WTF? Aussies forced to clean up their act

July 2, 2014 5:25 pm 2 comments Views: 20

Violent Soho’s Hungry Ghosts will be released in the US in September.
Source: Supplied

VIOLENT Soho are very happy to have signed a new American deal to release their excellent Hungry Ghost album in the world’s biggest music market.

They are not so happy — but very amused — by having to make a radio edit of their very big hit Covered In Chrome.

It is perfectly acceptable for thousands of people to holler the “Hell f— yeah” hook at your gigs, yet broadcasting such language remains a big no-no in the US.

Luke Boerdam and his band mates James Tidswell, Luke Henery and Michael Richards.
Source: Supplied

Frontman Luke Boerdam says cleansing a song of the refrain that made it such a festival favourite in the past 12 months and propelled
Covered In Chrome to No. 14 on this year’s Triple J Hottest 100 was frustrating.

“It’s hilarious how much impact you lose when you take all the f—s out because Covered in Chrome is a three-chord pop song which sounds so good with f— in it,” the frontman says.

Australian rock band Violent Soho will have to expand their vocabulary.

Violent Soho’s Luke Boerdam, left, jokes it’s time to work on his vocabulary.
Source: Supplied

“I am a horrible songwriter. What is my problem that I can’t think of better words?

“I really have to work on my vocabulary.”

The truth is Boerdam and his band mates James Tidswell, Luke Henery and Michael Richards have been hard at work on other areas of their musical craft for a decade.

Saramona Said

They have long been on the radar of discerning music fans, ever since Magic Dirt’s manager Dean Turner picked them up. That was enough for most people in the local industry to take notice.

That was back in the days when MySpace was as much a talent scouting tool as it was a fledgling social media platform.

Violent Soho did the hard yards, working day jobs and touring to support debut record We Don’t Belong Here, and the 2010 self-titled follow-up but label switches stalled momentum until Hungry Ghosts.

Violent Soho have sold out shows around the country.
Source: Supplied

The album, which peaked in the top 10, has yo-yoed in and out of the top 30 since its release last year and will now be released in the US in September by LA punk label Side One Dummy.

When they announced a July tour earlier this year, they expected respectable ticket sales for the five shows booked.

They have now sold out 14 shows nationally and are expected to own the stage at Splendour In The Grass later this month.

Boerdam says a lot has changed within a year, from juggling day jobs with band duties on weekends. Now he passes billboard posters advertising their tour that have “Sold Out” plastered across every single date.

“We were pretty blown away when I rang to find out how ticket sales went on the first day and Melbourne had sold out by 9.15am and we were already putting a second show on.

“We just didn’t know there would be that response.”

■ Hungry Ghosts (I Oh You) is out now.

■ Violent Soho play The Hi-Fi, Melbourne, July 5, 6, 17, 18 (sold out); Manning Bar, Sydney University, July 8, 10 and 11 (sold out); Hi-Fi Brisbane, July 12, 13 19 (sold out).