mainstream radio airplay. The music video
for "Drive Away" was filmed in the band's hometown of Adelaide; notably around the city's CBD
, the Adelaide Hills
, Aldinga Beach
and McLaren Vale
. The band did this to show how thankful they were for the amount of home-town support they receive; "We wanted to make it obvious that it was filmed in there. It's important for us that people know we're proud to come from Adelaide. We get a lot of flak about it, but we take it on the chin." Following the release of the singles, they supported Evermore on their Australian tour and were the local act supporting on the sold out tour by The All-American Rejects
and Hoobastank
.
The album was finally manufactured eight to twelve months following the completion of production, with the finished product being made ready to hit the shelves in September 2009. Fall into Place
was released through Warner and Loud and Clear Records on 4 September 2009, debuting at number 50 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart
.
The Sundance Kids have said the album is based on what they were going through at the time of writing; it's about "reflecting on circumstances and the happenings of relationships with loved ones." Gale has named Jeff Buckley
, Keane and Damien Rice
as among his influences. Whilst touring with The All-American Rejects in 2009, their lead singer Tyson Ritter described the music as 'Jeff Buckley
pop'; guitarist Zecchin mentioned, "He called it Buckley Pop. I don’t know if we’ll live up to it, but we can try."
The band doesn't intend on relocating in the near future, Gale saying "If we were going to move anywhere at all it would be overseas, but that would be a long way in the future." They are scheduled to do a headline tour to support the debut album in October 2009, with the possibility of doing some summer festivals at the end of the year.
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band from Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, formed in 2006. The group began as the acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
trio of vocalist and guitarist Ash Gale, as well as guitarists Jason Shepherd and Luke Zecchin, before they were joined by bassist and vocalist Jeremy Wright with drummer Suresh Meyer.
The band released an extended play
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
(EP) in 2007, entitled Including the Atmosphere. In 2008, they toured with local acts such as Thirsty Merc
Thirsty Merc
Thirsty Merc are an Australian pop rock band formed in 2002 in Sydney, Australia. The band consists of Rai Thistlethwayte , Phil Stack , Karl Robertson , and Matt Smith ....
and went into record their debut album. They signed to Warner Music
Warner Music Australasia
Warner Music Australasia is the Australian division of the Warner Music Group. The company's operations also include distribution to New Zealand.-History:In 1969, Warner Bros...
in early 2009 and released their debut single "Solutions", which peaked at number 48 on the ARIA Singles Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
. It was followed up by the single "Drive Away" and tours supporting Evermore and The All-American Rejects
The All-American Rejects
The All-American Rejects are an American rock band formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1999. The band consists of lead vocalist and bass guitarist Tyson Ritter, lead guitarist, Nick Wheeler, rhythm guitarist, Mike Kennerty, and drummer Chris Gaylor....
. They released their debut studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
Fall into Place
Fall into Place (album)
They have said the album is based on what they were going through at the time of writing; it's about "reflecting on circumstances and the happenings of relationships with loved ones." Gale named Jeff Buckley, Keane and Damien Rice as among his influences....
in September 2009, which peaked at number 50 on the ARIA Albums Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
.
Formation and first release
The origins of the band emerged from the formation of an acousticAcoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
trio in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in 2006, involving vocalist and guitarist Ash Gale, as well as guitarists Jason Shepherd and Luke Zecchin. The band soon became a full five-piece act, with bassist and vocalist Jeremy Wright and drummer Suresh Meyer joining. The formation came about in 2006, when the members all sat together in the car park of an Adelaide shopping centre eating takeaway pizza and discussing the future of the band. Gale described the meeting in 2009; "There was this weird chemistry thing going on and we were like, if we're going to do this let's go as hard as we possibly can". The band name, The Sundance Kids, came from the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a 1969 American Western film directed by George Roy Hill and written by William Goldman...
- which the members had never even seen until early 2009. Wright is a former member of the band ThinkTank (alongside the producer of Fall into Place, Darren Thompson). In the past he had toured with Idlewild
Idlewild (band)
Idlewild are a Scottish rock band, formed in Edinburgh, in 1995, comprising Roddy Woomble , Rod Jones , Colin Newton , Allan Stewart and Gareth Russell...
and Rancid
Rancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
.
The band's debut release was the 2007 extended play
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Including the Atmosphere. They followed it up with support slots on numerous national tours with Thirsty Merc
Thirsty Merc
Thirsty Merc are an Australian pop rock band formed in 2002 in Sydney, Australia. The band consists of Rai Thistlethwayte , Phil Stack , Karl Robertson , and Matt Smith ....
and Angelas Dish
Angelas Dish
Angelas Dish is an Australian indie pop band from the Central Coast of New South Wales, formed in 2004. The four-piece currently consists of songwriting duo, brothers Michael and Joshua Harris, teamed up with bassist Peter Clarke and drummer Christopher Allison...
, as well as touring alongside Avalon Drive
Avalon Drive
Avalon Drive was an Australian rock band from Brisbane, Queensland, formed in 2005. The band was composed of vocalist Damion Page, guitarist and backing vocalist Shane O'Keeffe, bassist Ryan Kennedy and drummer Shane Holmes....
, where they would decide the headline act for each night by coin toss
Coin flipping
Coin flipping or coin tossing or heads or tails is the practice of throwing a coin in the air to choose between two alternatives, sometimes to resolve a dispute between two parties...
.
Debut album: Fall into Place
The Sundance Kids attracted some interest from major record labels before deciding to record their debut album on their own to ensure they had full creative control. The entire project was self-funded, with the band choosing to record with a record producerRecord producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
they knew, keep to a budget and back themselves to take the direction they wanted to go. It was recorded in Adelaide over a couple of months during late 2008 and early 2009, with the help of sound engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
Darren Thompson who works with a lot of interstate bands from around Australia. The band then sent the record to Los Angeles to be mixed by Brian Petrowsky.
The band were eventually signed to Warner Music
Warner Music Australasia
Warner Music Australasia is the Australian division of the Warner Music Group. The company's operations also include distribution to New Zealand.-History:In 1969, Warner Bros...
, with their first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Solutions", which originally appeared on their EP, being released in May 2009. It found mainstream radio airplay and consequently peaked at number 48 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
. The album's second single, "Drive Away", was released in June 2009 and also attracted mainstream radio airplay. The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Drive Away" was filmed in the band's hometown of Adelaide; notably around the city's CBD
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
, the Adelaide Hills
Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills are part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of the city of Adelaide in the state of South Australia. It is unofficially centred on the largest town in the area, Mount Barker, which has a population of around 29,000 and is also one of Australia's fastest growing towns.- History :The...
, Aldinga Beach
Aldinga Beach, South Australia
Aldinga Beach is a metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It lies within the City of Onkaparinga and has the postcode 5173. As of 2006, Aldinga has a population of 5,981.-History:Aldinga Beach Post Office opened on 1 March 1960.-References:...
and McLaren Vale
McLaren Vale
McLaren Vale is a wine region approximately 35 km south of Adelaide in South Australia. It has a population of about 2,000 and is internationally renowned for the wines it produces. The region was named after either David McLaren, the Colonial Manager of the South Australia Company or John...
. The band did this to show how thankful they were for the amount of home-town support they receive; "We wanted to make it obvious that it was filmed in there. It's important for us that people know we're proud to come from Adelaide. We get a lot of flak about it, but we take it on the chin." Following the release of the singles, they supported Evermore on their Australian tour and were the local act supporting on the sold out tour by The All-American Rejects
The All-American Rejects
The All-American Rejects are an American rock band formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1999. The band consists of lead vocalist and bass guitarist Tyson Ritter, lead guitarist, Nick Wheeler, rhythm guitarist, Mike Kennerty, and drummer Chris Gaylor....
and Hoobastank
Hoobastank
Hoobastank is an American rock band, best known for their 2004 hit "The Reason" and other hits "Crawling in the Dark" and "Running Away". They formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California, with singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They...
.
The album was finally manufactured eight to twelve months following the completion of production, with the finished product being made ready to hit the shelves in September 2009. Fall into Place
Fall into Place (album)
They have said the album is based on what they were going through at the time of writing; it's about "reflecting on circumstances and the happenings of relationships with loved ones." Gale named Jeff Buckley, Keane and Damien Rice as among his influences....
was released through Warner and Loud and Clear Records on 4 September 2009, debuting at number 50 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
.
The Sundance Kids have said the album is based on what they were going through at the time of writing; it's about "reflecting on circumstances and the happenings of relationships with loved ones." Gale has named Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
, Keane and Damien Rice
Damien Rice
Damien Rice is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician and record producer who plays guitar, piano, clarinet and percussion....
as among his influences. Whilst touring with The All-American Rejects in 2009, their lead singer Tyson Ritter described the music as 'Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
pop'; guitarist Zecchin mentioned, "He called it Buckley Pop. I don’t know if we’ll live up to it, but we can try."
The band doesn't intend on relocating in the near future, Gale saying "If we were going to move anywhere at all it would be overseas, but that would be a long way in the future." They are scheduled to do a headline tour to support the debut album in October 2009, with the possibility of doing some summer festivals at the end of the year.
Personnel
- Ash Gale — Vocals, guitar
- Jason Shepherd — Guitar
- Luke Zecchin — Guitar
- Jeremy Wright — Bass, vocals
- Suresh Meyer — Drums
Singles
- 2009: "Solutions"
- 2009: "Drive Away"
- 2009: "Burn So Bright"
External links
- Thesundancekids.com Official website
- The Sundance Kids at Warner MusicWarner Music AustralasiaWarner Music Australasia is the Australian division of the Warner Music Group. The company's operations also include distribution to New Zealand.-History:In 1969, Warner Bros...