Welcome to KOP Universe, the fan page of the Australian band Kind of Pluto, who rocked the years 1999 - 2005.
NEWS (scroll down)
23 June 2009 12:19 AM
Lyrics added.
I know it took me a while, but the rest of the lyrics available are up. "Everyone's A Pornstar", "Familiar", and "Sleepwalker" lyrics were added to the site; and I've added sources to the lyrics and interviews as well.
Haven't done a great deal on here in a while due to other commitments and lack of material, but I'm planning to change a few things and add bits in what could be termed a "minor overhaul." Keep checking back, folks.
24 January 2009 6:14 PM
Two new photos added to the Spinning Wheel album.
You can view them by clicking here. The first photo of Gatesy was taken by Maddie Sutherland, and the second by Matthew Sutton, edited by myself. Enjoy.
Oh, and if you missed it, there's video from the night, as well. Taken by myself, not from the band.
3 December 2008 3:05 PM
Fancy seeing KOP together one last time? Well then, I've got something special to show you.
Sorry there's been no news for a while, but I have something rather exciting for you. For those of you who weren't there, on the 27th of November, the HiFi held an event called "The Spinning Wheel". This was a one-off event in honour of Nerija Zemkalnis, a much beloved figure in the Melbourne comedy scene who passed away in August due to heart complications.
In past years, the house band for the event was the Ben Rynderman Orchestra, and this year it consisted of Ben, Simm Thom, and Brett Canning. I was lucky enough to witness Gatesy joining them after the gig, and experienced them performing several covers, as well as "Everyone's a Pornstar."
I'm sorry I was unable to inform you that this would be taking place. HOWEVER, I can almost make up for it. I'll upload some photos onto the page. And below you will find a bootleg video of KOP performing "Everyone's a Pornstar" at the Spinning Wheel Cabaret Club, at the HiFi Bar and Ballroom in Melbourne.
Please note: This is a bootleg video, made by a fan, and is NOT DIRECT FROM THE BAND. Enjoy.
(Also, one little side note - I'd like to send out a big THANK YOU to those who have helped and made this page work - and the lovely guys from the band, of course. I've had the time of my life working on it. Thank you for helping me keep the music alive.)
2 November 2008 2:01 PM
Logo linking to kop fan page on facebook added.
Below the "Members" section in the left column. Have a look, and while you're there, you may as well give it a click and become a fan on facebook, if you have it.
1 November 2008 7:19 PM
Lyrics added.
Lyrics for "Silly Shoes" as written on the EP have been added. Big thank you to Jer for writing them out. There are more to come, folks.
21 October 2008 10:01 AM
Link to EP fixed.
I nearly had a panic attack when I couldn't find it. But it seems it is still available from chaos.com. The logo should now take you directly to it
Also, if you've got facebook and haven't already had a look on the fan page on there, please show your love for kop and "become a fan." The link is obviously in the "links" section.
10 August 2008 18:32 PM
Found a video of KOP performing "Silly Shoes".
It's a short video, most likely taken by a fan, of kop performing Silly Shoes in 2004 in Adelaide.
For those that prefer facebook to myspace, there's a link to the fan page on facebook. Show your love for kop and "become a fan."
10 August 2008 11:27 AM
Info about and cover of "Acoustica" CD added.
From the internet archives. There's a direct link to the info in the "Music" section, as well as a little image of the cover. Biggest one I can find.
9 August 2008 8:17 PM
Lyrics and a link to Imeem added
Lyrics to "Car Crash" and "Beautiful One" were added. Also, a link to the site on which the music is hosted was added (the playlist itself will open when you click the link). Enjoy.
4 July 2008 2:37 PM
Ben Rynderman now has his own site - benzaonline.com, and has been nominated for Best Producer and Best DJ at the inthemix.com.au Top 50.
Benza Online. Drop in and check it out. There's a smashing live mix from February plus monthly DJ mixes to keep you entertained.
Also, as mentioned above, Ben has been nominated for Best Producer and Best DJ at the inthemix.com.au Top 50. You can vote here.
Oh, and a few more lovely photos were uploaded a few days ago, thanks once again to Aleisha.
27 June 2008 20:03 PM
New photos added
From a kop gig at the Armadale, taken by the wonderful Aleisha Cutler. (Thanks Leish.) You can view them here.
25 June 2008 11:14 AM
New reviews and quotes added
From the old sites, and one by Aleisha. More pictures from gigs will be up soon.
18 June 2008 13:23 PM
Christine added the page
Christine is now playing bass in a four piece cover band, Mother. Check 'em out. They really do rock.
4 June 2008 13:18 PM
Great news - bumped into Gatesy yesterday
At "The Chaser's Age of Terror Variety Hour." Had a proper chat, and he's going to send me some songs, so it's highly likely that they'll be up soon.
29 May 2008 15:31 PM
Simm Thom likes the page.
He said he stumbled across the page a while ago and it blew him away. He's really rather nice. At the moment, he's doing some studio work and supporting a singer songwriter, Mark Sinton.
2 May 2008 16:13 PM
The 100 friend mark has finally been reached.
"Axis of Awesome" approved a friend request, and we now have over 100 friends! Thanks to everyone who has added the page and approved friend requests, and a special thanks to those who have helped or left encouraging comments or messages.
13 April 2008 12:38 PM
Admin met Gatesy again last night.
At Tripod's idioclips show. My friend Lexxie won, by the way. Check out her video on youtube. It's pretty awesome.
Showed Gatesy my kop necklace, and he mentioned sending me some more music, and asked me the url of the site.
5 April 2008 10:50 PM
Admin met Gatesy last night.
At Tripod's show, which was fantastic. Gatesy didn't really have much time to talk, but he said he'd looked at the fan page.
30 March 2008 12:06 PM
Two new logos added.
Animations of the original logo. They work best on a black background. See "Links" below.
27 Feb 2008 5:10 PM
Availability of Kind of Pluto EP from Chaos.com confirmed.
My copy arrived today. It took only two days to arrive, and was in perfect condition.
21 Feb 2008 9:50 PM
New song added - "Road Trip".
Thanks to Marina. Road Trip is a solo song by Gatesy, from their "Acoustica" CD, I believe, which was sold at the door to gigs.
20 Feb 2008 1:20 PM
This page was commented by Ben.
"A FAN PAGE!!!
This is seriously ACE.
Who would've thought, nearly 3 years after we stopped playing music together that people would still love us!!
k.o.p was one of the best musical experiences of my young life and i remember those days with a massive fondness.
Thankyou to everyone who has visited here. Keep listening to the tunes. I hope you like them as much as we loved making them.
Cheers,
Ben
(That guy who used to play keyboards for kind of pluto)
ps. (**shameless plug warning**) Check out my newest album -
Benza: Schwarze Now, The Defender
- There's a remix of Pornstar on it!!!!"
Please note: This page is not run by Kind of Pluto, but by a fan called Hannah who heard the music, loved it, and didn't want it to fade away. But I'm fairly nice, so please feel free to contact me.
"Kind of pluto are definitely a band to watch in 2002."
Richard Kingsmill, Triple J
"Best live band I've seen in a long time. They were going off"
No Frills, Unsigned Artists, 3PBS
"One of the hottest new bands in Melbourne"
Charlie Pickering, Triple J
"Music for the humans- uplifting, intelligent and evocative."
BEAT MAGAZINE
"Brilliantly warm, fresh and ethereal...absolutely shine with inspiration."
Kind of Pluto was an Australian band formed by Melbourne singer/songwriter Steven Gates, drummer Simm Thom, later adding keyboardist Ben Ryderman and bassist Tommy Kende. Gates, who also performs with the comedy group Tripod, has been writing and performing his own original music since the age of sixteen. Before Kind of Pluto, Gates refined his songwriting skills by performing solo acoustic spots all over Australia and in 1999 he took his songs as far as New York and Philadelphia. Frustrated by his material, but probably because of its name, Gatesy ended his first band 'Skintime' and after a year of nothing decided to create an acoustic duo with friend and drummer Simm Thom. A lot of material was written over this time and tested before the transient weekly audience at Yarraville's Commercial Hotel. Required to play soft and funky, the two could barely keep their levels down as they slammed their way through early versions of Familiar and STONE.
A bassplayer was needed if the duo wanted play larger gigs and venues. The incredible Christine Carley answered the call and soon after, during a Sunday night bent on tequila, Gatesy and Simm named the band Kind of Pluto. That night Simm introduced Gatesy to a man with an afro who never stopped laughing. Ben Rynderman was the keyboard player the band had been looking for and joined soon after seeing the band play. Constant gigging, rehearsing and writing followed until KOP's first EP was launched in Sept 2001 at Melbourne's 9th Ward.
Simm Thom
2002 was a lost year for Kind of Pluto. Three line-up changes hindered the bands progress and in many ways forced its members to start again. After the departure of bassist Brett Canning, the band shifted from their indie rock roots to produce a more electronic soundscape, implementing a Novation Basstation amongst Ben's other new toys. After some time as a three piece, it was clear that Kind of Pluto were no longer producing the show they wanted. Clicks and backing tracks are common place in rock's live scene but it bled Kind of Pluto's set dry. There was no room for error or improvisation- anything spare of the moment had to be played over. The live connection felt lost.
Tommy Kende came to the rescue in January 2003 playing his first gig with KOP at the Australian Music Week Showcase in Melbourne. Tommy reinvigourated the band and Kind of Pluto were once again a powerful four piece. Live electronic elements were still in place as Ben juggled more equipment and the new songs were as dynamic and epic as ever.
Kind of Pluto’s last performance was in Sydney in late 2004. Since early 2005, the band has been on an extended hiatus - perhaps never to return - with Ben Rynderman departing the group at the end of 2004.
RADIO
Ben Rynderman
Kind of Pluto received nationwide airplay with their first release, a self titled EP described by Time Off Magazine as "brilliantly warm, fresh and ethereal. Absolutely shines with inspiration." The EP's first track, ‘Familiar’, has been given strong rotation on the Triple J network. A live at the wireless session for Richard Kingmill's Oz Music Show brought them much attention from listeners and record companies alike. ‘Everyone's A Pornstar’ was played on the Triple J network as well. The band was also chosen by Nova 100 as Melbourne Band of the Week and enjoyed extensive radio play with Sleepwalker (formerly known as "Angry Young Man", or "Skyscraper"). KOP have also had the support of local radio stations Triple R and PBS.
GIGS
Tommy Kende
Kind of Pluto have played shows in all the major Melbourne venues. They shared nights playing alongside many of Melbourne's favourite bands including Klinger, Dallas Crane and The Pictures. Kind of Pluto have supported such diverse acts as The Datsuns, Taxiride, Waikiki, The Whitlams.
Kind of Pluto were a band dedicated to making the kind of music they have always wanted to hear- passionate, unapologetic, melodic and massive.
MUSIC
Kind of Pluto EP Cover
Kind of Pluto’s much anticipated debut EP launched on the 19th October 2001 at Melbourne's 9th Ward and features 5 tracks of eccentric pop and epic grooves. The final disc was recorded in four days at Woodstock Studios and at producer Cameron McKenzie’s own Station Place.
Track one is called ‘Familiar’- four minutes of pop melodrama expressing a heartfelt apology in the guise of a stubborn retort.
The analog driven, four by four riffage of ‘Sleepwalker’ follows, calling for an escape from fickle corporate culture.
The opening guitar lines of ‘Universe’ introduce the listener to a vast soundscape of layered keyboards and phased guitars. The lyrics are intentionally exaggerated, evoking the sensation of being in love ‘under the influence’.
The tongue in cheek, black appraisal of celebrity in ‘Everyone’s a Pornstar’, transforms from an explicit piece of clav-funk to an overdriven and explosive bash up- closing solo courtesy of the Rynderman keyboard department.
The fifth and final song provides space from the claustrophobic precision of ‘Pornstar’. ‘Silly Shoes’ is a moody and unapologetic love song that was recorded in the studio live to tape.
Christine Carley
The band also put together a CDROM element which contains video stories, interviews, live footage, biogs and weblinks. PC and MAC Compatible.
The Kind of Pluto EP can still be purchased from Chaos.com. Click the Chaos logo to purchase.
Kind of Pluto recorded many other songs, such as “Bottom Lip”, “Road Trip”, “Car Crash”, and “Beautiful One.” An acoustic version of "Road Trip" was sold at gigs on the CD "Live Acoustica Volume 1" (performance of this song lead to Steven Gates winning his guitar. See music player in left column, and information here). Many songs remain only in the memory of those who saw live gigs, such as "Middle-Man", "Easier to Count On", "Only Problem", and "Stretch Armstrong". They also recorded an album, but unfortunately, it was never released. According to the old KOP site, it "lingers on someone's hard drive. Oh, the humanity."
Live Acoustica CD cover
If anyone wishes to contribute to the fan page, please contact the Admin. It would be greatly appreciated.
Hi How are you? Just got a question i have tried to download the songs that arn't on the album and they are not on itunes or amazon so i was wondering if there is somewhere else you could suggest that i can perhaps look?
I have about 3 weeks and four days until end of college, I plan on doing a little music with all of my time off :) As well as some walks on the beach, coffee with some friends, lots of video games and many more shifts of work. Which reminds me....I need to find more work for my holidays....
Yes, those lyrics are great!! I want to learn how to play Road Trip - but change all of the she's to he because I'm not lesbian.....really...I'm not.....*cough*
Hey I have only recently discovered Kind Of Pluto and was reading the bio you have on them and just wanted to clarify something about them. Chris was there at the start but left and then Tommy came in??
(I'll assume the awesome KOP fanpage monitor is called hannah because that's what was signed on my last comment, and if you're not hannah, my apologies eugine, emmanual or anything else you might like to be called instead. :))
I see some 'wanted songs' have been taken of the list does that mean we've been able to nab some off Gatesy?
Online Now!
