sQuire

“Throughout, the show, the sound was typified by an up-front, encompassing bass and arousing percussion over which an energetic singer and lead guitarist strutted, building intricate and swirling harmonies for the appreciative crowd.”
- IndieLondon, April 14th 2004

“With bundles of energy, enthusiasm and much to the enjoyment of the audience, sQuire strutted their sound and musicianship on-stage until way past bedtime…sQuire are destined to take their place on the international stage with the likes of The Sleepy Jackson, End Of Fashion, The Panics, Little Birdy..” - Groove Magazine, August04

“sQuire have impressed many a DJ here at FBi. In particular Lonely Soul has been added to our daily rotation and has had a very good response. It’s refreshing to hear a band that has a controlled use of subtlety and sound, no dumb posturing here my friend. With the right support, these lads will definitely travel the distance.” - Dan Zilber, FBI Radio Sydney, 2005

Originally from WA, sQuire sound like they spent their whole lives hugging the Thannes in London rather the Swan in Perth, so deeply imbused with all things UK pop is the music they make. And I say rather than Brit pop because, while they might sound a little Stone Roses (Fighting Fever) here or a little Oasis there, there's also as much UK New Wave (Basic Existence) as there is '60s psychedelia (Everybody's Talking), so it's the complete deal - total UK pop sensibility. The title track could have come from Peter & Gordon or Hermann's Hermits as a mellow Paul Weller. For all that, there is enough of a distinctive sound to suggest a true sQuire sound emerging.
Michael Smith, Drum Media - Drum Media Sydney

Since their opening performance in the city of Iserlohn on June 9 to tens of thousands of eager football fans at NRWM das Festival, a ten city tour that is part of the official 2006 FIFA World Cup celebrations in Germany, the compelling Aussie four-piece sQuire has won over legions of appreciative fans with their dynamic live show and fresh new sound. Not even the broken ankle, that followed Michael’s overly ambitious leap into the crowd from the 2.5 metre high stage of their biggest show in Bochum on June 12, has slowed sQuire’s momentum or dampened their enthusiasm. In fact, showing all the courage of a Socerroo Michael went back to the stage, did an encore and signed cds before heading off to hospital. Two days later, cast and all, he was fronting the band at another packed out concert in the city of Luenen.

With Michael on vocals and guitars, the charismatic foursome includes Luke Bourne (Drums + Percussion) Damian Giambazi (Lead Guitar) & Jesse Burchat (Bass). Kicking off as headliners in Copenhagen, Denmark in August (date tba) for prefueled unsigned, an online download platform for not only Scandinavian bands, the boys will go on to do a promo tour in September in Germany. Arriving at the World Cup, the amazing response to their live shows and the thrill of following the Australian Football team’s amazing performance has turned a childhood dream into a once in a life time experience; an experience made even sweeter as sQuire start to hear tracks from their stunning new EP Gimme Feeling played on German radio.

With its acoustic guitar driven coolness, emotive lyrics and hint of blues harmonica Gimme Feeling, the EP’s title track, is an underground anthem with mainstream appeal. This is an authentic Aussie original with an international sound that demands attention and is already seeing the boys kicking goals both at home and abroad. Complimented by the retro styling of Everybody’s Talking through to the underground edgy musings of Fighting Fever and Basic Existence, sQuire’s Gimme Feeling EP is a complete package; the perfect introduction to a band on the rise.

With flattering comparisons already being made to Rise, The Charlatans, Stone Roses, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Kasabian and Hendrix it’s no surprise that sQuire have been a stand out favourite as the first Aussie band to fly the flag at NRWM das Festival.
- Pre Release 6dc Sydney

...Australier, liebe Jana Ina, sind allerdings knallharte Jungs. Jungs wie Michael Smart, 23, Sänger der australischen Gitarrenrock-Band "sQuire". Zur Zeit tourt sie durch NRW, im Rahmen des WM- Festivals "NRWM". Beim Auftritt vergangene Woche in Bochum sprang Michael, wie Rocker das so tun, von der Bühne in die Menge. Er knallte auf den Boden, verknackste sich den Fuss, spielte das Konzert zu Ende, und dann ging's ab ins Krankenhaus. "It's only Rock'n'Roll", sagt er tags darauf lässig im Gespräch, kurz bevor der Arzt kommt.
Die fünfköpfige Band, erstmals in Deutschland unterwegs, erschrickt vor nichts. Sie trat in Iserlohn auf, Hagen und Lünen, und hatte Riesenspass. Besonders die inzwischen im ganzen Land etablierten Sand- und Strandbars machen Smart Freude. "Faked beaches!" Er wollte es nicht glauben, hatte nie zuvor Strand-Attrappen gesehen. Sein Tip: 1:1.
Frank Lorentz
- Welt am Sonntag