As if Big Day Out hadn’t given us enough to look forward to this January, what with a stellar lineup of local and international acts, the promise of Australia’s best festival food, and countless other attractions (including a Mexican wresting bar), now we’ve received word that one of the local headliners, Melbourne’s own ME, will be releasing their debut album to coincide with the national touring festival.
Following on from their ‘mini-album’, Another Story High, which our reviewer called “rich on grand theatrics and classic rock flair;” the four-piece will be releasing their first full-length album, Even The Odd Ones Out on Lizard King Records on January 25th, and it isn’t just Aussie audiences that have a lot to be excited about.
The glam pop metal pioneers have been causing a big fuss in the UK live circuit having played over a hundred shows already in 2012 and touring with the likes of Kasabian, Twin Atlantic, and Panic! at the Disco, the latter tour seeing them play to 30,000 people in ten days.
But despite their international successes, the boys are adamant that their first official LP release is as much about their hometown of Melbourne as anything else. The 12 tracks that make the album are the culmination of “five great years in Melbourne, surrounded by a thriving music scene and embracing musical community” says vocalist Luke Ferris.“We have just thrown loads of different ingredients into the pot because they are the flavours we enjoy.” Luke Ferris, ME
The dapper frontman is also the first to admit that the quartet, who have called the UK home for the better part of 2012, are a “a little in the odd ones out category.” Having decamped to London in late 2011, Ferris, along with bandmates Damian Tapley, Spike Rogers and Michael Godde have developed their theatrical rock, siphoning the best parts of British musical legends like Queen, Muse, The Beatles, and Bowie into their own electric fusion.
“I love big rock bands with killer riffs and grooves, but I also love great vocals, harmonies, orchestral works and bad ass choirs. So we have just thrown loads of different ingredients into the pot because they are the flavours we enjoy,” says Ferris.
To help realise their sonically eclectic ambitions, ME enlisted Simon ‘Barny’ Barnicott, who has worked with the likes of Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys, and The Temper Trap, to produce the album alongside Grammy Award winning engineer Ian Dowling.
The result is some of ME’s most ambitious sonic adventures yet, including choirs, orchestras, and plenty of their explosive rock synergy on the likes of ‘Vampire!! Vampire!!”, lead single “Rock N Roll Dandy”, and the epic “This Working Life” or “Trail In The Sky.”
Fans of the band will be lucky enough to hear a big number of cuts off The Odd Ones Out when the band make their appearances across the country in January at Big Day Out 2013 (want to make sure you don’t miss them? Check out the already release set times here).
Of their inclusion on the lineup, guitarist Damian Tapley says, “it’s a dream come true.” Speaking to Tone Deaf in an upcoming interview, Tapley adds: “A lot of festivals that we have been doing aren’t quite as large as Big Day Out. Because that is massive. Every band has always dreamt of being on that stage one day, without ever realising it would come true.”
Be sure to catch ME at Big Day Out across the country and for more details on the release of The Odd Ones Out or to order the album in a variety of formats, visit ME’s website.
Have a listen to a preview of the new album below, and check out the full details of Big Day Out 2013.
Big Day Out 2013 Lineup
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS (Exclusive Australian Shows) / THE KILLERS / YEAH YEAH YEAHS / VAMPIRE WEEKEND / BAND OF HORSES / THE BLOODY BEETROOTS (LIVE) / KASKADE / ANIMAL COLLECTIVE / B.o.B / SLEIGH BELLS / FOALS / ALABAMA SHAKES / 360 / CRYSTAL CASTLES / PRETTY LIGHTS / OFF! / GRINSPOON / AGAINST ME! / GARY CLARK JR / NICKY ROMERO / MORGAN PAGE / LOGO / EVERY TIME I DIE / DELTA SPIRIT / CHILDISH GAMBINO / ME / HUNTING GROUNDS / JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD / DEATH GRIPS / ADVENTURE CLUB / JAGWAR MA / HOUSE VS HURRICANE / AVALANCHE CITY / TOUCAN / HELENA / NINA LAS VEGAS / SAMPOLOGY (AV / DJ SHOW)
Big Day Out 2013 Sydney Lineup Announcement
The Medics * Something With Numbers * Urthboy * Thy Art Is Murder * Deep Sea Arcade * Royal Headache * Bob Log III * Chance Waters * Good Heavens * Stereogamous * The Griswolds * Fishing * The Gooch Palms * Donny Benet * triple j unearthed winners: Jackie Onassis
Big Day Out 2013 Gold Coast Lineup Announcement
The Medics * Dead Letter Circus * I Heart Hiroshima * Paul Mac * The Cairos * Bob Log III * Hey Geronimo * We All Want To * Evil Eddie * Skinwalkers * Dave’s Pawn Shop * Lily Rouge * The Vernons * Sneeky Picnic * triple j unearthed winners: Jakarta Criers
Big Day Out 2013 Adelaide Lineup Announcement
The Medics * The Beards * Paul Mac * Grey Ghost * The Killgirls * Full Tote Odds * Messrs * Allday * Lady Strangelove * Steering By Stars * Sincerely, Grizzly * Stab Capital * Gemini Downs * Archers * Dr Piffle & The Burlap Band * triple j unearthed winners: The Aves
Big Day Out 2013 Melbourne Lineup Announcement
The Medics * Bodyjar * Seth Sentry * Chicks On Speed DJ Show * Bob Log III * The Smith Street Band * Kingswood * Yung Warriors * Money For Rope * Jackson Firebird * Split Seconds * For Our Hero * Generik * Zanzibar Chanel * The Stiffys * triple j unearthed winners: Apes
Big Day Out 2013 Perth Lineup Announcement
The Medics * Sugar Army * Chicks On Speed DJ Show * Emperors * The Chemist * Sons of Rico * Further Earth * Arts Martial * Rainy Day Women * Boys Boys Boys! * The Love Junkies * Skank MC * Dead Owls * Tomàs Ford * triple j unearthed winners: Foam
Big Day Out 2013 Event Dates
Friday 18th January – Sydney Showgrounds – SOLD OUT!
Sunday 20th January – Gold Coast Parklands
Friday 25th January – Adelaide Showgrounds
Saturday 26th January – Melbourne Flemington Racecourse
Monday 28 January – Perth Claremont Showground
Big Day Out 2013 tickets are on sale through www.bigdayout.com at the all-inclusive price of $165, or $265 for the Like A Boss ticket.
