MAMMAL SHARE FUNKED-UP NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘THE PENNY DROP’ NEW ALBUM ‘THE PENNY DROP’ SET FOR RELEASE MARCH 6 ANNOUNCE FREE SINGLE LAUNCH GIG AT 170 RUSSELL ON FEBRUARY 9
Bringing the noise and funk in incomparable Mammal fashion, the Narrm neo punk/funk warriors return today with a swaggering new single The Penny Drop. Launching with a free show at 170 Russell (Melbourne) on February 9 with support from I Built The Sky (solo) and Bushido, and accompanied by a gleefully colourful and chaotic music video, The Penny Drop also offers a further peek into the group’s forthcoming new album of the same name, with Mammal’s sophomore album The Penny Drop officially due out on Wednesday March 6, available on vinyl, digital and CD formats depending on how you like to face the funk.
Following on from their fiery recent single Keanu Reeves, Mammal are coming in hot in 2024 with both a new single, The Penny Drop, and the confirmation of their anticipated new album which also shares its name with the brand track. Brandishing trademark spitfire Mammal flair amongst sonic nods to Earth Wind & Fire, Parliament, Skindred, Pantera, Motley Crue and The Killers, the end result for The Penny Drop single is one of unbridled energy and a razor-sharp call to arms, campaigning for long-awaited justice, as frontman Ezekiel Ox impassions, “The Penny Drop is a plea from the front-line for justice. It’s the voice of those who have struggled for decades in, or in solidarity with, the poor, dispossessed, displaced, sick, disabled or criminalised people around the world. It’s a celebration of the wins we’ve had, however big or small. People say the system is broken, but it’s not, it’s working exactly how the racists, land thieves and war criminals intended. Destruction, death, and environmental collapse are here – just be sure to take your reusable bags to the supermarket and turn your lights off and we should be fine, right? Now more than ever, we need to strut like a catwalk model and demand ceasefire and health, housing, water, and education rights. Who’s with the mighty Mammal?”
Teaming up with cinematographer Samuel Vella, director Tristian Braines, and edited and colour graded by David Krebelj to bring some beautiful visual mayhem to life for The Penny Drop’s accompanying music video, Mammal serve up some unforgettable scenes that’ll hurl you relentlessly into the Mammal psyche (and potentially also have you wanting to raid the nearest dress-up drawer). “We met Sam [Vella] through a friend and he filmed our show at The Evelyn,” shares Ox. “We were super impressed with his work so approached him to do our video clip. He brought his production team onboard, and the rest is history. The clip is a circus, a clusterfuck of camp mincing, costume makeup and disco glitter. Aliens ascend, pimps roam free and disco bears pummel beats and strings. Bring your dancing shoes.”
Mammal have never been ones to shy away from tenacious themes throughout their career. Breeding music with a heartbeat that blisters and awes, the same tireless spirit that has accompanied Mammal’s journey over the years burns brightly on their upcoming second album The Penny Drop. Pulsing with pure rock’n’roll at its core, The Penny Drop calls out the wrongs of the world around us while emphatically flexing the group’s revitalised sonic direction and eclectic sonic influences. From stomping fuzz on its opening track Moscow, through to sensual swagger on Slings and Arrows, polished melodics and salient alternative rock on Doubt, irreverent nu metal-laced rage on Live Bold And Dangerous and toe-tappin’ funk/rock fusion on closing track Five Days, The Penny Drop wields a vast palette while also consistently holding up starkly accurate thematic mirrors. “The main themes on the album are politics,” shares Ox, “setting up guillotines, smashing the fash, punching up, our inability to tolerate fools. Musically, fresh, mature, sexy bare bones rock and fucking roll. This album is not for the kids. It’s frown up fun. Pete [Williamson] wrote 100 riffs in 30 days, Zane [Rosanoski] turned them into songs with his V-drums and laptop in another month, then I came down from Newcastle and free-styled for 24 hours over two wild days in Melbourne. After that Jimi Maroudas came on board to produce and hone the 17 best tracks, which became the 12 on the album. After plenty of arguments, compromises and massaging by Forrester [Savell] later, we decided we were done.”
Since forming and releasing their debut self-titled EP in 2006, Mammal have toured relentlessly while also crafting a formidable reputation for their animated live performances, timeless sonic creations and authentic, working-class political activism that has garnered the quartet an ever-growing cult-like status across the globe. Revered as a “must see” rock’n’roll juggernaut, Mammal’s back catalogue includes their striking singles Smash The Pinata, The Majority, Hell Yeah and Think, with their touring history also spanning headline shows in London, Perth, Auckland, Brisbane and everywhere in between, as well as supports with some of the heavy scene’s towering giants, including Kiss, Avenged Sevenfold, Sebastian Bach, Cog, Grinspoon, Spiderbait and Shihad to name a mere few. A band who also walk the walk alongside their musical calls-to-action, Mammal have also previously volunteered their live services, raising much-needed funds for various charities, supporting Interchange, the Refugee Action Collective and Fitzroy Legal Service over the years.
A band who says what they want, how they want to, as loudly and proudly as possible, The Penny Drop is set to be a natural continuation of the ever dynamic and growing Mammal legacy, with The Penny Drop single itself offering a swaggering disco-slap grind to tide you over until the release of the impending new album. “Mammal is riding high on the energy. It was a different process for us this time, it took over a year to finish from riff to master,” says Ox. “To be honest, we just want to get it out and see everyone at the shows when we play it live”. And for those hoping to witness the new Mammal material live in person themselves, the band are fighting inflation and the cost of living crisis for fans of rock and roll with a FREE ENTRY “People’s Night Out” show at 170 Russell on Friday February 9, supported by I Built The Sky (solo) and Bushido. For those fans in other states, some exciting news undoubtedly lies ahead. “This album is built for the live stage,” Ox concludes. Watch this space.
The Penny Drop (single) is out today, Thursday February 1.
The Penny Drop (album) is set for release on Wednesday March 6.
MAMMAL | THE PENNY DROP SINGLE LAUNCH | 170 RUSSELL | FEBRUARY 9 | DOORS 8PM – 11:30PM | FREE ENTRY
FISHER’S OUT 2 LUNCH FESTIVAL SET TO BRING NONSTOP BEATS & GOOD VIBES FOR AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST BEACH PARTY TO DESCEND ON THE GOLD COAST THIS MAY CREATED, CURATED AND HEADLINED BY INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR ARTIST FISHER AND FEATURING VINTAGE CULTURE, FLIGHT FACILITIES, LITTLE FRITTER & SHIMMY
Follow the fish to the largest ever beach party Australia has ever seen this May, with global superstar artist and Gold Coast icon FISHER today announcing the OUT 2 LUNCH FESTIVAL, an epic one-of-a-kind festival set to descend on Queensland’s Coolangatta Beach on Saturday 4 May, bringing music fans together for a momentous celebration of sun, surf, music and good vibes.
In an Australian first, TEG Live is proud to present the inaugural OUT 2 LUNCH FESTIVAL, with the event boasting a two-hour set from FISHER himself, as well as a huge international and local line-up, including performances from Vintage Culture, Flight Facilities, Little Fritter and Shimmy, with plenty more surprises in store for this unforgettable event.
Artist pre-sales for the event will go live on Tuesday 6 February from 10am AEST (11am AEDT), before general public tickets go on sale on Friday 9 February from 10am AEST (11am AEDT). There’ll be a host of VIP packages available for those who jump in quick, with all ticket holders gaining access to a free event bus shuttle to and from the event, with access points at Broadbeach Light Rail Station, Varsity Lakes Railway Station, Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads. Park and Ride options will be available from Tugun and Tweed Heads. See the full transport details at teglive.com.au.
Elated to be hosting the biggest beach party in his hometown this May, FISHER shares, “Guys, i’m coming down under! Are you kidding? We’re on the beach, we’re going mad, get your tickets and get ready to rock & roll. See you on the dance floor!”
A Grammy and ARIA Award-nominated producer and former pro surfer, FISHER, aka Paul Fisher, is undeniably one of Australia’s most electrifying exports. Releasing his debut solo single Ya Kidding in 2017, FISHER swiftly turned heads in 2018 with the scorching single Crowd Control before hitting viral status via his monster breakout track Losing It, completely changing the game. Launched live in person for the first time at Coachella and now a bona fide festival banger with close to 500 million streams on Spotify alone, the tech-house hybrid track not only put FISHER on musical map, with a label bidding war, a Grammy nod, taking out the #2 spot on triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2018 and international chart success; the single also influenced the future of dance music across the board, heralding a shift away from the EDM-centric styles of the time into more slick underground club and house realms.
In 2023, FISHER released multiple hit records including Yeah The Girls and Take It Off; the latter being the mega dance hit with AATIG which achieved placement on BBC Radio 1 ‘B List’ Playlist and over 50 million streams on Spotify. FISHER’s following single Atmosphere ft. Kita Alexander was one of the dance anthems of the summer after its explosion on TikTok – combining soaring synths and irresistibly catchy lead vocals over a pulsating uptempo groove, Atmosphere amassed 3 million Spotify streams in its first week alone. FISHER’s last visit to Australia saw him sell 73,000 tickets over 4 stops around the country, breaking the record for live attendance at the Domain in Sydney.
FISHER is diving into 2024 with gusto, lined up to headline at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee alongside Fred Again, Pretty Lights and a mountain of other acts, at Electric Love Festival in Austria along with The Chainsmokers, DJ Snake, Armin van Buuren and more, with countless headline sets worldwide also surrounding his hotly anticipated return to home soil this May for FO2L. A truly perfect amalgamation of all things OUT 2 LUNCH FESTIVAL is the hottest ticket in town this year; if you thought summer was winding down, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Also performing his first ever show in Australia at OUT 2 LUNCH FESTIVAL, Brazil-based DJ and producer Vintage Culture will be bringing the good vibes, with his charismatic creations set to wow the fans. An artist also perched incredibly high in the world of house and techno, Vintage Culture’s hybrid artistry and astounding sets at some of the hottest venues in the world make him an act simply not to be missed.
One of Australia’s most beloved groups, electronic duo Flight Facilities have been weaving musical magic for over a decade, from their insatiable 2010 single Crave You, through to their chart-smashing 2014 debut album Down to Earth. Over the years, the pair have performed at the likes of Coachella, SXSW and countless other shows, and closed out 2023 with some tantalising new tunes out in the world.
The Gold Coast’s Little Fritter is no stranger to bringing good times to the masses, with the talented DJ and producer showcasing his technicolour creations at some of Australia’s most iconic events, as well as international institutions over the years. Recently unveiling new material on some of the world’s biggest dance labels, Little Fritter also launched his own festival Need2Freak shaking up the Queensland scene.
A versatile and energetic Aussie DJ raised by the ocean, Shimmy, aka pro surfer Dimity Stoyle, is renowned for her heady mix of house, techno and exotic disco; a mesmerising sonic cocktail that will be getting the FO2L crowds in the party mood this May. When she’s not travelling the world on the surf circuit, Shimmy can be found wowing crowds from sunset to sunrise, including multiple sell out Need2Freak sets.
Transforming one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks – Coolangatta Beach – into the biggest beach party Australia has ever seen this May, OUT 2 LUNCH FESTIVAL will act as the perfect bookend to the Gold Coast Pro alongside the World Surf League at Snapper Rocks, and the hype is definitely real.
General public tickets will go on sale on Friday 9 February at 10am AEST (11am AEDT) from https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=FISHOUT24, with pre-sales beginning on Tuesday 6 February. All tickets will include bus transport to and from Coolangatta Beach. Further details can be found on teglive.com.au.
SAT 4 MAY | COOLANGATTA BEACH, QLD | 18+
ARTIST PRE-SALE
10:00am AEST (11am AEDT), Tuesday 6 February
GP ON-SALE
10:00am AEST (11am AEDT), Friday 9 February
FISHER OUT 2 LUNCH FESTIVAL 2024
Tickets available from https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=FISHOUT24
FISHER
VINTAGE CULTURE
FLIGHT FACILITIES
LITTLE FRITTER
SHIMMY
GOODTHANKYOU SHARES SWAGGERING NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘PRAY AT YOUR ALTAR’ TAKEN FROM NEW ALBUM ‘THE KENNARDS SESSIONS’ OUT TODAY
A swaggering and powerful ode to the fairer sex, PRAY AT YOUR ALTAR is the new single out today from goodthankyou, aka the solo project from Melbourne cult party-starters The Stiffys’ frontman Jason John Leigh. The formidable lead single taken from goodthankyou’s debut album THE KENNARDS SESSIONS, also out today, PRAY AT YOUR ALTAR showcases Leigh’s enigmatic musical prowess while equally illuminating the broader album steeped in vulnerability, charm and growth.
A foot-stomping delight, PRAY AT YOUR ALTAR finds Leigh weaving indie and rock grooves under the goodthankyou moniker, with Leigh conjuring the single, as well as the entirety of The Kennards Sessions, at an undisclosed storage unit studio setup, recorded over the space of 18 months to avoid discovery and being kicked out. Recording all instruments himself, including guitars, bass, drums, saxophone, keys and vocals, Leigh then flew to Auckland to mix The Kennards Sessions in Neil Finn’s (Crowded House) personal studio alongside ARIA-winning producer Steven Schram. Fusing fuzzy tones alongside Leigh’s iconic vocals, PRAY AT YOUR ALTAR bursts open the goodthankyou journey with sonic nods to Idles, LCD Soundsystem and Queens of the Stone Age; and, as Leigh reveals, the hallucinogenic hues were no mere accident. “This track began as something completely different until the magic mushrooms kicked in,” Leigh shares. “It started as some overthought intellectual drum and bass thing and then became a primal sweaty sex track. PRAY AT YOUR ALTAR marvels at women; how love costs them so much more. How reckless and brave it is for them to fall in love and how our species relies on them ripping their hearts, lives and bodies apart for it. It comes at the end of an album about growing up.”
Accompanied by an old school karaoke film, part of a planned trilogy directed by Tim Hamilton (King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Big Scary), the clip for PRAY AT YOUR ALTAR was shot primarily underneath Melbourne’s iconic “cheese stick” in Parkville, with plans to extend the bouncing protagonist’s narrative into the near future. “PRAY AT YOUR ALTAR is accompanied by an old school karaoke film which is shot from the bouncing ball’s perspective,” says Leigh. “The bouncing ball, unfortunately, is overworked and has marital issues”. “Jason and I have shared an aesthetic for a while and long appreciated each other’s work,” adds Hamilton. “The karaoke film idea came about over a few beers and we were really excited to split the story out into three parts, because it’s just too difficult to explain the story of an inanimate ball within a three minute window.”
With 12 new tracks lying in wait on THE KENNARDS SESSIONS, Leigh flourishes with pure DIY genius from start to finish, from the woozy fever dream of its opener HI, to the off-kilter sheen of BE COOL, the sinuous delight that is BAY BAY, Beatles-esque whimsy on GOTTA LEAVE THIS SUMMER, lush hip hop hues on I WAS TOO HARD ON YOU, the hard-hitting cacophony of THE THINGS THAT I THINK and the beseeching DIY ballad that is HOME TO YOU. But THE KENNARDS SESSIONS builds its emotional apex most firmly in its closing moments, ending with the album’s leading single PRAY AT YOUR ALTAR in emboldened fashion. “THE KENNARDS SESSIONS is an album about growing up,” explains Leigh. “About a big fish who leaves a small pond and loses everything, only to find themselves. It was written to be listened to all at once. Everything about it was recorded wrong, which led to the album’s distinctive sound. Mainly due to the combination of inexperience, broken gear, mild inebriation, and excessive vulnerability. It was recorded piece by piece late at night over 12 months in a storage unit and you can actually hear the drumming getting less shit as the record goes on. The record was borne when I found myself in Sydney, far from my band and musical community, and needing a way to make music by myself. I could play all the instruments I needed except for drums. After gate-crashing and accidentally winning an amateur poker night, I found myself with enough money to buy the last remaining gear I needed (a drum kit and recording interface) and taught myself how to use both.”
Best known as the front man for Melbourne cult part band The Stiffys, Jason John Leigh has spent his professional career to date making his name alongside his bandmates via raucous live shows, relentless touring and typing in all caps. Growing up around instruments in his youth, Leigh has been playing in bands since the age of 14, going on to front The Stiffys for their 2012 debut release, titled The Stiffys debut album, and an array of new material that followed, including 2014’s We Are Groovy Boys, 2015’s Art Rock One, 2016’s Art Rock Two and 2020’s Cool. But while his musical clout is already firmly entrenched in the Aussie musical landscape, goodthankyou is nothing like The Stiffys, as Leigh explains. “The Stiffys are Adam Stagg, Devin de Araujo and I having a fantastic and obnoxious time after two bottles of Passion Pop each,” Leigh shares. “goodthankyou is just me in a storage unit after two beers, and it’s a lot more touchy feely. I’ve been gestating on this for ages. And not just in the studio — every waking moment, this record has been playing on loop in my head. This album was recorded to be listened to in full with headphones on. Of course, you won’t, no one does, but maybe someday you’ll find yourself with 35 minutes to kill.
PRAY AT YOUR ALTAR and THE KENNARDS SESSIONS are out today, Thursday January 30.