The Curious Incident
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The Curious Incident

London, England, United Kingdom | Established. Jan 01, 2011 | SELF | AFM

London, England, United Kingdom | SELF | AFM
Established on Jan, 2011
Band Rock Indie

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"Baeble First Play: The Arena Ready World Rock of The Curious Incident"

"London rockers The Curious Incident are part of that new wave of rock bands pairing arena-ready hooks and rock with world influences to beautiful effect.

We have the exclusive premiere of The Curious Incident's newest single, "The Hunt," and it pairs that arena-ready world music pop-rock with legitimate lyrical depth, discussing unemployment and that daily existential grind that comes with being a Millennial in today's completely broken economy. But, don't worry, the song has that depth, but if you're just looking for a track to rock out too, it will also take care of that deal. The Curious Incident are officially on our radar." - Baeble


"TimeOut: Oxjam Clapham"

"Local heroes The Curious Incident are the big draw here." - TimeOut


"UK Video Premiere"

Frontman Cavey’s (Kai) enthusiasm is contagious, and the ska inflected guitar, bass and drums is enough to get your feet skanking under the desk, as you stare out the window dreaming of a well-earned holiday… where were we? - The Vinyl District


"Introducing The Curious Incident"

Initially, they are exactly as their name labels them; a curious, intriguing concoction, simply put by them as, 'pop/rock with a Caribbean Twist that tastes like Jerk Chicken and Lemonade'.

Their music is just as scatty, danceable and every bit as enjoyable as they make it out to be too. Amongst the craze there are influences of Led Zeppelin and The Black Keys and when they opt for a more bluesy sound in, 'Might As Well Swim', it verges on early Red Hot Chili Peppers woozy vibes. Elsewhere though, 'Money', could gain the band a serious fortune if it hits a big festival stage with its infectious Crystal Fighters type rhythms and upbeat Latin-American jingles. - It's All Indie


""An absolutely must-see live act""

"The Curious Incident gives an explosive performance - an absolutely must-see live act. Brilliant." Ice Carstens - Rock The River - Rock The River NYE Festival


"Penny Lonesome (EP) Premiere"

Bearing a cute resemblance to Vampire Weekend, UB40, and early Elvis Costello, London foursome the Curious Incident shamelessly incorporate sunny reggae and Afrobeat influences into their effervescent indie pop. It’s infectious and very smartly written - Pop Matters


"Introducing Interview"

"An eclectic fusion of sounds with tongues firmly in cheek" - GigSlutz


""Ripped The Studio Apart""

"[The Curious Incident] ripped the studio apart... Kyle, the lead singer, moves like the love child of Steve Tyler and Rambo." - Elma Smit (MK Studio 1 & 5FM)


"Interview with soulful melodic rock band, The Curious Incident"

The Curious Incident, a group born in South Africa, are heading back home for the holidays. This four-piece band resides overseas now, and they’ve got that cool London vibe happening for them. With such good roots and such strong wings, we had to find out what they’re about …

The Curious Incident

The band consists of Kyle Verhagen-Roberts (lead vocals, rhythm guitar and percussion; pictured second from the right), Jack Stephenson-Oliver (lead guitar and backing vocals; pictured second from the left), Diaz Meidiawan (drums and percussion; pictured left) and Francesco Moreno (bass, keyboard and backing vocals; pictured right). Their style of music has Afro, Latin and rock influences, with Soul in there too.

And when you put that all together? From what we can gather by reading the band’s press release, the ‘Incident’ is Shaka Zulu Rock duelling with Conquistador Rock while Motown Soul soothes these stampeding elephants. Hmmm, eclectic; we like them already.

Writer Ice Carstens chatted to them to find out more.

HSSS: Where did the band’s name originate?

TCI: We reapplied it from Mark Haddon’s book – The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-Time, who kinda stole it from Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes.

HSSS: What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?

TCI: Broadly put: the dirt and shine of human existence. We also are inspired by history and different happenings and twist these inspirations into songs such as “Sangoma”, “Conquistador” and “Youth League Tsotsi”.

HSSS: What’s your ultimate goal for the band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?

TCI: Music is our passion. Our goal is to be able to make a living by doing what we love. But we wouldn’t say “No” to fame and fortune as side orders to happiness.

HSSS: If you guys were not in a band, what would you be doing?

Kyle: That’s kinda like saying “what’s your Plan B”, right? In a way, having a Plan B is planning to fail, and thus no Plan Bs for me. Although multiple-income streams will not be frowned upon.

Francesco: I’ll be studying music or anything related to music; I won’t be happy working in any other professional field.

Jack: Boxer.

Diaz: I would re-take my math and physics exams and become a pilot.

HSSS: How did the band get together?

TCI: Kyle had originally started the band in South Africa in 2009 but had difficulty in finding members committed to the struggle and sacrifice that would be needed to successfully start an international band. Kyle then went to meet up with Diaz in London, found Jack and one of our first bassists, and restarted Curious in January 2011. Francesco then ended our bassist-woes when he joined in July 2011.

The Curious Incident performing on stage

HSSS: What made you decide to become musicians?

Kyle: Seeing many excellent and even more terrible festival performances around the world. Having my mum raise me on her vinyl collection and memories of Knebworth and Isle of Wight probably had something to do with it too.

Francesco: I did not decide it. I knew it was what I wanted since I had my first “kid sized” guitar.

Jack: Losing 20 kgs of muscle and realising that the clichéd idea of corporate life did not sit too well with me.

Diaz: Tom Hank’s 1996 movie, “That Thing You Do”. I thought the drummer was so cool!

HSSS: Describe the band in three words.

TCI: Afro. Latin. Rock – Leopard. Snake. Elephant

HSSS: Who would you say are your greatest musical influences?

Kyle: RX Bandits, Michael Jackson, Michael Buble, Ray Charles, Elvis and Santana.

Francesco: I think there is something to learn from every genre. I don’t like labelling music; it should not have boundaries or limits.

Jack: Led Zep, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors.

Diaz: Bernard Purdy, Dennis Chambers, Benny Greb, Marilyn Manson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jay-Z.

HSSS: What’s on the horizon for the band in the near future?

TCI: We will be embarking on our first trans-atlantic tour to North America built around our performance at Canada Music Week in Toronto in March 2012. By northern hemisphere summertime, we should have released and marketed our new EP to enough of the world to warrant our inclusion at several UK/European festivals. We also look forward to recording our first full-length album towards the end of 2012 and touring South Africa again later in 2012.

HSSS: What is the one thing that no one in the world knows about your band right now?

TCI: Francesco and Diaz snore, Jack breathes really heavily in his sleep, and Kyle talks in his sleep.

HSSS: What made you decide to tour South Africa?

TCI: Kyle’s South African and doesn’t stop talking about the place! The music industry in South Africa is burgeoning and we want to create a long-lasting relationship with the country and audiences here.

HSSS: Where can people find you online? Are you keeping an online tour diary?

TCI: You can always connect with us on:

www.thecuriousincident.com

www.facebook.com/thecuriousincident

www.twitter.com/curiousincident

We’ll start our online tour video blog from December 29, 2011, just before Rock The River, and we’ll keep posting our adventures all the way through to the first week of February when we return to London. So be sure to check out what we are up to on and off the stage! The ‘vlogging’ [video blogging] – sounds so dirty – will be done on our tumblr page over here…http://curiousincidentmusic.tumblr.com/

HSSS: Which of the shows on tour are you most looking forward to?

TCI: There is no better way to start a tour in a foreign land than with a show two hours after the midnight NYE gong like we’ll be doing at Rock The River SA festival in Cape Town. We are also excited to see the rest of the country, play in front of new audiences almost every night and see which SA city flies their freak flag the highest.

HSSS: Is there any particular personality trait in others or a specific kind of people that you dislike?

TCI: Apathy is so…like…whatever man. People that give up before they’ve even gotten going also get our alliterated goat.

HSSS: Are there any specific bands or artists or influences you tend to listen to when writing music?

TCI: Hmmm not especially – we generally steal a little from a lot of places and then stir and churn until it is nice and Curious.

*****

So readers, by now you want to know when and where you can hear these guys, right? Well, we’ve got news for you, whether you’re spending the next few weeks in one of South Africa’s city centres or not:

First up, there’s an EP. The Curious Incident’s self-titled 6-track EP was recorded at Dairy Studios in London (who also recorded Muse, Florence & The Machine, Ed Sheeran, and Bloc Party) and mastered at London’s Metropolis Studios (The Who, David Gilmour, White Lies). You can pre-order the EP from their web store (or at any of their shows). The good part? You’ll get 4 of the 6 tracks as immediate high-quality downloads with the other 2 EP tracks plus 2 bonus songs and an exclusive ‘Thank You/Tour’ video to be sent in February.

Secondly, you can see the video for the first single, Impostor, on rotation on MK (Channel 324 on DSTV).

And thirdly (… and you know what they say about third time lucky): You can see them live!

The Curious Incident will be playing here over the holidays:

1 January 2012: Rock the River SA music festival
5 January 2012: Zula Bar on Long Street in Cape Town
11 January 2012: Raggies Sports and Action Bar in East London
13 January 2012: Tanz Cafe in Fourways in JHB (electric show)
14 January 2012: Arcade Empire in Pretoria (electric show)
15 January 2012: Tanz Cafe in Fourways in JHB (acoustic show) and 17 January 2012: Memphis Rock! in Potchefstroom.

Follow them on Facebook for further dates to be confirmed.

Plus, you can read more about them at Cape Town Music Scene, here: http://capetownmusicscene.blogspot.com/2011/12/curious-blurb.html

Experience them for yourself and let us know what you think! - Hy-sê-Sy-sê / HSSS


"The Curious Incident 2012 Tour"

The Curious Incident is a mixed-bag band of multi-nationals fighting modern rock conventions. Imagine a Motown-loving African Mars Volta with dashes of Led Zeppelin, QOTSA & early Santana churned into the energetic power of a thousand stampeding elephants – that’s The Curious Incident. For those of you who did not know The Curious Incident is a South African born and London bred band. The members of this four-piece Afro / Latin / Rock band are Kyle VerhagenRoberts (on lead vocals, rhythm guitar and percussion), Jack Stephenson-Oliver (on lead guitar and backing vocals), Diaz Meidiawan (on drums and percussion) and Francesco Moreno (on bass, keyboard and backing vocals).

Having peddled their wares over the pond for a while now, the band is back on sunny South African shores and biting at the bit to introduce SA audiences to their eclectic sound. The band took their name from the book “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon (who incidentally re-purposed it from Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes”) and are stopping over in South Afica on their way to North America for a tour built around their upcoming performance at the Canada Music Week in Toronto during March 2012. The Curious Incident are looking forward to take part in South Africa’s burgeoning music industry and are hoping to build an enduring relationship with the country and its discerning audiences.

The Curious Incident describes their sound as “a mash of Afro/Latin/Rock with soul that is proudly eclectic and ambitiously international. The ‘Incident’ is Shaka Zulu Rock duelling with Conquistador Rock while Motown Soul soothes these stampeding elephants. Local blogger and Your LMG editor Tecla Ciofli (the one behind Texx and the City) says their tunes “[leave] the door wide open for critical reception and fan appreciation.” They take inspiration from ‘the dirt and shine of human existence’ and list a wide variety of musical influences that ranges from Led Zeppelin and early Santana to The Mars Volta, Queens of the Stone Age, Incubus and BLK JKS.

This is the music video for their song Impostor. The video is currently on rotation on MK (channel 324 on DSTV).

Great news is that you can now pre-order The Curious Incident’s brand new self-titled, 6 track EP which was recorded at Dairy Studios in London (Muse, Florence & The Machine, Ed Sheeran, Bloc Party) and mastered at London’s Metropolis Studios (The Who, David Gilmour, White Lies). You can pre-order now from their Web Store or at any of the shows and get 4 of the 6 tracks as immediate high quality downloads with the other 2 EP tracks plus 2 bonus songs and an exclusive ‘Thank You/Tour’ video being sent in February. Other ‘Buy Curious’ merchandise is also available online and at all shows.

The Curious Incident already made an appearance at the Rock the River Festival on the weekend of New Year’s Eve 2011 / 2012. If you’ve missed them, you can catch them at one of these venues in January 2012:

5 January: Zula Bar, Long Street, Cape Town
11 January: Raggies Bar, East London
13 January: Tanz Cafe, Fourways, Johannesburg (electric show)
14 January: Arcade Empire, Pretoria (electric show)
15 January: Tanz Cafe, Fourways, Johannesburg (acoustic show)
17 January: Memphis Rock, Potchefstroom
Get your butt down to one of these shows and check out The Curious Incident at a venue near you.

For more information about the band, find them online at these locations:

Official The Curious Incident Website
The Curious Incident Facebook Fan Page
@curiousincident on Twitter

Watch this space for regular updates in the Music and Events categories on Running Wolf’s Rant. If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends. Also feel free to comment on anything that you might find interesting here. Feedback is appreciated and welcome. - Running Wolf


"The Curious Incident to Rock Zula Tonight"

Christmas and NYE have come and gone and chances are you are probably peeling from too much sun, eyeing a post-festive season wallet and watching the last days of your annual leave dwindle away to the sound of that dreaded Carte Blanche tune that will ring in the new working year whether you want it to or not.

Here's a plan. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, get up off the couch and join us for a kick-ass night of affordable entertainment at Zula Bar on Long this evening. Not only will you be able to catch The Curious Incident in all their post-Rock The River glory, you will also be treated to performances from some well-known local acts.

Doors open at 20h00 and you can either buy your tickets at the door (50 smackers) or do the grown-up thing and procure them online for a mere 40 ZA Rand.

Attendees can look forward to appearances by:

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT - Afro/Latin/Rock
THE GRAEME WATKINS PROJECT - Electro/Indie/Rock
BICYCLE THIEF - Indie
FUN TOY - Electronic

Can't make the gig tonight? Catch The Curious Incident's upcoming shows at the following venues:

11 January 2012: Raggies Bar in East London
13 January 2012: Tanz Cafe in Fourways in JHB (electric show)
14 January 2012: Arcade Empire in Pretoria (electric show)
15 January 2012: Tanz Cafe in Fourways in JHB (acoustic show)
17 January 2012: Memphis Rock in Potchefstroom - Biz Lounge News by Anna-Bet Bester


"Tour Dates Confirmed for The Curious Incident"

Keen to expand your musical horizons over the silly season? Good news - The Curious Incident have touched down in SA and are preparing to introduce SA audiences to their singular sound.

Catch them at the following venues:

1 January 2012: Rock the River SA music festival
5 January 2012: Zula Bar on Long Street in Cape Town
13 January 2012: Tanz Cafe in Fourways in JHB (electric show)
14 January 2012: Arcade Empire in Pretoria (electric show)
15 January 2012: Tanz Cafe in Fourways in JHB (acoustic show)

Audiences can look forward to polished performances by Kyle Verhagen-Roberts (lead vocals, rhythm guitar and percussion), Jack Stephenson-Oliver (lead guitar and backing vocals), Diaz Meidiawan (drums and percussion) and Francesco Moreno (bass, keyboard and backing vocals) that strive to reconcile Afro-, Latin- and rock influences, served up with a generous helping of soul on the side.

Interested? Like The Curious Incident on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, peruse their tunes on MySpace or have a look at their website.

Keep an eye out for further tour dates and details on upcoming appearances that will appear here as they are finalised. - Biz Lounge News by Anna-Bet Bester


"A Few Curious Incidents To Take Place Soon"

Hold on to your hats music fans, The Curious Incident is making their way home for a sojourn on our sunny shores, which means SA audiences can look forward to experiencing the group's eclectic sound live and on stage, back at the original scene of the crime.

SA-born and London bred, the four-piece have been peddling their wares over the pond for a while now, adding to their repertoire and polishing their sound to a delicious sheen in the process. But now they're back for a bit to stoke the home fires and show us what they're made of.

The Curious Incident consists of Kyle Verhagen-Roberts (lead vocals, rhythm guitar and percussion), Jack Stephenson-Oliver (lead guitar and backing vocals), Diaz Meidiawan (drums and percussion) and Francesco Moreno (bass, keyboard and backing vocals), and describe their sound as "a mash of Afro/Latin/Rock with soul that is proudly eclectic and ambitiously international. The 'Incident' is Shaka Zulu Rock duelling with Conquistador Rock while Motown Soul provokes them (but in a gentlemanly fashion)."

Local blogger Tecla Ciofli (Texx and the City) says their tunes "[leave] the door wide open for critical reception and fan appreciation", while London promotion heavyweight, The Playground, love their guitars, front man and crowd connecting.

Keen to know more? Like The Curious Incident on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, have a listen to their tunes on MySpace or simply take a gander at their website.

Watch this space for tour dates and details on upcoming appearances. - Biz Lounge News by Anna-Bet Bester


"Featured Artist"

The Curious Incident is a mixed-bag band of multinationals fighting modern rock
conventions with their Leopard/Snake Rock.

Imagine: A Motown-loving African Mars Volta with dashes of Led Zep, QOTSA & early Santana churned into the energetic power of a thousand stampeding elephants.

“It’s hard to take a bow if you’re not willing to bend”

The Curious Incident is a mash of Afro/Latin/Rock with soul that is proudly eclectic and ambitiously international. The ‘Incident’ is Shaka Zulu Rock duelling with Conquistador Rock while Motown Soul provokes them (but in a gentlemanly fashion).

“Claims of Rainbow Nation but both sides still see in black & white” South Africa – The Rainbow Nation - and the “worldwide dirt and shine of human existence” come through as major influences both musically and lyrically.

This band of multinationals welcomes everything curious and do not discriminate when pulling up fans from the crowd to participate in the song or dance.

“We all sound the same in some different way” The Curious Incident draws inspiration from the likes of Led Zeppelin and early Santana as well as from contemporaries such as The Mars Volta, Queens of the Stone Age and Incubus through to South Africa’s very own BLK JKS.

The band’s “slightly off-beat flamboyance” is tempered with, as put by founding member and vocalist Kyle Roberts, “enough mainstream appeal so as not to alienate the larger audience.”

“Dreams were built and broken down, I’m rebuilding my dreams wearing my paper crown” More ambitious than your average politician” and “spreading like swine flu”, The Curious Incident is about to release their self-titled six-track EP and take their Afro/Latin/Rock around the world.

Their energy and spasmodic rhythmical-writhing need a stage. So, armed with tales of intrigue, relentless passion, electrifying electric as well as heart-warming acoustic shows, The Curious Incident will take to the world and refill your empty brand name energy cans.

“How great would it be for words from one’s own mind to be... immortalised, built into the fabrics of time, concreted in the minds of history” - SA Music News


"The Curious Incident on South African Shores"

If you like an eclectic mix of Afro/Latin/rock then you need to check out The Curious Incident, a new(ish) four-piece band with roots in Cape Town and London. The Curious Incident has gained quite a cult following in the UK, where it has been performing for a couple of years, but this is the first time that the group will be in South Africa.

In their own words, the band describes themselves as:

‘Shaka Zulu Rock duelling with Conquistador Rock while Motown Soul provokes them (but in a gentlemanly fashion).’

‘… spreading like swine flu.’

‘… the musical expression of that feeling you get in your stomach in a descending lift.’

And, ‘Proudly South African and ambitiously international.’

Ambitious indeed.


The quartet consists of:
Kyle Roberts – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, percussion and general manager.
Diaz Tanurrezal – drums and energy (according to the Facebook page).
Jack Stephenson-Oliver – lead guitar and backing vocals.
Francesco Moreno – bass, piano and backing vocals.

The Curious Incident will be in South Africa in December and January, although no dates are available yet you can keep an eye on their website for updates.

For a taste of what the shows will entail, head on to MySpace for a quick listen to some of their songs. - Entertain South Africa


"The Star Turn"

"...Great guitarist and charismatic front man and loved their Darkness rock start and crowd connecting. They were obviously the star turn on the live front." - The Playground


"The Curious Incident"

“…A delightfully precarious mix of stoner rock ‘n roll and dark funk…their slightly off-beat flamboyance…leaves the door wide open for critical reception and fan appreciation.”
Tecla Ciolfi - Your LMG


Discography

Penny Lonesome EP (30 October 2015)

Including the singles "Money" and "Diane"

Plays on BBC Introducing, Absolute Radio, Amazing Radio and Radio X in the UK as well as plays in South Africa. 

The Curious Incident [Self-titled EP - 2012]

- Playlisted on over 125 US College radio stations
(campaign run by Planetary Group)

Emphasis on Paralysis [Single]
- National TV rotation on MK South Africa
- Playlisted on campus radio

Impostor [Single]
- Playlisted MFM 92.6FM
- Playlisted UCT Radio 104.5FM
- Playlisted PUKFM 93.6FM
- Playlisted 2Oceans Vibe Online Radio
- Playlisted 5FM Radio
- Playlisted 5FM Radio Treffer
- Playlisted TUKS FM Radio

Live Studio Performances:
- MFM92.6FM
http://tunein.com/radio/MFM-926-s8484/

- UCT Radio
http://uctradio.co.za

- 2 Oceans Vibe Radio on 9 January 2012
http://2oceansvibe.com

- MK Live@Studio 1 on 19 January 2012
http://mk.dstv.com/
Performing "Sangoma"

- Expresso Breakfast Show SABC3 on 23 January 2012
http://.expressoshow.com
Performing "Impostor" and "Miss Behave"

- Hectic Nine 9 SABC2 on 27 January 2012
http://hn9.co.za

Radio Interviews:
- MFM 92.6FM
- UCT Radio 104.5FM
- PUKFM 93.6FM
- 2Oceans Vibe Online Radio
- 5FM Radio Treffer
- East Rand Stereo 93.9 FM
- TUKS Pretoria 107.2 FM

Photos

Bio

>>> “It’s hard to take a bow if you’re not willing to bend”

The Curious Incident is a mixed bag band of foreigners based in London. They started off experimenting with worldly sounds and has settled into their Pop/Rock with a Caribbean Twist. They've racked up frenetic live shows in London at venues such as Barfly, The Borderline, IndigO2, 100 Club, and Proud Camden as well as supporting diverse bands such as The Zombies and Die Antwoord.

Further adventures consisted of them independently touring South Africa, Switzerland and Canada including festival slots at Oppikoppi, Caprices Fest & Canadian Music Festival.

The band has now narrowed their focus, taking the best of their experimentation and contemporary influences, packaging it with enough mainstream appeal whilst boiling over their energetic performances.

Recommended if you like: UB40, RHCP, The Kooks, Crystal Fighters and Vampire Weekend (and being cooked for without having to clean up afterwards)

Band Members