The Middle East (band)
| The Middle East | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Genres | Folk, post-rock |
| Years active | 2005-2008 2009-2011 |
| Labels | Spunk |
| Associated acts | The Forest, Sounds Like Chicken |
| Website | themiddleeastmusic.com |
| Past members | |
| Jordan Ireland Rohin Jones Bree Tranter Joseph Ireland Mark Myers Jack Saltmiras Mike Haydon Tim Barwise Javed Sterritt Jarrad Jones |
|
The Middle East were a musical collective based in Townsville in Queensland, Australia. Forming in 2005, the group played locally and completed several East Coast tours of mainly festivals throughout Australia. Motivation behind the naming of the band is unclear. It is likely the name relates to the band's origins in the middle of the eastern coast of Queensland. In early 2008 they released an album called The Recordings of The Middle East before splitting up. Eight months after this decision was made, the band reconvened and later re-released an abridged version of the debut album, The Recordings of the Middle East as an EP in May 2009 through Spunk Records (AU). This EP was released in North America on 27 October 2009. Their first full album, I Want That You Are Always Happy was released in Australia and New Zealand on 8 April 2011. The band played their last show on 31 July 2011, at the Splendour in the Grass festival in Woodford, Queensland.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
The band have gone on to receive national radio airplay on Triple J[2] and slots on several major Australian festivals such as Splendour in the Grass,[3] the Big Day Out,[4] Big Sound,[5] Homebake, and the Woodford Folk Festival.[6] As well as this, the band have toured with international bands such as British group Doves[7][8] and have also achieved minor, developing interest in the United States, where The Recordings of The Middle East was released on 27 October. Much of the interest surrounding the band can be related back to the blogosphere, with indie blog I Guess I'm Floating introducing the band stateside in May 2009.[9] Thereafter The Middle East had over one hundred blog entries from around the world writing about the band.[10] Recently, Pitchfork Media offered a free download of the song "The Darkest Side" as a part of their weekly Forkcast; describing the song as "a simple, finger-plucked acoustic affair with alternating and harmonizing vocals that lend the hushed track a sense of beleaguered hope".[11] They also were nominated and won the Triple J 2009 ‘Unearthed’ Award.
In October 2009, it was announced that the band would be opening for US band Grizzly Bear in their Melbourne shows. They were also announced as the support act for one of the band's Sydney Festival shows. On 11 November 2009, it was announced that the band would be part of the festival Big Day Out, announced as part of the second line up, in East Coast areas.
Their songs "The Darkest Side" and "Blood" came in at number 87 and 64 respectively on the Australian Triple J Hottest 100 in 2009.[12]
Their song "Blood" is also featured in the films Accidents Happen, It's Kind of a Funny Story and Crazy, Stupid, Love, as well as an episode of the Australian television comedy-drama series Offspring and a TV commercial for the European bank BNP Paribas. Their song "Blood" is also featured in the trailer for the film Jeff, Who Lives at Home.
The band announced at Splendour in the Grass that their set that night would be their "last show ever." FasterLouder reported that the band thanked all in attendance, saying that "it makes it special for us."[13] Triple J presenter Dom Alessio reacted to the news on Twitter, adding that it was "an amazing band cutting it short before their time."[14]
[edit] Genre
The genre of the band themselves is difficult to specify. Whilst their MySpace profile lists the band as "indie",[15] elements of folk, pop, post rock, country and ambience can be found throughout their music. Instruments used include guitar—both electric and acoustic, drums, hand percussion, piano, glockenspiel, banjo and trumpet. Another distinguishing feature of the band's music is the use of vocal harmony—in particular close harmony performed at times by several members.
[edit] Discography
- The Middle East / Sleeping in Trains (split EP with Sleeping in Trains, 2006)
- The Recordings of the Middle East (album, 2008)
- The Recordings of the Middle East (EP, 2009)
- Jesus Came to My Birthday Party (EP, 2010)
- I Want That You Are Always Happy (album, 2011) #11 AUS
[edit] References
- ^ http://twitter.com/#!/domalessio/status/97574950189281280
- ^ "The Middle East @ J Play". Jplay.com.au. http://www.jplay.com.au/JSite/ViewArtist.aspx?ArtistID=1988. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "BIG DAY OUT 2011 - Music Festival - Auckland, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth". Bigdayout.com. http://www.bigdayout.com/lineup/artist.php?ArtistId=122. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ "Big Sound 2009". Q Music. http://www.qmusic.com.au/bigsound2009/. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ Marcus. "Homebake Festival 2009 lineup revealed - Festivals". Thevine.com.au. http://www.thevine.com.au/music/articles/homebake-festival-2009-lineup-revealed.aspx. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ "Doves, The Middle East @ Palace Theatre, Melbourne (28/07/2009) on". Fasterlouder.com.au. 29 July 2009. http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/events/19567/Doves-The-Middle-East--Palace-Theatre-Melbourne-28072009.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ "301 moved permanently". Iguessimfloating.blogspot.com. http://iguessimfloating.blogspot.com/2009/05/mp3-middle-east-blood-pig-food.html. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ Tweet. "Artist Tracks: The Middle East - Elbows Music Blog Aggregator". Elbo.ws. http://elbo.ws/tracks/the-middle-east/. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ "Forkcast: The Middle East: "The Darkest Side"". Pitchfork. http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/13412-the-darkest-side/. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ "Countdown | Hottest 100 - 2009 | triple j". Abc.net.au. http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/09/countdown/cd_91-100.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ http://www.facebook.com/FasterLouder/posts/10150319407407090
- ^ http://twitter.com/#!/domalessio/status/97574950189281280
- ^ Au. "the middle east | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's". Myspace.com. http://www.myspace.com/visitthemiddleeast. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
