Peabody (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Peabody


Img_capt =
Landscape = Yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Sydney, Australia
Genre = Rock Post-grunge
Years_active = 1990s–present
Label = Nonzero Records (Australia)
URL = [http://www.peabody.net.au/ Official website]
Current_members = Bruno Brayovic Ben Chamie Tristan Courtney-Prior Jared Harrison
Past_members = Graeme Trewin

Peabody are an Australian four-piece rock band. Forming in the mid-90s, the band consists of Bruno Brayovic (vocals/guitar), Ben Chamie (bass/vocals), Jared Harrison (drums/vocals) and Tristan Courtney-Prior (guitar).

Starting in the mid-90s, fresh out of high school, Sydney then three-piece Peabody ingrained themselves in the 'hard working band' ethic and the live music scene of Inner-city Sydney. Following other Sydney bands of the time, such as You Am I, the group played well known venues like the Annandale Hotel, the Hopetoun Hotel and other rooms which have not continued to have the same live music prominence such as The Landsdowne Hotel, The Iron Duke and The Sandringham Hotel.

The band recorded and self-released two early EPs but were best known for their live performances. Wearing suits and playing Rickenbacker guitars presented an obvious similarity to English band, The Jam despite the fact that Peabody were neither fans of, nor initially, even familiar with The Jam. Regardless, the crisp guitar sounds and passionate vocals resonated with the Sydney scene and the band gained a dedicated following.

It was at this time that they began their association with Sydney-based record label Nonzero Records, and independent label distributed through Shock Records. The label was founded in 2001 in order to release Bluebottle Kiss' 2002 album, "Revenge Is Slow", but had since expanded to release other local bands. [ [http://www.amo.org.au/interview.asp?id=1043 Australian Music Online :: Interviews :: Nick Carr - Nonzero Records ] ]

At Nonzero Records, Peabody found a label to help them record and a producer in new label-mate and Bluebottle Kiss leader, Jamie Hutchings. Despite having little experience producing other bands, Hutchings had demonstrated considerable skill for committing his own band's fearsome energy and polar dynamics to tape. ("It's wonderful to see that the dynamics and atmospheres this band can invoke in a live situation can translate so utterly successfully to a recorded medium", wrote critic Craig New of Bluebottle Kiss in 2002). [cite news
first = Craig
last = New
author =
coauthors =
url =
title = Revenge Is Slow Album Review
work =
publisher = Revolver (Sydney)
pages =
page =
date = 2002-05-01
accessdate =
language = From http://www.bluebottlekiss.com/reviews/quotes.html] That being the skill Peabody required from a producer, the relationship proved successful for both parties.

The resulting effort was 2003's "Professional Againster" (the name taken from the title of a New Bomb Turks song), a raw, solid and succinct example of what Peabody were best known for - energetic rock that sounded like the wheels were about to fall off, but never quite did.

Standout track "Stupid Boy" is the best example of this, and perhaps in acknowledgement, the EP release of the track included a version of classic Australia garage rock song, "My Pal", by early Joel Silbersher band, God. [http://www.peabody.net.au/releases.html]

Once again teaming up with producer Jamie Hutchings and engineer Dave Trump (The Church, Big Heavy Stuff) Peabody recorded their second LP, "The New Violence". The 2005 release proved to be a more slanted and diverse offering, showcasing the musical literacy of principal songwriter, Ben Chamie. "The New Violence shows a darker side to the group, with songs that are still well crafted yet less immediate", wrote critic Mark Nielsen. [cite news
first = Mark
last = Nielsen
author =
coauthors =
url =
title = The New Violence Album Review
work =
publisher = Drum Media (Sydney)
pages =
page =
date = 2005-05-03
accessdate =
language = From http://www.peabody.net.au/press6.html]

The commercial single, "Got You On My Radar", reached #13 on the AIR charts.

Mid way through 2006 drummer Graeme Trewin announced his departure from the band and later that year Jared Harrison - who is also plays with Bluebottle Kiss - was named as his replacement. Early in 2007 Tristan Courtney-Prior joined the band as a second guitarist.

In June 2007, Peabody's third album, Prospero, was recorded, again produced by Jamie Hutchings. The first single The Devil For Sympathy was released in September, with the albums release planned for early 2008.

Peabody have toured with bands such as the Hoodoo Gurus, Spiderbait and Dallas Crane and performed at the Big Day Out, Homebake and Livid festivals.

This band from Australia is not to be confused with the American three-piece rock band of the same name, formed in 1998 in Indiana, Pennsylvania.

Discography

Albums

* "Professional Againster", September 2003
* "The New Violence", May 2005

EPs

* "Hi-Cycle", April 1997
* "Rock, Girls and Computers", October 2000
* "Stupid Boy", 2002
* "Got You On My Radar", October 2004
* "The Devil For Sympathy", September 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.peabody.net.au/ Official website]