 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
The Mongrel Bastard Pirate Orchestra... On all good pirate ships there existed a pirate orchestra. It was the orchestra's responsibility to chronicle in song the adventures of the pirates. Sforzando are a 6-piece pirate orchestra who blend ferocious punk, Western European folk melodies and classic sea shanties to create a soundscape for the ocean. They sing of sailors that can't swim, ships that won't sail, dangerous mermaids and sirens ravishing the waves, mutineers, the vengeance of the sea Gods, the fury of the ocean, the destruction of the shoreline, the poetry of waves and of course, pirates. Especially pirates. Band members: Quincy Hall: (Vocals) Established Melbourne playwright and performer, currently working on a series of pirate tales for teenagers.. Raju Sharma: (Percussion) Indian pirate who has played with such luminaries as Sting and Peter Gabriel in South-East Asia, and locally, with Howlin' Wind and Eden . Scott Jansen: (Violin) Melbourne pirate artist and violin master whose paintings adorn the walls of hundreds of the city's cafes and attractions (most notably, the Children's Hospital foyer). Paul Tierney: (Drums) The only pirate drummer with a masters degree in Engineering. Dave O'Reilly: (Guitar) Pirate, editor and guitarist. Major Festivals / Regular Venues Played * Queenscliff Festival, 1998, 1999, 2002 (festival, and 'best of the fest'), 2000 (media launch). * Mallacoota Arts Festival, 1999, 2001 (plus official invitation by council leading to performance at the 2000 New Year's Eve celebration). * Port Fairy Folk Festival, 1999. * St Kilda Festival, 1999. * Moomba, 1999 * Melbourne Festival / Melbourne Fringe Festival, 1999, 2000, 2001. * Punters Club, regulars from 1997 onwards. * The Empress Of India, regulars from 1999 onwards. * Dan O'Connell Hotel, ten month residency in 1998. * Plus regular appearances at: Esplanade Hotel, Ninth Ward, Corner Hotel. Releases We Sail Away on Mabuhay Records, 1997 Midnight at the Lighthouse on pR8, 1999, live at Port Fairy. Hideous Sea Creatures, October 2002 Recognition "...Had they been playing Latvian goat-herding tunes I'm sure we would have all been just as mesmerised, such was the enormous visual and sonic impact of their set...the depth and scope of Sforzando was immense, giving this punter a new perspective on modern folk...there were plenty of points in their performance where words would inadequately capture the brilliance of this urban pirate music" Darrell Bassett, InPress "...lyrically Hall writes with a romantic eloquent charm - it seems borne from the contemporary atmosphere which the Melbourne group create... (they) flow with an often frantic punk urgency while at other times it's as cool as a summer breeze" Louise Williams, Beat Magazine "...along with the on-stage antics and theatrics the music has helped capture the attention of some demographically mismatched punters...the diversity of followers is a reflection of the seven members who all contribute to the creative process...in an age where ska, punk and pop are cool, this band could be deemed as daggy but the fisherman's basket of celtic/folk/rock ditties Sforzando serve up are easy to swallow...the album is a must" Tracy Morfit, Forte "At a time when many Australian bands seem merely to imitate the sounds of their American counterparts, local band Sforzando offer a breath of fresh innovative air". The Melbourne Times "Folk that bleeds" - The music from this 7 piece Melbourne band, dubbed pirate folk by film director Sandra Long, leans heavily on traditional peasant folk sounds but lays down for good measure a strong sense of urban grunge and inner-city madness. The result is a speed-soaked pirate festival. The band plays mostly originals, using the sea (and pirates) as a metaphor for modern-day isolation and euphoria, however, Sforzando sporadically grab a traditional piece by the throat (such as Drunken Sailor) and load it with their distinctive narrative of adrenaline and rock-fuel. Mabuhay, 1998 Check out the artist's website: http://www.sforzando.com.au/ Track List: 1. Mermaids 2. A Night On the Piss 3. Inner City Pirate Rock Chick 4. Mutiny 5. The Party Starts When We Get There 6. Deep in the Sea 7. Usa 8. Pass Me a Rum 9. Dancing the Hempen Jig 10. Two Sisters 11. Scurvy Sea Dogs 12. A Pirate Song 13. Too Much Fun 14. The Pirate Orchestra 15. Fanatacism 16. I Was Born On a Pirate Ship Suggested CDs:
|