Press
Sydney EP Launch
Last Friday we played our Sydney EP Launch show at The Gaelic Theatre in Surry Hills. First off, The Gaelic is a very very cool venue. Thanks to everyone who made it to the show. We had a great night. Music Feeds was there and this is what they had to say. Thanks for the kind words Shestyn.
I like Montpelier. I don’t know whether it’s their beautiful music or that they’re a bunch of good-looking, well-dressed young blokes. Either way, the fondness exists. Okay, so pretty faces aside…
Whether you’re a fan of sentimental indie pop (think Death Cab for Cutie) or passionate indie rock (Arcade Fire style), the Brisbane band caters for all with an individual sound that encapsulates both and then some. Their songs aren’t your standard clone pop numbers, yet are catchy enough to imagine on some top twenty music list. This charming quality carried across from their debut self-titled EP to its Sydney launch at The Gaelic Theatre Friday night.
Montpelier are an act worth seeing live. Vocalist Greg Chiapello has a powerful, stirring voice that is a great asset to the band, and their passion and talent carries across in their performance with heartfelt precision. They played songs from the EP such as the Celtic-flavoured ‘Take A Picture’ (reminiscent of The Pogues) and a selection of other songs, ranging from a bluesy number to the nostalgic ‘Last Boat’. I would have liked to have heard even more of the EP though – don’t hold back, fellas!
Preceded by rock band Sunroom, the contrast in atmosphere and audience with Montpelier was astonishing (exchange Tool t-shirts and mosh pit for composed kids wearing glasses and pretty dresses). Their lyrics are wistful and poetic, revealing that those of the male species can be as profound and romantic as the rest of us. Strong drums and guitar amplified the rock element, while melodious keyboard and persistent harmonies reinforced the sentimentality. The intimate Gaelic Theatre provided a fitting atmosphere for the emotional intensity that comes across with Montpelier.
Montpelier left the best until last with ‘The Rafters’, a catchy tune marked by a fantastic keyboard riff and the subtle vocals of Dave Butler. The song was welcomed with crowd-clapping and dancing and finished with a communal chorus singing “oh-oh-ohhh…”. I amusingly recalled singing along in the same passionate way listening to their EP in my bedroom. Montpelier are proficient at spirited, anthemic phrases which draw the crowd into their colourful world of “comets” and “fireworks”.
A talented bunch, Montpelier have great potential and are one to watch. The next step is getting their music heard, so let’s all sing along—in, and out, of our bedrooms. In their words: “let the music play, doesn’t matter where you are.”
You can read it online here: http://musicfeeds.com.au/gig/montpelier-ep-launch-the-gaelic-theatre-120310/
AIR Staff Pick
The Australian Independent Records Labels Association chose Montpelier as their staff pick for this week. This is really special for us. Thanks AIR and for all the good work you do for Australian music. Here’s what they had to say:
Montpelier… timeless Australian indie-pop.
If I was a thoughtful, modern man and wanted to be a band with integrity and class (and I was a good singer and could write great music) then I’d probably record earnest songs about love with subtle string arrangements and slow building crescendos. I’d also set them to uncomplicated visually arresting film clips which are about love too. Wouldn’t you?
There’s something about Montpelier which to me smacks of class. The name of the band, the beautiful packaging of their EP, the unresolved nature of the love story in this film clip and their songwriting. There’s a subtlety there that tells me that they think hard about their music, their web presence and themselves. Big things I reckon, that’s what’s going to happen to Montpelier.
Read it online here: http://www.aircharts.com.au/airstaffpicks
Newcastle Press
Our first bit of interstate press was published recently. And it’s from Newcastle, our first stop on the EP Tour. Check out the feature in The Post below. For some reason Dave’s head is cut off in the photo. That didn’t happen in the actual paper.
Dave Interviews with The Dwarf
Dave recently had a chat with Sophia Ham from thedwarf.com.au about the EP release, recording and everything like that. You can read the feature online here: http://www.thedwarf.com.au/nd/interviews/bright_young_things_the_rise_and_rise_of_montpelier. Thanks for the chat Sophia!
Dave Butler from Brisbane band Montpelier almost forgot to call me. He was too busy having a swim. Ah, to be a forgetful young thing in soggy swimmers…
Can’t say I blame him for wetting it out, poolside. By the sounds of it, 2009 was a huge year for this four-piece boy-band of indie rockers.
Relatively new and bright-eyed, Montpelier suddenly found themselves with an unbelievable dream opportunity – to work with renowned producer Kevin Augunas (Cold War Kids, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros).
“The whole America thing was totally unexpected. Our manager, (Andrew Stone) who also plays in the band, went over to the US for South by Southwest with no expectations – just to see music. Then he just happens to meet this girl while he was out at a bar, who was managing a dream list of producers.”
“Through meeting her, Andrew went to New York with a copy of our demo, met with a number of producers who were interested in us, and fortunately, Kevin liked our sound.”
Montpelier’s music has been likened to the sweeping soundscapes of Coldplay and the Panics coupled with the lyrical pop-ability of Ben Lee.
For such a young band, the opportunity to record with Augunas was too good to say no, so the boys headed over for a two-week studio session with Kevin to record songs for a hopeful EP release.
“Recording with Kevin was a really organic experience. We would capture songs in like one or two takes. For the new song ‘Girl’ – everything for that song was done in one take. I feel we really grew as a band during that time as we just all learnt so much. Kevin was just a really relaxed guy.”
Dave goes on to tell me that the songwriting process is something that is really important to the band.
“The songs are really the most important thing for us. And so we were lucky to work with someone who understood that. For us, we want to communicate the theme of the song. Often we’ll start with the barebones, with the idea of the lyrics and build it from there…”
Montpelier fans and general musical voyeurs can check out footage of the US recording sessions thanks to video posts via the bands MySpace page. The videos capture the bands pure glee at working with Augunas, and behind the scenes shenanigans.
With their song ‘The Rafters’ on Triple Js Unearthed rotation, the band are ready to launch the anticipated new self-titled EP with their biggest Aussie tour yet.
Their six-track EP will be launched in Brisbane, with following dates in Sydney and Melbourne. Highlights from the new release include the joyfully sad ‘The Rafters’ and the broken-hearted ‘Girl’.
“We’re absolutely excited about getting the EP out and getting the songs out there. We’re keen that we might also get some festival opportunities this year – fingers crossed!”
Interview With Greg on Music Feeds
Online music publication Music Feeds had a chat with Greg recently about the upcoming record, touring and all that. Read it online here: http://musicfeeds.com.au/features/montpelier/ and here’s a bite from it below.
Trying to get noticed as an indie band in Australia usually goes in hand in hand with more than a few compromises, some minor, some scarring for the rest of your life and not all of them artistic. Montpelier however are a band who defy this unfortunate trend, having not only garnered praise from press and industry alike, but hooked in big name American producer Kevin Augunas (Cold War Kids, Edward Sharpe & The Zeros) to record and produce their latest EP.
Listening to their music it all becomes clear. Sporting a diverse range of influences spanning from the uplifting pop rock of acts such as Elton John or Coldplay all the way through to the adventurous and introspective indie of bands like Death Cab For Cutie and Doves, Montpelier aren’t afraid of walking in the shoes of those who have come before them while always trying to tread new ground.
Eager to get to the bottom of this story and expecting to find a trail of lost innocence, integrity and anal virginity, I caught up with singer/bassist Greg Chiapello and instead uncovered a tale of chance encounters and unbridled enthusiasm. You can’t always get what you want I guess.
