"Fook it!
... this band from the edge of the world is stonkin!, Lets go to Oz and make a record with them” said Nick Terry to Alan Brey sitting in a pub in London in late 2006. Who are Nick and Alan? Besides lovers of Guinness and East End dives, Nick recorded the Mercury Prize winning Klaxons, The Libertines, Ian Brown, Franz Ferdinand and many others. Alan is a Canadian producer based in Tokyo who has worked with the likes of Dakota Star and rising American band Lumiis. On a whim and a prayer Nick and Alan set off to meet the band and all together they begged and borrowed some dosh as well as some of the most sort after antique analog recording gear known to man and started tracking the record in Perth Western Australia in early 2007.
In July 2007 the first fruits of the recording session “Five Feet Of Snow” was released to triple j and community radio Australia wide with instant high rotation. Industry interest was now heating up and they were offered showcases on two of the most prestigious new music seminars, CMJ New York and In The City Manchester. So in October 2007 the band set out on their first world tour. Lasting 22 days, performing live in Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York, Manchester and London, culminating in a solid show at the 100 Club where everyone from the Stones to the Sex Pistols cut their teeth.
In December 2007 The Dirty Secrets returned to Australia to open for MUSE in front of a 12000 strong crowd who surged when the band came on and broke the punter barrier 4 songs in. This brought the whole show to a grinding halt. The Muse camp were so impressed with how the band handled the melee that they let the boys back on the stage once the barrier was repaired to finish off the set. About this time Triple J added their second single “My heart is on Fire” which again received high rotation across Australia. The Dirty Secrets then hit the summer festival circuit playing Gloucester Park, Southbound, and the Perth Big Day Out.
March 2008 saw the self-titled debut album finally available in Australia via the bands own Vagabond Records thru MGM Distribution with a third track “Lighthouse” receiving high rotation on Triple J. The Dirty Secrets then hit the road hard with four tours to Sydney and Melbourne between mid March and late April selling out the coolest venues and club nights in each town. Not a band to stand still for a minute the Dirty secrets were back on the east Coast to play the come Together festival and tour Australia with Sparkadia in June and do it all again with Van She during July 2008.
With a ton of triple j airplay and rave reviews from all the live shows The Dirty Secrets are making their presence felt throughout Australia.
REVIEWS:
“Local new wave rockers The Dirty secrets have produced the goods. Right from the opening of Five Feet of Snow, the upfront synth sounds and punchy guitar combine to create a sound reminiscent of the killers best work, but the quality of the songs here stand on their own merit, check it out”
- Album Review review The West Australian By Phil Jupp
“The Dirty Secrets self titled debut is a bold release capable of staking the bands claim as Perth’s next big thing. Jarrah McCleary’s vocal techniques are crisp and deep throughout, displaying a mature texture, Meanwhile the instrumentation presented by the rest of the 4 piece is slick and catchy with Mike Sanders and Waz Page’s respective guitar and bass licks equally addictive.”
- Album Review review - Drum Media
“Unwrapping their own take on New wave, synth infused rock, theirs is a grittier darker approach to a genre whose adherents tend to be attracted to the shinier aspects. In terms of sonic similarity think the cars, the Bravery and a faint hint of XTC. Their well placed set list gave the punters time to warm up and catch up earning the band more than a few converts to their cause if the applause at the end of the show was anything to go by.”
- Live Review supporting OKGO at The forum Sydney - Drum Media
“the Dirty secrets aren't straight forward retro, matching the synth lines lift with big rock choruses and walls of 60's hamond organ to give it all an original and contemporary twist… In the end, what you get is pure quirky post-modern Perth pop”
- Outside looking In CD review Drum Media Sydney By Michael Smith
“The Dirty Secrets are the whole package, they have infectious tunes, great shoes and all the moves to boot, these guys are definitely going places”
- Live review, Death Disco gig, base mag by Lynda Soklich
“It was The Dirty Secrets who impressed the most with their tres chic nu wave sound, expect to see more of this band while they hone their obvious talents”
- Live review by Ben O Shea Supporting Regurgitator and Snowman @ The Leopold Hotel
“but what's important is that The Dirty Secrets are fun to watch live, super tight, and have a great collection of songs up their sleeves. Their synth-toting frontman has enough crazy rock dance moves in his repertoire to make the ghost of Ian Curtis proud, and the enthusiastic crowd warmed to them quickly, leaving no doubt that this is a band to keep an eye on in the future.”
- Live review Xpress Magazine Supporting 67 Special @ The Amplifier Bar
“This is as exciting as it is charismatic, and is a confident first effort from this Perth band. This reconditioned rock’n’roll machine will swagger into superstardom in no time”.
- (JG) Outside Looking in CD Review -Time Off Magazine Brisbane
hey guys hows things? tour going well in perth soon Parklife wrk been flat out organising last min things queensland 1st than here in perth than the rest of aus :) should hit up parklife sydney guys if you get a chance
Transmission LIVE this friday @ The Ed Castle showcases some of the next wave of Indie bands from Syd, Melb, Bris & Ade on their Awesome Foursome Tour. Featuring THE TOUCH (ade), THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS (melb), VILLAINS OF WILHELM (bris) & THE SALVAGERS (syd) action cuts loose from 9pm.
Next Week Transmission Presents VAN SHE's gig at Fowlers on Friday July 3rd with the Official Afterparty at Transmission. Tickets are close to sold out so go to moshtix to secure yours now.
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Hey glad to hear your coming back to Perth for some shows! Ill be there with bells on... as per usual! hope things are going well over in the eastern states!
hey guys! sounding awesome! thanks for the add by the way. hope the national tour goes apples for you. unfortunately won't be able to make the sydney shows but hope you have a super rad time.
