The Fantastic Leslie

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The Fantastic Leslie was a four-piece band from Sydney, Australia. Comprising of Cameron Bruce, Andrew Hansen, Tom Gleeson and James Fletcher, this band was the starting point for three popular and successful comedians and musicians.

They formed in 1999, when all four were studying at Sydney University.

Andrew Hansen was the guitarist, played the kazoo and was one of the vocalists, Cameron Bruce's expertise lay in the field of playing piano and vocals, Tom Gleeson was the drummer and James Fletcher played bass.

They released their EP 'A Tiny Mark' in 1999, consisting of six tracks- five original tracks and 'Moving Right Along'. 'A Tiny Mark' was produced by Micheal Carpenter, and mastered by Don Bartley.


Contents

[edit] 'A Tiny Mark' consisted of:

  • "First World Blues", composed and sung by Andrew Hansen, was "...About how folks in developed countries have their own problems....such as having no soul, for instance."
  • "Great Life", also composed and sung by Andrew Hansen, was "about how tough everything is, but how rock n roll makes it all better again."
  • "Sea Shanty"
  • "Turning to Gold", which Cameron Bruce described as about "...that I hardly recognise the things that I see, I hardly know who this is talking to me...and those exact same words are used in the song."
  • "Weatherman" was written and performed by Cameron Bruce. In an interview, it was revealed it was inspired by how "I once knew a guy who left nothing to chance. He used to plan his days around the weather and what he would eat for lunch. Now he wears a suit."
  • "Moving Right Along" was a "song from The Muppet Movie. You just tap your shoes, shake your booty, shut ur eyes and think of Fozzie", according to Cameron Bruce.

[edit] Reviews:

  • "I'm hoping it turns out more like a giant splash than a tiny mark, because these boys deserve it....
  • "... 'Weatherman' is an outrageously catchy, tightly written little pearler of a pop song....
  • "... The CD opens with a burst of ecstatic groove, 'Turning to Gold' ... convincing rock 'n' roll gutsiness ... dangerously addictive....
  • "... A real highlight of a tiny mark is its majestic ballad, 'First World Blues.' With dark lyrics and haunting chorus, Hansen's vocals take the band through this song from a whisper to a detonation.
  • "... 'Sea Shanty' finishes with a dazzling piano solo from Bruce. I’ve seen this performed live, and it brought the house down.
  • "... Yes, I’m raving. a tiny mark hasn’t moved from my CD player since I picked it up at the packed-out official launch."
  • "Slick drum beats played on real skins by Tom Gleeson skip along with James Fletcher's rollicking bass lines that dare you to guess where they're headed....
  • "... Could have a club full of dancers up boogieing their collective butts off and then slip next door and sit in with Woody Allen's for some jazz at Michael's Pub....
  • "... 'First World Blues' is a soulful gem of a tune that delivers an emotional uppercut with harmonies that hit the mark....
  • "... This refreshing blend of soaring melodies, sparkling piano riffs and a clever balance of silly, sentimental and stinging lyrics will leave you itching to get to a live gig."


Tom Gleeson left not long after releasing 'A Tiny Mark' to pursue his comedy career, to be replaced by Bruce Braybrook. [1]

The band recorded only two other released tracks: 'The Fantastic Leslie Theme Song' and a cover of the Nick Drake song, 'At the Chime of the City Clock'. These were respectively released on 'Grow Your Own 2000' and 'Jeremy Flies; A Tribute to Nick Drake'.

They split in about 2003, when they were beginning to actively pursue their own careers. Andrew was and still is a member of the Chaser team, who have produced six TV shows, Andrew being in five of them, and three musicals/stage shows. They are currently touring Australia with their stage show, The Chaser's Age of Terror Variety Hour. Cameron, after leaving The Fantastic Leslie, was a third of comedy/musical trio GUD, along with Paul McDermott and Mick Moriarty, and progressed onto playing in his own and Paul Kelly's band, and playing keyboards for both Good News Week and The Sideshow. Bruce is now the drummer in the Beautiful Girls, while Tom Gleeson was in skitHOUSE, as well as numerous Australian Tours, Melbourne International Comedy Festivals and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, while James Flectcher is working for the BBC in London.

There are currently no plans for a reunion, but Tom said they were all booked until February 2009, while Andrew said that nothing is impossible when it comes to a gig.


[edit] References:

http://web.archive.org/web/20010926013028/http://fantasticleslie.com/

http://www.myspace.com/thefantasticleslie

http://www.mp3.com.au/artist.asp?id=346

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Fantastic Leslie – Music at Last.fm
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