 23/04/2008 Nuts and Bolts: The Parlotones - Kahn Morbee (vocals and guitar) Neil Pauw (Drums) Paul Hodgson (guitar) Glenn Hodgson (bass and keyboards)
Stomping Ground: London and Johannesburg since 1998.
Set to Soundtrack: Plucking up the courage to approach that girl/boy but never quite succeeding.
Destined to Upset: People who HATE teenage rom-coms.
You’re in business if you like: Melodious rock with vocals like the guy from Linkin Park - only better!
For a band that released their first album in 2003 and started up in ‘98 it seems strange that, if mentioned, The Parlotones garner the following response: “Who?” Or, with this section of Planet Notion being named a certain something: “Who the fuck?” But the South African four-piece have obviously been doing something right because in 2006 Universal Records snapped ‘em up. And it doesn’t stop there. FHM used The Parlotones single ‘Overexposed’ as the soundtrack to their ‘World’s Hottest Woman’ film. With lyrics that go a little something like: “This could be the end of - ‘Who the hell cares?’” it seems a bizarre choice for a film predominantly flesh and thigh. That’s until you hear a peculiar purring akin to the Cheshire Cat on five E’s and a Viagra. As far as sound goes The Parlotones appear to be a band unconfined by boundaries. Vocally they’re consistent, but musically it varies from jangly, up-lifting melodies, to heavy(er) guitar laden rock. As one would expect from a South African “rock band” The Parlotones are pretty bloody big in their native country and that popularity is fast spreading. Perhaps it has something to do with using a megaphone on stage? The band recently announced a European and South African tour which will see them playing Switzerland’s biggest indoor music festival, ‘Bscene’, and London’s legendary 100 Club. Sure, singer Kahn Morbee sounds a bit like that guy from Linkin Park, whose mainstream “nu-metal” whine appeals as much as a night in the sack with Lisa Riley and a dodgy kebab, but it’s kind of cool… Well, a hell of a lot cooler than Linkin Park, a damn sight tastier than Lisa Riley, and guaranteed to soundtrack a teen rom-com sometime in the future. I’ll put my money on it! Check them out: www.myspace.com/theparlotones
The Parlotones release new album ‘Radiocontrolledrobot’ on May 5th. |
