44th Sunset

IMAGINE DRAGONS, 44TH SUNSET
ENMORE THEATRE
18 October, 2013
The energy was palpable as Imagine Dragons took the stage for a sold out crowd at the Enmore Theatre last Friday night.

Opening the night with a bang was Perth group 44th Sunset and from the very first note, they were captivating. Frontman Nik Thompson performs with energy reminiscent of a young Peter Garrett circa Midnight Oil, meanwhile delivering unwavering vocals from start to finish. They played a selection of songs from their album The Boa Constrictor Hat to a crowd made up almost entirely of screaming teenagers and their chaperones, armed with a handful of catchy tunes, pumping up the energy in the crowd with their undeniable stage presence. - The Music.com

Indie fans young and old descended on the Rosemount Hotel last Friday night, looking to forget the toil of the working week and kick off the weekend with some fun energetic live music. "Things will get a little crazy here," said vocalist and occasional guitarist Nik Thompson as the fresh faced five piece 44th Sunset pumped out a manic.fiery version of Blood Red Hand. Thompson and co vocalist Jess Clancy worked up the crowd with the Little Prince, exchanging dance moves a la Pulp Fiction and pulling the crowd closer to join in. Though young and still finding their bearings, they knew the stage well and will certainly so some great stuff in the future if they keep on putting on shows like that. - Drum Media

SPACESHIP NEWS
Friday November 23, Rosemount Hotel. Review by Keaton McSweeney
A big end-of-the-week crowd had assembled in the Rosemount’s beer garden by the time the band-room doors opened last Friday night, with more than a few of the drunken revellers undoubtedly on hand to welcome the return of Sydney pop outfit, DEEP SEA ARCADE. Touring WA for the third time this year, the five-piece were in town supporting‘Granite City’, the recently released third single from their well-received debut album ‘Outlands’.
Kicking the night off on a promising note, teenaged alt-country quintet 44TH SUNSET were in fine form, belting the small crowd with a low key opener that unexpectedly ramped up into a barnstorming hootenanny that had more than a few feet tapping along. Moving into some more straightforward indie-pop during their second number, it was pint-sized keyboardist/vocalist Jess Clancy who really started turning heads, with her soaring backups taking the edge off rakish front-man Nik Thompson’s ragged bleating. That’s not to say that Thompson wasn’t turning heads himself; the energetic front-man spent most of his time on stage writhing around like the proverbial lizard queen, randomly picking up his telecaster to strum a few brazen chords, before leaping onto the sticky Rosemount floor to give a few select punters a close encounter. The slow-burning ‘Cages’ proved to be the set’s darkly epic highlight, and by the time the band closed out their performance with yet another epic rocker, they had not only won over the room, but had attracted double the amount of punters that they had started with.
- Spaceship News

FASTER LOUDER 3052012 YAYA’S
4th Sunset are the band that won last year’s My School Act competition, and subsequently landed of a recording deal with Sony. Your initial scepticism may be forgiven, if you’re thinking their popularity comes from riding along on the San Cisco bandwagon, however investigation of their recorded material indicates that there is more to this band than their Triple J endorsed counterparts. Their songs range from brooding ballads to upbeat pop, building on simple but effective arrangements with great melodies that don’t rely on ringtone-like simplicity.
From the first note, 44th Sunset were totally captivating, with front man Nik Thompson dancing around the stage as if he were having a seizure, but not to the detriment of his vocals, which were expelled with conviction and fervour, contrasting beautifully with those of Jess Clancy. Their songs were delivered with humility and passion, Cages and Blood Red Hand stood out as highlights, although almost every song in the set was declared by Thompson to be his favourite. During the last song both Thompson and Clancy hit the dance-floor, incredibly still having energy left to tear it up after their inspiring set. More than once this band showed a touch of Cloud Control, they certainly have the potential to be enjoying the same level of success a little way down the track.
- Faster Louder

A BAND of 16-year-old students has won a $50,000 Sony recording contract and a place on the Big Day Out line-up.

"I FEEL like a unicorn who's just seen a double rainbow."

That is how 44th Sunset frontman Nik Thompson described winning the MySchoolAct band competition, along with a $50,000 Sony recording contract and a place on the Big Day Out line-up.

The Perth indie-rock quartet beat 500 talented high school bands for the chance to be Australia's next big thing and play alongside the likes of Soundgarden, Foster the People and Noel Gallagher.

Thompson said he and his bandmates Forrest King, Emily Matthews and John Yaxley, all 16, were so overwhelmed at the win they still hadn't digested it.

"It was definitely one of the highlights of my life,” Thompson told news.com.au.

“It's the biggest thing that's ever happened to me. The feeling was amazing and we were so, so surprised. We just didn't know how to respond. I just went backstage and lay on the floor for a bit because I didn’t know what to do - then we went crazy, it was surreal.”

Judge Glen Matthews, the COO and co-founder of MySchoolAct, praised Thompson as a stand out amongst the competition.

“The frontman for 44th Sunset was unique,” Matthews said. “He was engaging with the audience and he lifted the crowd to a new height with his performance.”

The Helena College students have only been jamming together in their current form for about a year and plan to record their "massive catalogue of songs" with the prize money.
- The Daily Telegraph

Meet the 44th Sunset. You might be hearing a lot more of them in the future. The Perth indie-rock quartet beat out 500 talented high school bands to win a $50,000 Sony recording contract and a place on the Big Day Out line-up, alongside big acts like Foster the People.

They’re all 16, and lead singer Nik Thompson is calling it the highlight of his life.

Top stuff, guys. Let’s hope there are many more highlights to come. - thepunch.com

YOU might not have heard of 44th Sunset, but they are on track to become the next big thing in Australian music.

The indie rock band, made up of 16-year-old students Nik Thompson, Forrest King, Emily Matthews and John Yaxley from Perth's Helena College, has taken out the national competition MySchoolAct 2011, after being judged by a panel of music industry leaders in Sydney.

Their prize includes up to $50,000 in recording and marketing from Sony Music, up to $15,000 from Sony/ATV publishing and a slot on the 2012 Big Day Out lineup in Perth.

After their win, lead singer Thompson said, "I feel like a unicorn who's just seen a double rainbow."

The foursome have only been jamming together in their current form for about a year and plan to record their "massive catalogue of songs" with the prize money.

"We were looking for something unique and 44th Sunset has something a little bit special about them," said Big Day Out CEO Adam Zammit.

500 high school acts from around Australia entered MySchoolAct. - Perth Now

"I FEEL like a unicorn who's just seen a double rainbow."
This is how 44th Sunset frontman Nik Thompson described winning the MySchoolAct band competition last night, along with a $50,000 Sony recording contract and a place on the Big Day Out line-up.
The Perth indie-rock quartet beat 500 talented high school bands for the chance to be Australia's next big thing and play alongside the likes of Soundgarden, Foster the People and Noel Gallagher.
Thompson said he and his bandmates Forrest King, Emily Matthews and John Yaxley, all 16, were so overwhelmed at the win they still hadn't digested it.
"It was definitely one of the highlights of my life,” Thompson told news.com.au.
“It's the biggest thing that's ever happened to me. The feeling was amazing and we were so, so surprised. We just didn't know how to respond. I just went backstage and lay on the floor for a bit because I didn’t know what to do - then we went crazy, it was surreal.”
Judge Glen Matthews, the COO and co-founder of MySchoolAct, praised Thompson as a stand out amongst the competition.
“The frontman for 44th Sunset was unique,” Matthews said. “He was engaging with the audience and he lifted the crowd to a new height with his performance.”
The Helena College students have only been jamming together in their current form for about a year and plan to record their "massive catalogue of songs" with the prize money.



Read more: http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/watch-out-kanye-these-kids-are-sharing-the-stage/story-e6frfn09-1226219960465#ixzz1oOPPWsgv - news.com.au

My School Act tops!
12/12/2011 11:34:09 PM
It was great to see My School Act unleash 5 young and incredibly polished bands to turn it on in the stygian recesses of Sydney’s Metro Theatre, wowing the audience as well as the judges. Blowing in from the distant West, Perth dynamos 44th Sunset swept the boards snaring a spot on their local edition of Big Day out and picking up a career changing record contract with Sony. Something of a wild card, coming from a much shallower talent pool than their colleagues from the Eastern states, the three boys and a girl group powered home on the sensational vocals of 16 year old Nik Thomson. Thomson stamped himself as a serious vocalist likely to have a serious impact on the music scene in this country – this band is definitely Big Day Out ready. Overlaying tight playing with underlaying metaphysical lyrics 44th Sunset showed the possibilities indie rock can deliver in the hands of musicians who aren’t afraid to take a journey. Enter keyboardist Emily Matthews to join Nik, John Yaxley and Forrest King. The boys are as one in praising the new and varied directions her keyboard playing enabled the group to take them – all the way to a big gig and a record contract. Sony has a winner on its books. The winners were in good company. Central Coast’s Sons of Alamo did the hard yards opening the show and did it with style. Style is the first and lasting impression these guys give; they are cool calm and – stylish. Lead singer/guitarist Jordan Fleming has what it takes to lead a band, in fact an exceptional band. They were tight, intense when the music said be intense and freewheeling when that was in order. The two song format probably didn’t do them any favours; one senses this is an act that thrives on audience time. They will be getting plenty of that; they too have a Big Day Out coming up. Calais swept into the finals on a wave of popularity that was easy to understand. Another group definitely needing a longer set, their understated melodic rock was quietly seductive, unfortunately for them in an environment that was more a look at us while we explode occasion. They played tight, giving the songs every chance to make their own statement and song writing clearly comes naturally to them. Calais is Tim Lollback, Guy Stacey, Liam Roberts and Joel Fleming. They name diverse musical artists and genres as their influences and it works for them. At this stage of their development they deliver a brand of music that audiences will want to hear more of. In time, and not too much of it, audiences will be wanting to also see more of Calais. The Maze hit the metro with their own portable mosh pit and put it to good use. This is a very professional, tight, audience-savvy band that delivers high quality pop rock with confidence; little wonder that they have a following. They are a band of identifiable and attractive personalities, led by guitarist and lead vocalist Zach Gervaise, a singular talent with a cool stage presence that is belied by his searing vocals. Bassist Angus Bradley and drummer Jack Crist neatly impose themselves on the output, looking and sounding good and the group has a real character in keyboard driver T-Dogg; who looks like something from a petting zoo. It works. It works well. It works very well. Young Brisbane sibling band Freak Morice, marooned out of genre and bedevilled by technical difficulties, closed the show with their unabashed, infectious, top shelf pop. Despite a rough start, thanks to a wretched microphone for lead singer Kahlia, they showed their confidence by opening with a new song, Seventeen Forever and toughed it out. Switching to their signature tune, Secret Handshake, with Kahlia digging deep and the rest of the family lifting too, they brought it home with a final three minutes of pop performing at its peak. On a night where excellence was the norm, this was the finest moment. Arguably the best looking group since ABBA, the Fergusons, Kahlia, Joel, Nathan, Daniel and Shani offer a stage act that is as good to watch as it is to hear. The youngest member, Shani, works behind her keyboard with captivating little dance cameos that neatly supports Kahlia’s exuberant stagecraft that is the centrepiece of the Freak Morice experience. The boys look cute, play great and round off what is a visual and aural treat. Their songs display a maturity that is hard to believe from young songwriters. The music and the lyrics are both multi-layered and can be taken on “face value” or be even more rewarding if listened to more intently. Theirs is not lightweight disposable pop. It is pop as it should be, memorable as well as instantly enjoyable. No prizes for Freak Morice – but they made their point. My School Act – take a bow. - HotSource

My School Act isn't a competition to take lightly. With the best high-school aged bands from the country competing for prizes and glory, the fact that 44th Sunset recently took out the 2011 edition of the competition bodes well for their future. The track Internet Love makes it apparent why this Perth four-piece scored first place; the laconic boy/girl vocals echo those of classic Brisbane band The Go-Betweens, while the propelling rhythm track and jittery guitar lines neatly slot in with the other indie-pop bands who understand that these days the way to an audiences heart is through their feet.

Although the band will no doubt be propelled into the world of national touring and radio play in 2012, they are veterans of the Perth music scene, having cut their teeth in the local scene since the age of 15, playing most local venues, staging guerrilla gigs and even blagging their way into the Southbound Festival line up, armed with a handful of hooky songs and an undeniable stage presence.
Upon seeing them at the final of My School Act, TMN's published Adam Zammit described 44th Sunset as "Juno meets Mad Max" - an apt summary of the unhinged, sugar-rush appeal of this young band. With a Sony recording contract secured and an upcoming slot at The Big Day Out, expect to hear 44th Sunset all over alternative radio this year.
44th sunset.com
By Nathan Jolly Photo Ken Leanfore - The Music Network Magazine Feb 2012

Big Day Out Getting Ready To Hit Perth, Western Australia...

From school to stage – 44th Sunset revved up for 2012 Big Day Out!

Dubbed as the next big thing to come out of the Australian music scene, Perth’s indie rock band, 44th Sunset - crowned overall winners of Motorola’s online competition MySchoolAct, are getting ready to play The Big Day Out 2012 this Sunday on the Perth foreshore.

Beating 500 Australian high school bands for the chance to share the stage with Soundgarden, Foster the People and My Chemical Romance, the Helena College quartet clinched the $50,000 recording and marketing contract from Sony Music, complete with Sony / ATV publishing deal and coveted slot in the BDO’s WA line up.

Comprised of 16 year old students Nik Thompson, Forrest King, Emily Matthews and John Yaxley, 44
th Sunset’s music has been described as a raw and diverse soundscape complete with haunting melodies, acclaimed riffs and a myriad of stories and moments rich with connotative meaning.

Emily Matthews describes the beginning of their MySchoolAct journey from Perth to Sydney as being exhausting but one of the most rewarding and inspiring events of their lives.

“We were determined to do the best we could and prove that as wildcards in the competition, we had the right to be there,” said Emily. “In appreciation, all of the bands were so tight, with such great stage presence and something different in their music.”

The MySchoolAct competition is all about supporting young Aussie talent through utilising the very best tools the online world has to offer – so it comes as no surprise that Motorola, who pride themselves in delivering innovative products to young music lovers everywhere, were proud to support this wonderful initiative.

What’s more, the Activation at each Australian event will include the biggest waterslide BDO has ever seen, with a 12 metre climb to the Slide’s crows nest and a 55 metre runway! There will also be demonstrations of the new Motorola DEFY+™ handset from qualified Motorola staff.

Motorola DEFY+™ has been designed for the biggest days out with water resistant, scratch and dust proof qualities.

44th Sunset play at Perth’s BDO this Sunday 5 February at the Victoria Park Foreshore
(McCallum Park) Victoria Park, at 11.40am on the Guvera Skate Stage

The Music News Australia agency congratulates everyone involved in the success of the Big Day Out concerts. Next year the word is it will be bigger and better. We hear that the media and marketing machine behind the well known concert festival is getting a bit of an overhaul / revamp, and that sounds like really good news to many Australian media organisations. It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll, and Big Day Out promoters know it better than anyone.
- music news australia

Drum Review
As the basement began to buzz, the boys from 44th Sunset gave Gignition their best, despite an absent bassist. Nevertheless, the slight disadvantage gave the band an opportunity to step up and improvise in a tough situation. The electric acoustics on offer from these artists slowed the evening down which was both a compliment to their style and a nice addition to the night. They proved that a passionate vocalist, one big voice, a cover here and there with a peek at some personality can really make a difference. The old adage of practice makes perfect will give their terrific performance the tightness it needs.
Aimee Somerville Drum Media Perth Magazine
- Drum Magazine

4/11/2011

First up were the young guns 44th Sunset who delivered a confident performance well beyond their years. The lead vocals had a unique edge and were suprisingly beautiful during rare softer moments. Each member was clearly competent with their instruments, producing simple and incredibly catchy riffs... ...These guys have some real potential and are certainly worth keeping an eye on to see how they mature musically in the coming years. Kristy Symonds - Drum Magazine Perth