The Mess Hall

.. Here is what some people have said recently about The Mess Hall:
Blunt:
“It’s Clear the boys were ready for something different and Devils Elbow has certainly delivered on that front. Rollicking piano leads, cowbells, impassioned screaming, warped glass-bottle-slide guitar and out of the way wall of noise melodies, it’s all held together by producer Burke Reid’s subtle touch...”
Adelaide Advertiser:
...under the guiding hand of firsts time producer, Gerling’s Burke Reid, the Mess Hall has expanded it’s musical palette. More than just a Saturday night “get the party started” album, Devils elbow has plenty of layers that will reward patient listeners”
Sydney Morning Herald, Metro:
“The broad reach of this l.p will startle anyone...Devils Elbow is a hefty emotional and musical purge”
Rave Magazine:
“...If you’re a fan of everything from desolate ballads to blues rock with a punky snarl, Devils Elbow will make for a rich and entertaining listen”
Time Out (Sydney)
“....rising above the souped-up leanings of yore and cloaking the mix in an industrial haze. The results are beguiling and explosive...”
West Australian
“Devils Elbow, the follow-up to 2005’s Australian Music Prize short-listed ‘Notes From A Ceiling’, sees Jed Kurzel, drummer Cec Condon and producer Burke Reid forge a tremendous Aussie epic”
Doug Brod- Editor Spin Magazine
"On Notes From a Ceiling, a pair of Aussies make a stomping, swampy blues racket more stonesy than stripesy. Not to mention catchier than Ivan Rodriguez at a weekend double-header"
Here's a review of a show we did in Orlando, Florida with Wolfmother:
Fellow boys from down under, The Mess Hall open the show and it's pretty safe to say that no one knew who the hell they were. It's also safe to say that minutes into their 45-minute set they have won over virtually every face in the room. The pair of Jed Kurzel (vocals, guitar) and Cec Condon (drums) have a very White Stripes-ian vibe, but in reverse. The drums are the dominant force, driving Kurzel's guitar and wailing vocals forward. Song after infectious song, the duo barely stop to catch a breath in between sudden bursts of Garage/Blues Rock prowess. "We hardly ever do this next song, but... here goes," Kurzel announces before taking a huge risk in covering Nirvana's "Breed." I recently criticized a different band for covering the Pixies, stating that when a mediocre band covers a brilliant one it works against them- accentuating their flaws. On the other hand, when a band has already got a crowd in the palm of their hands and tosses in an unexpected familiar tune altered just enough to make it their own, it can be the final push that elevates the band's performance from great to tremendous." Jen Cray- ink19.com
Here's a link to 'Sup magazine, which is a hipster mag in New York, it also contains photos! (Just cut and paste the link)
http://www.supmag.com/checkit/archives/2006/12/mess_hall_int er.html
Review of Halloween show at Fontana's New York (opening of CMJ)
"The Mess Hall, a two-man band from Australia, delivered a scorching set of souped-up garage rock that was one of my favorite sets of the week. The fact that this band has no American record deal is astonishing." Todd Simmons- downtownexpress.com
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