The Mess Hall

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The Mess Hall

Background information
Origin Flag of Australia Sydney, Australia
Genre(s) Blues-rock
Indie rock
Garage rock
Years active 2001–present
Label(s) Shock Records
Website Official website
Members
Jed Kurzel
Cec Condon
Former members
Anthony Johnsen (2001–2003)

The Mess Hall are a two-piece drums and guitar combo based in Sydney, Australia specialising in "raw, edgy bluesy rock." The band is consists of Jed Kurzel (vocals/guitar) and Cec Condon (drums/vocals).

“ When plugged in and turned up, the duo produce enough energy to power a house full of floodlights[1]
— The Sydney Morning Herald		 ”


Contents

[edit] History

Original members Jed Kurzel and Anthony Johnsen began playing shows in 2001 and quickly gained a reputation as an exciting live act.

Their 2003 EP, Feeling Sideways, produced by Matt Lovell (Something For Kate) and Chris Joannou (silverchair), earned an ARIA nomination for Best Independent Release[2]. The same year, Johnsen left the band and was replaced by drummer Cec Condon[3] of The Tremors and Mexico City.

In 2005, The Mess Hall released Notes From A Ceiling after a lot of anticipation. As well as releasing the single "Metal And Hair", the songs "Pills" and "Disco 1" received consistent radio play time on Triple J. The album won an ARIA award for Best Engineer and was included in both Triple J and Rolling Stone's[1] Top 50 Albums of 2005.

The band have played on the same bill as[4] Tenacious D, You Am I, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Strokes, Kings of Leon and Jet as well as playing at the Splendour in the Grass, Homebake, Falls and Big Day Out festivals. They have toured to Japan[1] and the USA, including performances at SXSW[5] in Austin. The band has such covers on their live set list such as Nirvana's "Breed" and Mudhoney's "Touch Me I'm Sick".

The band also find themselves being constantly compared to The White Stripes but Kurzel expresses otherwise. "When we started to do our thing there was no White Stripes around. A lot of people I'm influenced by are a lot of old poor guys from the Mississippi who just play really honest and a dirty sort of blues. That's where The Mess Hall come from. We really never set out to be a two piece. It was just something that worked out that way"[6].

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

The Mess Hall
(2001)
Notes From A Ceiling
(2005)

[edit] EPs and singles

Feeling Sideways EP
(2003)
Evelyn EP
(2005)
"Metal And Hair"
(2005)

[edit] Awards and nominations

[edit] Awards

[edit] Nominations

  • 2003 ARIA Awards, Best Independent Release for Feeling Sideways[1]
  • 2005 ARIA Awards, Producer of the Year for Notes From A Ceiling
  • 2006 Jack Awards, Best Live Band
  • 2006 Jack Awards, Best Lead Guitarist - Jed Kurzel[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Songwriters: The Mess Hall. Mushroom Music (2005). Retrieved on 2006-06-02.
  2. ^ The Mess Hall:Poised To Release New Dirty Blues. Faster Louder (2004). Retrieved on 2006-06-02.
  3. ^ THe Mess Hall - Jed Engine. X-press Online (2005). Retrieved on 2006-06-01.
  4. ^ Homebake 2003 bands. Homebake.com.au (2003). Retrieved on 2006-06-05.
  5. ^ SxSW Welcome An Australasian Talent Influx. Faster Louder (2006). Retrieved on 2006-06-02.
  6. ^ The Mess Hall. australianmusician.com.au (2005). Retrieved on 2006-06-01.
  7. ^ The Jack Awards Nominees Announced. undercover.com.au (2006). Retrieved on 2006-06-05.

[edit] External links

The Mess Hall
Jed Kurzel | Cec Condon
Discography
Albums, EPs and compilations: Self titled | Notes From A Ceiling | Feeling Sideways | Evelyn | Metal And Hair
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