Kent O'Shea (author/composer/vocals/guitar/piano), Alan Benatar (author/composer/bass), Andrew Hoare(composer/bass/guitars), Pete Woodbridge(author/composer/vocals/guitar/piano), Louise Leggatt(vocals/author), Patrick Dilley(drums,percussion) & Sascha Muller(drums).
Influences
The Beatles, The Stones, Kinks, The Smiths, Elvis, The Clash, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, ELO, David Bowie, The Cure, Metallica, The Doors, Doobie Brothers, RadioHead, John Lennon, The Doors, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Paul Macca, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Gerry Rafferty, Skiffle, Fokoffpolisiekar, Johnny Cash & OllieG.
"Original sin that I am living in is what you've been told. Don't you know that you can believe anything."
Just push play and enter the soft strums of 'Awakening' and the soothing, dreamy voice of Kent O 'Shea. I did and was automatically transported to a level of unspoilt conciousness(??). A decidely refined song that O'Shea rounds off elegantly by repeating the first verse in French.
'The Enemy Within Me', is more uptempo and provides the changes necessary to captivate the listener with though provocation:
"Right from wrong I'm standing left of these feelings coming on strong, All of these thinkers, breathing on one face, Up and down like a merry-go-round, Spinning through my mind, All of me and all that I can be, The Enemy within me"
Their clear(?) disdain for those temporary, personality altering,/emotionally enhancing (?), chemical drugs, echo in their songs. Writers Kent O'Shea and Alan Benatar cut through any illusions that you may have about these drugs. Listen to 'Ecstacy' & 'Rock 'n Roll' Model Cliche'. In addition to education, it's a funky song, light but upbeat, with first-rate, hardworking electric guitars, sax and tambourine.
Serious eccentricity and full character is what HappyFourTwenty music is all about. My personal favourite was the delightfully offbeat 'Wireless'. At first I didn't understand what the song was about (McCartney introducing Lauren Hill as Lawrence Hill at 1999 MTV Music Awards – ‘Artist of the year’)but when music's this good, ignorance can be delightfully blissful. This precise 8-song album then eases out with the dark and leery 'Woman of Many Faces' . A tale of obsession with a (guess what?), messed up woman. A suitable finale though. Review of "Awakening" byWickedMike.
HAPPY420
On the 1st of January 2004 the Govenor of California signed that states Senate Bill 420, which regulates marijuana for medical purposes. Californian DJs have, over the years, been known to wish their listeners a “happy 420” when the clock struck 4.20.
Benatar returned to the line-up on bass, along with Pete Woodbridge (guitar, vocals, piano, percussion). Hoare went back to guitar, producing a more classical sound (check out All You Have To Say and Sing Your Life off the album Myrtleville).
From 2001 to 2005, HappyFourTwenty played loads of gigs at The Independent Armchair Theatre in Obs, as well as at legendary festivals Up The Creek and The Obs Festival. They recorded most of their songs with Richard Black at Street Level Studios in Cape Town. The band released their first album, Awakening, in 2003 along with their first music video ‘Awakening’(search ‘happyfourtwenty’ on You Tube). The track Ecstasy, featuring Ressel and Leggatt (Rubber Soul electric guitarist and vocalist respectively) is currently the band’s most downloaded song to date on iTunes.
Echoing the airplay success of Rubber Soul, HappyFourTwenty have also been playlisted on all the top radio stations throughout South Africa, including 5FM, KFM, Radio2000, Highveld Stereo, Jacaranda and OFM.
HappyFourTwenty music video 'Awakening'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILfJBMlTOEg
Listen to HappyFourTwenty songs @ Apple iTunes:
Search: happyfourtwenty - iTunes.com
H420 music has been described as melodic alternative-pop-indie-rock with tinges of reggae & the songwriting attention of the Beatles...so they say. All songs published by Ricoshay Music.
'Myrtleville - Cork to Cape Town' Kent O'Shea's compilation album featuring Cape Town bands: Rubber Soul, Alternative Pop Evolution, HappyFourTwenty, Norway Girl & Kent O'Shea. All songs can be heard @ iTunes
Artists include: Kent O'Shea (A.P.E, Rubber Soul, HFT, Norway Girl), Alan Benatar (A.P.E, Rubber Soul, HFT), Andrew Hoare (A.P.E, HFT), Louise Leggatt (Rubber Soul, HFT, NorwayGirl), Patrick Dilley (A.P.E, HFT), Anton Ressel (Rubber Soul), Jason Louth (Rubber Soul), Clinton Bester (HFT) & Sascha Muller (Rubber Soul & HFT).
Streetlevel Studios - Cape Town - Great Vibe & Great View!!
Contact Richard or Chris for more info at: www.streetlevel.co.za.
HAPPYFOURTWENTY MUSIC FOR $1.00
Available in South Africa for download... the following SA albums for only $1.00
THE $1 MP ALBUM REVOLUTION STARTS HERE.
GO TO WWW.RICOSHAYMUSIC.COM
EARLY DAYS - 1995-2002: Rubber Soul, A.P.E & HappyFourTwenty
http://cdbaby.com/cd/earlydays
HAPPYFOURTWENTY: Awakening
http://cdbaby.com/cd/happy420
MYRTLEVILLE - CORK TO CAPE TOWN: Various Artists - Rubber Soul,
HappyFourTwenty, A.P.E & Kent O'Shea
