Quite
rare in rock'n'roll annals the Hoodoo Gurus decided their own end,
amicably, at their peak, after a long and significant career on
stage and record. But that's not to say that the music has to end.
Hoodoo's guitarist, sometimes singer, sometimes songwriter Brad
Shepherd has now formed the Monarchs, a group which quite naturally
and unashamedly carries on with some of the idiosyncrasies which
made the Gurus so enjoyable for so long - while at the same time,
the Monarchs take that rich vein into their own (rockier!) territory.
The Monarchs are raw and urgent, what the Gurus always hinted at.
Brad is aided and abetted by his brother Murray and former Screaming
Tribesman on drums, former Verys/You Am I guitarist Andy Kelly,
and from the greatly-missed Glide, bassist Greg Hitchcock. The album
title 'Make Your Own Fun', and song titles like 'Loud' and 'Give
It Up For The Band' give you a hint at the mission the Monarchs
have set for themselves. A rock and roll assault, with tasty little
pop songs ('That Reminds Me', 'Yer Movin' On') lurking inside the
attack. That Hoodoo Gurus pop sense (and sense of humour) was not
Dave Faulkner's lone domain. Witness Brad's ode to his '69 Monaro'.
Brad's pre-Hoodoo Gurus history connected him with the Radio Birdman
alumni. In the Monarchs he brings together that world and the Gurus'
love for tongue-in-cheek-ness rock. 'I'm On Drugs' takes the Monarchs
right into Birdman's sonic territory. With 'Amen Brother' they take
a nod in AC/DC's direction. The final track, 'Unimaginable' is an
acoustic ballad with sixties-style studio effects. In the world
of the Monarchs there are no rules. The band's clearly having fun,
and so does the listener. Made to be played loud.
Quite
rare in rock'n'roll annals the Hoodoo Gurus decided their own end,
amicably, at their peak, after a long and significant career on
stage and record. But that's not to say that the music has to end.
Hoodoo's guitarist, sometimes singer, sometimes songwriter Brad
Shepherd has now formed the Monarchs, a group which quite naturally
and unashamedly carries on with some of the idiosyncrasies which
made the Gurus so enjoyable for so long - while at the same time,
the Monarchs take that rich vein into their own (rockier!) territory.
The Monarchs are raw and urgent, what the Gurus always hinted at.
Brad is aided and abetted by his brother Murray and former Screaming
Tribesman on drums, former Verys/You Am I guitarist Andy Kelly,
and from the greatly-missed Glide, bassist Greg Hitchcock. The album
title 'Make Your Own Fun', and song titles like 'Loud' and 'Give
It Up For The Band' give you a hint at the mission the Monarchs
have set for themselves. A rock and roll assault, with tasty little
pop songs ('That Reminds Me', 'Yer Movin' On') lurking inside the
attack. That Hoodoo Gurus pop sense (and sense of humour) was not
Dave Faulkner's lone domain. Witness Brad's ode to his '69 Monaro'.
Brad's pre-Hoodoo Gurus history connected him with the Radio Birdman
alumni. In the Monarchs he brings together that world and the Gurus'
love for tongue-in-cheek-ness rock. 'I'm On Drugs' takes the Monarchs
right into Birdman's sonic territory. With 'Amen Brother' they take
a nod in AC/DC's direction. The final track, 'Unimaginable' is an
acoustic ballad with sixties-style studio effects. In the world
of the Monarchs there are no rules. The band's clearly having fun,
and so does the listener. Made to be played loud.