Prepare for a whole new way to access live music. The JD Set is a Jack Daniels initiative to give the freedom of choice for live music to the music fan.
The JD Set is simple. Music fans can vote for their acts they would like to see live and Jack Daniels will make it happen with a showcase tour.The first round of acts for The JD Set features Mink, Dardenelles, Angelas Dish, Braindead Lovers, The Fumes and The Hot Lies.
At The JD Set website, you can listen to samples of the acts and cast your vote for who you want on the tour.
The JD Set will be staged four times in 2008, giving 12 up-and-coming acts the chance to tour the country.
Here is a background check on the first six acts:
ANGELAS DISH
A four-piece band of rockers originating from the Central Coast of NSW, Angelas Dish have spent the past couple of months touring Australia in support of their recently released debut album, War On Time, produced by ARIA 'Producer of the Year' David Nicholas (Elton John, INXS, Midnight Oil) and US producer Mark Needham (The Killers, My Chemical Romance). Fronted by brother's Michael and Joshua Harris, Angela's Dish's constant touring has included support slots with the likes of Thirty Seconds to Mars and Thirsty Merc.
www.angelasdish.com
BRAINDEAD LOVERS
Inspired in part by classic British glam and punk of the '70s, the Braindead Lovers big live sound saw them score a support slot on several gigs of Divinyls' reunion tour late last year, as well as playing shows with the likes of Dallas Crane, Magic Dirt, Airbourne and Rocket Science. Based in the seaside music haven of Melbourne's St Kilda, this rocking trio recently released a self-titled, five-track debut EP featuring the radio single "Sapper's Appetite" which got played all over the shop.
www.braindeadlovers.com
DARDANELLES
Melbourne's psychedelic indie upstarts Dardanelles have had a massive past 12 months, including scoring a nomination in the final round of the 2007 Australian Music Prize (The AMP) for their brilliant debut album, Mirror Mirror. The four-piece has performed at Sydney's Field Day festival and on the main stage of the Pyramid Rock Festival in Victoria. Dardanelles most recently undertook a mini-tour in support of their most recent single, "Domino's Dance", which included a secret MySpace show in Melbourne, plus an appearance at the Playground Weekender Festival alongside Kruder & Dorfmeister, Ian Brown and The Wombats.
www.dardanelles.com.au
THE FUMES
The Fumes are making the blues cool and dammed sexy to boot. Bursting onto the Australian music scene in 2004, riveting two piece The Fumes have rarely been out of the nation's attention, producing their own brand of original, blues infused rock. Consisting of front man Steve Merry and drummer Joel Battersby (formerly of the Beautiful Girls), the band ended 2005 with a bang - taking out Music Oz Award's Blues Artist of the Year. Continuing to boost their reputation through touring and energetic live shows, and debut album Guns of Gold (released in July 2006), the boys look to become an institution on the Australian blues scene.
www.thefumes.com.au
THE HOT LIES
Signed to Liberation Music, The Hot Lies exploded late last year with the release of their brilliant debut album, Ringing In The Sane, produced by Phil McKellar (Silverchair, Grinspoon, Kisschasy), which some critics called the Australian album of the year. Born in the Adelaide hardcore scene in 2004, but raised - like all good Aussie bands - on the highways between gigs, The Hot Lies have toured with every big name in punk rock, from Millencolin to My Chemical Romance, Good Charlotte and Sum 41. They've played Taste of Chaos alongside The Used, Big Day Out alongside The White Stripes, Live N Local alongside The Veronicas.
www.thehotlies.com
MINK
Rock with a hint of old school glam from an outfit that splits its time and hyper energy between Australia (home to three members) and New York City (home to singer Neal Carlson). It's already been a mammoth year for Mink with performances at the famed South by SouthWest music convention in Austin, Texas, as well as a tour of Hard Rock Caf?? across America, plus appearances at the famed Fuji Festival in Japan and Lollapalooza in the US, as well as support slots with KISS. Mink has also just recorded a debut album (with noted producer Sylvia Massy of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tool fame) and shot a video for the single "Talk to Me" with director Christian Lamb (Madonna, Korn, Kelly Clarkson, Incubus). The album is due to be released here in Australia mid-year.
www.minkmusic.com
Voting for the first series of The JD Set is up to you and open now.
