Performing at the Big Day Out and landing a heavy-duty national support gig might just be signs of the times for Youth Group, Christine Sams writes.
When his band Youth Group scored the supporting slot with Coldplay for their Australian tour in the middle of this year, singer Toby Martin found himself getting unexpected attention.
"My mum's friends were suddenly saying, 'Oh, you're playing with Coldplay'," Martin says, with a soft chuckle. "It's one of those things where people who aren't involved in the music scene have suddenly taken notice."When it comes to Youth Group's music, there are plenty of people now paying full attention. The foursome from Sydney appear to be on the cusp of major mainstream success, with their first appearance at the Big Day Out in Sydney on Thursday and the Coldplay support slots booked in.
But beyond any name-dropping and high-profile gigs, Youth Group are gaining profile simply on the strength and quality of the band's songs. Skeleton Jar was easily one of the best Australian albums last year.
Martin and his bandmates - bass player Patrick Matthews (formerly of the Vines), fellow founding member and drummer Danny Allen and guitarist Cameron Emerson-Elliott - have also forged a reputation on the live scene.
"We do love performing, I really like playing live," Martin says. "You get those moments when you do a song in a particular way and it's never going to happen like that again. You can lose yourself playing live - it's a bit freeing actually."
Martin, 30, is softly-spoken, mild-mannered and humble, but he is undeniably the creative force behind the band. As chief songwriter, guitarist and vocalist, he has managed to weave his poems and lyrics into songs that resonate.
"I do tend to start with lyrics before music," Martin says. "One of the most important things in songwriting are words that sound good ... when I first started writing I wanted to say something about the world, but now I'm thinking more about resonance - the resonance of the words. Our next record will be all about words."
That's not to say the music itself - with the band's live performances - isn't also a priority. The band, which began in Sydney seven years ago, has had several line-up changes but Martin says the mood (and the chemistry between the musicians) has never been stronger.
"It's good, the spirits are high," he says. "The morale is good amongst the fellas. At the moment there's a very good camaraderie."
The singer seems quietly chuffed that he can work pretty much full-time as a musician these days, after many years of juggling full-time work and a burgeoning music career. "It's so much easier rehearsing two days a week, rather than one night a week when everyone's tired from work and that sort of thing," he says. "We're really enjoying being full-time musicians and travelling, so of course I really hope this can continue."
When it comes to Youth Group's music, there are plenty of people now paying full attention. The foursome from Sydney appear to be on the cusp of major mainstream success, with their first appearance at the Big Day Out in Sydney on Thursday and the Coldplay support slots booked in.
But beyond any name-dropping and high-profile gigs, Youth Group are gaining profile simply on the strength and quality of the band's songs. Skeleton Jar was easily one of the best Australian albums last year.
Martin and his bandmates - bass player Patrick Matthews (formerly of the Vines), fellow founding member and drummer Danny Allen and guitarist Cameron Emerson-Elliott - have also forged a reputation on the live scene.
"We do love performing, I really like playing live," Martin says. "You get those moments when you do a song in a particular way and it's never going to happen like that again. You can lose yourself playing live - it's a bit freeing actually."
Martin, 30, is softly-spoken, mild-mannered and humble, but he is undeniably the creative force behind the band. As chief songwriter, guitarist and vocalist, he has managed to weave his poems and lyrics into songs that resonate.
"I do tend to start with lyrics before music," Martin says. "One of the most important things in songwriting are words that sound good ... when I first started writing I wanted to say something about the world, but now I'm thinking more about resonance - the resonance of the words. Our next record will be all about words."
That's not to say the music itself - with the band's live performances - isn't also a priority. The band, which began in Sydney seven years ago, has had several line-up changes but Martin says the mood (and the chemistry between the musicians) has never been stronger.
"It's good, the spirits are high," he says. "The morale is good amongst the fellas. At the moment there's a very good camaraderie."
The singer seems quietly chuffed that he can work pretty much full-time as a musician these days, after many years of juggling full-time work and a burgeoning music career. "It's so much easier rehearsing two days a week, rather than one night a week when everyone's tired from work and that sort of thing," he says. "We're really enjoying being full-time musicians and travelling, so of course I really hope this can continue."
Source: http://www.smh.com.au
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