Murdoch

There are at least two bands who have used the name Murdoch in recent years. One, a math rock band based in Melbourne in the mid to late 90s, is now defunct. Best known tracks included Hulkster and Gratuitous Toms. Their music can be found at www.myspace.com/murdochau . The other is a Birmingham based band, currently riding a wave of media and fan attention. The UK's second city is championing them as the city's shining light putting their tracks and faces all over the new international marketing campaign for Birmingham and TV and radio stations clammering to land an interview and air the tracks. All this started in January after the release of their debut mini-album Factory 13 caught the ears and imagination of the public. Recorded with producer Matt Ollivier (Manic Street Preachers, Doves) the result was five incredibly danceable indie-pop songs. Tinged with raw punk vocals and fuelled with angst and valour, each one of the five tracks ticks all the required boxes from ridiculously catchy melodies to dancefloor-filling guitar hooks. Released on their own label 'Speech Fewapy Records' and distributed through Cargo the album sold out and saw the tracks all over BBC Radio, BRMB, Kerrang! Radio and airplay on all Xfm stations. Murdoch are: Jamie Berry, 23 (singer/rhythm guitar), Nick Berry, 21, little brother of Jamie (bass, backing vocals), James 'Jim' Minhas, 23 (lead guitar) and Dan Webb, 23 (drums). Originally from Telford, the quintet formed back in 2000 and a couple of years later decided to uproot to Birmingham in search of brighter lights, better venues and well... life! They spent their time relentlessly gigging and honing their sound which culminated in shedding a fifth member at the end of last year. The new slimmer line up has resulted in a much tighter channeled energy on stage and on record. With regular gigs around Birmingham and the Midlands eastablishing them as one of the region's main acts the band hit London last year with packed shows at the Barfly and Spitz amongst others. Their assault across the country continues unabated. The band have played with some of the UK's top new bands including Editors, Maximo Park, Nine Black Alps and the Long Blondes. All this and with main NME photographer and fan Dean Chalkley personally requesting they play at the opening of his recent photographic exhibition and such names as Noel Gallagher and Ian Brown talking them up the future is looking tremendously bright for Murdoch. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.