Sat 7:24
Apr 14th, '07
Here we will be posting reviews/links to stuff relating to our work, provided it doesn't reduce us to tears. Keep checking this blog as it will hopefully be updated regularly.
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With their debut short player, Brisbane indie punk band Yves Klein Blue has created an impressive sound, combining a real knack for songwriting with attention-demanding hooks and strong, head-bopping rhythms. They exude coolness and confidence, with lead singer Michael Tomlinson charmingly drawling over the top of the sharp musicianship of lead guitarist Charles Sale, bist Sean Cook and drummer Chris Banham.
Their musical influences are impossible to ignore – they have an obvious affinity for lo-fi Brit Pop, most notably that of The Libertines, but they avoid the pitfalls of mimicking those that came before them, instead forging their own style. For some, the similarities will be too hard to overcome, but for most this young band will seem exciting and dynamic. Opening track The Streetlight reeks of said influences, but does enough, through its honest, fun lyricism and meandering melody, to ert its own personality. The band then proceeds to throw caution to the wind, rocking out on tracks Blasphemy and Silence Is Distance, and even tipping their hat to 50's style crooning on Fall Asleep. With Polka, they show that they're not afraid to explore their chosen style, straying into definite rockabilly territory and doing all they can to maintain the band's penchant for good fun music.
Yves Klein Blue seems to be garnering respect amongst the Brisbane local scene: they recently supported Dappled Cities Fly and played at the Round and Round festival on the Gold Coast, along with The Presets and The Valentinos. Their live shows are deservedly respected, and are full of edgier, fuller renditions of their catchy tunes. The band will be one to keep an eye out for – they have genuine talent and undeniable appeal.
Yves Klein Blue Draw Attention to Themselves is available from Rockinghorse Records and Skinny's Music in Brisbane.
http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/music/7275/http://www.triplejunearthed.com/artists/View.aspx?artistid=5290
BRISBANE rock band Yves Klein Blue has beaten more than 800 bands from Australia and New Zealand to win MTV's inaugural Kickstart Your Rock Star Career competition.
But while they see it as exciting, surreal and perhaps even a way of ending their part-time work as kitchen hands, they still fear their good fortune may amount to just 15 minutes of fame.
"This is a pretty enormous step for us. Before this we were always working it but not a lot was happening ... But, hopefully, it (the attention) doesn't burn or fizzle out like an American Idol thing," said the band's 20-year-old frontman Michael Tomlinson.
The competition was launched by new live MTV music program The Lair on January 26 this year, to help aspiring and independent artists get a "kickstart" in the industry.
A nationwide search for state finalists followed, with The Lair giving weekly updates on their findings and urging viewers to vote for their favourite finalist on-line.
Part of the winner's prize was to showcase their talents at The Lair's finale on Thursday night, filmed at Sydney's Metro Theatre.
Yves Klein Blue claimed victory to secure the TV performance and $20,000 cash prize.
The MTV production team also will help the four-piece band produce its first video clip for a debut single Polka, which will be broadcast prior to the MTV Australian Video Music Awards coverage on April 29.
Yves Klein Blue formed last May and have been working part-time as kitchen hands to finance their musical endeavours.
Tomlinson said the band was shocked to be playing alongside US hip-hop band Arrested Development on Thursday night.
"It's exciting, the whole competition," he said.
"It's also very surreal, I never ever thought we would play with Arrested Development in my life."
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,10221,21473438-7484,00.html?from=public_rssHear & Now - Yves Klein Blue
Brisbane band Yves Klein Blue has a sound as distinct as the colour they take their name from and recently won the MTV Kickstart competition.
Yves Klein Blue have been together for less than a year, though in that time they have landed some choice support slots in their hometown and released their debut EP, Draw Attention to Themselves. The band has certainly done that by recently winning the MTV Kickstart competition. YourGigs goes Hear & Now with singer Michael Tomlinson to find out more.
yG: When and how did your band form?
Michael Tomlinson: Charles and I were in Mighty Morphine Powder Railers for two years before they broke up. We then spent two years kicking around songs and ideas for songs, recording them at Charles's house on the equipment we had both amed over the years. It was halfway through 2006 when I met Chris [Banham, drummer].
He was captain of percussion at his school but had never played kit before. He bought one and joined the band. Sean [Cook, b] was the year below Charles and I at school, but then showed up in one of Charles's uni lectures. After a while he was invited to practice and then to stay. The name of that band was Exploding Heads but was then changed to Yves Klein Blue.
yG: Describe your sound.
MT: It's a clash-y blend of pop, old punk, indie rock, and rockabilly that has jazz elements and draws on the rock'n'roll music of all eras.
yG: Who or what are your three biggest influences?
MT: The playing styles of each member are the result of very different backgrounds so it's impossible to say. The writing process was undoubtedly influenced by The Velvet Underground and Lou Reed, The Strokes, and various others.
yG: What current act would you give a limb to be on the same bill as?
MT: Don't make us choose! We'll be quadruple amputees! The Strokes, Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen, Muse and The Flaming Lips... to begin with. We do have 16 limbs between us...
yG: What's been the highlight of your musical career so far?
MT: Two really spring to mind. The first is this MTV Kickstart thing we are involved in right now, the second is playing our first festival at Round and Round last December.
yG: Best gig you've played?
MT: At the Zoo, supporting Little Hill. We nailed that one. We're always hyper-critical of our own performances - this one was one of the few gigs that we finished up and were like, "we're ing good!"
yG: What's your favourite venue in Australia?
MT: We'd have to play them all to answer that! Best one so far is the Zoo though - they have the best sound so far.
yG: One gig in history you wish you were at?
MT: Michael and Charles would've both loved to have heard the Velvet Underground perform 'Sister Ray'.
yG: What's your goal for the next 12 to 18 months?
MT: Good things have been happening lately so hopefully we can keep that ball rolling. We'd like to have a full-length album out by the end of the year and be touring nationally and overseas.
Andy Ryan
28 Mar 2007
http://www.yourgigs.com.au/interviews/?interview_id=116657Brisbane band Yves Klein Blue has won the inaugural MTV Kickstart Your Rock Star competition, beating more than 800 bands from Australia and New Zealand.
The band took out their state final on the strength of their debut single 'Polka' and won $20,000 and a live TV performance for taking out the national final.
MTV will also produce a video clip for the band's single that will be shown at the Australian Video Awards later in the year.
30 Mar 2007
http://www.yourgigs.com.au/news/index.cfm?i=116659LOCAL PUNK/ROCKABILLY four-piece Yves Klein Blue are on cloud nine this week after taking out the Queensland heat of the MTV Kickstart Your Rock Career band competition.
"I thought that the world was ending," vocalist/guitarist Michael Tomlinson recounts of first hearing YKB had won. "Then I realized that it was just the sensation of us being rag-dolled by our friends and relatives.
"We were all quite shocked; the competition was so good that we really didn't expect it."
"It's weird to think we've got this far because I entered us on a whim on the very last day possible," bist Sean Cook continues.
"We take this all fairly seriously and we're not afraid to try anything and everything to get our music out there. I guess we entered because we are ambitious, but for us it could never be any other way. This is what we want to do with our lives."
More than 700 bands entered Kickstart, with industry personnel voting for state finalists. YKB will now slog it out nationally for the ultimate prize: $20,000, an MTV-produced film clip, a feature on MTV program The Lair, and attendance at the 2007 MTV Australia Video Music Awards.
Should YKB be victorious, they'll use the winnings to record their debut album, and members of the public can make YKB's dreams come true by voting for them at www.mtvkickstart.com from Thursday Mar 15.
"There is so much at stake for us," Tomlinson explains. "Just a little bit of your time makes the world of difference to us; voting will only take 30 seconds.
"We can't really offer you anything in return, except for the promise that if you give us this 'kickstart' we'll make wonderful music that will make you happy. That is our solemn promise. So get voting, please."
http://www.timeoff.com.au/index1.php?area=Six%20Pack&pg=33&subarea=5072&sel=5072&PHPSESSID=9ed1022a50e041916774c16fce613a3cThe spotlight is firmly placed on a Brisbane indie punk band, who took out the top prize last night, winning MTV's Kickstart Your Rock Star Career competition.
Yves Klein Blue beat more than 800 bands from Australia and New Zealand, winning a spot on the popular television show and a $20,000 cash booty.
Made up of lead singer Michael Tomlinson, guitarist Charles Sale, bist Sean Cook and drummer Chris Banham, the act has been a local favourite since forming last May.
And now YKB have scored a well-deserved 15 minutes of fame, winning the inaugural competition launched by new live MTV music program The Lair.
The 20-year-old frontman of the group, Michael Timlinson, said the experience was surreal.
"This is a pretty enormous step for us. Before this we were always working it but not a lot was happening.
"But, hopefully, it (the attention) doesn't burn or fizzle out like an American Idol thing," he said.
The Kickstart competition began with an extensive nationwide search, audience voting, and weekly updates on MTV.
The boys took the year off from university to focus on their band, and drummer Chris said the sacrifice has well and truly paid off.
"We're all pretty stoked, and it was a big shock that we got in. Our b player Sean signed us up for the competition on a whim.
"We were stoked just to make the top six, so we campaigned around Brisbane for days on end."
The band said they would be working hard to ensure their time in the spotlight isn't short-lived.
As the winners, YKB showcased their talents on The Lair's finale show last night, filmed live at Sydney's Metro Theatre.
They also took home a $20,000 cash prize.
Chris said the boys planned to use their winnings from the competition to produce an album on the back of the EP and debut single.
"Our plan now is to use the $20,000 to make an album, to take some time and really focus on it and do it properly.
"We've got so much time on our hands, and now plenty of doors will be opened for us. We didn't expect it, but it should be really good."
From here, the band will record a film clip for their debut single, Polka, with the help of MTV producers.
The clip will be played prior to the broadcast of the MTV Australian Video Music Awards on April 29.
Since forming last May, the group have been working as kitchen hands to finance their climb to the top, and last night it all paid off when they played alongside US hip-hop band Arrested Development.
"It's exciting, the whole competition," Michael said.
YKB play on Saturday night at Ric's in Fortitude Valley supporting Sydney band the Pip Branson Corporation.
Chris said the free gig would be a chance for the band to catch up with fans and friends.
"It'll be probably more relaxing than the last couple of weeks, but we'll definitely enjoy it."
"(It) should be a good night so bring friends, drinks beers, and support YKB in their quest for global domination."
YKB's EP Draw Attention to Themselves is out now.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/entertainment/mtv-kickstart-brisbane-bands-career/2007/03/30/1174761705803.html
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