Jimmy Styles and The Easy Company
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Jimmy Styles and The Easy Company

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""Rich History in Swing""

June 29, 2006

BRISBANE swingers Jimmy Styles and the Easy Company aren't shy about courting controversy, delving back into Fortitude Valley's dark past for inspiration on their new single Whiskey Au Go Go 1973.

The driving instrumental – which features samples from old news reports – references the infamous nightclub fire-bombing which claimed the lives of 15 people in the early hours of March 8, 1973.

The band's frontman Jimmy Styles (Tim Hills in everyday life) says that what began as a search for images from Brisbane's past turned into a real eye-opener when the band learned more about what had happened at the club, which stood on the corner of Amelia St and St Pauls Tce.

"We were looking for images and stuff and I thought of Whiskey Au Go Go because it's kind of got this James Bondish swingish sort of sound," Styles says. "When we eventually found something I thought, wow this is crazy."

The more they delved into files in Queensland's State Archives, the more they realised an incredibly rich local history was often overlooked by musicians looking overseas rather than under their noses for inspiration.

"We're looking at focusing on our own cultural history instead of others and looking at the incredible times in history we have. You don't have to look to America in the '60s, look to Queensland in the '70s."

The nine-piece outfit – whose unusual blend of swing and big beats saw them unearthed by Triple J in 2004 – are recording an album with the working title 131 Cloudland Place, packed with homages to local history such as Kingsford Smith Drive and Welcome to the Sunshine State.

In particular, Styles is fascinated by the rich history of swing in Queensland, which dates back to World War II when Brisbane was awash with US servicemen.

Styles said he was always entranced by stories his father, a Lancaster bomber pilot, told of wartime Brisbane.

Joined by nine other musicians from bands such as Full Fathom Five, The Carousel and The Mercy Bell, he formed a unit he likes to describe as: Count Basie meets The Beastie Boys.

Styles loves the combination because both swing and rap have strong social histories, something he hopes to continue.

He is aware some may find the title track of the new EP Whiskey Au Go Go a tad controversial, but it was not meant to stir the pot, merely remember history.

The band's forthcoming album will be dedicated to the victims and families of the nightclub attack.

Jimmy Styles and the Easy Company play The Globe on Friday night to launch the EP Whiskey Au Go Go 1973. Go to www.jimmystylesandtheeasy company.com.au
- The Courier Mail


Discography

EPs
* Brunswick Street 3:31 AM (2004)
* Whiskey Au Go Go (2006)

Radio Play
* Russian Girls and Their Cotton Tails (Triple J Top 30 for 12 weeks, 2004)

Photos

Bio

Take four classically trained musicians, add four original indie pop artists and you get some incredible tensions. A little dangerous? Perhaps. A little chaotic? Most definitely. But it's just this kind of eccentric mayhem driven by the energy and passion of performance that is the catalyst for change.

Inspired by sounds as diverse as Count Basie, Royal Crown Revue and the Beastie Boys, ‘Jimmy Styles and The Easy Company’ have their own high energy take on a genre that makes people want to drink, dance and buy records!

The sound is raw with strong instrumentals, high energy and lots of fun. The look is a retro 1920’s – 1940’s style. Over the past couple of years, here in Australia and around the world the retro/ vintage mode has exploded from the underground scene into a true cultural phenomenon. ‘Jimmy Styles and The Easy Company’ are in the front of the queue.

'Jimmy Styles and The Easy Company' aim is to use live performances at festivals and high profile supports to establish a national image for the band so that is seen in the way bands like Cat Empire are seen - music with strong mainstream appeal and across a broad demographic. ‘Jimmy Styles and The Easy Company’ don’t do just gigs…it’s all about the show.

Described as Swing meets Beats…Funk meets Pop…‘Jimmy Styles and The Easy Company’ will cause even the hardest industry cynic to tap their toes.

'Jimmy Styles and The Easy Company' won Triple J's Unearthed in 2004.