Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
How can you not be fond of a band that admits gaining impetus from seeing Nikki Webster at the Olympic Opening? These gentlemen are a suitable case for treatment, certainly. It's pop music, but with enough scruffy guitars, jungle drums and snarky attitude to see them trapped in the indie ghetto for some time longer. But songs with titles and content such as Spank The Monkey (oh yeah, there's a bit of them on this page this week...) and an ode to large cars with bull bars, will get the drinkers listening as they make the racket of a bunch of blokes enjoying themselves. And Nikki, feel free to get in touch if you'd like to provide some backing vocals - you'd be welcome - Drum Media
THE NANCIES ARE A QUEER-FRIENDLY BAND WHO WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT MASTURBATION, AMONG OTHER THINGS. STACY FARRAR LISTENS IN.
Alt-rockers Mudhoney and one-time angsty young lady Natalie Imbruglia might not seem like they have much in common. In fact, about the only thing that’s running in sync between the two’s music is their influence on one small Sydney band.
“I really like rock music – I really like rock music with a sleazy and slick flavour. But I really like Natalie Imbruglia too,” Nancies singer Tom Brogden says.
The Nancies are a hard-rocking three-piece who have been together since December 2003. They recorded their debut five-track EP Feel The Love in February this year, and have been planning a mild-mannered assault on the Sydney music scene ever since.
Oh, and they like to sing about masturbation – one of the songs from Feel The Love has the Beavis and Butthead-ish title Spank the Monkey.
When they entered it in this year’s Triple J Unearthed competition, Brogden said he would be happy to root someone to get a record deal.
“Our aim is to infiltrate and subvert,” Brogden says. “We want to destroy from within.”
But The Nancies are not all about wanking, he says.
“There is a serious aspect to it. I do have important issues that I want to express – but I’m no Billy Bragg.”
The Nancies will play songs of “paranoia, masturbation and emotional vampires” at a free gig this weekend, featuring a special guest mystery drummer – but don’t expect anyone famous.
The Nancies are playing a gig this Friday (13 August) at the Lansdowne Hotel, 2 City Rd, Chippendale, supported by Bubblevicious and Neoezi. The Nancies are playing for 45 minutes from 10pm and entry is free. - Sydney Star Observer
Discography
EP - "Feel The Love" a five track recording containing:
1 On Top Of Your Roof
2 Spank The Monkey
3 Hit The Road
4 Undertow
5 4WD
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Tom is the principle song writer for The Nancies. He was a miserable teenager in the UK who listened to too much gothic music, shoe-gazing art student indie bands and trans-atlantic alternative superfuzzbigmuff rock. Tom always wanted to be different and unique, but always wants to be popular; so he embarked on a musical exploration that would combine the texture and extremity of alternative music with the annoyingly catchy hooks and snappy structures of pure pop.
He has been in no rush, and biding his time soaking up the passing popular trends and fashions over the years has created a solid base of songwriting that is based on his own evil synthesis of alternative and mainstream.
Tom's voice is one of the strongest elements to his music, which naturally has a clean, full quality. He's been smoking bongs and drinking as much whisky as he can stomach without a pump, to try and dirty it up a bit more, but it resolutely remains the same. He's no growler, but his changes in tone and phrasing, combined with the dynamic melodies he uses create vocals that people take notice of and connect to.
After a year of solo acoustic performances at amateur nights and Sydney acoustic venues, Tom realised he really needed a band. He put the lineup together for The Nancies at the end of 2003, they recorded their debut EP "Feel The Love" and made a video clip for one of the songs on that recording by cavorting around in the middle of Victoria Road with two pom pom girls. They have been gigging for just over a year around Sydney, at the usual dives like the Hopetoun, Lansdowne and Annandale hotels, and a surprise (last minute panic booking) appearance at the Glebe Street Fair last year.
The band has just returned from an away trip to Brisbane, where they headlined at an outdoor festival which annually attracts twenty thousand or so people. They also played consecutive nights in a city club in the heart of Fortitude Valley. This is their first gig away from Sydney and marks a new period in The Nancies development. They've thrown away the training wheels are taking another step towards commercial viability. As such, The Nancies is currently going through a lineup change and equipment upgrade to provide a bigger, fatter sound.
You'll know The Nancies when they're playing because you'll hear two muscal styles flipping rapidly from one to the other - throbbing post-punk, grunge rock band and jingle jangle indie pop band. You'll be guaranteed to get at least one of Tom's acidic melodies bouncing around in your head for several hours afterwards.
They have been included on an AIR sampler going out in the next month to the music industry, they have recently performed and interviewed on a live studio community radio broadcast network, their video clip is currently playing on ABC TV Rage programme, and they enjoy continued support and airplay from Sydney Radio FBI. They're also looking to get distribution for their EP
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