Hungry Kids of Hungary have been busy after the release of their second album earlier this year; You’re a Shadow was the follow-up to 2010’s Escapades.
The band are also keeping busy on the road, having just headed out on a national tour this month, playing shows throughout major cities as well as joining the Groovin The Moo tour around regional Australia, and even a few overseas dates as well later in the year.
But when all that wraps up, lead vocalist and guitarist Dean McGrath may be setting out to embark on a side project to release solo material he’s been working on.
Speaking to The Music, the Hungry Kids frontman says hat he has been playing around with the idea of a ‘vanity project’, adding that “once the whole album stuff’s done, I’m sort of personally still writing some stuff. But it’s not necessarily Hungry Kids Of Hungary songs. It’s a little personal pet project of mine.”
He further elaborates, “I don’t know whether it’s going to be released or if I’ll actually do anything with it. It’s just cleansing the palette between Hungry Kids records. I just want to write a bunch of stuff that just belongs to me, I guess.”
So that doesn’t sound too bad, right? The band isn’t in danger and there is a chance of something to tide us over between any future albums.
They’d be mad to split up now anyway, as HKOH have been experiencing a lot of success lately. You’re A Shadow has received positive reviews across music press, including our Tone Deaf reviewer, who praised it as “everything fans will have hoped it to be,” with its “catchy rhythms [and] interesting lyrics.” it’s not necessarily Hungry Kids Of Hungary songs. It’s a little personal pet project of mine… I just want to write a bunch of stuff that just belongs to me…” – Dean McGrath, Hungry Kids Of Hungary
In an interview with Tone Deaf following the album’s realease, McGrath also explained that the band was more creatively unified while making You’re A Shadow. “With Escapades, it was more of a compilation than something we sat down and had a specific vision for,” he explains. “Kane [Mazlin] and I, being the songwriters of the band, we usually write quite separately from each other. But we seem to be on the same wavelength this time, so the album sounds really cohesive, like a whole piece of work.”
McGrath also commented on the way that the internet helped the band break into the international market because of how easy it is to discover and share the music of independent artists. “The Internet is such a huge resource for bands now. I’m always pleasantly surprised by the quality of bands that people recommend to me who I’ve never heard of,” McGrath said.
Their online presence also helped Hungry Kids of Hungary play the Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands last year, and it all came about because of “a guy [in Europe] who is giving us a lot of love, spreading the word about the first record. Some really great people have rallied behind us and we’ve just grabbed the opportunities with both hands.”
Another such grabbed opportunity is that Hungry Kids are set to perform at the UK’s The Great Escape. Considered as an English version of SXSW, the festival takes place over 30 venues around Brighton in south-east England between the 16-18th of May.
As well as HKOH, other bands flying the flag for Australia at the Great Escape are Triple J Unearthed High graduates Snakadaktal, sister act Stonefield, as well as Brisbane’s 12-piece garage pop outfit Velicoraptor.
Other Brisbane locals are also set to feature at the international three-day event, including the Thomas Calder-fronted folk heroes The Trouble With Templeton and indie outfit Cub Scouts.
The festival’s focus is to showcase new music, in the past it helped launched previous headliners Adele, The xx, alt-j and Alabama Shakes. This will be Hungry Kids of Hungary second appearance at The Great Escape festival.
Hungry Kids Of Hungary 2013 Australian Tour Dates & Tickets
w/ support from The Preatures & Them Swoops
THU 11 APR – NEWPORT, FREMANTLE*
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix outlets
Supports: The Preatures + TBC
FRI 12 APR – CAPITOL, PERTH*
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix outlets
Supports: The Preatures + TBC
THU 18 APR – KINGS BEACH TAVERN, CALOUNDRA
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix outlets
Supports: The Preatures + Them Swoops
FRI 19 APR – HI FI, BRISBANE
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix outlets
Supports: The Preatures + Them Swoops
SAT 20 APR – GREAT NORTHERN, BYRON BAY
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix outlets
Supports: The Preatures + Them Swoops
SUN 21 APR – ALHAMBRA LOUNGE, BRISBANE U18
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix outlets
Supports: The Preatures + Them Swoops
WED 24 APR – THE WARATAH HOTEL, HOBART*
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix outlets
Supports: The Preatures + TBC
FRI 26 APR – CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE
Tickets avail from www.cornerhotel.com.au | 03 9427 9198 | Corner Box Office
Supports: The Preatures + Them Swoops
…GROOVIN THE MOO
SAT 27 APR – MAITLAND, NSW – SOLD OUT
SAT 28 APR – CANBERRA, ACT
SAT 04 MAY – BENDIGO, VIC – SOLD OUT
SUN 05 MAY – TOWNSVILLE, QLD
SAT 11 MAY – BUNBURY, WA
