Faker (band)
Faker | |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1996 – Present |
| Members | Nathan Hudson Paul Berryman Philip Downing Stefan Gregory Nicholas Munnings |
Faker is a Sydney-based Australian band who formed in 1996, but released their debut album in 2005. They have been compared to UK acts such as Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys and Bloc Party [citation needed], and have gained support across Australia.
History
The band Faker, in its current form, with Nathan Hudson (vocals), Paul Berryman (drums), Philip Downing (guitar), Stefan Gregory (guitar) and Nicholas Munnings (bass), only formed in mid-2003. Between this time and the formation of the band in 1996, Hudson is the only member to survive ten years in Faker, with about twenty-three passing through the band during its existence. One of the biggest changes occurred when Hudson's long-time friend Paul Youdell left the band. Together, Hudson and Youdell wrote a majority of the material that appears on the debut Faker album Addicted Romantic, including Hurricane, Quarter To Three & Kids On Overload. Also, Youdell played bass on all Addicted Romantic tracks except for Kids On Overload, which saw Nicholas Munnings take over. A strange fact is that out of all the former members of Faker, only one still plays an instrument; the rest gave up their musical dreams.
Addicted Romantic
Their debut album, released in June 2005, saw Faker, then a nine-year old project, produce a widely available album, after the independent release of two EPs in 2001, of which both Teenage Werewolf and Kids On Overload saw heavy rotation on the youth radio network, Triple J. This led to these two songs being included on the album, alongside ten new tracks; from the sexual-inspired opener (Bodies) to Hudson's attempt at a love song (Love For Sale), from the quick witted (The Familiar) to the blinding pace of Enough. A number of singles have been released, with the most successful, the incredibly catchy Horricane reaching number twenty-one in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2005. The album itself was nominated for the J Award, awarded for the best Australian album.
Faker Live
Faker have spent many months playing to Australian crowds, promoting their debut album. These performances have included the 2005 Falls Festival and the 2006 Big Day Out, as well as recently playing at a number of universities around Australia as part of their orentation week (O-Week) celebrations. A common aspect of these live shows is the energy given by Hudson - he never stops moving. Without making a lot of conversation with the crowd, Hudson can capture the audience with his running backwards and forwards on stage, and often during their recent hit 'Hurricane', he will climb the scaffolding or speaker stands. While Hudson's antics dwarf the other members of the band, they play with such energy and passion their slower works seem powerful.