dirty carpet disco band is my "band", we make pop music that is heavy on the groove and soul side of things. when live we are most often a 3 piece and we play a bunch of tunes i've written plus a few tunes by others that we love and adore (mostly sly and the family stone!). when in the studio the song is the focus and the sound depends upon the song (and whoever happens to be in the studio at the time lol).
we are currently playing around Sydney in venues like Opera Bar, Golden Sheaf, Loft, Astral Bar and the Basement.
about me?
well, my name is michael wheatley and i was born in perth 4th july 1970.my mum was an actor, film director, editor and producer while dad a film accountant. both played alot of piano when i was a kid. my first real gig was singing in the kids choir for rolf harris at the perth entertainment centre in about 1975 so i like to boast that i've been in the entertainment industry for about 31 years ha!
i've worked alot as an actor in tv but music really gets me up probably as it's so instant, you just have to hum a couple of bars of your favourite tune and hey presto you got your fix.
i've been in a bunch of bands but the ones i've started include The Definition, Raw Sugar, Fluidified, Sloppy Joe, Lotus Position, The Creation Sensation and of course Dirty Carpet Disco Band. with them i've been involved in making 6 albums, 1 ep and 2 singles and appeared on a few compilations.
at the mo i'm playing in some other people's bands aswell which include...
redhead welsh huskie (rock with electro and indie tints), melinda jackson (electro pop rock), mister twister (instrumental beat vibe makers), bang bang club (breaks, with jazzy flavours and beat poetry).
right now i'm putting together a dirty carpet disco band release and another for Lotus Position (my electronic sound system dance band thang).
thanks again for stopping by and visit my website if you like at ensemble770.com
by the way the photos are by Andrew G and Kosta Corsovitis, wicked guys, phanx eeps!
Chronologically
1990, the Tom Tom club Kings Cross, a band called the Definition hits the stage in front of a packed room, a short skinny front man bounces around singing bizarre lyrics over the top of a tight rock crossover band ending the show with a jump in the air and landing in the splits. They broke up.
1992, Taylors at Central, Raw Sugar performs it's first ever show. OTS (popular street mag at the time) describes the lead singer as a cross between Tex Perkins and Freddie Mercury. Starts playing residencies at Springfields and Round Midnight in Kings Cross.
1996, Fully Functional (luna disc, festival records) a compilation of Sydney funk bands sees Raw Sugar's first official release. The band starts playing venues like Kinselas and the Harbourside Brasserie.
1997, the east coast of Australia doesn't know what hits it as Raw Sugar is signed to Festival Records, releases and tours their underground hit album Between the Cheeks. The frontman is described as being "at the heart of this cart wheeling cabal" with "inexorable energy" and a voice that is "down right fuckable".
1998, Strawberry Hills Hotel, a crazy and eclectic regular night of different acts is hosted by the same little skinny guy, this time he sits at a grand piano with a little sequencer pumping out beats as he sings and plays his own tunes solo for the first time. Raw Sugar releases In The Sky (Festival)
1999, Hopetoun Hotel, Surry Hills, a groovy little soul band called Fluidified sits in the corner. The keyboardist singer punches out bluesy ballads and funky little "twist again" grooves. They release an album called Tin Water which does amazingly on the internet MP3 charts and sells copies world wide.
2000 - 2002, Fluidified grows as a live band and before long everyone who is anyone in the Sydney groove scene has stepped on the stage with them at venues all around town, including residencies at the Beach Road Hotel and packed out Basement tribute shows such as the Soul Revue and the Erotic City Prince Revue. They also release their second album Lift the same little, skinny guy is on vocals and keyboards.
2002 - now, the Opera Bar, Circular Quay, Friday nights belong to Sloppy Joe, a 3 piece instrumental groove outfit that mold and remold their sound depending upon the mood of those around. They impress all holding onto the residency for 2 years, putting out a live album called Joe Mumma. Guess who the keyboard player is?
2003, Michael Wheatley, singer songwriter and little skinny guy extraordinaire, releases his second solo album Unda Da Hood. His band The Creation Sensation has been regularly rocking venues since such as the Basement and Golden Sheaf. Unda Da Hood is now being distributed nationally by MGM.
2004, Michael produces and releases a film clip for the track Me N My Dancy which gets played on Rage and Musicmax. He also stars in Gabby Milgates Fair Dinkum Allsorts at the Vanguard and continues to pack the Basement on a regular basis with his own shows. He also releases his 3rd CD, an EP entitled Nut N Butter Party (MGM).
Quotes taken from:
On The Street
Beat
Revolver
Sydney Morning Herald Metro
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ensemble 770
australia
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