Rock isnt dangerous anymore. Most of the greats are dead and buried and the ones that are still going should have fallen on their sword long ago. Believe it or not there are still bands out there trying to create something new, Trial Kennedy are one of these bands. With unforgettable and unique trademark vocals, addictive melodies, hook laden guitar riffs and a bottom heavy rhythm section, Trial Kennedy are unafraid to discard convention.
Trial Kennedy knew from the start that finding like-minded friends that shared the same musical vision and ambition was crucial to the bands longevity. With a dynamic and drive that can be compared to bands like The Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World and The Juliana Theory, Trial Kennedy are set to become one of the most exciting prospects to come out of Australia in recent years.
United in their love of rock & melody, Trial Kennedy released their debut EP Present For A Day in September 2004 through Melbournes Helltrack Records. Renowned producer Kalju Tonuma (28 Days, Bodyjar) stepped up to the plate and immediately brought the emotion and character that is such a big part of Trial Kennedys live show into the studio and onto CD.
Present For A Day is a personal and emotionally driven journey guided by each of these musicians. There is nothing pretty about despair, but when you hear the lyrics Summers come, the sun is gone, the opening line from the anthemic single Tuesday Shoes, you just know this EP will take you on an uplifting ride.
"Quite simply, this EP is an immaculate piece of work, slickly produced, and boasting some truly brilliant songwriting from an original, tight and polished band" Beat Magazine. The band have wasted no time, getting in the van & supporting the likes of Alexisonfire, After The Fall, Kiss Chasy & Shihad and joined the prestigious lineup at this years Peaches n Cream Festival.
The most influential & memorable bands in the world are the ones that dont quite fit, bands that only have the desire to play their own style and express it in their own way. This is where you will find Trial Kennedy.
Where to start. Well, Stacey Tim and Aaron all went through high school together (St Bedes). Shaun went to school at Mordialic high. From a young age all of us shared a love of music and each played instruments through school. It is here where we all met Mark Kennedy.
Mark was the resident guitar teacher at St Bedes, he also did lessons outside of school. Mr Kennedy taught Stacey Guitar from yr 7 to yr 12 Stacey was regarded as one of his best students. He taught Tim guitar as well however, he also encouraged him to sing. After almost a year of pressure, Tim sung in front of his first audience in Yr 9. Aaron was a little different. Mr Kennedy also taught him guitar but after witnessing a recital where Aaron played Bass he encouraged him to throw away the six string and pick up the four string. Mr Kennedy taught Shaun guitar for brief period of time outside of school. His advice was simple. Dude, find something else. Shun picked up the stix and has never looked back since.
It wasnt until yr 11 that one day Stacey approached Aaron after seeing a bass performance and asked if he would be interested in having a hit with a drummer he knew. And there it began. Stacey, Shaun and Aaron would get together after school and try to learn and rehearse their favorite songs. After a couple of weeks we decided to ask our friend Tim if he would like to join in. After rehearsing for several more weeks we played our first show on the 9th of July 1997 they played their first show in Staceys backyard for his Birthday.
After this there was no looking back. They played together for the next two years at football clubs, functions and birthday parties. Every week on a Tuesday night they would rehearse at the Jam Tin rehearsal studios. And every week they would play in room 7. This is where they came up with their first band name. Room Seven went on to record their first collections of original songs at St Andrews studios in Cheltenham in March 1999. Discreet rear entrance was the name of the six-track e.p., it was recorded in two days and then mastered at bakehouse studios in Brunswick. This ep gave the band an opportunity to hit the pubs and club scene, and that they did. They played all throughout Melbourne at venues such as the Espy, Greyhound, Mercury Lounge, Arthouse, Evelyn to name a few.
Over the next three years or so Room Seven developed their sound and another three times. It was around this time that the boys had finally begun shaping themselves into something very different and very special. They decided to change their name as a symbol of rebirth and as a way of parting with old ways. Trial Kennedy was then born.
This decision created a buzz around the band and they were soon contacted by a small record label (helltrack records) asking if they could record a song for a compilation. The profits from the c.d. (Action against cruelty) would go towards fighting bear bile farming in China. The band agreed and stepped into the studio with a Mr Kalju Tonuma (28 days, Bodyjar, Frenzal Rhomb, The Maviss etc) and recorded Song For Sense . They received great feedback and triple j played song for sense for a few weeks. Annmarie McGrath (owner of Helltrack) then handled a lot of the people interested in the band. She convinced the boys to record an ep with Kalju and release it through Helltrack.
The ep was then recorded with Kalju at 001 studios in Fitzroy and mastered at Sterling sound New York. The ep Present For A Day was then released through Helltrack records September 2004 and distributed through reverberation. It wasnt long before the boys were then offered a booking deal from one of the largest and most selective booking agents in the country. TPA. (The Living end, Grinspoon, Silverchair, Spiderbait, Shihad, Frenzal Rhomb, The dissociatives etc) They took the boys under their wing and are slowly developing the band.
