Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes
| Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | Soul, Rhythm & Blues |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | Vanguard Records |
| Website | clairybrowne.com |
Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes were a soul band from Melbourne, Australia that formed in 2009.[1]
The band was fronted by lead vocalist Clairy Browne and backed by Camilla McKewen, Loretta Miller and Ruby Jones (The Bangin’ Rackettes) along with Peter Bee (guitar), Jules Pascoe (bass), Gabriel Strangio (keyboards).
The band's debut album Baby Caught the Bus was released in Australia in 2011 and in the United States by Vanguard Records in 2013, and features the lead single "Love Letter".
Baby Caught the Bus (2011–2013)
In November 2011, the band released their debut record, Baby Caught the Bus, in Australia. Recorded at Sound Park Studios in Melbourne with producer Steve Schram,[2] the record moves through heart-wrenching, doo-wop wailing, drunken pianos, party hysteria and tough, hard hitting soul.[3] The album received strong reviews from local and national press, going on to be crowned album of the year on ABC Radio National.[4]
In July 2012, the album's lead single, "Love Letter", was featured in a television commercial for international beer brand Heineken.[5] The ad, titled "The Switch", was shot in Prague in earlier in the same year and features an appearance from Browne performing her own stunt, dropping down on a mechanical rotating stage as the scene transforms from dive bar into an opulent night club. Airing heavily in the USA, The Switch TVC won the band many new fans and saw Baby Caught The Bus reach #66 in the US iTunes Album charts and #4 in the Billboard Heatseekers charts[6] as an independent release.
In 2013, the band traveled to the United States to perform at the annual SXSW music conference in Austin, Texas,[7] in conjunction with a 28-date tour around the country that saw them perform in venues that included House of Blues, Mercury Lounge in New York City, and The Troubadour in Los Angeles. They planned to tour the US again from October 2013 to December 2013.
Baby Caught the Bus also received an official release in the United States on 21 May 2013,[8] with the band signing to independent label Vanguard Records.
In May 2013, the group won first place in the AAA category of the International Songwriting Contest for their song "Love Letter".[9]
In 2013 the song "I'll Be Fine" was used as the theme for ABC's comedy drama Please Like Me.
Love Cliques (2014)
On 5 August 2014, the band's second EP Love Cliques was released. It features the tracks "Jenny", "No Fear", "Heart's Desire", and "Paper Thin".[10]
Members
Last lineup
- Clairanne Browne – lead vocals (2009 – dissolution)
- Peter Bee – Guitar (2009 – dissolution)
- Ruby Jones – backing vocals (2011 – dissolution)
- Camilla McKewen – backing vocals (2009 – dissolution)
- Loretta Miller – backing vocals (2011 – dissolution)
- Jules Pascoe – Bass Guitar / Double Bass (2009 – dissolution)
- Gabriel Strangio – Piano / Keyboard (2009 – dissolution)
Former members
- Darcy McNulty – Baritone / Soprano Saxophone (2009 – 2014)
- Nick Martyn – Drums (2009 – 2014)
- Simone Page Jones – Backing vocals (2009-2011)
- Natalie Browne – Backing vocals (2009-2011)
- Matt Witney - Guitar (2009 - 2010)
Breakup
Although never publicly confirmed, the group disbanded some time after their Love Cliques Tour.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | US | ||
| Baby Caught the Bus |
|
— | 167 |
EPs
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Clairy Browne |
|
| Love Cliques |
|
Singles
| A-side | B-side | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| "She Plays Up to You" | "Frankie" | 31 May 2011 (independent) |
| "Love Letter" | "Whatta Man" | 21 May 2012 (independent) |
Split 7" singles
| A-side | B-side | Details |
|---|---|---|
| "Walk of Shame" (Clairy Browe & The Bangin' Rackettes) | "Second Best" (Saskwatch) | Released: 1 Jan 2013 (Northside Records) |
Awards
| Year | Award-Giving Body | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | ABC Radio National | Album of the Year[4] | Won |
| 2012 | International Song Writing Competition | Song of the Year AAA Category[9] | Won |
| 2012 | The Age Newspaper | EG Awards - Best Band[11] | Nominated |
| 2013 | APRA Music Awards | Blues & Roots Work of the Year[12][13] | Nominated |
| 2013 | Cannes Lions | Film Craft: Best Use of Music[14] | Nominated |
References
- ↑ Hughes, Hilary (21 May 2013). "A Good Ol' American Intro for Clairy Browne and the Bangin' Rackettes". The Village Voice. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- ↑ "Feature Record of the Week". PBS FM. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ↑ "Baby Caught the Bus". allmusic.com. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- 1 2 "Album of the Year". Radio National Album of the Year. ABC Radio. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- ↑ Worldwide, TBWA. "The Secrets of Heineken's The Switch". lbbonline. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ↑ "Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes: Overview". Billboard Charts. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ↑ "Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes". SX schedule. sxsw.com. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ↑ "Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes". Vanguard Records. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- 1 2 "International Song Writing Competition - Winners". International Songwriting Competition. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ↑ "Love Cliques on iTunes". iTunes. Apple. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
- ↑ Al. "EG Awards 2012 Announce Nominations, Induct Weddings, Parties, Anything". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- ↑ "Blues & Roots Work of the Year". APRA AMCOS. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
- ↑ "Blues & Roots Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2013. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ↑ "Film Craft Lions". Cannes Lions. Retrieved 25 June 2013.