Epicure (band)
Encyclopedia
Epicure are an Australia
n rock band from Ballarat
, in regional Victoria
. Triple J
radio helped bring Epicure to the Australian consciousness when they added "Feet From Under Me" and "Johnny Venus" to their playlists in 2000. Both songs are featured on the Fold
album. Epicure came to national prominence in 2003 when two more of their tracks, "Armies Against Me
" and "Life Sentence
", were picked up by Triple J
. These songs are featured on The Goodbye Girl
album, released in March 2004. Both reached the Triple J Hottest 100, 2003
, whilst a third track from the album, "Self Destruct in Five", made the Triple J Hottest 100, 2004
.
The band spent much of 2003/04 touring Australia, particularly regional areas. In late 2003 they supported US rock group Live
on their Australian tour, and also played at the Big Day Out
festival in January 2004. They played at both Falls Festival
s in December 2004.
Their 3rd full length album Main Street
was released in October 2005, and features the single "Tightrope Walker".
In February 2010 the band announced their final ever tour, "Quietly Into The Night" before disbanding.
. They released their first recording in 1996 - a demo tape named The Least of These.
Their "home" was Ballarat's local live music pub nicknamed "The Rat" (The Bridge Mall Inn, now closed). After they released their first EP The Means to an End, they were picked up by Flugelhorn Records and managed by Mark Eatock, who bought out the Bridge Mall Inn in early 1999.
Shortly after the release of Elevator
, Michael Brown and Luke Cairnes both decided to leave the band. The remaining members recruited 2 new musicians - Dan Houlihan (lead guitar) and Dean Shannon (keyboard). These two new members brought about a new feeling to the band, and Dean became quite popular with the crowds for his showmanship. Unfortunately, a dispute between the band and Dean occurred in mid 2004 which resulted in Dean leaving and a new keyboard player, Heath McCurdy joining.
In late 2006, lead guitarist Dan Houlihan decided to leave the band. Mick Hubbard (guitarist for Jen Cloher
) took the position of lead guitarist in time to record their upcoming album, to be released in 2007. In June/July 2007 the band took a break from recording their upcoming album and played a number of supports for Mia Dyson
on the east coast of Australia.
The band announced in 2007 that they were working on a new album and posted a video of recording sessions on their myspace. They then asked fans which song featured in this video should be released as their first single, with the choice being between "Landslide" and "Cobra Kisses". The latter was eventually chosen and has been released. The album, titled "Postcards From A Ghost" was released in 2008.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rock band from Ballarat
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
, in regional Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
radio helped bring Epicure to the Australian consciousness when they added "Feet From Under Me" and "Johnny Venus" to their playlists in 2000. Both songs are featured on the Fold
Fold (album)
Fold was the debut release by Australian rock band Epicure. It was issued on 7 August 2000.-Track listing:# "Calm"# "Feet From Under Me"# "Johnny Venus"# "Son Shine"# "Bottom Of A Well"# "Lights Out!"# "Fly The Flag"# "Opportunity's Knocking"...
album. Epicure came to national prominence in 2003 when two more of their tracks, "Armies Against Me
Armies Against Me
Armies Against Me is a single by Epicure. It was released on November 2, 2002.-Track listing:# "Armies Against Me"# "Every Day"# "Where You're Not"# "Armies Against Me" -Notes:...
" and "Life Sentence
Life Sentence (Epicure EP)
Life Sentence is an EP released on September 1, 2003 by Epicure.-Track listing:# "Life Sentence"# "Dark Room Candle Burning"# "Armies Against Me"# "Now I've Found You"# "Isolate"-Notes:*All songs written by Epicure....
", were picked up by Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
. These songs are featured on The Goodbye Girl
The Goodbye Girl (album)
The Goodbye Girl is an album by Australian rock band Epicure. It was released on 8 March 2004.-Track listing:# "Goodbye Girl" - 3:07# "Armies Against Me" - 5:11# "Firing Squad" - 4:15# "Sunlight " - 4:47# "So Broken" - 4:23...
album, released in March 2004. Both reached the Triple J Hottest 100, 2003
Triple J Hottest 100, 2003
The 2003 Triple J Hottest 100, announced on 26 January 2004, was the eleventh such countdown of the most popular songs of the year, according to listeners of the Australian radio station Triple J. As in previous years, a CD featuring 40 songs was released. A DVD, containing film clips of songs...
, whilst a third track from the album, "Self Destruct in Five", made the Triple J Hottest 100, 2004
Triple J Hottest 100, 2004
The 2004 Triple J Hottest 100 was announced on 26 January 2005. It was the twelfth such countdown of the most popular songs of the year, according to listeners of the Australian radio station Triple J....
.
The band spent much of 2003/04 touring Australia, particularly regional areas. In late 2003 they supported US rock group Live
Live (band)
Live is an American rock band from York, Pennsylvania, composed of Chad Taylor , Patrick Dahlheimer , and Chad Gracey . Lead singer and principal songwriter Ed Kowalczyk left the band in November 2009....
on their Australian tour, and also played at the Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
festival in January 2004. They played at both Falls Festival
Falls Festival
The Falls Festival is a New Year's Eve music festival, held annually in Lorne, Victoria and Marion Bay, Tasmania Australia since 1993.It lasts four days, from 29 December to 1 January each year. The headline acts play mostly over two evenings, 30 December and 31 December...
s in December 2004.
Their 3rd full length album Main Street
Main Street (Epicure album)
Main Street is an album by Australian rock band Epicure. It was released on 17 October 2005.-Track listing:# "Down in Flames"# "Pack My Parachute"# "Tightrope Walker"# "Lyla's Kisses"# "Blow Those Blues Away"# "Main Street"# "Amen"...
was released in October 2005, and features the single "Tightrope Walker".
In February 2010 the band announced their final ever tour, "Quietly Into The Night" before disbanding.
Members
- Juan AlbanJuan AlbanJuan Alban is the lead singer of Australian rock band Epicure, and plays the guitar. Alban currently resides in Ballarat, Victoria.-External links:...
(Vocals/Guitar) - Josh Murphy (Lead Guitar)
- Tim BignellTim BignellTim Bignell is an Australian bass guitarist from the Ballarat-based band Epicure. Bignell is an accomplished professional visual artist and his artwork includes creating the original visual material in all of Epicure's album covers.-References:...
(Bass) - Dom SantamariaDom SantamariaDom Santamaria is the drummer from the Ballarat-based band Epicure.-Biography:Santamaria has been playing drums since 1992, and has played in Epicure since 1996...
(Drums)
Past members
- Luke Cairnes (Guitar)
- Michael Brown (Guitar / Misc Sounds)
- Dean Shannon (Keyboard)
- Dan Houlihan (Guitar)
- Mick Hubbard (Lead Guitar)
- Heath McCurdy (Keyboard)
History
The band started in 1996 as a school rock band called Pima's Little Finger. Epicure's five original members Juan Alban, Michael 'Brownie' Brown, Tim Bignell, Dom Santamaria and Luke Cairnes played their first gig at the Dunnstown Football Club in 1996 only to be booed off stage in favour of Cold ChiselCold Chisel
Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
. They released their first recording in 1996 - a demo tape named The Least of These.
Their "home" was Ballarat's local live music pub nicknamed "The Rat" (The Bridge Mall Inn, now closed). After they released their first EP The Means to an End, they were picked up by Flugelhorn Records and managed by Mark Eatock, who bought out the Bridge Mall Inn in early 1999.
Shortly after the release of Elevator
Elevator (Epicure EP)
Elevator is an EP released in 2001 by Epicure.-Track listing:# "The Angel's Wings"# "Under Your Radar"# "Listens To The Radio"# "Together We're Apart"# "Bank Of Affection"-Notes:*All songs written by Epicure....
, Michael Brown and Luke Cairnes both decided to leave the band. The remaining members recruited 2 new musicians - Dan Houlihan (lead guitar) and Dean Shannon (keyboard). These two new members brought about a new feeling to the band, and Dean became quite popular with the crowds for his showmanship. Unfortunately, a dispute between the band and Dean occurred in mid 2004 which resulted in Dean leaving and a new keyboard player, Heath McCurdy joining.
In late 2006, lead guitarist Dan Houlihan decided to leave the band. Mick Hubbard (guitarist for Jen Cloher
Jen Cloher
Jen Cloher is an Australian singer-songwriter who records with her band as Jen Cloher and the Endless Sea.-Biography:Cloher was born an only child and grew up in Adelaide. She attended Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Art and started playing the guitar at age 21...
) took the position of lead guitarist in time to record their upcoming album, to be released in 2007. In June/July 2007 the band took a break from recording their upcoming album and played a number of supports for Mia Dyson
Mia Dyson
Mia Dyson is an Australian singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She shot to fame with her 2003 album Cold Water and her subsequent follow-up album, Parking Lots, which won "Best Blues & Roots album" at the 2005 ARIA Awards....
on the east coast of Australia.
The band announced in 2007 that they were working on a new album and posted a video of recording sessions on their myspace. They then asked fans which song featured in this video should be released as their first single, with the choice being between "Landslide" and "Cobra Kisses". The latter was eventually chosen and has been released. The album, titled "Postcards From A Ghost" was released in 2008.
Studio albums
- FoldFold (album)Fold was the debut release by Australian rock band Epicure. It was issued on 7 August 2000.-Track listing:# "Calm"# "Feet From Under Me"# "Johnny Venus"# "Son Shine"# "Bottom Of A Well"# "Lights Out!"# "Fly The Flag"# "Opportunity's Knocking"...
- Flugelhorn/MGMMGM DistributionMGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
(7 August 2000) - AirmailAirmail (album)Airmail is the second studio album by Australian rock band Epicure. It was released on 15 October 2001. The Album is essentially a collection of Epicure's previous three EPs repackaged into one album.- Track listing :# "Nod & Smile"# "I'm a Boy"...
- Flugelhorn/MGMMGM DistributionMGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
(15 October 2001) - The Goodbye GirlThe Goodbye Girl (album)The Goodbye Girl is an album by Australian rock band Epicure. It was released on 8 March 2004.-Track listing:# "Goodbye Girl" - 3:07# "Armies Against Me" - 5:11# "Firing Squad" - 4:15# "Sunlight " - 4:47# "So Broken" - 4:23...
- Independent/MGMMGM DistributionMGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
(8 March 2004) - Main StreetMain Street (Epicure album)Main Street is an album by Australian rock band Epicure. It was released on 17 October 2005.-Track listing:# "Down in Flames"# "Pack My Parachute"# "Tightrope Walker"# "Lyla's Kisses"# "Blow Those Blues Away"# "Main Street"# "Amen"...
- Independent/MGMMGM DistributionMGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
(17 October 2005) - Postcards From a Ghost - Independent/MGMMGM DistributionMGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
(27 October 2008)
Compilations
- Quietly Into The Night - Epicure Anthology - Independent/MGMMGM DistributionMGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
(16 April 2010)
EPs
- The Means to an End - Flugelhorn (1997)
- Elevator - Flugelhorn (15 October 2001)
- Life SentenceLife Sentence (Epicure EP)Life Sentence is an EP released on September 1, 2003 by Epicure.-Track listing:# "Life Sentence"# "Dark Room Candle Burning"# "Armies Against Me"# "Now I've Found You"# "Isolate"-Notes:*All songs written by Epicure....
- Independent/MGMMGM DistributionMGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
(1 September 2003) - Self Destruct In Five - Independent/MGMMGM DistributionMGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
(11 October 2004)
Singles
- "Feet From Under Me" - Flugelhorn/MGMMGM DistributionMGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
(1 May 2000) - "Armies Against MeArmies Against MeArmies Against Me is a single by Epicure. It was released on November 2, 2002.-Track listing:# "Armies Against Me"# "Every Day"# "Where You're Not"# "Armies Against Me" -Notes:...
" - Independent/MGMMGM DistributionMGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
(2 November 2002)