Theredsunband

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

theredsunband
Screen shot from "Sleep Forever" music video From left: Lizzie Kelly, Sarah Kelly & Jon Matthews
Background information
Origin	Sydney, Australia
Genre(s)	Indie-rock, Dream pop
Years active	2003-present
Label(s)	Slanted Recordings
Website	Official site
Members
Sarah Kelly Jon Matthews Lizzie Kelly

The correct title of this article is theredsunband. The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions.

theredsunband is a three-piece rock band from Sydney, Australia. Comprised of sisters, Sarah (guitar, lead vocals) and Lizzie (keyboards, tambourine, backing vocals) Kelly and John Matthews (drums, backing vocals), the definitive line-up was forged in 2003^[1] and, as of July 2006, remains the current line-up.

The band are inspired by acts such as Mazzy Star and Cat Power, which is evident in both their production ethic and the treatment of the lead vocals. On the local front, the band received support from the numerous mid-late 90s Australian bands who played a brand of atmospheric indie-rock informed by the shoegaze movement of the early 90s, such as Sounds Like Sunset and Gersey, who gave the band their earliest support slots.

The band originally played as a two-piece, with Sarah on bass and Matthews on guitar. Serendipitously, the two founding members of the group had previously met at kindergarten. “In the class photo we are the two kids at the front holding the sign; 'Arncliffe West Public School Year Kindi 1986'”, writes Matthews on the band's official site^[2].

The pair performed in two-piece format before the addition of Kate Wilson on drums, who was followed by David O’Leaf. The definitive line-up of the band came after the departure of O’Leaf, with Matthews switching to drums and Kelly to guitar. This made way for the addition of Kelly’s younger sister, Lizzie on keyboards. Not unlike bands such as The Dandy Warhols, early My Bloody Valentine or The Doors, theredsunband employ keyboard bass, rather than electric bass.

The band’s debut album, “Peapod” was released in 2004 on Slanted Recordings and produced by Magic Dirt's Dean Turner – credited as Dean Dirt. It was recorded in St. Kilda at Hothouse Studios - the studio of former Kids in the Kitchen bass player, Craig Harnath.

theredsunband have played with such artists as Cat Power, Magic Dirt, Youth Group and were on the bill for the 2005 Big Day Out festival.

On the 27th of March 2006, principal songwriter, Sarah Kelly, was awarded the Jessica Michalik Music Endowment by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)^[3].

Original drummer, Kate Wilson, now plays with Sydney band, The Null Set, who record on Nonzero Records.

As of July 2006, theredsunband is in Melbourne beginning work on their second album. The group are again working with producer Dean Turner.