Brisbane is a relatively small city on the eastern seaboard
of Australia. It has over the years produced many 'fine' musical enterprises
like the Bee Gees, Savage Garden, The Veronicas and Joel Turner. When I was
in primary school, some kid told me his dad was George Thorougood, a.k.a.; that
guy who sung 'Bad to the Bone' and all those other classics too good to remember.
Now when people think of Brisbane they think back to the Billy Conolly sketch
where it was said that Brisbane is in major need of a colonic irrigation
The Quickening are a trio of talented professionals who will administer this
said irrigation. (In the musical sense of course) The Quickening (who predate
The Vines, The Hives, and The Strokes but not The Bangles, The Eagles or The
Who) are essentially a three-piece band comprising of Jim (bass), Dave (drums),
and Chris (guitar/vox). The trio started playing with each other in high school,
but, were frowned upon when caught out by their mums, so, they started a band
instead. Seven years later they are still playing with each other. (In the musical
sense of course) Live, the band creates a sound that breaths, sweats and grimaces,
almost as if it has a life of its own. Combined with a James Brown - tight rhythm
section and arpeggios to boot, the sound sways from metal inspired punk rock
to almost pop inspired hardcore, but always with an underpinning killer riff
or triplet kick.
Here is some proof from the most reliable of sources drunken fans:
These guys are entertainers man entertainers.
Im glad were not playing after you.
You guys are the best band I have ever seen (yes, drunken fans)
Dave, can I feel your calves?
Here is some proof from perhaps a more reliable source:
"....a powerful sound that teeters between hardcore punk and the trimmings
of metal. Extremely aware of each others actions, the trio are clean and tight,
particularly evident on 'Tianenmen', in which drums and bass team up to hold
down guitar riffs with a sturdy undercurrent."
(Time off April 2006)
The bands lyrical inspiration is drawn from great writers and minds like Noam
Chomsky, Tariq Ali, Oscar Wilde, Arundhati Roy and many more left wing, pinko,
commie bastards. Their anger and disillusionment is drawn from the news, newspapers,
the corrupt and unjust government / corporate nexus of our neo liberal leaders
and many more things which pale into insignificance when measured against the
worries of most humans on this shitty rock.
The Quickening have shared the stage with the likes of:
Frenzal Rhomb (The Arena), Strung Out (The Waterloo/Trocaderro/Lions Den), The
Bronx (The Zoo), The Bouncing Souls (The Arena), Mindsnare (Gabba Hotel) , Bodyjar
(The Great Northern), Sunkloto (Gabba Hotel), H-Block 101 (back in the railway
days), Antiskeptic (The Princess Theatre)
With the independent release of their first, self titled studio album, The Quickening
have proven that they can capture the living elements of their live sound they
have been crafting for over 8 years. Recorded in 2005 at Zero Interference alongside
Bryce Moorhead, the recording has caused a stir within the Australian punk rock
scene, receiving airplay on national and local radio through all states as well
as local television in QLD.
The Quickening have toured all the eastern states 5 times in the last year and will continue to do so until the follow up album is recorded early 2008.
