Theredsunband
Encyclopedia
The Red Sun Band is a rock band
from Sydney, Australia. Composed of sisters Sarah Kelly (guitar, lead vocals) and Lizzie Kelly (keyboards, tambourine, backing vocals), the band performs and records as a three-piece, with the addition of a male drummer/backing vocalist.
The band are inspired by acts such as Mazzy Star
and Cat Power
, which is evident in both their production ethic and the treatment of the lead vocals. On the local front, the band received support from the numerous mid-late '90s Australian bands who played a brand of atmospheric indie-rock informed by the shoegaze movement of the early '90s, such as Sounds Like Sunset
and Gersey
, who gave the band their earliest support slots.
The band originally played as a two-piece, with Sarah on bass and John Matthews on guitar. Serendipitously, the two founding members of the group had previously met at kindergarten. “In the class photo we are the two kids at the front holding the sign; 'Arncliffe West Public School Year Kindi 1986'”, writes Matthews on the band's official site.
The pair performed in two-piece format before the addition of Kate Wilson on drums, who was followed by David O’Leaf (aka David Olliffe of The Vines
). The best known line-up of the band came in 2003 after the departure of O’Leaf, with Matthews switching to drums and Kelly to guitar. This made way for the addition of Kelly’s younger sister, Lizzie on keyboards. Not unlike bands such as The Dandy Warhols
, early My Bloody Valentine or The Doors
, The Red Sun Band employ keyboard bass, rather than electric bass
.
The band’s debut album, “Peapod” was released in 2004 on Slanted Recordings and produced by Magic Dirt
's Dean Turner – credited as Dean Dirt. It was recorded in St. Kilda at Hothouse Studios - the studio of former Kids in the Kitchen
bass player, Craig Harnath.
On 27 of March 2006, principal songwriter, Sarah Kelly, was awarded the Jessica Michalik Music Endowment by the Australasian Performing Right Association
(APRA).
The Red Sun Band have played with such artists as Cat Power, Magic Dirt, Youth Group
, The Panics
and were on the bill for the 2005 Big Day Out
festival.
On 24 November 2007 during a live gig at the Northcote Social Club, Sarah announced that John Matthews had quit the band 4 days previously. The band has since performed with drummers, Joe Hammond, Nicholai Danko & Jasper Fenton.
Original drummer, Kate Wilson, now plays with Sydney bands The Laurels and The Holy Soul
.
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
from Sydney, Australia. Composed of sisters Sarah Kelly (guitar, lead vocals) and Lizzie Kelly (keyboards, tambourine, backing vocals), the band performs and records as a three-piece, with the addition of a male drummer/backing vocalist.
The band are inspired by acts such as Mazzy Star
Mazzy Star
Mazzy Star is an American alternative rock band formed in Santa Monica, California, in 1989 from the group Opal, a collaboration of guitarist David Roback and bassist Kendra Smith...
and Cat Power
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...
, which is evident in both their production ethic and the treatment of the lead vocals. On the local front, the band received support from the numerous mid-late '90s Australian bands who played a brand of atmospheric indie-rock informed by the shoegaze movement of the early '90s, such as Sounds Like Sunset
Sounds Like Sunset
Sounds Like Sunset are a band based in Sydney, Australia. The group formed in 1997 and as of 2008 have released 2 albums, 'Saturdays' in 2001 and 'Invisible' in 2005 as well as various other releases on cassettes, 7" and compilations.-Early days:...
and Gersey
Gersey
Gersey is an Australian rock band based in Melbourne, which formed in 1997. The band is composed of Craig Jackson , Daryl Bradie , Matt Davis , Danny Tulen and Drew Pearse ....
, who gave the band their earliest support slots.
The band originally played as a two-piece, with Sarah on bass and John Matthews on guitar. Serendipitously, the two founding members of the group had previously met at kindergarten. “In the class photo we are the two kids at the front holding the sign; 'Arncliffe West Public School Year Kindi 1986'”, writes Matthews on the band's official site.
The pair performed in two-piece format before the addition of Kate Wilson on drums, who was followed by David O’Leaf (aka David Olliffe of The Vines
The Vines
https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Special:LandingCheck?landing_page=L11_1121_WMUK_Jimmy_DDOptimised&utm_medium=sitenotice&utm_campaign=C11_1121_WMUK_DDvOneOff&utm_source=B11_1121_WMUK_Jimmy&language=en&country=GB...
). The best known line-up of the band came in 2003 after the departure of O’Leaf, with Matthews switching to drums and Kelly to guitar. This made way for the addition of Kelly’s younger sister, Lizzie on keyboards. Not unlike bands such as The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols are an American alternative rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1994. The band was founded by singer-guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor and guitarist Peter Holmström, with keyboardist Zia McCabe and drummer Eric Hedford later joining. Hedford left in 1998 and was replaced by...
, early My Bloody Valentine or The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, The Red Sun Band employ keyboard bass, rather than electric bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
.
The band’s debut album, “Peapod” was released in 2004 on Slanted Recordings and produced by Magic Dirt
Magic Dirt
Magic Dirt are an Australian rock band, which formed in 1991 in Geelong, Victoria, with Daniel Herring on guitar, Adam Robertson on drums, Adalita Srsen on vocals and guitar, and Dean Turner on bass guitar. Initially known as Deer Bubbles and then The Jim Jims, they were renamed as Magic Dirt in...
's Dean Turner – credited as Dean Dirt. It was recorded in St. Kilda at Hothouse Studios - the studio of former Kids in the Kitchen
Kids in the Kitchen
Kids in the Kitchen was a band from Melbourne, Australia that enjoyed considerable local success during the 1980s. The band stood squarely within the New Romantic movement that dominated mid-1980s pop, showing influences of "New-Rom" groups such as Ultravox in its use of synthesisers, its...
bass player, Craig Harnath.
On 27 of March 2006, principal songwriter, Sarah Kelly, was awarded the Jessica Michalik Music Endowment by the Australasian Performing Right Association
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
(APRA).
The Red Sun Band have played with such artists as Cat Power, Magic Dirt, Youth Group
Youth Group
Youth Group are a rock band based in Newtown, Sydney, Australia signed to Ivy League Records.- Biography :Youth Group formed in Sydney in the late 1990s. They have released four albums in Australia, with the three most recent albums also gaining releases worldwide...
, The Panics
The Panics
The Panics are an ARIA Award–winning indie rock band originally from Perth, Western Australia, and currently based in Melbourne, Victoria.-History:...
and were on the bill for the 2005 Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
festival.
On 24 November 2007 during a live gig at the Northcote Social Club, Sarah announced that John Matthews had quit the band 4 days previously. The band has since performed with drummers, Joe Hammond, Nicholai Danko & Jasper Fenton.
Original drummer, Kate Wilson, now plays with Sydney bands The Laurels and The Holy Soul
The Holy Soul
-Biography:The Holy Soul is Trent Marden , Sam Worrad , Jon Hunter & Kate Wilson .Their first ep ‘Love Has Left The City Limits’ featuring Tim Malfroy and Owen Penglis was a raw collection of swampy cassette recordings, and the debut album ‘Sign of The Triangle’ was only a short step to the left...
.
Albums
- Peapod, August 2004, Slanted Recordings
- The Shiralee, June 2008, Enchanted Recordings
Singles
- Devil Song (7 inch single), July 2004, Slanted Recordings
- Sleep Forever (CD single), April 2004, Slanted Recordings
- Pavement (CD single), November 2003, Slanted Recordings
- The Eagle (7 inch single), 2008, The Passport Label
External links
- The Red Sun Band Official Site
- Band biography at Australian Music Online
- MySpace page