THE ART

The Art “Home Sick”
- kroq

So, we interviewed Vicky Hamilton a while ago and she regaled us with stories about Axl, Slash, Bret, C.C. and so on. She also mentioned how high she was on her new band from Australia, THE ART, so we checked them out, preparing to be generally disappointed as is usually the case when a manager or publicist really brags up a a band. Well,let’s just say someone really ought to consider putting Vicky in charge of more shit because she STILL has an eagle eye for spotting amazing, dangerous rock bands with great songs. The Art is quite different from most of what gets passed as “rock and roll” by corporate radio, which is, of course, a very good thing. They rock but they’re not dumb, they’re tuneful but they’re not “poppy”, they are interesting but not aloof or pretentious. We talked with bassist/vocalist Kara Jayne (KJ) and lead singer/guitarist Azaria Byrne about their beginnings, their experiences and their art. Read on….
LRI: Thanks for talking to us guys, your album and your ep are a breath of fresh air. What got you into writing and performing to begin with? What were your earliest creative exploits?
Azaria- Thank you for your kind words. Well I guess I’ve always been visual and sonic in my communication. As I haven’t always been good with words, I painted a lot as a kid and won some awards. My big brother got me listening to Guns N Roses, The Pixies and The Doors when I was really young and I remember getting obsessed with wanting to start a band and making noise! My brother was learning guitar and I decided I wanted to be a drummer and started drumming all the time and pissing everyone off (laughs). He got over the guitar so I kind of stole it off him. I still use it today and he sometimes rocks up to a show and says never forget whose guitar it is. I taught myself to play, I remember being so obsessed with playing all the time and learning as many different instruments as possible. I remember I nearly got expelled from school because I would miss all my classes playing music all day teaching myself the violin, piano, bass drums and guitar at least. The school loved me because I won this art competition called ‘the ministers of arts awards” from a painting I did in 5 minutes. I guess I was a kid that had no direction or concept of what I was meant to be doing at the time and to be honest, I haven’t changed at all. I’m still a music geek with no concept of reality most of the time. I’ve felt really lucky over time to be able to tour the world playing shows and releasing music, making memories and and doing it all with my friends, who I consider my family – THE ART
WATCH this clip of THE ART performing “I Wanna Know” live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4styB9tNsFc&feature=relmfu


LRI: Some of the best moments on your recordings are when you and KJ are both singing at the same time. How did you end up meeting each other and at what point did you know you were on the same page?
Azaria: KJ and I both realized that we were on the same page instantly. We were kids when we met and we fell in love instantly, well, I fell for her instantly. Eventually I moved away and recorded an album playing every instrument myself in the studio, it was called Empty Orchestra and I decided to call the band ‘The Follow’ I had a few incarnations but wasn’t connecting beyond musically with the members. I asked KJ to move to Sydney and play bass in my band as I missed her. This was her first band ever and and the album had just come out, we were signed to Warner Music straight away. After breaking up early on in The Follow’s career and over time after 6 years of touring and recording, we kind of learned so much together. I guess we were twins in a sense, so early on it was clear that it’s important for us to both be singing together as we are very similar in that we think the same, talk the same and even sing the same. Early on, I used to sing her vocal parts and mimic her and our producer wouldn’t know the difference and visa versa (laughs). For KJ and I ” The Follow” was like our rock and roll university where we were learning about so much personally, artistically and emotionally. We still have a lot more to learn as THE ART but there is no end. I’m lucky to have come this far with her and the other boys who share our dream and passion and have the talent to back it up from their own personal journeys through life. I feel like I’m surrounded by magic and walking within a dream when the 4 of us get together.KJ: As Zar said, we met when we were kids, he moved into a house next door to my best friend when we were in school and we’ve been inseparable ever since. Our relationship has many dimensions, many years ago we dated, we’ve been best friends, we’ve had moments of destruction.. but the one constant thing we’ve always had is the band. In years passed there were times when we weren’t talking to each other, but we would always get up on stage and play together, that in itse - Legendary rock interviews

So, we interviewed Vicky Hamilton a while ago and she regaled us with stories about Axl, Slash, Bret, C.C. and so on. She also mentioned how high she was on her new band from Australia, THE ART, so we checked them out, preparing to be generally disappointed as is usually the case when a manager or publicist really brags up a a band. Well,let’s just say someone really ought to consider putting Vicky in charge of more shit because she STILL has an eagle eye for spotting amazing, dangerous rock bands with great songs. The Art is quite different from most of what gets passed as “rock and roll” by corporate radio, which is, of course, a very good thing. They rock but they’re not dumb, they’re tuneful but they’re not “poppy”, they are interesting but not aloof or pretentious. We talked with bassist/vocalist Kara Jayne (KJ) and lead singer/guitarist Azaria Byrne about their beginnings, their experiences and their art. Read on….
LRI: Thanks for talking to us guys, your album and your ep are a breath of fresh air. What got you into writing and performing to begin with? What were your earliest creative exploits?
Azaria- Thank you for your kind words. Well I guess I’ve always been visual and sonic in my communication. As I haven’t always been good with words, I painted a lot as a kid and won some awards. My big brother got me listening to Guns N Roses, The Pixies and The Doors when I was really young and I remember getting obsessed with wanting to start a band and making noise! My brother was learning guitar and I decided I wanted to be a drummer and started drumming all the time and pissing everyone off (laughs). He got over the guitar so I kind of stole it off him. I still use it today and he sometimes rocks up to a show and says never forget whose guitar it is. I taught myself to play, I remember being so obsessed with playing all the time and learning as many different instruments as possible. I remember I nearly got expelled from school because I would miss all my classes playing music all day teaching myself the violin, piano, bass drums and guitar at least. The school loved me because I won this art competition called ‘the ministers of arts awards” from a painting I did in 5 minutes. I guess I was a kid that had no direction or concept of what I was meant to be doing at the time and to be honest, I haven’t changed at all. I’m still a music geek with no concept of reality most of the time. I’ve felt really lucky over time to be able to tour the world playing shows and releasing music, making memories and and doing it all with my friends, who I consider my family – THE ART
WATCH this clip of THE ART performing “I Wanna Know” live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4styB9tNsFc&feature=relmfu


LRI: Some of the best moments on your recordings are when you and KJ are both singing at the same time. How did you end up meeting each other and at what point did you know you were on the same page?
Azaria: KJ and I both realized that we were on the same page instantly. We were kids when we met and we fell in love instantly, well, I fell for her instantly. Eventually I moved away and recorded an album playing every instrument myself in the studio, it was called Empty Orchestra and I decided to call the band ‘The Follow’ I had a few incarnations but wasn’t connecting beyond musically with the members. I asked KJ to move to Sydney and play bass in my band as I missed her. This was her first band ever and and the album had just come out, we were signed to Warner Music straight away. After breaking up early on in The Follow’s career and over time after 6 years of touring and recording, we kind of learned so much together. I guess we were twins in a sense, so early on it was clear that it’s important for us to both be singing together as we are very similar in that we think the same, talk the same and even sing the same. Early on, I used to sing her vocal parts and mimic her and our producer wouldn’t know the difference and visa versa (laughs). For KJ and I ” The Follow” was like our rock and roll university where we were learning about so much personally, artistically and emotionally. We still have a lot more to learn as THE ART but there is no end. I’m lucky to have come this far with her and the other boys who share our dream and passion and have the talent to back it up from their own personal journeys through life. I feel like I’m surrounded by magic and walking within a dream when the 4 of us get together.KJ: As Zar said, we met when we were kids, he moved into a house next door to my best friend when we were in school and we’ve been inseparable ever since. Our relationship has many dimensions, many years ago we dated, we’ve been best friends, we’ve had moments of destruction.. but the one constant thing we’ve always had is the band. In years passed there were times when we weren’t talking to each other, but we would always get up on stage and play together, that in itse - Legendary rock interviews

One might be forgiven for thinking the lackluster crowd at the opening of tonight’s bill at the Annandale Hotel was due to the foul weather outside. One may also be forgiven for mistaking tonight’s opening act, Jack Nasty Face, for a Cramps tribute band. These guys demonstrate their experience and pay homage to rock music history, and while they haven’t drawn much of a crowd tonight, the droog attire (sans codpiece) has me entertained long enough to keep the shakes at bay. And now back to the bar.

Stone Parade are up next pulling a great crowd, the room was almost packed full of people keen to hear their sound. The boys – brothers Mark and Kevin Fouche on bass and guitar, Alex Qasabian on guitar, lead singer Greg Byrne and Billy Handley on drums – put on a great show, they traverses many genres and showcases their ability for experimentation with their live set consisting of upbeat catchy tunes and softer more abstract art.

Next up was Creo bringing the energy down with the softer side of rock, the room remained full as the band coherently delivered a solid performance, although my attention was pulled mostly not to the sound but to the way these boys moved on stage. The guitarist appears to have delusions of grandeur, and may be better off starting his own band as a front man.

Suddenly I was standing in a room that, 10 seconds earlier, would have had enough room to swing a cat. The Art had taken the stage and the crowd were packed in like sardines. Before the band jumped on stage to deliver their art an Intro song was played – space organs and marching foot soldiers – set the mood, building suspense among the waiting crowd. Sonic guitars with abrasive and almost metal like rhythm sections filled the room drowning out the harmonious intro song – only for a minute – The lights came on and The Art kicked into their first song Femme UFO. Every girl up the front was instantly (almost freakishly) singing along to every word of the song.

Front man Azaria could be described as the pied piper with a room full of hungry rats hanging on every sound whispered from his mouth. Nourishment came from a bevy of broody tunes off the bands recently launched album Here Comes the War, to which the audience, obviously having purchased said album, recited every word. Bassist and vocalist Kara Jane – rocking stilettos that pierced the hearts of everyone in the room – took centre stage halfway through the set to deliver her song Trigger that would give Brodie Dalle and Alison Mossheart a run for their money. KJ later returned, (handing over her bass duties to band mate Azaria) putting a grunge edge to a cover of Lily Allen’s pop song The Fear before Azaria took back his position as the band’s leader to kicks off into another heavier song A Figment of Your imagination. By this time the whole crowd are jumping, kissing, sweating and bleeding as Azaria carries the show as if he was the love child of Michael Hutchence and Kurt Cobain.

During one of their final songs Moonchild all sound was lost from guitarist Jak Colemans side of the stage at the very moment drummer Yoshi’s cymbals fell down. This young drummer, by the way, is a machine on stage, head banging crazily along to his music while keeping in perfect time –The Art’s techs hit the stage frantically trying to fix Jak’s rig while Azaria calmed the excited crowd by singing an old Follow song The World is a Mirror.

At the end of the song the tech holds up Jaks guitar lead which as been sliced completely into two pieces from Yoshi’s fallen cymbals. Azaria throws his guitar as he lights a cigerette and pours wine down the mouths of girls in the front row – much to their delight. The lead is replaced and the show moves forward with band ending the set with their punk rock Stooges-esque anthem Killing Time. As The Art leave the stage the audience prepare for an encore, they chant, when the band don’t return and the room starts to slowly empty. - FASTER LOUDER

One might be forgiven for thinking the lackluster crowd at the opening of tonight’s bill at the Annandale Hotel was due to the foul weather outside. One may also be forgiven for mistaking tonight’s opening act, Jack Nasty Face, for a Cramps tribute band. These guys demonstrate their experience and pay homage to rock music history, and while they haven’t drawn much of a crowd tonight, the droog attire (sans codpiece) has me entertained long enough to keep the shakes at bay. And now back to the bar.

Stone Parade are up next pulling a great crowd, the room was almost packed full of people keen to hear their sound. The boys – brothers Mark and Kevin Fouche on bass and guitar, Alex Qasabian on guitar, lead singer Greg Byrne and Billy Handley on drums – put on a great show, they traverses many genres and showcases their ability for experimentation with their live set consisting of upbeat catchy tunes and softer more abstract art.

Next up was Creo bringing the energy down with the softer side of rock, the room remained full as the band coherently delivered a solid performance, although my attention was pulled mostly not to the sound but to the way these boys moved on stage. The guitarist appears to have delusions of grandeur, and may be better off starting his own band as a front man.

Suddenly I was standing in a room that, 10 seconds earlier, would have had enough room to swing a cat. The Art had taken the stage and the crowd were packed in like sardines. Before the band jumped on stage to deliver their art an Intro song was played – space organs and marching foot soldiers – set the mood, building suspense among the waiting crowd. Sonic guitars with abrasive and almost metal like rhythm sections filled the room drowning out the harmonious intro song – only for a minute – The lights came on and The Art kicked into their first song Femme UFO. Every girl up the front was instantly (almost freakishly) singing along to every word of the song.

Front man Azaria could be described as the pied piper with a room full of hungry rats hanging on every sound whispered from his mouth. Nourishment came from a bevy of broody tunes off the bands recently launched album Here Comes the War, to which the audience, obviously having purchased said album, recited every word. Bassist and vocalist Kara Jane – rocking stilettos that pierced the hearts of everyone in the room – took centre stage halfway through the set to deliver her song Trigger that would give Brodie Dalle and Alison Mossheart a run for their money. KJ later returned, (handing over her bass duties to band mate Azaria) putting a grunge edge to a cover of Lily Allen’s pop song The Fear before Azaria took back his position as the band’s leader to kicks off into another heavier song A Figment of Your imagination. By this time the whole crowd are jumping, kissing, sweating and bleeding as Azaria carries the show as if he was the love child of Michael Hutchence and Kurt Cobain.

During one of their final songs Moonchild all sound was lost from guitarist Jak Colemans side of the stage at the very moment drummer Yoshi’s cymbals fell down. This young drummer, by the way, is a machine on stage, head banging crazily along to his music while keeping in perfect time –The Art’s techs hit the stage frantically trying to fix Jak’s rig while Azaria calmed the excited crowd by singing an old Follow song The World is a Mirror.

At the end of the song the tech holds up Jaks guitar lead which as been sliced completely into two pieces from Yoshi’s fallen cymbals. Azaria throws his guitar as he lights a cigerette and pours wine down the mouths of girls in the front row – much to their delight. The lead is replaced and the show moves forward with band ending the set with their punk rock Stooges-esque anthem Killing Time. As The Art leave the stage the audience prepare for an encore, they chant, when the band don’t return and the room starts to slowly empty. - FASTER LOUDER

Fresh back from a national U.S Tour with Faster Pussycat and Richie Ramone and just before a series of shows with Buckberry and Aerosmith, Azaria Byrne and Kara Jayne of Sydney based band The Art sat down with photographer Katie Kaars ,stylist Melaine Knight and hair & MUA artist Karen Hopwood for a Chasseur exclusive editorial. Managed by L.A Rock royalty Vicky Hamilton, it really makes no wonder why The Art is considered to be one of Australia’s most exciting export with their glam and punk rock sound receiving worldwide recognition next to big names such as 30 Seconds to Mars, The Pixies and Marilyn Manson to name just a few.

- chasseur magazine

Fresh back from a national U.S Tour with Faster Pussycat and Richie Ramone and just before a series of shows with Buckberry and Aerosmith, Azaria Byrne and Kara Jayne of Sydney based band The Art sat down with photographer Katie Kaars ,stylist Melaine Knight and hair & MUA artist Karen Hopwood for a Chasseur exclusive editorial. Managed by L.A Rock royalty Vicky Hamilton, it really makes no wonder why The Art is considered to be one of Australia’s most exciting export with their glam and punk rock sound receiving worldwide recognition next to big names such as 30 Seconds to Mars, The Pixies and Marilyn Manson to name just a few.

- chasseur magazine

It takes nerve to name your rock n' roll band THE ART and then select an infamous prankster's riff on Andy Warhol's death mask for the cover of your provocative premiere album: THE ART: Here Comes the War.

We are trying to create a pop wave for the future that is based on dreams and hope," says THE ART's Azaria Byrne (in Kill City shirt) photographed with his Australian band (L to R: Jordan McDonald, Kara Jayne "KJ" & Jak Coleman) at Kill City in Hollywood
Was the intergenerational cross-era reference to the High Priest of Pop Art meant to be ironic? That this question is unanswerable is a large measure of the band's intoxicating blend of emotional force...

...and devastating charm.

Azaria, the band's lead singer and chief songwriter, here off-stage in Hollywood, explains: "We wanted to keep it simple. It is like making love itself; violent, but then it has some beautiful soft moments."
THE ART is nothing if not sincere in its mission: a tooth and nail battle against the corporate artifice that has taken over the music industry. They fearlessly combat charges of pretentiousness as they ambitiously dive into the murky depths of the human shadow, which includes their own rock star ready images.

"There isn't anything they can't do if they set their minds to it," says their Los Angeles based manager, Vicky Hamilton. "THE ART are making rock and roll sexy again, and for me, fun to be in the business again."

Hamilton, coordinating a Kill City photo shoot for THE ART, is the subject of a documentary. Until the Music Ends exploring alternatives to the hierarchical structure of the "old school" major record label system in which musicians can use new paradigm models to not only survive, but thrive.
The former A&E executive for Geffen Records managed Guns N' Roses and Motley Crue, the biggest Los Angeles bands since Van Halen.

Impresario Vicky Hamilton with THE ART at Rockpaper Coffeehouse in Hollywood: "After 25 years of being a rock and roll manager, I had pretty much decided I wasn't going to manage anymore. This band is like family."
Incredibly, in this time of corporate dominated radio, the band's Californian emergence is happening in a natural organic way that is reminiscent of the sixties; DJ Rodney Bingenheimer, a longtime booster of iconic new sounds has had THE ART on his Rodney on the Roq playlist for the past month and their catchy tunes are spreading through private art parties. "We are creating what we want to create, not really knowing where things are going to end up," says Azaria. "That is what I find is really exciting about my band. Just throw it against the wall and see what abstract painting comes out of it."

A painter who learned to surrender control through the making of abstract art, Azaria emerged on the music scene with a solo CD. He told me that he is grateful to the band for helping him transform his elusive visions into narratives of subjective struggles that, he admits, are exacerbated by a life on the road.

Azaria clowning around for the camera, shares with his band no fear of criticism, due to their belief that it is human to be creative.
The irony taking place underneath the mask is that an androgynous band is catching fire globally without the corporate star-making machine that destroyed the music industry along with the media domination of television shows such as American Idol and The X Factor.

The power of the songwriting ("The truth is just like Xmas. Santa Claus isn't real. Maybe if I was just like them, I would know how to feel") makes their mission true: to clear away the obstacles of celebrity-driven culture and replace it with a new form of equal partnership idealized by the sixties revolution before it fell into chaos.

Such soul-baring honesty makes the sign contained in Warhol's final self-portrait, a foreshadowing of his death, all the more appropriate. If Warhol, like Marcel Duchamp, the granddaddy of postmodernism, did nothing else with his fame than cause us to question the very nature of what is art, then THE ART is beating their forerunners at their own game with music that is not only an ongoing revolt against the corporate sanctioned status quo fitting music into neat categories, but a declaration for the admittedly messy (r)evolution of making life art and art life.

The wit of this fast-rising Aussie rock band is reminiscent of the early Beatles. It connects the accidental avant-garde style with an easy camaraderie -- they have known one another since they were students and live in the same Sydney neighborhood. Their bemused detachment points toward the inevitable destiny commanded by a magnetic band capturing the zeitgeist with beauty, force and sheer talent.

This band of distinct individuals rocks with a intensely cohesive sonic voicing rock 'n' roll as religion - HUFFINGTON POST

It takes nerve to name your rock n' roll band THE ART and then select an infamous prankster's riff on Andy Warhol's death mask for the cover of your provocative premiere album: THE ART: Here Comes the War.

We are trying to create a pop wave for the future that is based on dreams and hope," says THE ART's Azaria Byrne (in Kill City shirt) photographed with his Australian band (L to R: Jordan McDonald, Kara Jayne "KJ" & Jak Coleman) at Kill City in Hollywood
Was the intergenerational cross-era reference to the High Priest of Pop Art meant to be ironic? That this question is unanswerable is a large measure of the band's intoxicating blend of emotional force...

...and devastating charm.

Azaria, the band's lead singer and chief songwriter, here off-stage in Hollywood, explains: "We wanted to keep it simple. It is like making love itself; violent, but then it has some beautiful soft moments."
THE ART is nothing if not sincere in its mission: a tooth and nail battle against the corporate artifice that has taken over the music industry. They fearlessly combat charges of pretentiousness as they ambitiously dive into the murky depths of the human shadow, which includes their own rock star ready images.

"There isn't anything they can't do if they set their minds to it," says their Los Angeles based manager, Vicky Hamilton. "THE ART are making rock and roll sexy again, and for me, fun to be in the business again."

Hamilton, coordinating a Kill City photo shoot for THE ART, is the subject of a documentary. Until the Music Ends exploring alternatives to the hierarchical structure of the "old school" major record label system in which musicians can use new paradigm models to not only survive, but thrive.
The former A&E executive for Geffen Records managed Guns N' Roses and Motley Crue, the biggest Los Angeles bands since Van Halen.

Impresario Vicky Hamilton with THE ART at Rockpaper Coffeehouse in Hollywood: "After 25 years of being a rock and roll manager, I had pretty much decided I wasn't going to manage anymore. This band is like family."
Incredibly, in this time of corporate dominated radio, the band's Californian emergence is happening in a natural organic way that is reminiscent of the sixties; DJ Rodney Bingenheimer, a longtime booster of iconic new sounds has had THE ART on his Rodney on the Roq playlist for the past month and their catchy tunes are spreading through private art parties. "We are creating what we want to create, not really knowing where things are going to end up," says Azaria. "That is what I find is really exciting about my band. Just throw it against the wall and see what abstract painting comes out of it."

A painter who learned to surrender control through the making of abstract art, Azaria emerged on the music scene with a solo CD. He told me that he is grateful to the band for helping him transform his elusive visions into narratives of subjective struggles that, he admits, are exacerbated by a life on the road.

Azaria clowning around for the camera, shares with his band no fear of criticism, due to their belief that it is human to be creative.
The irony taking place underneath the mask is that an androgynous band is catching fire globally without the corporate star-making machine that destroyed the music industry along with the media domination of television shows such as American Idol and The X Factor.

The power of the songwriting ("The truth is just like Xmas. Santa Claus isn't real. Maybe if I was just like them, I would know how to feel") makes their mission true: to clear away the obstacles of celebrity-driven culture and replace it with a new form of equal partnership idealized by the sixties revolution before it fell into chaos.

Such soul-baring honesty makes the sign contained in Warhol's final self-portrait, a foreshadowing of his death, all the more appropriate. If Warhol, like Marcel Duchamp, the granddaddy of postmodernism, did nothing else with his fame than cause us to question the very nature of what is art, then THE ART is beating their forerunners at their own game with music that is not only an ongoing revolt against the corporate sanctioned status quo fitting music into neat categories, but a declaration for the admittedly messy (r)evolution of making life art and art life.

The wit of this fast-rising Aussie rock band is reminiscent of the early Beatles. It connects the accidental avant-garde style with an easy camaraderie -- they have known one another since they were students and live in the same Sydney neighborhood. Their bemused detachment points toward the inevitable destiny commanded by a magnetic band capturing the zeitgeist with beauty, force and sheer talent.

This band of distinct individuals rocks with a intensely cohesive sonic voicing rock 'n' roll as religion - HUFFINGTON POST

Partial Newtown native glam rock group The Art have recently signed on the dotted line with US label Rocket Science Records/Sony Red Records. The deals came about after The Art impressed label reps during their live performances at this year’s South by South West showcase.

Thanks to being on heavy rotation LA radio station KROQ, The Art’s latest single Dirty Girl has been receiving airplay throughout the US, Canada and Japan. For fans looking to grab a copy of the new single, head over to the The Art’s Facebook page and download the track for free. - MUSIC FEEDS

Partial Newtown native glam rock group The Art have recently signed on the dotted line with US label Rocket Science Records/Sony Red Records. The deals came about after The Art impressed label reps during their live performances at this year’s South by South West showcase.

Thanks to being on heavy rotation LA radio station KROQ, The Art’s latest single Dirty Girl has been receiving airplay throughout the US, Canada and Japan. For fans looking to grab a copy of the new single, head over to the The Art’s Facebook page and download the track for free. - MUSIC FEEDS

THE ART to play free Gold Coast show
Seanna Cronin | October 15th, 2009
THE ART will take a break from opening for Marilyn Manson to play a free show on the Gold Coast tomorrow night
LOS Angeles-based Sydney rockers THE ART, formerly known as The Follow, play a free show on the Gold Coast this weekend.
The quartet has returned to Australia to support Marilyn Manson on tour.
THE ART's Coast show, at the Miami Tavern, is the band's only free gig of the tour.
"We haven't played in Australia for about a year and a half. We've been touring America, so we just wanted to do something on the Gold Coast," says frontman Azaria.
"We have a very loyal fan base here (Australia) and it was pretty abrupt when we left. We went overseas for a tour and signed a management deal. There was no warning for people here."
Best known for his on-again off-again relationship with Jess Origliasso from The Veronicas, Azaria says THE ART scored their Manson support spot after his band saw one of their shows in LA.
"We've been a really lucky band," he says.
"We got to tour with Sonic Youth and Nine Inch Nails and now Marilyn Manson."
So what is alternative music's shock rocker like in person?
"He's just a sweet dude who always has something intelligent to say; that's what it seemed like from my first impressions," says Azaria.
"It's an honour to be able to tour with these people, who seem out of reach -- from another universe."
THE ART play a 45-minute set before Manson's elaborate, sensory-bashing show.
"We're the kind of band that doesn't have props or a big kind of show," says Azaria.
"I think there's a lot of bands that get influenced by artists, who are like 'wow, we'll have to try and sort of pull out a knife and attach a microphone to it and sing'. We have our thing and I think that's really important in music."
THE ART will release the follow-up to their debut album, Tribute, in Australia in January and in the US in March.
A year and a half in the making, Azaria says THE ART re-recorded the album after they were approached by Grammy-nominated producer Chris 'Frenchie' Smith (Jet, Dandy Warhols).
"He (Frenchie) saw us in Austin and he was like 'I must have this band' and then it became this war between the producers," he says.
"He said 'just let me come to LA and record one song with you guys'. We thought that couldn't hurt and sonically, it sounded better.
"At the end of the day, the band has to win. It's not about a producer's ego or a record label; it's not about management making lots of money.
"It's about the band being able to move on and take steps into the future."
THE ART spent a month in Austin, Texas, home of the SXSW music festival, re-recording the album with Frenchie.
"We did a lot of newer songs. It was like he took the music somewhere else," says Azaria.
"The whole band grew; I saw it. We all saw each other grow."
THE ART play the Miami Tavern tomorrow at 8pm. Entry is free.
- Seanna Cronin

Marilyn Manson / THE ART
TUESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2009
Photo: Kristen Ashton
BEC - Sat Oct 17
Formerly The Follow, THE ART have the unenviable task of opening for Marilyn Manson and playing through regular chants of “Manson! Manson!”. Their time in LA has clearly instilled in them a professional “show must go on” mentality and they do their best with the restless Brisbanites. Frontman Azaria leaps and poses through a set of brooding pop metal with a punky twist that is more suited to sleazy clubs than stadiums, but they ably fulfil the traditional ‘support band’ requirements.
Following a doomy synth/guitar intro, the enormous black curtain drops as Marilyn Manson booms through dramatic opener We’re From America. Manson is the last guy you’d imagine growing old with dignity, but he’s oddly showing signs of doing just that – the 40-year-old has swapped the latex bondage gear and Bowie catsuits with more straightforward industrial black clobber. Not that he fails to entertain, however. Encouraging us all to “drink from the volcano”, he’s still an exceptional frontman, stalking the stage theatrically and crouching tantalisingly within touching distance of the diehards crammed at the front. Twiggy Ramirez, back in the fold clutching a six-string instead of his traditional bass, lets off icy industro-metal riffs throughout and the group rip the joint with crowd-pleasing versions of The Dope Show, Rock Is Dead plus the inevitable Sweet Dreams and show finale Beautiful People. For a group whose live spectacle has always had such a choreographed quality, it’s a refreshing change to hear a spontaneous jam version of Patti Smith’s Rock & Roll Nigger (originally surfacing on the group’s Smells Like Children record); Twiggy even hands the guitar over to The Art’s bassist KJ and sings a chorus. The confetti cannons and obligatory dry ice are further reminders that Manson and his ghoulish buddies haven’t forgotten how to put on a show.
MATT THROWER
- Courier-Mail

Marilyn Manson / THE ART
TUESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2009
Photo: Kristen Ashton
BEC - Sat Oct 17
Formerly The Follow, THE ART have the unenviable task of opening for Marilyn Manson and playing through regular chants of “Manson! Manson!”. Their time in LA has clearly instilled in them a professional “show must go on” mentality and they do their best with the restless Brisbanites. Frontman Azaria leaps and poses through a set of brooding pop metal with a punky twist that is more suited to sleazy clubs than stadiums, but they ably fulfil the traditional ‘support band’ requirements.
Following a doomy synth/guitar intro, the enormous black curtain drops as Marilyn Manson booms through dramatic opener We’re From America. Manson is the last guy you’d imagine growing old with dignity, but he’s oddly showing signs of doing just that – the 40-year-old has swapped the latex bondage gear and Bowie catsuits with more straightforward industrial black clobber. Not that he fails to entertain, however. Encouraging us all to “drink from the volcano”, he’s still an exceptional frontman, stalking the stage theatrically and crouching tantalisingly within touching distance of the diehards crammed at the front. Twiggy Ramirez, back in the fold clutching a six-string instead of his traditional bass, lets off icy industro-metal riffs throughout and the group rip the joint with crowd-pleasing versions of The Dope Show, Rock Is Dead plus the inevitable Sweet Dreams and show finale Beautiful People. For a group whose live spectacle has always had such a choreographed quality, it’s a refreshing change to hear a spontaneous jam version of Patti Smith’s Rock & Roll Nigger (originally surfacing on the group’s Smells Like Children record); Twiggy even hands the guitar over to The Art’s bassist KJ and sings a chorus. The confetti cannons and obligatory dry ice are further reminders that Manson and his ghoulish buddies haven’t forgotten how to put on a show.
MATT THROWER
- Courier-Mail

http://www.sydneyunleashed.com/theart.html

Azaria, THE ART
How did you get your start in the music industry?
That's hard to say as it's been along process for me and I've gone down many roads and have had many journeys. I guess music for me started when I was diagnosed with ADD, and without medicine my family doctor recommended to my parents I learnt drums or a do some sport to kill some energy. I chose drums; then the noise began. I just got addicted to playing music with my friends all the time. When I was a teenager, living in Brisbane, I played in a dozen different bands. When my 3 piece experimental noise band 'the mad agents' got offered a tour with Australian Art Rock legends - 'Died Pretty', that's when I knew that this life, making music with my friends is how I wanted to live…
Best part of the job?
It's not a job for me. This Art is my Life - I don't know anything else, we make music and such is life… But the best part of playing music is when a fan comes up to you and shares that your band has inspired and changed their life - that's why we do it.
Worst part of the job?
When you get signed to a major label or when your band progresses to a new level in some way and the issue of 'selling out' comes into question and you get told things like 'you've changed' as if change is a bad thing.
Any interesting experiences you can share?
The other night I was invited to Paris Hilton's house for a Christmas party and the same night I was invited to Chris, from Jet's house. I went to Paris's and saw photos of her all over the walls of the house and on all the tables. There were lots of photos of Paris presenting, framed within classy diamante picture frames. So I appropriated one of her pictures. I thought I was doing her a favour. Maybe then her ego would get that tiny bit smaller now that there was one less picture of her from the thousands up. I arrived to the next party at Chris's wearing a feather boa, which I had put on in Paris's room, so yeah I guess I stole that too… I left the framed picture on Chris's bedside table next to his German knife as a gift when I arrived at his house… anyway that was the colourful journey of a night.
Favourite CD of all time and why?
'Loveless' by My Bloody Valentine. Sonically, it's nothing like I have ever experienced.
Tell us about the best live show that you ever saw?
That's a hard question to answer when we've toured with our favourite bands like NIN, Sonic Youth, Eskimo Joe, etc. But, besides shows that we have been a part of, I guess seeing The Amanda Palmer show touring of her debut solo album. One artist by herself gleamed pure light on her own with the nakedness of her words and songs… she was book ended by a physical theatre company (Danger Ensemble) from Brisbane and it was so stark and honest, I couldn't believe what I saw, what I felt. I felt alive and happy that people still cared about music, cared about art. See Amanda Palmer if you care about any of these things. She is the queen of the Art…
Favourite bars/clubs/pubs to hang out in?
In the states, I went to the O.C. to see a friend's band play in a club called 'Chain Reaction'. I went to get a beer from the bar and the bartender said they didn't serve alcohol and I looked around and everyone was there for the music. That made me happy…
What advice would you give to someone looking at getting involved in the music industry?
In these times; the music industry labels, managers and artists are all struggling. For the most who are still around, they're doing it for the love of music, not for the money. And in a weird way, that is a good thing. A judgment day has dawned upon the music industry. Because the people who are in it for the wrong reasons are leaving… my band is signed to a major label in some territories of the world and independents in other parts. I have always found; for the music we make, the independent labels have been most effective for us. It's all different for everyone though. If you want my opinion, be independent and ensure your band owns as much as their 'brand' as possible (don't sign a three sixty deal). Think about the future for your band and the journey you would like to take…and lots of luck because there is so much more involved than sheer talent these days.
Take us through a typical "day in the life of Azaria".
At the moment, I get up at 10am, go to the studio and leave at 12am. Sometimes I sneak away early and go see a show. I've been lucky this trip. I've been given free tickets to see the Smashing Pumpkins, The Cure (amongst a crowd of 40 people), and Amanda Palmer, just to name a few of the shows. There is so much going on in Hollywood every night…
Any news or final comments?
We're commencing our first full tour of the USA including playing South By South West and Coachella beginning in late February and our album will be out worldwide on iTunes then as well.
- Sydney Unleashed

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/763871/rock-band-the-art-on-tour-us
Rock band Theart on tour US
07:52 AEST Thu Mar 5 2009
By Katherine Field, National Entertainment Writer

The Australian rock band once known as The Follow will leave for the US on Wednesday as THE ART.
Australian rock band THE ART were mired in controversy after two members went missing in the US last year, but they're now looking forward to putting that behind them as they head off on tour.
At the time they were called The Follow.
Re-invented, the band leaves for the US on Wednesday for their biggest ever tour.
The group received unwelcome attention last year when their management and guitarist sent out concerned messages that frontman Azaria, the on-again, off-again boyfriend of Jess Origliasso from The Veronicas, and bass player KJ were missing in Los Angeles, where they were recording an album.
Both later turned up, with Azaria in New York in the company of Jess.
Azaria and KJ say they couldn't believe the fuss created.
"We didn't think anyone would actually care," KJ told AAP.
Azaria added: "So what, I like to disappear - doesn't everyone like their own space?
"I just don't want that to take away from the fact we spent a year recording a record, and it's going to be a really good record."
KJ and Azaria began making an impact on the Sydney rock scene about five years ago.
With their band, they've since toured with the likes of Nine Inch Nails and Sonic Youth.
Azaria said they believed it was a "psychologically a good thing" to change their name, to move on from their old songs.
"We progressed and grew as a band, we decided we need to change our name because we're something else now," he said.
"And change is part of life, and we thought (to call the band) THE ART because the one thing that separates humans from animals is art."
KJ and Azaria will join their guitarist and drummer to play the 25-date tour, taking in New York, Boston, California, Kansas and New Orleans, as well as the South By Southwest festival in Texas.
They'll release a debut album for the US in May, and the album will be out in Australia several months later.
THE ART farewelled Sydney on Tuesday night with a private concert in Kings Cross.
- ninemsn

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/763871/rock-band-the-art-on-tour-us
Rock band Theart on tour US
07:52 AEST Thu Mar 5 2009
By Katherine Field, National Entertainment Writer

The Australian rock band once known as The Follow will leave for the US on Wednesday as THE ART.
Australian rock band THE ART were mired in controversy after two members went missing in the US last year, but they're now looking forward to putting that behind them as they head off on tour.
At the time they were called The Follow.
Re-invented, the band leaves for the US on Wednesday for their biggest ever tour.
The group received unwelcome attention last year when their management and guitarist sent out concerned messages that frontman Azaria, the on-again, off-again boyfriend of Jess Origliasso from The Veronicas, and bass player KJ were missing in Los Angeles, where they were recording an album.
Both later turned up, with Azaria in New York in the company of Jess.
Azaria and KJ say they couldn't believe the fuss created.
"We didn't think anyone would actually care," KJ told AAP.
Azaria added: "So what, I like to disappear - doesn't everyone like their own space?
"I just don't want that to take away from the fact we spent a year recording a record, and it's going to be a really good record."
KJ and Azaria began making an impact on the Sydney rock scene about five years ago.
With their band, they've since toured with the likes of Nine Inch Nails and Sonic Youth.
Azaria said they believed it was a "psychologically a good thing" to change their name, to move on from their old songs.
"We progressed and grew as a band, we decided we need to change our name because we're something else now," he said.
"And change is part of life, and we thought (to call the band) THE ART because the one thing that separates humans from animals is art."
KJ and Azaria will join their guitarist and drummer to play the 25-date tour, taking in New York, Boston, California, Kansas and New Orleans, as well as the South By Southwest festival in Texas.
They'll release a debut album for the US in May, and the album will be out in Australia several months later.
THE ART farewelled Sydney on Tuesday night with a private concert in Kings Cross.
- ninemsn

The Follow - Here, There and Everywhere!
Posted on July 7th, 2008

Despite some limited success and a few shows supporting big names like Sonic Youth, Eskimo Joe and Nine Inch Nails, The Follow are still one of Australia’s best kept secrets. They have recently returned from the United States, playing shows throughout L.A. and New York, recording with producer Nick Launay (Silverchair, Arcade Fire, Nick Cave) and generally spreading Followy goodness across America.
Between houses, between countries, between shows and between recording sessions, Azaria, The Follow’s guitarist/vocalist allowed us to quiz him on the bands travels and upcoming album.
Loud Noise and Pictures: The Folow’s line up has seen a few different faces come and go since the last album, how is the band’s chemistry at the moment?
Azaria: Well the first album was recorded by me alone. I then got my close friends from high school to join the band and make the album come alive. Since then until now, we have put out an EP through Warner and toured with NIN, Sonic Youth and Amanda Palmer [Dresden Dolls], and touring up and down the east coast of Australia for 3 years. Released and toured ‘Smashed Heart’ in the UK and toured America… You’re bound to lose a member or two after all that. However the band is at its strongest at this point in time because we’ve been lucky to have found people who can sustain the road and maintain the ability to have a creative journey. Its been five year’s and I guess KJ (bass and Vocals) and I are the original members still standing. We’re really proud of everything we’ve been through. Our latest guitarist Jak was our guitar tech who toured with us for a year, and naturally, joined when it was time. And we met our new drummer (Steven) in NYC when we toured there.
.
LNaP: What were you expecting to happen when you headed over to America? And did everything live up to expectations?
Azaria: We expected just to play a few shows, maybe get an agent or a manager as we’re in between management at the moment - and to record with Nick Launay. The States gave us more then we had expected. We’re releasing a new EP from America to everywhere in the world except for Australia/New Zealand (as Warner owns the rights to release us here). We recorded ‘Love Bomb Revolution’ and a new song called ‘Break’. We found many management offers and agent offers after playing a few shows. But the best thing was all the help and love our fans gave us. From accommodation, to lending us a BMW - thank you. There was something for us to do every night in Los Angeles. It was a fun trip.
.
LNaP: How receptive were the U.S audiences? How different is the Australian scene to the U.S. scene?
Azaria: The Australian scene has always been welcoming to us. I guess the only difference is that there s more people over there. And you could play every night around California and meet new people and scenes. Where as in Australia, a band like ours could only really play once a month in every major city in Australia. The main reason we found ourselves in L.A. was because of the support that Nick Launay has given us and gave us when we were over there.
.
LNaP: Was there a great deal of difference between the New York and L.A. crowds? Which was better to play for?
Azaria: Well we played 6 shows in 5 days. On our last night we played in NYC and we jumped in the cab to go to our next show in Brooklyn. Everyone from the first show came across the bridge with us, even the bar guy. The Brooklyn show was on at 1pm on a Sunday night and the place was packed. We made some loyal fans in NYC. And I got to meet Anton [Newcombe] from The Brian Jonestown Massacre and he gave me his red glasses. It’s nice to see the world through another’s perspective.
.
LNaP: Did you get to play with any good bands audiences may not be aware of? Did you happen to play with any bands that we may already know?
Azaria: Yes we played one show in N.Y.C. and L.A. with The Veronicas. They are more underground over in the States and it went down well. That was fun and they’re such a good band. We played a show with Dizzy’s band from Guns ‘n’ Roses too. We played about 15 shows all up over there; we were more concentrating on our recording. But were lucky to pick up the shows we did along the way
.
LNaP: How is it coming back to Australia? Does it feel like its good to be home, or do you wanna go back to the circus?
Azaria: We have a lot of people back here that we dearly missed, so it’s been good meeting up with them. We’re just taking things a bit easy here and not playing shows. We’re kind of homeless at the moment, Jak’s in Newtown borrowing a room, KJ’s out of town and I’m in Brisbane visiting my granny. Being scattered around has been fun but we’re looking forward to going back to the states in a month to complete our recordings and play more shows.
.
LNaP: You’re playing again soon in Brisbane, has The Follow’s live shows changed at all since you last played on Austral - Loud Noise and Pictures

The Follow - Here, There and Everywhere!
Posted on July 7th, 2008

Despite some limited success and a few shows supporting big names like Sonic Youth, Eskimo Joe and Nine Inch Nails, The Follow are still one of Australia’s best kept secrets. They have recently returned from the United States, playing shows throughout L.A. and New York, recording with producer Nick Launay (Silverchair, Arcade Fire, Nick Cave) and generally spreading Followy goodness across America.
Between houses, between countries, between shows and between recording sessions, Azaria, The Follow’s guitarist/vocalist allowed us to quiz him on the bands travels and upcoming album.
Loud Noise and Pictures: The Folow’s line up has seen a few different faces come and go since the last album, how is the band’s chemistry at the moment?
Azaria: Well the first album was recorded by me alone. I then got my close friends from high school to join the band and make the album come alive. Since then until now, we have put out an EP through Warner and toured with NIN, Sonic Youth and Amanda Palmer [Dresden Dolls], and touring up and down the east coast of Australia for 3 years. Released and toured ‘Smashed Heart’ in the UK and toured America… You’re bound to lose a member or two after all that. However the band is at its strongest at this point in time because we’ve been lucky to have found people who can sustain the road and maintain the ability to have a creative journey. Its been five year’s and I guess KJ (bass and Vocals) and I are the original members still standing. We’re really proud of everything we’ve been through. Our latest guitarist Jak was our guitar tech who toured with us for a year, and naturally, joined when it was time. And we met our new drummer (Steven) in NYC when we toured there.
.
LNaP: What were you expecting to happen when you headed over to America? And did everything live up to expectations?
Azaria: We expected just to play a few shows, maybe get an agent or a manager as we’re in between management at the moment - and to record with Nick Launay. The States gave us more then we had expected. We’re releasing a new EP from America to everywhere in the world except for Australia/New Zealand (as Warner owns the rights to release us here). We recorded ‘Love Bomb Revolution’ and a new song called ‘Break’. We found many management offers and agent offers after playing a few shows. But the best thing was all the help and love our fans gave us. From accommodation, to lending us a BMW - thank you. There was something for us to do every night in Los Angeles. It was a fun trip.
.
LNaP: How receptive were the U.S audiences? How different is the Australian scene to the U.S. scene?
Azaria: The Australian scene has always been welcoming to us. I guess the only difference is that there s more people over there. And you could play every night around California and meet new people and scenes. Where as in Australia, a band like ours could only really play once a month in every major city in Australia. The main reason we found ourselves in L.A. was because of the support that Nick Launay has given us and gave us when we were over there.
.
LNaP: Was there a great deal of difference between the New York and L.A. crowds? Which was better to play for?
Azaria: Well we played 6 shows in 5 days. On our last night we played in NYC and we jumped in the cab to go to our next show in Brooklyn. Everyone from the first show came across the bridge with us, even the bar guy. The Brooklyn show was on at 1pm on a Sunday night and the place was packed. We made some loyal fans in NYC. And I got to meet Anton [Newcombe] from The Brian Jonestown Massacre and he gave me his red glasses. It’s nice to see the world through another’s perspective.
.
LNaP: Did you get to play with any good bands audiences may not be aware of? Did you happen to play with any bands that we may already know?
Azaria: Yes we played one show in N.Y.C. and L.A. with The Veronicas. They are more underground over in the States and it went down well. That was fun and they’re such a good band. We played a show with Dizzy’s band from Guns ‘n’ Roses too. We played about 15 shows all up over there; we were more concentrating on our recording. But were lucky to pick up the shows we did along the way
.
LNaP: How is it coming back to Australia? Does it feel like its good to be home, or do you wanna go back to the circus?
Azaria: We have a lot of people back here that we dearly missed, so it’s been good meeting up with them. We’re just taking things a bit easy here and not playing shows. We’re kind of homeless at the moment, Jak’s in Newtown borrowing a room, KJ’s out of town and I’m in Brisbane visiting my granny. Being scattered around has been fun but we’re looking forward to going back to the states in a month to complete our recordings and play more shows.
.
LNaP: You’re playing again soon in Brisbane, has The Follow’s live shows changed at all since you last played on Austral - Loud Noise and Pictures

THE FOLLOW SINGLE OF THE WEEK in Sydney's Brag and Melbournes Beat Street Press(they used the same review in both magazines)
THE FOLLOW
hope you're happy
The 2-minute old sydney-siders have already toured with Sonic Youth and Nine Inch Nails, thanks to the conpulsive power of goth rock sound. hope you're happy follows their Empty Orchestra debut, with the influence of Robert Smith and Morrissey still deeply felt and a hint of NYC punk in the choruses. The title track is a bittersweet bouncer; the perfect sounds for pre-Friday night outfit changes and that first beer in the bedroom before you leave the house for a big fun evening in the underground. And thats a special kind of song, I'm telling you
- sydey Brag; Melbourne Beat Street Press

THE FOLLOW SINGLE OF THE WEEK in Sydney's Brag and Melbournes Beat Street Press(they used the same review in both magazines)
THE FOLLOW
hope you're happy
The 2-minute old sydney-siders have already toured with Sonic Youth and Nine Inch Nails, thanks to the conpulsive power of goth rock sound. hope you're happy follows their Empty Orchestra debut, with the influence of Robert Smith and Morrissey still deeply felt and a hint of NYC punk in the choruses. The title track is a bittersweet bouncer; the perfect sounds for pre-Friday night outfit changes and that first beer in the bedroom before you leave the house for a big fun evening in the underground. And thats a special kind of song, I'm telling you
- sydey Brag; Melbourne Beat Street Press

The Follow
Hope You’re Happy

5 Track, EP (2007, Warner).
Review

The Follow have guitar effect pedals – phasers, harmonisers, and flangers, oh my! – and they’re certainly not afraid to use them. Hope You’re Happy begins promisingly, with the opening track ‘Happy Now’ summoning the visceral spite of Elvis Costello’s many breakup albums, and channeling it through the kind of treble-heavy guitar melody invented on New Order’s Power, Corruption and Lies. The anthemic chorus, “Hope you’re happy/Hope you’re happy/Hope you’re happy now” probably won’t be remembered as the most subtly sardonic lyric ever penned, but vocalist Azaria delivers it with such a tempting, breathy quail, that it becomes nearly as inviting to sing along with as Robert Smith’s most lovelorn offerings.

But by the time The Follow reach ‘Christian Girl’, it all becomes more Trent Reznor than Bernard Sumner. The balance of acoustic and low-fi electric guitars that gives ‘Happy Now’ its warm 80s pop texture is abandoned, and the remainder of the Sydney band’s EP becomes overwhelmed by a battle of the effect pedals. The jaunty swing of ‘She’s Dead Wrapped in Fashion’ is smothered by several varieties of digital overdrive, rendering it something of a death-glam number, while the energy mustered on ‘The Shape of Destiny’ is almost entirely attributable to its density of guitar overdubs and depth of kick drum delay. We may never know whether these songs are particularly good or particularly bad, because for now at least, we can’t even hear them properly.

by Pat McGrath
- Pat McGrath Review

Here Comes THE ART.

Hailing from Newtown, Australia. THE ART were previously known as The Follow, touring with NIN, Sonic Youth and releasing an album independently with great underground success. The Follow then moved to America and changed their name to THE ART. In America, they independently released the self titled EP produced by Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Silverchair, INXS, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, etc.) played SXSW and completed two cross country US tours in a van before recording their first album as THE ART in Austin Texas with producer Frenchie Smith (Jet, Trail of Dead, The Dandy Warhols).
Predominately based out of LA THE ART had ever increasing success, regularly selling out venues such as The Troubadour, The Viper Room and Spaceland under great guidance from LA booker and ex Guns N’ Roses manager (Vicky Hamilton) who fell in love with the band a year earlier.

THE ART came back to Australia in late 2009 to nationally support Marilyn Manson followed quickly by playing the Big Day Out 2010, supporting Them Crooked Vultures and scoring the national Australian and NZ tour with one of their biggest influences, The Pixies on their highly successful Doolittle Tour.

THE ART are playing a free show @ the Shark Bar on the Gold Coast this Thursday 22nd July and at The Tempo Hotel, 388 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley on Friday 23rd as a part of their national tour which includes supporting 30 Seconds to Mars and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. They will be releasing their new record Here Comes The War later this year. Their energising live show is a must see.

Check out www.followtheart.com for more tour details. - The Vasco Era

THE ART - GOODBYE

I’m speechless. I write furiously on my third listen, futilely attempting to describe what is blaring our of my well worn NS-10 speakers. The leading single, “Goodbye,” off of THE ART’s forthcoming record is nothing short of a masterpiece. An absolute masterpiece. Initially crawling at a snails pace with a simple guitar riff and a dissonant tambourine; this tracks builds and builds and builds. Complex layers and harmonies continue tastefully revealing themselves as the song progresses into a full sonic assault. Azaria Byrnes’ beautiful vocal delivery is initially reminiscent of an over the top pop vocal; but there is a hook and weight in the vocal which give the track depth and soul. One thing has become apparent with this latest effort: this band has substance. This track speaks volumes of the band’s development. Hailed as rock icons in their native land of Australia, the band recently moved to Los Angeles only to reincarnate themselves and reemerge as THE ART. Leaving all of their accomplishments (not to mention a strong organically grown fan base) waiting in Australia. THE ART, not content to rest on their laurels, seemingly shunned it all to start over at square one. Masterfully produced by Frenchie Smith (JET, Meat Puppets, Trail of Dead, Dandy Warhols), “Goodbye” is sonically as complex and over the top as any track on a Britney Spears record. Why am I not immediately dismissing this? Am I going soft? I pride myself on my incredibly selective ear, what’s going on here? It is as it is. It’s undeniable. “Goodbye” is a quintessential hit song for the ages.
-Gabriel Tijerina

THE ART are styled by Dalit Gwenna, photographed by Denise Mijares, make-up by Courtney Wolfe.
-Goodbye is available for purchase at http://www.followtheart.com. Available on iTunes USA July 10th.
- Hollywoodworkx

Played on. Singer Azaria Byrne at an earlier concert with his band The Art at The Gaelic Club in Surry Hills. Picture: Joel Christie Source: The Daily Telegraph
A ROCK star was born at The Pixies' Melbourne show on Saturday night.
There was blood and sweat but surprisingly no tears when THE ART frontman Azaria Byrne took a blow to the head from his bandmate's guitar and managed to stay on stage for the entire set.
The on/off boyfriend of Veronicas twin Jess Origliasso, Byrne, whose Sydney rock band has supported The Pixies on their Australian tour, was accidentally hit in the forehead during one of their "more aggressive" tunes.
"We were playing our third song and I went over to rock out with KJ and she didn't see me there," Byrne told Confidential yesterday. "Her bass clipped me and gashed my head."
The rocker said a crew member briefly stopped the blood flow and he stayed on for another 35 minutes. "I was pouring blood all over the stage but the crowd couldn't see, unless they were in the mosh, because the stage is so big."
Onsite paramedics put three stitches in his head following the show.
"In the past we never used to finish a show without some sort of blood so I thought it was fine -it's what we do," he laughed.
The Queenslander will be reunited with Jess later this month when she and sister Lisa return from the US, where they are writing and recording their third album.
The pocket rockets will attend Byron Bay's Blues and Roots festival, where Lisa's boyfriend Reeve Carney is performing.
- Herald Sun, Melbourne

Played on. Singer Azaria Byrne at an earlier concert with his band The Art at The Gaelic Club in Surry Hills. Picture: Joel Christie Source: The Daily Telegraph
A ROCK star was born at The Pixies' Melbourne show on Saturday night.
There was blood and sweat but surprisingly no tears when THE ART frontman Azaria Byrne took a blow to the head from his bandmate's guitar and managed to stay on stage for the entire set.
The on/off boyfriend of Veronicas twin Jess Origliasso, Byrne, whose Sydney rock band has supported The Pixies on their Australian tour, was accidentally hit in the forehead during one of their "more aggressive" tunes.
"We were playing our third song and I went over to rock out with KJ and she didn't see me there," Byrne told Confidential yesterday. "Her bass clipped me and gashed my head."
The rocker said a crew member briefly stopped the blood flow and he stayed on for another 35 minutes. "I was pouring blood all over the stage but the crowd couldn't see, unless they were in the mosh, because the stage is so big."
Onsite paramedics put three stitches in his head following the show.
"In the past we never used to finish a show without some sort of blood so I thought it was fine -it's what we do," he laughed.
The Queenslander will be reunited with Jess later this month when she and sister Lisa return from the US, where they are writing and recording their third album.
The pocket rockets will attend Byron Bay's Blues and Roots festival, where Lisa's boyfriend Reeve Carney is performing.
- Herald Sun, Melbourne