Do you remember how it felt to stumble upon Jeff Buckley? Kurt Cobain? Or any one of a number of other songwriters who spell out their truths raw and passionately, with nary a thought to how these truths might be received? Want to feel that way again? Well, let us introduce you to Bright Yellow. Think Nirvana or Mudhoney, with trace of Jeff Buckley and Screaming Trees...
Straight out of barely-there Central Coast NSW hamlet Morriset (its near Gosford) Bright Yellow bring an utterly fresh and committed brand of grunge to Love is Not a Comfort, their debut EP.
So, the story...
In 2003, fifteen year old UK expat guitarist/singer Chris Surgey, suddenly stranded in a strange and quiet land, decided to get a band together. Bonding with drummer Toby Ryan over sneaked lunchtime scotch, Tony in turn introduced bass player Jeff Theys, and a band was formed.
Initially they tried their hand at Beatles and Clash covers, but things weren't looking so hot, so they decided to give some of Chris's own songs a run. And lo and behold, they discovered they were onto something hot. Since then they've evolved their sound to where it is now: brilliant, messy, cathartic, grunge inflected, combining a vehement passion with undeniable pop smarts.
Bright Yellow started playing live shows at local parties and their high school formal and their new audiences noticed one more thing - that Chris has a flat-out incredible voice.
Spurred on by their promise, an anonymous friend entered them in the Newcastle Music Awards. They won ‘Best Alternative Act'. Then their high school entered them in the annual Youth Rock competition, which they also won. Within two weeks Bright Yellow found themselves inundated with offers from all manner of labels from indies to majors. Holding out for months for the right offer, they finally settled with young Sydney indie label Boundary Sounds - and we're very glad to have them!
Their debut EP Love is Not a Comfort is produced by Matt Lovell (Silverchair, The Mess Hall, Something For Kate), and mixed by James Cadsky (Bumblebeez, Young and Restless). With release due on Nov 18, Boundary Sounds feels that Bright Yellow are on the verge of exciting things.
Listening to the EP its hard to see how things could not happen for this band - from the intense angst of ‘Mr Officer', the screamy guitar rock of first single ‘Outa My Soul', the gorgous ‘Nice and Agreeable', and the grunge-pop of ‘Funnybone', this EP is an exciting introduction to a band that will be making more than a few waves in the next few years.
Already, in their short career, Bright Yellow have shared stages with The Sleepy Jackson, Josh Pyke, Kisschasy, Evermore. They've toured with The Saints, on their reunion tour. They've been kicked off a national tour After the Fall for being obnoxious brats. All in a day's work...
