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There is no doubt that sourcing, producing, recording and releasing the compilation each year is no mean feat but this years 10th Anniversary edition has been well worth the effort! The Australian Indie Scene has been going through a tremendous growth spurt fuelled by artists such as John Butler, Lior, The Waifs and many others breaking through both on the charts and live without Major label backing.
This years Grow Your Own Album of 21 new unsigned bands from across the country is a testiment to this change with the quality of songs, presentation and production being by far the best yet.Many of the bands are no strangers to the studio or the stage having their own indie releases already out while for some this is their first ever professionaql recording.
Grow Your Own is unique in that the majority of the bands record their track at Damien Gerard Studios with professional producers and engineers that help to hone the song into the best possible format and the Foghorn label organises a live showcase series (see gig guide below) and services Media and Industry with the disc.
Many current successful acts such as The Panics, Faker, Peabody, The Tenants, Montana, The Ross Orbit Stack, Dion Jones, Women of Troy, Intercontinental Playboys, Nine Times Over got their start on Grow Your Own.
This years compilation promises to be the strongest yet with the final lineup being; The Floors(WA), The Jane Does(TAS), Lyceum(NSW), Junior(SA), Vegas Baby(NSW), The Metronicle(SA), Fervent(NSW), Studiola(NSW), Fighter Pilot(SA), emocean(NSW), Sculptors Mode(NSW), The Devilrock Four(VIC), Driving South(NSW), Foreshore(SA), Doug Sandrini(NSW), The Voyeurs(TAS), The Archie Wah Wah’s(NSW), Peepshow Nouveau(NSW), The Honey Palace(NSW), Landspeed Record(NSW) and The Charles Manson Experiment (NSW).
So stay tune for the release this October coming out via the good folks at MGM Distribution and with valuable sponsor support so far from FBI Radio, Drum Media, AAV Regency, GNP Printing, The Metro, Intermusic.
For further information please contact;
MEDIA: Marshall Cullen marshall@damiengerard.net
Licensing: Paul Nearhos paul@foghornrecords.net
Part of Grow Your Own is a series of showcases. So far this includes:
Tuesday October 11@ The Transit Lounge, Sydney- Media Listening party
Thursday October 13 @ The Marquee, Sydney: Peepshow Nouveau, The Charles Manson Experiment, Lyceum, Foreshore
Thursday October 20@ The Cat & Fiddle, Sydney Montana, Doug Sandrini, Fervent, Driving South
Thursday October 27 @ The Marquee Sydney The Honey Palace, The Floors, Land Speed Record, Sculptors Mode
Thursday November 3 @ Vic on The Park Sydney Lyceum, Vegas Baby, Peepshow Nouveau, Studiola
Thursday November 10 @ The Marquee Sydney Studiola, The Archie Wah Wah’s, Fervent, emocean
Thursday November 17 @ The Cat and Fiddle Sydney Luke Koteras, emocean ,Sculptors Mode, The Voyeurs
Thursday November 24 @ The Marquee Sydney Driving South. Doug Sandrini, Splashmat
Thursday December 1 @ The Vic on the Park, Sydney The Charles Manson Experiment, The Honey Palace, Land Speed Record, The Archie Wah Wah’s
- Drum Media
BLU FM Demo Comp Winners
BLU FM 89.1 has now announced the results of the station’s National Demo Competition. First place went to Archie Wah Wahs for “The Finger”. The band were ecstatic about the win.
The other placegetters in the competition were: in second place, Newstone with “Single Life”; in third place, Joy with “Running on Empty”; and in fourth place, Lydia Cameron with “Alone With You”.
BLU FM’s president, Ken Quinnell, was pleased with the number of local entrants that were attracted to the competition. “Of the 59 entries received, 25 came from local bands,” he said. “The standard was high with only a decimal point separating the winners.” Judges’ commendations were given to a number of local bands, such as Sideshow Annie with “Fourth Element” and “Loudest Sound”, Winston Avenue with “Asphyxiation”, Carly with “Goodnight”, Peter Long with “Fall Into Me” and Thirteen with “From the Outside”.
Other commendations were given to Taliesin with “Swarm”, Inslain with “Reaper of the Night”, Chris Mearns and Dave Martin with “Catch a Sunny Day”, Tank Space with “Fish Fountain”, Nino Morano with “In a Daze” and Fade with “Greed”.
All entries were played on BLU FM in a series of dedicated programs. The winners, who were judged by Xena Fischer-Giffin, Brian Fischer-Giffin, Narelle Pfeiffer, Francis Dutton, Katie Wilson and Ken Quinnell, were announced on air on Sunday, 17 July. The judges’ commendations and winning entries were featured on a special program on the day.
“Congratulations to all who entered,” says Narelle Pfeiffer, BLU FM’s Secretary, “And special thanks to Xena who made it all happen.”
- The Drum Media
Discography
The Archie Wah Wahs have released 2 E.P's, "A Nice Little Package" in 2001 and "The Things I Thinks" in 2004. Foghorn Records recently released Grow Your Own volume 10 which features a song by the Archie Wah Wahs titled Uber Thing. This song has been played recently on 4ZZZ in Brisbane. 'The Finger', track 5 from from "The Things I Thinks" E.P, is currently receiving nationwide community radio airplay.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
The Archie Wah Wahs are singer/guitarist Chris Mitchell, bassist/lyricist Jeroen ‘Ronny’ Van Dyk and drummer Adam.
In the first couple of years the Archie Wah Wahs were content to seek out and refine a sense of direction, playing gigs, recording at various studios and generally sussing things out musically. During this time, the very popular 7 track E.P. “A Nice Little Package” was recorded. Their sound gradually evolved into a kind of amorphous globule of rock/pop/new wave outings, with quirky lyrics, foot-tapping rhythms and eclectic melodies, which wasn’t consciously trying to fit into any particular genre but was clearly influenced by several. Some of their biggest influences include The Kinks, Ian Dury, Machine Gun Fellatio, Supergrass, The Clash, The Ramones, The Beach Boys, Peabody, Dave McCormack, and, of course, Bach.
With the arrival of their second drummer at the end of 2002, they gained considerable momentum in terms of general vibe and enthusiasm, as well as feedback from audience and fellow musicians. They had found their direction, the gigs and attention got bigger, and an extraordinary amount of schmoozing was done on their part.
Shows at smaller Sydney venues such as the Bat & Ball and Paddy Maguires with unknown acts turned into larger gigs at the Annandale Hotel, Sydney Uni’s Manning Bar and Wollongong’s legendary Oxford Tavern supporting the likes of The Camels, The Spazzys, Fugg and Melbourne’s Tri-State Lovers, as well as their own headline gigs.
A second E.P. “The Things I Thinks”, recorded at BJB Studios in 2004, was a giant step forward in the evolution of the band’s sound whilst still retaining the sense of fun which was at the forefront of the band’s mindset. The E.P. was warmly received by the growing posse of fans. FBi radio played it consistently.
An album, titled 'Enormous', is currently being recorded. It promises to deliver more of the great pop-tune smithism, the same odd observations on life and the same fun elements that made the first two E.P’s the gems they are.
The Archie Wah Wahs won first place in the Blu FM 89.1 National Demo Competition. It was announced on air on 17th July 2005. They've been included in a one-hour music special for the Community Radio Network, distributed across Australia on the community radio satellite service.
THE BAND IN BITS:
Ronny Wah Wah (bass/voice): Evidence of Ron’s unbridled, tormented and fecund unconscious constantly spews forth in the form of Archie lyrics. He also provides low notes from his instrument.
Chris Wah Wah (voice/guitar): He has dedicated himself to writing his own form of avant-guard, rear-ended, blistering, new wave music to put to Ron’s words. Sometimes he manages to write toons that actually make a pleasant noise when played.
Adam Wah Wah (drums): "When Adam bangs his drum", said Ronny, in an interview with the Baptist Gazette, "it's like the voice of God!"
!!!LATEST UPDATE!!!
Currently receiving radio airplay on Sydney's premier independent not-for-profit radio station FBi 94.5FM and 4ZZZ in Brisbane!
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