Schvendes

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Schvendes
Background information
Origin Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Genre(s) Rock
Years active 2002–present
Label(s) Reverberations
Website Official website
Members
Rachael Dease
Tristen Parr
Greg Hosking
Tara John
Ant Gray


Schvendes are a band of brothers and sisters from Perth, Western Australia. They write stories about murder, mayhem, love and loss upon a background of gentle rhodes piano, pounding drums, screaming guitar, soaring cello and vocals, which have been described as both sweet and terrifying. With an emphasis on lyrics depicting small disastersand celebration of everyday existence, their music is a blend of country, dirty blues and rock. Their influences include Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, the Dirty Three, PJ Harvey, Ennio Morricone, Tom Waits and Nina Simone.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Recordings

In March 2005 the group released their debut studio EP Turn Out Your Lights produced by Ben Franz (The Waifs), who also produced their current EP Twice the Man, which was released nationally in December 2005.

[edit] Tours

In the last year, the band played some seventy shows including the Perth International Arts Festival and WAMi shows as well as a number of national supports for artists such The Kill Devil Hills, The Dirty Three, Augie March, Art of Fighting, the Drones, Ed Kuepper, Tim Rogers and Tex Perkins, the Go Betweens, Kim Salmon, Decoder Ring, Tucker B's, 67 Special, Youth Group, The Devoted Few, Holly Throsby and New Buffalo.

[edit] Reviews

"...Schvendes undulate from caressing you gently to kicking your sorry arse out on to the street screaming at you to never come back. We’re talking Mr. Cave in his crooning moments here, with the haunting vocals accompanied by the mournful Rhodes piano lines..." – DrumMedia

"...A slowed-down, and rather dark, art-blues-country hybrid, this is the type of band the make Manchester Lane’s $7 beers worthwhile." - Beat

"Here you will find a band of guts, of strength, and of complete blatant honesty." - Rockus

"...if ever old Lucifer did decide to kick up his hooves and cruise a few bands, he could do a lot worse than Schvendes." - ZebraHype

"...Sounds you could bath yourself in their textured beauty, with sinister edges that you could quite happily drown in." - WAM

"Music that will never fade but will always evolve..." - Oz Music Project

[edit] Members

The members of the band are:

  • Rachael Dease - vocals, bass
  • Tristen Parr - cello
  • Greg Hosking - drums
  • Tara John - rhodes piano
  • Ant Gray - guitar

[edit] Discography

  • The Scoundrel is made an Outcast (LP) - Bloodstart (2002)
  • Turn out your Lights (EP) - Reverberation (2005)
  • Twice the Man (EP) - Reverberation (2006)
  • "Small Mercies, Sweet Graves" (Single)- Reverberation (2006)


[edit] Awards and nominations

  • 2006 WAMi Awards, Most Popular Single/EP - Turn out your Lights
  • 2006 WAMi Awards, Most Promising New Act
  • 2006 WAMi Awards, Best Instrumentalist - Tristen Parr

[edit] External links