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Augie March are an Australian
pop
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Pop music, a musical genre
Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade
* Pop! (British group), a UK pop group
* Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band
Album ...
and indie rock
Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent reco ...
band formed in 1996 in Shepparton
Shepparton () (Yorta Yorta language, Yortayorta: ''Kanny-goopna'') is a city located on the floodplain of the Goulburn River (Victoria), Goulburn River in northern Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, approximately north-northeast of Mel ...
, Victoria. Since 2001 the group consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Glenn Richards
Glenn Anthony Richards (born 29 December 1973) is an Australian musician, best known as the mainstay guitarist singer-songwriter for the Australian rock band Augie March.
Early life
Richards was born in Shepparton, Victoria on 29 December 1973 ...
, lead guitarist Adam Donovan, bass guitarist Edmondo Ammendola, drummer David Williams, and keyboardist Kiernan Box. Box had replaced Robert Dawson, the band's piano player since March 2000, who died in January 2001.
Augie March's first full-length album, '' Sunset Studies'', was released in 2000. It was critically acclaimed and received four ARIA Music Award nominations in 2001
The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...
, which won Engineer of the Year for Chris Dickie, Chris Thompson, Paul McKercher and Richard Pleasance
Richard Arnold Pleasance is an Australian rock musician and producer. He was a founding member of Boom Crash Opera on guitar, bass guitar, vocals and as a songwriter in 1985; they released three albums before Pleasance left in 1992. Their hit Au ...
. Critics, both in Australia and the United States, also lauded its 2002 successor, '' Strange Bird''. The group's third album, ''Moo, You Bloody Choir
''Moo, You Bloody Choir'' is the third studio album by the Australian indie rock band Augie March. It was released in 2006 in Australia by BMG. It entered the ARIA album charts at #10 and was nominated for Album of the Year at the ARIA Music Aw ...
'' (2006), reached number 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart
The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...
. It provided the lead single, "One Crowded Hour
"One Crowded Hour" is a song by Australian indie rock band Augie March written by Glenn Richards. The song was released in April 2006 as the first single released from their third studio album, '' Moo, You Bloody Choir''.
The song had been play ...
", which attained critical acclaim and provided their highest position on the related singles chart at number 29. The album and single were nominated for six ARIA Music Awards in 2006
2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.
Events
January
* January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute.
* January 12 – A stampede during t ...
, while ''Moo, You Bloody Choir'' won the Australian Music Prize
The Australian Music Prize (often shortened to the AMP) is an annual award of $50,000 ($30,000 from 2005 to 2023) given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The award was ...
for that year. Having achieved mainstream success, the band toured Australia and the US through 2006 and 2007.
In 2008 they released their fourth album, ''Watch Me Disappear
''Watch Me Disappear'' is the fourth studio album from Australian indie rock group Augie March. The album was released on 10 October 2008.
Augie March were formed in the Victorian rural city of
Augie March went into the studio in March 2000 to begin work on their first full-length album, '' Sunset Studies''. Richards' friend, Rob Dawson, officially joined the band on keyboards and piano, after being a studio musician on ''Thanks for the Memes'' and ''Waltz''. Richards returned to Shepparton to write the material for the album. The band worked in nine studios with six different engineers over the course of six months. In July 2000 they released its first single, "Hole in Your Roof". In October 2000 ''Sunset Studies'' appeared. The group attempted to organise launches in Sydney and Melbourne, however, they were thwarted, Donovan explained "it seemed like every band in the country was doing a tour then and we couldn't get any venues." They undertook a tour along Australia's east coast. The album peaked at number 35 on the 
Preparations for a follow-up to ''Sunset Studies'' were disrupted on 2 January 2001 when Robert Dawson died in a two-car collision near
Augie March returned to the studio in 2004 to record their third album, ''
Augie March's musical abilities were acknowledged when ''Moo, You Bloody Choir'' won the second annual 
Richards was now expected by Sony BMG's agents to produce a quality follow-up, they persisted with, "Richo, have you got a single? Do you have singles? Please, do you have singles?" Much of the writing for their fourth album, ''
Shepparton
Shepparton () (Yorta Yorta language, Yortayorta: ''Kanny-goopna'') is a city located on the floodplain of the Goulburn River (Victoria), Goulburn River in northern Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, approximately north-northeast of Mel ...
in 1996 with the original line-up of Edmondo Ammendola on bass guitar, Adam Donovan on lead guitar, Glenn Richards
Glenn Anthony Richards (born 29 December 1973) is an Australian musician, best known as the mainstay guitarist singer-songwriter for the Australian rock band Augie March.
Early life
Richards was born in Shepparton, Victoria on 29 December 1973 ...
on vocals and guitar, and David Williams on drums. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane
Ian McFarlane (born 1959) is an Australian music journalist, music historian and author, whose best known publication is the ''Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop'' (1999), which was updated for a second edition in 2017.
As a journalist ...
, " heywon critical praise for heir
Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Offi ...
mix of literate, sensitive pop and chamber folk." Donovan, Richards and Williams grew up and attended school in the Shepparton area. Richards began writing songs while studying English literature at University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public university, public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state ...
in 1996. He invited Donovan and Williams, who had been studying music at the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT), to form the band. The pair asked fellow NMIT student, Ammendola to join. The band's name references the titular protagonist of the 1953 novel ''The Adventures of Augie March
''The Adventures of Augie March'' is a picaresque novel by Saul Bellow, published in 1953 by Viking Press. It features the eponymous Augie March, who grows up during the Great Depression, and it is an example of ''Bildungsroman'', tracing the d ...
'' by Saul Bellow
Saul Bellow (born Solomon Bellows; June 10, 1915April 5, 2005) was a Canadian-American writer. For his literary work, Bellow was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, the 1976 Nobel Prize in Literature, and the National Medal of Arts. He is the only write ...
. According to AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
's Gregory McIntosh, who cites the novel's "poetic, complex prose" as complementary to Richards' lyrics.
Augie March relocated to Melbourne before their first performance in Brunswick at a friend's visual art exhibition. In 1997 they were signed to Ra Records (rooArt
rooArt was an Australian independent record label, founded in 1988 by INXS's then-manager, Chris Murphy, label owner Sebastian Chase and Murphy's former employee, Justin Van Stom. The label's roster included several well-known Australian ban ...
subsidiary distributed by BMG). Augie March's first extended play
An extended play (EP) is a Sound recording and reproduction, musical recording that contains more tracks than a Single (music), single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 1 ...
(EP), ''Thanks for the Memes'', was produced by Victor Van Vugt
Victor Van Vugt is a record producer, music producer, mixer and audio engineer, engineer.
An Australian based in Berlin, he has had a long association with the careers of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Beth Orton.
He has also worked with P.J ...
(Beth Orton
Elizabeth Caroline Orton (born 14 December 1970) is an English musician known for her "folktronica" sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She was initially recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit, Andrew Weatherall ...
, Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward Cave (born 22 September 1957) is an Australian musician, writer, and actor who fronts the rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Known for his baritone voice, Cave's music is characterised by emotional intensity, a wide variety ...
). The five-track EP was released in January 1998. Despite positive reviews it received little airplay. It was re-released in mid-2003 with an additional track, "300 Nights". Greg Lawrence of ''Worldwide Home of Australasian Music and More Online (WHAMMO)'' observed that the six-track version displayed, "dynamic arrangements, an endless lyrical depth and the ability to rock with intensity." In 2007 Williams described his surprise that they had found a producer, due to their obscure music, which at the time they considered, "hip and cool, and intellectual."
Augie March followed with their second EP, ''Waltz
The waltz ( , meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom dance, ballroom and folk dance, in triple (3/4 time, time), performed primarily in closed position. Along with the ländler and allemande, the waltz was sometimes referred to by the ...
'', in August 1999, which was produced by Richard Pleasance
Richard Arnold Pleasance is an Australian rock musician and producer. He was a founding member of Boom Crash Opera on guitar, bass guitar, vocals and as a songwriter in 1985; they released three albums before Pleasance left in 1992. Their hit Au ...
(Deborah Conway
Deborah Ann Conway (born 8 August 1959) is an Australian rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, and had a career as a model and actress. She was a founding member of the 1980s rock band Do-Ré-Mi with their top-5 hit "Man Overboard".
Conway pe ...
, Nick Barker#1993-1995: Barker). The EP included "Asleep in Perfection", which became the most requested song on Australian Broadcasting Corporation's ''rage
Rage may refer to:
* Rage (emotion), an intense form of anger
Games
* Rage (collectible card game), a collectible card game
* Rage (trick-taking card game), a commercial variant of the card game Oh Hell
* ''Rage'' (video game), a 2011 first- ...
'' program. The song was nominated for Breakthrough Artist – Single, and Pleasance for Producer of the Year
The Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical is an honor presented to record producers for quality non-classical music at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honors in ...
, at the ARIA Music Awards of 2000
The 14th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as the ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) was held on 24 October 2000 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Presenters distributed 28 awards with the big winne ...
. The band toured Australia, including to Perth
Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...
, and their popularity increased through word of mouth
Word of mouth is the passing of information from person to person using oral communication, which could be as simple as telling someone the time of day. Storytelling is a common form of word-of-mouth communication where one person tells others a ...
. BMG offered Augie March a recording contract, which they accepted.
Early albums (2000–2003)
Augie March went into the studio in March 2000 to begin work on their first full-length album, '' Sunset Studies''. Richards' friend, Rob Dawson, officially joined the band on keyboards and piano, after being a studio musician on ''Thanks for the Memes'' and ''Waltz''. Richards returned to Shepparton to write the material for the album. The band worked in nine studios with six different engineers over the course of six months. In July 2000 they released its first single, "Hole in Your Roof". In October 2000 ''Sunset Studies'' appeared. The group attempted to organise launches in Sydney and Melbourne, however, they were thwarted, Donovan explained "it seemed like every band in the country was doing a tour then and we couldn't get any venues." They undertook a tour along Australia's east coast. The album peaked at number 35 on the ARIA Albums Chart
The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...
.
''Sunset Studies'' critical reception was generally positive; Noel Mengel of ''The Courier-Mail
''The Courier-Mail'' is an Australian newspaper published in Brisbane. Owned by News Corp Australia, it is published daily from Monday to Saturday in tabloid format. Its editorial offices are located at Bowen Hills, in Brisbane's inner norther ...
'' said that on the album, "songs of quiet reflection, starkly beautiful melodies and intimate poetry collide on the canvas without a thought to sales graphs or what radio program directors might think," while AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
's Jack Rabid told American readers "it's worth the effort to track down he album particularly for those who think there are no more musical craftsmen out there." The album earned the ARIA Award for Engineer of the Year
The ARIA Music Award for Engineer of the Year, is an award presented within the Artisan Awards at the annual ARIA Music Awards. The ARIA Awards recognise "the many achievements of Australian artists across all music genres", and have been give ...
for 2001
The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...
, and received nominations for Producer of the Year, Breakthrough Artist – Album and Best Cover Art for Sam Hickey's work. Of the album's six engineers, Pleasance, Paul McKercher, Chris Thompson and Chris Dickie qualified for the ARIA Award for best engineer. McKercher and Pleasance, as well as the band, were named producers. Of the singles released from this album, "There Is No Such Place" was their most popular, which was listed at number 47 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2001 listeners poll.
Preparations for a follow-up to ''Sunset Studies'' were disrupted on 2 January 2001 when Robert Dawson died in a two-car collision near Bairnsdale
Bairnsdale (locally ) (Gunai language, Ganai: ''Wy-yung'') is a city in East Gippsland, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, situated in a region traditionally inhabited by the Tatungalung clan of the Gunaikurnai people. The estimated popu ...
, Victoria, the other driver also died. Dawson's death had a significant impact on the band, especially on Richards who was writing for their second album, '' Strange Bird''. However, it is not mournful; Richards described it as optimistic and humorous. Melburnian Kiernan Box (ex-the Blackeyed Susans
''For the American band with a similar name, see Blackeyed Susan.''
The Blackeyed Susans are an Australian rock band, which formed in Perth in 1989. Long serving members are Phil Kakulas on bass guitar, guitar and vocals; and Rob Snarski on v ...
) joined the group on harmonica, organ, piano and piano accordion. The band produced ''Strange Bird'' independently; Donovan said this worked to their advantage as they felt more comfortable in their own studio, and that as a result ''Strange Bird'' was a better album than ''Sunset Studies'', though the band's debut album was "probably received better by our fans." In response to previous complaints about misinterpretations of Richards' ''Sunset Studies'' wordplay, Augie March included a lyrics booklet with ''Strange Bird''.
''Strange Bird'' was released by BMG as the band's second studio album in October 2002. It was also released by spinART Records
SpinART Records was a New York City-based independent record label that released recordings by The Apples in Stereo, Clem Snide, Black Francis, Frank Black, and Michael Penn.
The label was started by Joel Morowitz and Jeff Price in 1991. SpinART ...
in the United Kingdom in that month. It was re-released in the United States in September 2004. ''Strange Bird'' reached number 34 on the ARIA charts, while its lead single, "The Vineyard", peaked at number 31. Augie March undertook the Strange Bird Tour around Australia. The critical response to ''Strange Bird'' was largely positive, and by the following June, Williams was mystified. He explained to ''Rip It Up!''s Scott McLennan, "I could see a few holes in the album and I'd say, 'how come no one else has picked this up?' I stopped reading our album reviews for a while." Reviewers, however, focused on the positives; Guy Garvey
Guy Edward John Patrick Garvey (born 6 March 1974) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and radio presenter. He is the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Elbow. He has a weekly show on BBC Radio 6 Music titled ''Guy Garvey's Fines ...
in ''The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'' said "My favourite of the year is Augie March's ''Strange Bird''", while David Fricke
David Fricke (born ) is an American music journalist who serves as the senior editor at ''Rolling Stone'' magazine, where he writes predominantly about rock music. One of the best known names in rock journalism, his career has spanned over 40 ye ...
wrote in ''Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason.
The magazine was first known fo ...
'' of "luxuriant melees of chiming guitars, mountain-stream voices and keyboard grandeur." Donovan told ''Beat Magazine
Beat is a free monthly tabloid-sized music, arts and culture magazine ( street press), website and social media network published and distributed in Melbourne, Australia. It's Melbourne's longest running street press, and one of the earliest ...
''s Karen Conrad that the band found it hard to take the "flattering" reviews too seriously, "if we did our heads would explode or overinflate."
Mainstream breakthrough (2004–2009)
Augie March returned to the studio in 2004 to record their third album, ''Moo, You Bloody Choir
''Moo, You Bloody Choir'' is the third studio album by the Australian indie rock band Augie March. It was released in 2006 in Australia by BMG. It entered the ARIA album charts at #10 and was nominated for Album of the Year at the ARIA Music Aw ...
''. The band worked with two producers, McKercher and Eric Drew Feldman, and recorded in Melbourne, San Francisco, and their own studio in Nagambie, Victoria. Donovan explained this suited the band's style; they co-produced their albums, as they were interested in improving production. It enabled them to work at their own pace. Also during that time BMG merged with Sony Music Australia
Sony Music Entertainment Australia is the predominant record label operated by American parent company Sony Music Entertainment in Australia. Prior to 1995, SMEA published and distributed video games in Australia & New Zealand on behalf of So ...
, hence the gap of three-and-a-half years since ''Strange Bird''.
In the interim they released a DVD, '' Drones & Vapid Ditties'', containing live performances and music videos, in mid-2004. ''Moo, You Bloody Choir'', according to Triple J
Triple J is an Australian government-funded national radio station founded in 1975 as a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). It aims to appeal to young listeners of alternative music, and plays far more Australian conten ...
, was inspired by the streets of Melbourne. Upon completion of the initial recording sessions, there was a six-month delay before release, as Augie March added finishing touches. In March 2006, ''Moo, You Bloody Choir'', appeared and they received critical acclaim and mainstream success. The album spent 21 weeks on the ARIA Albums Chart top 50, peaking at number ten. The album was certified platinum in Australia. Its lead single "One Crowded Hour
"One Crowded Hour" is a song by Australian indie rock band Augie March written by Glenn Richards. The song was released in April 2006 as the first single released from their third studio album, '' Moo, You Bloody Choir''.
The song had been play ...
" reached number 29 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
Work by Augie March was nominated for six more ARIA Music Awards in 2006
2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.
Events
January
* January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute.
* January 12 – A stampede during t ...
, including "One Crowded Hour" for Single of the Year. Contrary to media speculation, the band did not win any further ARIAs. The group were also popular with national youth radio listeners as "One Crowded Hour" topped Triple J Hottest 100, 2006
The 2006 Triple J Hottest 100 was announced on 26 January 2007. It is the fourteenth such countdown of the most popular songs of the year, as voted by listeners of the Australian radio station Triple J.
Voting began on 1 January 2007, and clo ...
poll. The album was nominated for the 2006 J Award
The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards, established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J, and which also extend to sister stations, Triple J Unearthed and Double J. The award ...
. A 2008 ''The Australian
''The Australian'', with its Saturday edition ''The Weekend Australian'', is a broadsheet daily newspaper published by News Corp Australia since 14 July 1964. As the only Australian daily newspaper distributed nationally, its readership of b ...
'' poll ranked "One Crowded Hour" at No. 10 on their best Australian song of the past 20 years list.
Augie March's musical abilities were acknowledged when ''Moo, You Bloody Choir'' won the second annual Australian Music Prize
The Australian Music Prize (often shortened to the AMP) is an annual award of $50,000 ($30,000 from 2005 to 2023) given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The award was ...
in 2006 for "the most outstanding and creative Australian album released in the past year." Ammendola told ''Drum Media
''The Music'' (formerly known as and now incorporating ''Drum Media'') is an online Australian music magazine. It previously existed as a street press devoted to long-form music journalism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. In i ...
''s Andrew Street that this award was more significant than an ARIA: it is "nominated on the grounds of music, and the art of it – not necessarily record sales." The band used the A$25,000 prize money to fund their second US tour. Richards explained that they had no expectation of a US breakthrough and if this second attempt was not successful, they would not try again.
Augie March played in Los Angeles and New York in May 2007. In August of that year, ''Moo, You Bloody Choir'' was released in the US via Jive Zomba. Additional US shows followed, where they were praised by local media. Joe Tangari of ''Pitchfork Media
''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music magazine founded in 1996 by Ryan Schreiber in Minneapolis. It originally covered Alternative rock, alternative and independent music, and expanded to cover genres includin ...
'' called it a "crime" that the band had not broken through in North America earlier, though AllMusic's Ben Peterson remarked that ''Strange Bird'' was a higher quality album than its follow-up. Despite the Australian success of ''Moo, You Bloody Choir'', much of the group's post-album touring was backing other artists. They played shows supporting the Aliens and Andrew Bird
Andrew Wegman Bird (born July 11, 1973) is an American indie rock multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Since 1996, he has released 16 studio albums, as well as several live albums and EPs, spanning various genres including swing musi ...
in the US, before returning to Australia to open for Crowded House
Crowded House are an Australian-New Zealand rock band, formed in Melbourne, Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia, in 1985. Its founding members were Neil Finn (vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter) and Paul Hester (drums), who were both for ...
. Richards said the band's status as an opening act, rather than head-liner, was a challenge—their intention was to win over the main act's fans. He described the Aliens tour as depressing; they played different types of music and attendances were small. Augie March had a prime slot at the 2008 Big Day Out
The Big Day Out (BDO) was an annual music festival that was held in five Australian cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Queensland, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Perth, as well as Auckland, New Zealand. The festival was held during summer, typi ...
.
Richards was now expected by Sony BMG's agents to produce a quality follow-up, they persisted with, "Richo, have you got a single? Do you have singles? Please, do you have singles?" Much of the writing for their fourth album, ''Watch Me Disappear
''Watch Me Disappear'' is the fourth studio album from Australian indie rock group Augie March. The album was released on 10 October 2008. In 2008 they began recording at
While early live performances were criticised, performances post-''Moo, You Bloody Choir'' have earned great and consistent praise.
Neil Finn
Neil Mullane Finn (born 27 May 1958) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known for being a principal member of Split Enz and for being the lead singer of Crowded House. He was also a member of Fleetwood Mac from 2018 ...
's Auckland
Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
studios; and followed with studios in Melbourne, Sydney and Los Angeles. The band worked primarily in New Zealand to get away from distractions in Melbourne and focussing on recording.
Augie March worked with producer, Joe Chiccarelli, who took a significant pay cut after declaring his interest in their music. According to Richards, the production occurred with "a fair bit of friction." Ammendola was critical of Chiccarelli's style and the short time they spent in the studio. The recording process also took its toll on relationships within the band. Ammendola declared, "It tore us to bits. It was really really shit, we're slowly patching up now." After uploading the album's title track on their website for free downloading, Augie March announced their "proper headline tour of their homeland," where they would play music from that album. The album was released in October 2008 and its reception was mixed compared with its predecessors. Patrick Donovan of ''The Age
''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...
'' wrote, " u get the feeling that twill please more than just their mates and old fans," but Bernard Zuel of ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' felt it was "an album that no doubt will polarise fans." ''Watch Me Disappear'' entered the ARIA Albums Chart at number four – their highest position.
Augie March played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as the 'G, is a sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere, the Lis ...
on 14 March 2009 for Sound Relief, a multi-venue rock music concert in support of relief for the Victorian Bushfire Crisis. The event was held simultaneously with a concert at the Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is a sports stadium in the Moore Park, New South Wales, Moore Park suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is used for Test cricket, Test, One Day International and Twenty20 cricket, as well as, Australi ...
. All the proceeds from the Melbourne concert went to the Red Cross
The organized International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 16million volunteering, volunteers, members, and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ...
Victorian Bushfire relief. Appearing with Augie March in Melbourne were, Bliss N Eso
Bliss n Eso (formerly known as Bliss n' Esoterikizm) are an Australian hip hop trio based in Sydney. The group consists of emcees Bliss and Eso, and DJ Izm, and they are currently signed to Melbourne record label Illusive Sounds, and are manag ...
with Paris Wells, Gabriella Cilmi
Gabriella Lucia Cilmi ( ; ; born 10 October 1991) is an Australian pop singer and songwriter. A contralto, Cilmi is known for her distinctive raspy singing voice.
Her debut album, '' Lessons to Be Learned'', was released in March 2008, becomin ...
, Hunters & Collectors
Hunters & Collectors are an Australian rock band from Melbourne, formed in 1981. Fronted by founding member, singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Seymour, the band's other mainstays are John Archer on bass guitar and Doug Falconer on drums an ...
, Kasey Chambers
Kasey Chambers (born 4 June 1976) is an Australian country music, Australian country singer-songwriter and musician born in Mount Gambier, South Australia, Mount Gambier to musicians Diane and Bill Chambers (musician), Bill Chambers. Her older ...
and Shane Nicholson with Troy Cassar-Daley
Troy Cassar-Daley (born 18 May 1969) is an Australian country music songwriter and entertainer.
Cassar-Daley has released thirteen studio albums, two live albums and five compilation albums over 30 years, including the platinum-selling '' The ...
, Jack Johnson, Jet, Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, in 1999. The band includes brothers Caleb, Nathan, and Jared Followill and their cousin Matthew Followill.
The band's early music was a blend of Southern roc ...
, Liam Finn
Liam Mullane Finn (born 24 September 1983) is a New Zealand singer and musician. Born in Melbourne, Australia, he moved to New Zealand as a child. He is the son of musicians Sharon (Johnson) and Neil Finn. In 2020, he joined his father's band ...
, Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil (known informally as "The Oils") are an Australian rock band composed of Peter Garrett (vocals, harmonica), Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboard) and Martin Rotsey (guitar). The group was formed in Sydney in 1972 by H ...
, Paul Kelly, Split Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band formed in 1972. Regarded as the first New Zealand band to gain significant recognition outside of Australasia, they were initially noted for their progressive rock, progressive/art rock sound, flamboyant visua ...
and Wolfmother
Wolfmother is an Australian hard rock band from Sydney. Formed in 2004, the group is centred around vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, who is the only constant member of the line-up. The band has been through many personnel changes since t ...
.
In July 2009, "One Crowded Hour" was voted number 59 by the Australian public in Triple J Hottest 100 of all time. That same month, the band undertook the Watch Me Set My Strange Sun You Bloody Choir tour, where they played every state capital and many regional towns, performing each of their four albums. In December 2009 the band went into hiatus. Richards released his first solo album, ''Glimjack'', in 2010.
Reformation after hiatus (2014–present)
After four-and-a-half years, on 16 June 2014, Augie March announced—via their official Facebook page—that they are off hiatus. A week later the band posted that they have been working on a full-length album, '' Havens Dumb'', for the last two-and-a-half years. It was released on 3 October 2014 and was rated at 3.5 out-of 5 stars by Zuel, who find, "Australia's complex/troubled relationships between mateship v exclusion, honour v greed, and history v mythology has become more pronounced." On 23 February 2018, Augie March released their sixth album, ''Bootikins''. According to the band's website, it was written and recorded in Melbourne and Hobart and was produced by Australian producerTony Cohen
Anthony Lawrence Cohen (4 June 19572 August 2017) was an Australian music record producer and sound engineer. He worked with Nick Cave's groups the Birthday Party, and then the Bad Seeds from 1979 to 2001. In mid-1986 he followed Cave to Lond ...
shortly before he died. In December 2021, the band released its seventh album, ''Bloodsport & Porn''. Three years later, their eighth album ''Malagrotta'' was released, composed from "notes made on a mobile phone while in the grip of a species of long Covid and a brutal high European Summer".
In November 2023, Augie March collaborated with Romy Vager and released a cover of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are a Rock music, rock band formed in Melbourne in 1983 by lead vocalist Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey and German guitarist-vocalist Blixa Bargeld. The band has featured international personnel throug ...
' "Henry Lee".
Musical style
While Augie March generally fall into an indie/pop rock
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre and form of rock music characterized by a strong commercial appeal, with more emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than standard rock musi ...
genre, their ability to mix other genres into their style at times makes classifying their musical style difficult. A common thread that runs through the band's sound is Richards' literate and often verbose lyrics, which have set the band apart from much of the rest of the Australian music scene. Even early on in their career, Richards' unique lyrical style, largely influenced by poets A.D. Hope and Kenneth Slessor, attracted attention and critical acclaim, with one reviewer describing him as "unique", "refreshing", and "intellectual". Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
's Jack Rabid said Richards "exhibits a honey voice" on ''Sunset Studies'', but ''Grok'' pointed out that the album was rendered too complex or intricate for a mainstream audience.
Richards' passion for poetry and literary studies again stood out on ''Strange Bird''. John D. Luerssen of ''Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason.
The magazine was first known fo ...
'' said "poetry aficionado Richards puts his own literary stamp" on the album, and James Christopher Monger of Allmusic said the album contained "pastoral beauty, labyrinthine arrangements, and breathtaking prose". Pitchfork Media
''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music magazine founded in 1996 by Ryan Schreiber in Minneapolis. It originally covered Alternative rock, alternative and independent music, and expanded to cover genres includin ...
's Joe Tangari
Joe or JOE may refer to:
Arts
Film and television
* ''Joe'' (1970 film), starring Peter Boyle
* ''Joe'' (2013 film), starring Nicolas Cage, based on the novel ''Joe'' (1991) by Larry Brown
* Joe (2023 film), an Indian film
* ''Joe'' (TV se ...
described the album as "so stuffed with ideas and instruments that it's wont to rupture from time to time". This was both a positive and negative criticism; Tangari complained that at times "there is a surplus of sound", but also said that the combination of the first two tracks—"The Vineyard" ("slow beauty") and "This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers" ("a wailing rockabilly psych raver")—was an excellent set-up. Derek Miller of Stylus Magazine
''Stylus Magazine'' was an American online music and film magazine, launched in 2002 and co-founded by Todd L. Burns. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog.
Addi ...
called the opening trio—the third song being the "simple acoustic guitar and arcing piano" of "Little Wonder"—bewildering, and that the album remained consistently as such throughout. PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...
' Zeth Lundy described Richards' wordplay as frenzied, and said the "refined, worldly wit" on ''Strange Bird'' was striking.
Where ''Strange Bird'' was brimming with musical content, on ''Moo, You Bloody Choir'' Augie March were more simplified, while still maintaining some of the critically acclaimed aspects of their music. Ammendola considered their third album, led by "One Crowded Hour", to be significantly different from their previous releases. Chad Grischow of IGN
''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
wrote of "lush, mesmerizing music meld with gorgeous melodies brought to life by Richards' rich vocals that wrap themselves around each instrument". In ''The Sydney Morning Herald
''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, Australia, and owned by Nine Entertainment. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuous ...
'', Bernard Zuel argued the album was more subdued; "the tempos and the arrangements are a little quieter and simpler". Richards' lyrics, however, still drew praise; "he writes with a 19th-century novelist's ear and a Dylanesque tongue". Miller of Stylus also touched on the fact that "''Moo'' is as direct a shot as you'll ever get at Augie March", but that it was nonetheless a "refining and continuation" of the band's work thus far. Shirley Halperin, writing for ''Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'', said the album featured "smooth, emotive vocals mingle with soaring melodies that'd make Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...
proud". Dan Raper of PopMatters said the lyrics to "One Crowded Hour" were poetic, citing the lines "Well put me in a cage full of lions / I'll learn to speak lion / In fact I know the language well", as well as the "full and glorious" chorus;
''Watch Me Disappear'' was Augie March's most mainstream pop work to date, described as a further distillation of the band's earlier, even more complex, music. Richards considered it to be more streamlined than their early work, despite their attempts to maintain a sense of spontaneity. Zuel also noted a removal of much of the backing instrumentation which had acted as "clutter" around Richards' vocals on earlier work. Scott Podmore wrote in the ''Herald Sun
The ''Herald Sun'' is a Conservatism, conservative daily tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia, published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Corp Australia, itself a subsidiary of the American Rupert Murdoch, Murd ...
'' that the album did not have a standout song or an instant appeal but that it was "a slow burner that takes time to get to know you, but once it does, it's a friend for good". Triple J reviewer Jenny Valentish argued that multiple songs from the album could take the place of "One Crowded Hour" as "likely to become wailed for and misquoted at festivals". She noted a "commercial potential" for the album, despite its more disconcerting and confrontational content.
Songwriting
Songwriting for Augie March is primarily initiated by Richards; he deliversdemos
Demos may refer to:
Computing
* DEMOS, a Soviet Unix-like operating system
* DEMOS (ISP), the first internet service provider in the USSR
* Demos Commander, an Orthodox File Manager for Unix-like systems
* Plural for Demo (computer programming ...
to the rest of the band members who then collaborate with him to develop the music. Kathy McCabe of ''The Daily Telegraph
''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...
'' suggests "almost every songwriter in Australia has name-checked ichardsas one of the finest tunesmiths of his generation" and that "Richards is a storyteller who is spoken of in reverential terms by peers". Richards simply states that he enjoys "dabbling with words", and that people often appreciate him doing so. Despite this, Richards rejects the "literary" reputation he believes the band have gained. At the 2006 ARIA Awards, Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil (known informally as "The Oils") are an Australian rock band composed of Peter Garrett (vocals, harmonica), Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboard) and Martin Rotsey (guitar). The group was formed in Sydney in 1972 by H ...
's Rob Hirst
Robert George Hirst (born 3 September 1955) is an Australian musician from Camden, New South Wales. He is a founding member of rock band Midnight Oil on drums, percussion and backing vocals (sometimes lead vocals) from the 1970s until the band ...
called for more political songs; Richards told Simon Collins of ''The West Australian
''The West Australian'' is the only locally edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia. It is owned by Seven West Media (SWM), as is the state's other major newspaper, ''The Sunday Times''. It is the second-oldest continuousl ...
'' he saw great risk in writing political music, and would rather write music that rung true, so that "I can sing the song a thousand times after it's been written". Richards asserts he preferred to draw on everyday experiences than on literary influences. He also says that some of the music he writes is intentionally confusing.
The band, and especially Richards, are noted for their perfectionism. In a post-''Sunset Studies'' interview with ''Grok'' magazine in 2000, Williams criticised the song "The Good Gardener (On How He Fell)", to which the interviewer noted "the Augie March perfectionism ... a slavish, romantic, almost passionate pursuit". This meme
A meme (; ) is an idea, behavior, or style that Mimesis, spreads by means of imitation from person to person within a culture and often carries symbolic meaning representing a particular phenomenon or theme. A meme acts as a unit for carrying c ...
continued throughout Augie March's career; following the release of ''Moo, You Bloody Choir'', Richards said he was not truly happy with anything he had produced so far. Ammendola agreed, and added that the band considered ''Moo, You Bloody Choir'' the weakest of their first three albums, and ''Sunset Studies'' the best. Richards later stated that he considered ''Watch Me Disappear'' his best album yet. Andrew Murfett wrote in ''The Age
''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...
'' that for Augie March, "creative tension, adverse circumstances and perfectionism seem to go hand in hand".
Live concerts
While early live performances were criticised, performances post-''Moo, You Bloody Choir'' have earned great and consistent praise. David Fricke
David Fricke (born ) is an American music journalist who serves as the senior editor at ''Rolling Stone'' magazine, where he writes predominantly about rock music. One of the best known names in rock journalism, his career has spanned over 40 ye ...
of ''Rolling Stone'' lauded an Augie March concert he saw in New York, which assisted the band in making inroads in the United States.
Over the years, the band have built up a loyal audience, who enjoy frequent and repeated attendance at Augie March shows. Glenn Richards has stated that this has been a great asset to the band. "We have a pretty great fan base" Richards said "they get it".
Discography
* '' Sunset Studies'' (2000) * '' Strange Bird'' (2002) * ''Moo, You Bloody Choir
''Moo, You Bloody Choir'' is the third studio album by the Australian indie rock band Augie March. It was released in 2006 in Australia by BMG. It entered the ARIA album charts at #10 and was nominated for Album of the Year at the ARIA Music Aw ...
'' (2006)
* ''Watch Me Disappear
''Watch Me Disappear'' is the fourth studio album from Australian indie rock group Augie March. The album was released on 10 October 2008.Havens Dumb'' (2014)
* ''Bootikins'' (2018)
* ''Bloodsport & Porn'' (2021)
* ''Malagrotta (2024)''
Awards and nominations
APRA Awards
The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by theAustralasian Performing Right Association
APRA AMCOS consists of Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS), both copyright management organisations or copyright collectives which jointly represent over 100,000 songwri ...
(APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982.
!
, -
, 2015
2015 was designated by the United Nations as:
* International Year of Light
* International Year of Soil __TOC__
Events
January
* January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...
, "A Dog Starved" (Glenn Richards)
, Song of the Year
,
,
, -
ARIA Music Awards
TheARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known informally as ARIA Music Awards, ARIA Awards, or simply the ARIAs) is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Austr ...
is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music
The music of Australia has an extensive history made of music societies. Indigenous Australian music forms a significant part of the unique heritage of a 40,000- to 60,000-year history which produced the iconic didgeridoo. Contemporary fusions o ...
. Augie March has won one award from thirteen nominations.
, -
, rowspan="2", 2000
2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year.
Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...
, Augie March & Richard Pleasance
Richard Arnold Pleasance is an Australian rock musician and producer. He was a founding member of Boom Crash Opera on guitar, bass guitar, vocals and as a songwriter in 1985; they released three albums before Pleasance left in 1992. Their hit Au ...
for ''Asleep in Perfection''
, Producer of the Year
The Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical is an honor presented to record producers for quality non-classical music at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honors in ...
,
, -
, "Asleep in Perfection (Waltz)"
, Breakthrough Artist - Single
,
, -
, rowspan="4", 2001
The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...
, rowspan="4", ''Sunset Studies''
, Best Cover Art
,
, -
, Breakthrough Artist - Album
,
, -
, Producer of the Year
,
, -
, Engineer of the Year
,
, -
, rowspan="6", 2006
2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.
Events
January
* January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute.
* January 12 – A stampede during t ...
, rowspan="3", ''Moo, You Bloody Choir''
, Album of the Year
,
, -
, Best Group
,
, -
, Best Rock Album
,
, -
, rowspan="2", Paul McKercher and Augie March
, Producer of the Year
,
, -
, Engineer of the Year
,
, -
, "One Crowded Hour"
, Single of the Year
,
, -
, 2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
, "The Cold Acre" (director Ben Saunders and Germain McMicking)
, Best Video
,
, -
Australian Music Prize
TheAustralian Music Prize
The Australian Music Prize (often shortened to the AMP) is an annual award of $50,000 ($30,000 from 2005 to 2023) given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The award was ...
(the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The commenced in 2005.
, -
, 2006
, ''Moo, You Bloody Choir''
, Australian Music Prize
,
, -
EG Awards / Music Victoria Awards
The EG Awards (known as ''Music Victoria Awards'' since 2013) are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006. , - ,2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
, Augie March
, Best Band
,
, -
J Awards
TheJ Awards
The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards, established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J, and which also extend to sister stations, Triple J Unearthed and Double J. The awar ...
are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia’s principal public service broadcaster. It is funded primarily by grants from the federal government and is administered by a government-appointed board of directors. The ABC is ...
's youth-focused radio station Triple J
Triple J is an Australian government-funded national radio station founded in 1975 as a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). It aims to appeal to young listeners of alternative music, and plays far more Australian conten ...
. They commenced in 2005.
, -
, 2014
The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...
, themselves
, Double J Artist of the Year
,
References
External links
* {{Authority control APRA Award winners Australian indie rock groups Musical groups established in 1996 Australian indie pop groups Musical groups from Melbourne Sony BMG artists Caroline Records artists