I Heart Hiroshima
From Brisbane... birthplace of The Saints & The Go-Betweens comes three piece - I HEART HIROSHIMA. Sullivan (drums/voice), Matt (guitar/voice), & Cameron (guitar/voice/art)... where it's at... shared vocals and a microphone. Bottles and cans, just clap your hands. Connecting the wires. Making the right incisions. Joining the plots. Caressing shadows of the flickering lights. Plunging into the light off the side of the road. City streets declare a musical lineage converging in the guitar's angular striations, like bastard urchins and youthful inventions touched by tender aggressions.
I Heart Hiroshima emerged in the party of back streets, to carve a trail through the bark and offer the spirit of many... Sleater Kinney, TV on the Radio, Leonard Cohen, The Smiths, Raveonettes, Magnetic Fields, Frank Black, Jesus and Mary Chain, Walkmen, Slumber Party, Pharcyde... Putting their heads down in earnest circa mid-05, and performing with (and sometimes earning the praise of) Deerhoof, Broken Social Scene, Calvin Johnson, Erase Errata, Macromantics, Regurgitator, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah... tours with Ratatat, The Rogers Sisters, The Grates, Sekiden, Spod, The Mess Hall, Peaches & Herms... and a debut Big Day Out 2007 performance on the Gold Coast plus appearances at various festivals including Brisbane's Valley Fiesta... and runner-up to Wolf & Cub on the 2007 SOYA awards. Two EPs on Valve - 3 Letter Word for Candy (featuring London in Love), and then Cut in Colour (recorded with Magoo)... have all fashioned them into a winding thread of rock beat craze!
Always a ragged joy of guitars and drums... since their two eps they released two albums - Tuff Teeth, and The Rip - along with numerous tours and festivals around Australia, Europe and Asia. Guest tours with Conor Oberst, Ratatat, Gang of Four, Shonen Knife, The Rakes, Peaches, Maximo Park, The Mint Chicks and more...
"To these ears, the result is a sound that's very "Brisbane": bright, trebly guitars with no effects pedals, strong pop melodies, unusual angles and lyrics and more going on beneath the surface than meets the eye, or ear. If you want to place it in a continuum of Brisbane music, it's the one that begins with The Go-Betweens debut, Send me a Lullaby." (Noel Mengel)
iTunes single of the week - August 1 2007
"...aggressively life-affirming. Completely bass-free... takes the earliest ragged, jangly sounds of the Go-Betweens and marries it with the more clipped, start-and-stop sound of early Sleater Kinney. Good Stuff!"
Got it bad... got it good... touring across Australia in late 2007 with Regurgitator and New Pants (from China) plus performances at Sounds in the Ground in Sydney, Round & Round in Brisbane, after which Susie headed over to Japan in December/January for a creative sabbatical. Prior to this Susie played drums for Robert Forster's two nights of Velvet Underground homage at the Warhol exhibition launch at GoMA. Tuff Teef was voted best debut album for 2007 by Brisbane's Courier Mail and London in Love was included on an Xmas Artrocker sampler in the UK.
2008 kicked off with a sold out show at the Gallery of Modern Art as part of the Warhol Uplate series in hometown Brisbane. This was followed by performances in Feb/Mar at the Adelaide Fringe Festival with The Presets; Laneway Festival, Playground Weekender, and a guest spot with Cat Power... along with a variety of headline shows. In April they played with Ratatat at the Kings Arms, Auckland... immediately followed by an Australian tour with Rocket Science. In June they toured Australia with guests An Horse before returning to NZ to play shows in Auckland with The Mint Chicks and a Wellington headline show after great support from RadioActive. In late 2008 they were asked to do the Conor Oberst Australian tour - who took a great liking to them on the dates they did together and has offered them a US tour in 2009. The second half of 2008 Tuff Teef was serviced to college radio in the US and went on to receive high rotation on 33 stations there. The album was released by Valve in the UK via distributor Weatherbox, with excellent reception in print media - 4/5 in NME, Kerrang, Artrocker - and on radio - Punks received "record of the week" on BBC1, NME Radio, Q Sounds and taking 81% of the BBC6 Rebel Playlist vote over The Wombats - and will be followed by debut UK shows early 2009. In the meantime work has commenced on tracking songs for the second album which will be mixed in either Nebraska, Sweden or London. Since then they have appeared at the 2009 BIG DAY OUT, Sunset Sounds festival, the 2009 La Boite theatre program launch plus received support requests from Tricky, The Streets to play shows in Brisbane... continuing to singe hearts as they start recording album #2 in Feb 2009.
Matt, Cameron and Sull set the pace for a new tune of episodes.
Always walking the edge of a chasm of togetherness... I HEART HIROSHIMA break like an intruder into the night with their emergence back playing after an extended time apart inhabiting different worlds. Teasing the possibilities with some jams earlier in 2016 when Sully returned from Berlin... subsequently lead into the more tangible: recording at Red Star with Dubzy from Blank Realm. The chasm since filled with life and experiences a new sensation rides high in the mix... and a new EP preceding a series of eventual such releases over the coming year.
SPILLIN" THE LIGHT out DEC 2.
All breaking chairs and stealing hearts.
The album TUFF TEEF and EPs PUNKS, CUT IN COLOUR and THREE LETTER WORD FOR CANDY are available on Valve through MGM Distribution and on iTUNES worldwide. PUNKS and TUFF TEEF are also out in the UK on Valve Records through WEATHERBOX.
www.myspace.com/ihearthiroshima www.valverecords.com.au
ARCHIVE OF SHOWS
20/01/06 Rics Valley Mall, Brisbane On/Ox
14/02/06 Troubadour Valley Mall, Brisbane Deerfhoof, City City City
17/02/06 Boat Cruise Brisbane Calvin Johnston
24/02/06 Rics Valley, Brisbane Sekiden
25/02/06 The Zoo Valley, Brisbane Broken Social Scene, New Buffalo
16/03/06 Coolangatta Hotel Coolangatta Sekiden & Spod
17/03/06 Great Northern Byron Bay Sekiden & Spod
18/03/06 The Rev Brisbane Sekiden & Spod
23/03/06 Uni Newcastle Sekiden & Spod
24/03/06 Mandarin Sydney Sekiden & Spod
25/03/06 Manly Fishos Sydney Sekiden & Spod
26/03/06 Oxford Tavern Wollongong Sekiden & Spod
29/03/06 ANU Bar Canberra Sekiden & Spod
30/03/06 Enigma Adelaide Sekiden & Spod
31/03/06 Espy Melbourne Sekiden & Spod
7/04/06 Rics Valley, Brisbane Rational Academy
8/04/06 Jamies Carpark Brisbane Scul Hazzards, Go Stop Stop
20/04/06 Prince of Wales Bunbury The Grates & The Panda Band
21/04/06 3 Bears Dunsborough The Grates & The Panda Band
22/04/06 Rosemount Hotel Perth The Grates & The Panda Band
23/04/06 Newport Hotel Fremantle The Grates & The Panda Band
26/04/06 National Hotel Geelong The Panda Band
27/04/06 Karova Lounge Ballarat The Panda Band
28/04/06 Corner Hotel Melbourne The Grates & The Panda Band
29/04/06 Uni Bar Adelaide The Grates & The Panda Band
3/05/06 ANU Bar Canberra The Grates & The Panda Band
4/05/06 Unibar Wollongong The Grates & The Panda Band
5/05/06 Metro Sydney The Grates & The Panda Band
6/05/06 Cambridge Hotel Newcastle The Grates & The Panda Band
7/05/06 Spectrum Sydney
10/05/06 Great Northern Byron Bay The Grates & The Panda Band
11/05/06 Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta The Grates & The Panda Band
12/05/06 Tivoli Theatre Brisbane The Grates & The Panda Band
14/05/06 Sol Bar Sunshine Coast The Grates & The Panda Band
24/06/06 The Zoo Brisbane plus The Whats, Del Toro & Little Lovers
28/07/06 Great Northern Byron Bay plus Jump 2 Light Speed
29/07/06 Bizoo Festival Toowoomba plus more
30/07/06 Powerhouse, Brisbane plus Sekiden, Iron-On, Jump 2 Light Speed
10/08/06 Oxford Tavern Wollongong with Further
12/08/06 Hopetoun Sydney with Further
16/08/06 Ladyfest Soob 610 Brisbane plus Macromantics and 99
25/08/06 Sandringham Sydney with Hard-Ons & The Thaw
26/08/06 Modular Monthly Basement Sydney
31/08/06 Enigma Adelaide
1/09/06 Espy Melbourne plus Baseball, Dukes of Windsor,
2/09/06 Rob Roy Melbourne plus Baseball & Actor/Model
16/09/06 Valley Fiesta Brisbane
17/09/06 Black Fag Brisbane
5/10/06 Troubadour Brisbane with Rogers Sisters
6/10/06 Revolver Melbourne with Rogers Sisters
7/10/06 Rebel Rebel Sydney with Rogers Sisters
8/10/06 The Zoo Brisbane with The Grates ALLAGES
14/10/06 Shamrock Brisbane Scul Hazzards launch
21/10/06 4ZZZ Market Day Brisbane
17/11/06 Ding Dong Melbourne with Ratatat
18/11/06 Rebel Rebel Sydney with Ratatat
23/11/06 Powerhouse LADYFEST Brisbane with Erase Errat & Macromantics
24-Nov-06 The Corner Melbourne w/Mess Hall
25-Nov-06 Karova Lounge Ballarat w/Mess Hall
1/12/06 Round & Round Surfers Paradise with The Presets
10-Dec-06 The Zoo Brisbane w/Tapes n Tapes
14-Dec-06 Key Largo Terrigal w/Mess Hall
15-Dec-06 The Factory Sydney w/Mess Hall
16/12/06 Alfred Block Party Brisbane
23-Dec-06 The Zoo Brisbane Xmas show w/Regurgitator
21/01/07 BIG DAY OUT, Gold Coast Gold Coast
22/01/07 GREAT NORTHERN Byron Bay with Peaches & Snax
24/01/07 HOME Sydney with Peaches & Macromantics
30/01/07 POW Melbourne with Peaches & Macromantics
31/01/07 POW Melbourne with Peaches & Macromantics
2/02/07 The Zoo Brisbane with Macromantics
9-Feb-07 The Corner Melbourne w/Mess Hall
10-Feb-07 Karova Lounge Ballarat w/Mess Hall
11-Feb-07 Rubys Lounge Geeoing w/Mess Hall
23-Feb-07 The Zoo Brisbane headline
25-Apr-07 Essential Festival Sydney w/Gerling and more
19-May-07 Metro on Gipps Brisbane w/Further, Scul Hazzards
20-May-07 Pizzy Park Gold Coast
20-May-07 The Chophouse Gold Coast w/Further, Scul Hazzards
25-May-07 The Zoo Brisbane w/ Clap Your Hands
23-Jun-07 Gold Coast Elsewhere w/Regular John
24-Jun-07 Brisbane Powerhouse w/Regular John
24-Jun-07 Byron Bay Great Northern w/Regular John
28-Jun-07 Newcastle CBD w/Regular John
29-Jun-07 Wollongong Oxford Tavern w/Regular John
30-Jun-07 Sydney Spectrum w/Regular John
4-Jul-07 Albury Sodens w/Regular John
5-Jul-07 Griffith Area Hotel w/Regular John
6-Jul-07 Melbourne The Espy w/Regular John
7-Jul-07 Ballarat Karova Lounge w/Regular John
8-Jul-07 Sydney Beach Rd Hotel
2-Aug-07 Brisbane Powerhouse w/Tilly & the Wall
9-Aug-07 Newcastle CBD w/The Mint Chicks
10-Aug-07 Sydney Gaelic w/The Mint Chicks
11-Aug-07 Melbourne The Corner w/The Mint Chicks
12-Aug-07 Adelaide Jive w/The Mint Chicks
14-Aug-07 Brisbane Step Inn w/The Mint Chicks
16-Aug-07 Brisbane MTV QUT
25-Aug-07 Byron Bay Great Northern CD Launch
1-Sep-07 Brisbane The Zoo CD Launch
2-Sep-07 Sydney Hopetoun FBI benefit
12-Sep-07 Sydney York Theatre w/Stereo Total
13-Sep-07 Sydney MTV - The Lair TV show
13-Sep-07 Sydney Hopetoun CD Launch
14-Sep-07 Melbourne NSC w/Stereo Total
5-Oct-07 Canberra UC Bar w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
6-Oct-07 Sydney The Metro w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
7-Oct-07 Sydney Beach Rd w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
10-Oct-07 Albury Sodens w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
11-Oct-07 Moorooduc Peninsular Hotel w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
12-Oct-07 Melbourne The Corner w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
13-Oct-07 Adelaide Night Train w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
18-Oct-07 Gold Coast Southport RSL w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
19-Oct-07 Byron Bay Great Northern w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
20-Oct-07 Maroochydore Sands Tavern w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
21-Oct-07 Brisbane The Met w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
1-Nov-07 Newcastle, Uni Bar on the Hill w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
2-Nov-07 Sydney Sounds on the Ground w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
3-Nov-07 Manly Fisho's w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
9-Nov-07 Burnie Siroccos w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
10-Nov-07 Launceston, Batman Faulkner Inn w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
11-Nov-07 Hobart Moorilla w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
13-Nov-07 Scarborough Indi Bar w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
14-Nov-07 Perth Foundry w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
15-Nov-07 Margaret River Settlers Tavern canceled due to injury
16-Nov-07 Bunbury Odessey w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
17-Nov-07 Perth Amplifier w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
18-Nov-07 Fremantle Leopold w/ Regurgitator & New Pants
25-Nov-07 Brisbane Round & Round w/ Midnight Juggernauts
30-Nov-07 Brisbane Uber
1-Feb-08 Brisbane GoMA Warhol
21-Feb-08 Melbourne Ding Dong
22-Feb-08 Adelaide Fringe Festival
1-Mar-08 Brisbane Laneway festival
6-Mar-08 Brisbane Garage V, Troubadour
7-Mar-08 Sydney Spectrum
8-Mar-08 Wisemans Ferry Weekender
8-Mar-08 Brisbane Tivoli w/Cat P w/ Cat Power
12-Apr-08 Brisbane Semi-Permanent
30-Apr-08 Auckland Kings Arms w/Ratatat
1-May-08 Brisbane The Zoo w/Rocket Science
2-May-08 Newcastle Cambridge w/Rocket Science
3-May-08 Sydney Annandale w/Rocket Science
9-May-08 Adelaide Jive w/Rocket Science
10-May-08 Melbourne EBC w/Rocket Science
5-Jun-08 Adelaide Jive w/An Horse
6-Jun-08 Melbourne EBC w/An Horse
7-Jun-08 Sydney Come Together
12-Jun-08 Byron Bay Great Northern w/An Horse
13-Jun-08 Brisbane The Zoo w/An Horse
14-Jun-08 Gold Coast Swell Tavern w/An Horse
27-Jun-08 Sydney Hopetoun w/An Horse
28-Jun-08 Sydney Beach Rd w/An Horse
16-Jul-08 Auckland Kings Arms w/ The Mint Chicks
18-Jul-08 Wellington Bar Bodega
3-Aug-08 Brisbane The Zoo w/Tricky
1-Oct-08 Melbourne NSC
2-Oct-08 Melbourne Palace w/Conor Oberst
3-Oct-08 Brisbane Tivoli w/Conor Oberst
4-Oct-08 Sydney Enmore w/Conor Oberst
5-Oct-08 Sydney Spectrum
15-Nov-08 Coolangatta Coolangatta Hotel
30-Nov-08 Brisbane Powerhouse
18-Dec-08 Gold Coast The Clock w/ Japanese Motors
20-Dec-08 Brisbane Zoo Valve Xmas party
22-Dec-08 Sydney Annandale w/ Smudge
08-Jan-08 Brisbane, Sunset Sounds w/Santigold, Franz Ferdinand
18-Jan-09 Gold Coast BDO
22-Jan-08 Sydney Hot Damn
23-Jan-08 Sydney BDO
29-Jan-09 Brisbane La Boite 2009 program launch
06-Feb-09 Brisbane Tivoli w/The Streets
06-Mar-09 Sunshine, Woombye Pub plus Joe Lally (Fugazi) & DZ
7-Mar-09 Brisbane Zoo plus DZ Good God
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