Olympic Lifts

Artist Information

Biography

Olympic Lifts were born early in the 21st Century and broke the rules of pop music from day one. For a start they were white boys from Belfast, Ireland and were using hip-hop as a major influence on their unique new sound. They were putting together beats and stealing samples on a busted-up, blagged old computer and didn’t have a clue how to do it. They were smart though, and their lack of respect for the technology they were abusing only helped contribute to a sound no one had heard before or since.

Then they took it to the stage and things got exciting. The performances were legendary. Explosive energy, presence and performance, coupled with the party sound they had welded together, came at audiences like a fresh set of knuckledusters to both eyes and ears.

Back then they were 3. Classic hip-hop set up; 2 MCs and one DJ. But this thing that had come from nowhere had more growing in it yet and the format wasn’t enough. Additional assault was added with live bass and guitar. Things were getting bigger and better.

Soon they signed a deal, released a single, and made some underground waves in London, Europe & Japan. Then came the début album “Do One”. An outpouring of what they been working at since hammering on that busted computer. They took the album on tour across mainland Europe and the UK with the likes of Ugly Duckling, Lo-fidelity Allstars and even shared a stage with Kool Herc the inventor of hip-hop. To up the ante internationally, OL headed to the USA and then released “Do One” in Japan.

It was time to re-group. Olympic Lifts came off the road and settled into a country retreat to contemplate what they had achieved, decide where they were heading and then change the route-choice a bit by writing a new album.



Olympic Lifts have been spending the most part of 2007 in the studio working on their 3rd album. The follow up to last year's snappily titled 'Know the Way of the Lord or Learn the Way of the Sword' we are promised, will have an even more spectacular moniker. Boma, Pylon, Bigshow, Icerink and the Rock Suitcase(TM) have been hip-hopifying and funkufacturing 25-30 new pop hits. The first of these is being released on Bruised Fruit's new label in January 2008. 'I Am Cursed' is a poptastic assult on the ears and has been described as "Great. Funny, catchy and a sweet punch in the face to boot" by Snow Patrol front man Gary Lightbody.


They have very big plans for the third record though they are tight-lipped about their ideas. As is now expected, here is a huge leap forward with the new material; refinement and development of sound, more aggression, yet tunes even more accessible and catchy than before. There are also rumours about various musicians visiting the studio to guest on some tracks.

How they present all of this to the public remains to be seen, but clues could be gathered soon: Before finalizing any recordings, Olympic Lifts always like to try out the new songs on a live audience. This new album will be no exception. They are taking to the road from December 2007 to unleash their new material on audiences up and down the UK.



Current tour dates and more info can be found on the band's official myspace page: www.myspace.com/olympiclifts and more information about the single release can be obtained from www.bruisedfruitpromotions.com



Please direct all press enquiries to Jen McCullough at Bruised Fruit Promotions: jen@bruisedfruitpromotions.com

Instrumentation

BIGSHOW (electric guitar/keys)
BOMA (MC/percussion)
PYLON (MC)
ICERINK (bass)
ROCK SUITCASE (beats)

Discography

Single :: I Am Cursed :: (UK/Japan) 2008

Single :: Nuts About You :: (Japan) 2007

Album :: Know The Way Of The Lord Or Learn The Way Of The Sword :: (UK) 2006 / (Japan) 2007

Album :: Do One :: (Japan) 2004
Single :: Madeline's Lies :: 2004
Single :: Evil Rock Ears :: 2004
Single :: Horizontally Vertical :: 2004

Album :: Do One :: (UK/Europe) 2003
Single :: International Hex :: 2003

Single :: New Wrecking Crew :: 2002

Official Website

http://www.myspace.com/olympiclifts

Audio

• I Am Cursed
  Listen  
• Do The GetDown
  Listen  
• Nuts About You
  Listen  

Lyrics

• I Am Cursed
• Do The GetDown
• Nuts About You

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Know The Way Of The Lord Or Learn The Way Of The Sword [+ Show ]
  

  Olympic Lifts’ sophomore release, ‘Know The Way Of The Lord …' is a timely elixir of good time beats...Olympic Lifts’ sophomore release, ‘Know The Way Of The Lord …' is a timely elixir of good time beats to soothe those all-too-common rock ailments. No self-indulgent introspection or grandstanding theatrics will be found here. The Lifts’ perverse joie de vivre will lift you out of yourself, their twisted wordage wrapped in juicy grooves, impossible to ignore, delicious to savour.
  
  
  Even when they are expounding on life’s more trying experiences there is an unmistakable defiance, a savage intensity that insists, hey, it’s gonna be alright. The roller coaster rhythms and frenzied, radio-friendly chorus of opener, ‘Do The Getdown’, makes this an instantly accessible listen. They describe themselves as a hip-hop act, but in truth there is so much more in the Olympic Lifts mix. Badass funk, dense dub, upbeat rock and disco grooves are all present and correct.
  
  
  The sheer heft of ‘Magnetic People’ recalls Bomb The Bass, its driving beats and fluent melody embellished with hellish scratching. Amazingly they manage to up the pace; the G-Force propulsion of ‘Go Go Go’ delirium inspiring in its electro exuberance. ‘You Save Me’ is the slow-building stand-out, initial restraint eventually, inevitably, giving way under the sustained keyboard assault as the track reaches a frenetic crescendo.
  
  
  With ‘Know The Way Of The Lord …’ Olympic Lifts have created a record of such wonderfully misbehaving, neighbour-bothering party music that it’s surely only a matter of time before they’re served an ASBO. An achievement of magnificent musical menace.
  
  
  Francis Jones
  
  Olympic Lifts: Know The Way Of The Lord Or Learn The Way Of The Sword, reviewed, March 2006
  
  

• OL ALbum Launch April 2006 [+ Show ]
  

  OLYMPIC LIFTS ALBUM LAUNCH Spring & Airbrake 7 April 2006 Olympic Lifts are two MCs and one DJ ...OLYMPIC LIFTS ALBUM LAUNCH
  Spring & Airbrake 7 April 2006
  
  Olympic Lifts are two MCs and one DJ powered up with live bass, guitar and keys. Bigshow, Boma, Pylon, Icerink and DJ Payback make up Belfast’s premier ‘hip-hop’ act who took to the stage in Spring and Airbrake in April to celebrate the launch of their second album. The album, entitled ‘Know The Way Of The Lord Or Learn The Way Of The Sword’, has already received wide spread acclaim from journalists, DJs, and lovers of music. The gig-going people of Belfast were ready to hear it live.
  
  Bouncing onto the stage with an infectious energy the Lifts got the crowds dancing and chanting with catchy hooks and big beats. The blend of dance-rock-pop-hip-hop in their music makes it almost impossible not to love what the Lifts do. Chants of “Freak! Take a chance! Get off your ass and dance!” confirmed that the Olympic Lifts were running the show. They’re there to have fun, and they want you to join the party.
  
  An energetic and enthusiastic approach to performances helps make their music so appealing. MCs Pylon and Boma make a great team, shouting quirky lyrics back and forth. ‘Nuts About You’ in particular has them almost battling for control of the mic! And Bigshow found energy in between playing guitar and keys to throw down some crazy dance moves.
  
  Half-way through the set came time for the ‘sixth member’ of the band to be introduced. The mighty ‘Rock Suitcase’ was carried through the crowd by a tall masked figure before the Lifts launched into what is maybe their most popular track. An ode to a boom-box.
  
  The highlight of the night for me was the acapella opening to ‘Chosen Few’. All five members of the band lined up on stage singing in harmony, and introducing themselves in turn.
  
  There are so many different styles of music blended together in Lifts’ songs, it’s hard to categorize them. After mixing together funk, rock, pop and hip-hop influences, the last track of the night ‘You Save Me’ ended with a house music beat. Ending on such a high left everyone wanting more. Luckily for everyone who was at the gig they got to go home with a brand spanking new copy of the album! Mine hasn’t left the stereo since!
  
  For those of you who weren’t so lucky you can catch them again in Belfast at The Empire Music Hall on June 8th before they jet off to Berlin for a DJ residency.
  
  

• Album Review March 2006 [+ Show ]
  

  “…the ten-track album is excellent right from the incessantly catchy opener 'Do The Getdown', to the...“…the ten-track album is excellent right from the incessantly catchy opener 'Do The Getdown', to the chilled-out atmospheric closer 'You Save Me'. The best tracks, though, are easily 'Nuts About You', with its fast-paced Beasties-style rapping, 'I Need To Breathe', with its memorably summery chorus, 'Magnetic People' with its sleazy electro beats, the classic old-skool vibe of 'Rock Suitcase' and 'Go Go Go' with its great rock riffs. If you appreciate your hip-hop, you can't fail to fall in love with these guys!”

• OL general [+ Show ]
  

  “Their music shares the ho-hum-shake-your-bum groove of De La Soul propelled by dynamic guitars; on ...“Their music shares the ho-hum-shake-your-bum groove of De La Soul propelled by dynamic guitars; on stage you get an entertaining rap-rock stew…..the energy and joie de vivre of the set is infectious”

• OL gig review May 2006 [+ Show ]
  

  “This band obviously have plenty of enthusiasm and endeavour to make their performances as fun for t...“This band obviously have plenty of enthusiasm and endeavour to make their performances as fun for the audience as they are for them…….”
  “The guitarist had constantly strong riffs to accompany the raps….”
  “An entertaining cross stage synth battle was a highlight of the evening…”
  

• OL general [+ Show ]
  

  “A wild five piece team from Belfast….Their sound is a mix of catchy pop, weird rhymes from two MCs,...“A wild five piece team from Belfast….Their sound is a mix of catchy pop, weird rhymes from two MCs, samples & breaks combined with a healthy ‘F-You’ attitude

Setlist

Basic Requirements

Calendar