It’s been a banner year for Brisbane rock lords Violent Soho. Their fourth studio album, Hungry Ghost, blew up upon release. They’ve toured extensively around the traps, including appearances at major festivals over the summer season. And the single Covered In Chrome landed itself major radio airplay, ultimately scoring the 14th spot on this past years Triple J Hottest 100 list. To top that off, they’ve just signed a distribution deal with notable US indie label Side One Dummy, who will release Hungry Ghost to US audiences in September of this year.
There’s just one tiny little snag with that plan: US audiences still don’t take terribly kindly to swearing. Which is a bit of an issue for Covered In Chrome’s main lyrical refrain – a guttural yelling of HELL FUCK YEAH. So they’ve got to do the bewildering and record a censored US radio “clean” version of the album for release so radio stations will actually play the song. This, despite the uncensored regular ole’ version of the song already getting extensive play on major radio stations across Australia – not simply limited to Triple J, the band has also received airplay on Triple M, among others.
Frontman Luke Boerdam is a little bit miffed at the situation, “It’s hilarious how much impact you lose when you take all the fucks out because Covered in Chrome is a three-chord pop song which sounds so good with fuck in it. I am a horrible songwriter. What is my problem that I can’t think of better words? I really have to work on my vocabulary.“
Whatever the case, the censoring certainly isn’t affecting Violent Soho’s success on the home front, with the band embarking on a 14 show major city national tour that has been completely sold out weeks upon weeks in advance – the first Melbourne show, for example, had sold out at 9:15am the morning that tickets went on sale, forcing a second show to be added. The band is now playing 4 shows in Melbourne on the tour, all sold out.
The tour kicked off – and continues – in Perth, with support on some dates from burgeoning Melbourne juggernauts The Smith Street Band, and on others from raucous Tassie legends Luca Brasi.
As for the “controversy” over the song, wrap your listening gear around it and decide for yourself. WARNING: Contains naughty words. Not suitable for American ears.
via Herald Sun.
