“Ears exploding never felt so good.” – US blogger Whiskey Teeth.
With a scream, a killer riff and a solid bash on the skins, The Love Junkies have launched into Australia’s consciousness over the last two years. In June 2013 they served up their debut album with a side of singles that set radios alight.
Refusing to follow trends, The Love Junkies are part indie, part punk and part grunge: a mix that has hit a nerve as audiences fall for their frenetic live show. “Baby, Come Home” and “Oxymoron” spent most of 2013 spinning on triple j as the band negotiated a few trips around Australia and a BIGSOUND showcase that resulted in their signing with New World Artists.
Hailing from the foothills of Perth, Western Australia, The Love Junkies were founded by singer/songwriter Mitch McDonald and drummer Lewis Walsh at the end of 2009. The duo met many moons prior in high school, jamming out the beginnings of what would be...
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“Ears exploding never felt so good.” – US blogger Whiskey Teeth.
With a scream, a killer riff and a solid bash on the skins, The Love Junkies have launched into Australia’s consciousness over the last two years. In June 2013 they served up their debut album with a side of singles that set radios alight.
Refusing to follow trends, The Love Junkies are part indie, part punk and part grunge: a mix that has hit a nerve as audiences fall for their frenetic live show. “Baby, Come Home” and “Oxymoron” spent most of 2013 spinning on triple j as the band negotiated a few trips around Australia and a BIGSOUND showcase that resulted in their signing with New World Artists.
Hailing from the foothills of Perth, Western Australia, The Love Junkies were founded by singer/songwriter Mitch McDonald and drummer Lewis Walsh at the end of 2009. The duo met many moons prior in high school, jamming out the beginnings of what would become The Love Junkies. By the time the band hit the studio a mere three months later, long time high school friend Robbie Rumble (his real name) had joined on bass to complete the lineup.
2011 saw the band release their debut self-titled EP independently. The EP launch sold out in no time with punters who missed out on tickets jumping the back wall of the venue to catch a glimpse at the band’s powerhouse set. The EP received local feature album on RTR FM and rave reviews, cementing the hometown support that would continue to be the engine propelling the band onto the national stage.
Soon after the release, the band jumped back into the studio, this time with producer Dave Parkin (Emperors, Felicity Groom, Jebediah, Snowman), from Blackbird Studios to record their single 'Crying Rhymes' and b-side 'Peter Rabbit'. The single was released to an ecstatic crowd at Mojo’s Bar in North Fremantle.
The single was nominated for the West Australian Music Industry Song Of The Year Award 2011, and received airplay on local and national stations such as RTR FM, PBS, SYN FM as well as being spun on Triple J’s Home and Hosed, added to Dom Alessio’s Unearthed podcast and receiving a lot of love on Triple J Unearthed radio.
“These guys have the live chops – a short sharp burst of really great fiery frenetic indie rock.” – Dom Alessio, triple j
In 2012 the band released their third single 'Louise' and b-side ‘Black Sheep Blues’ to a sellout crowd in January. The single was recorded by Canadian producer Alan Brey at Ampersonic Studios.
With whispers of their live show spreading East, the band quickly became a favourite for support gigs, playing with La Dispute, Band Of Skulls, Kingswood, Die! Die! Die!, Birds of Tokyo, and Jeff The Brotherhood.
2013 saw the band step confidently onto the national stage with their debut album ‘Maybelene’, with two singles from the album (“Oxymoron” and “Baby Come Home”) landing high rotation with triple j. The album also managed to score the band the coveted triple j unearthed slot at Southbound, also leading to spots at the Perth Big Day Out, and regional touring festival Groovin’ the Moo.
In November the band came away with six nominations and three wins at the 2013 Western Australian Music Awards (WAMIs) for breakthrough act, best rock act and best drummer.
The dawning of 2014 did not see the foot come off the accelerator, with the dropping of a brand new EP “Flight Test”, taking their sound to another level. From the lead single “Chemical Motivation” and its trademark dirty scream chorus, to the softer indie stylings of “Storm Troopers” and the heartfelt outpouring of drummer Lewis Walsh in “Gloria To My Dysphoria”, “Flight Test” is an unmistakable showcase of a band emerging with an identity and direction.
After another four tours around Australia and their international debut at Music Matters Singapore and a club show in Hanoi, The band released their self produced second album “Blowing On The Devil’s Strumpet” in September and took another trip around Australia including their second year showcasing at BigSound.
“If you’re not on board with The Love Junkies by now, Blowing On The Devil’s Strumpet is your chance to rectify this situation.” – David James Young, X-Press Magazine
November 2014 saw the band come away with two more Western Australian Music Awards (WAMIs) for best rock act and best drummer.
Now firmly on the national musical agenda, The Love Junkies will be heading on tour again in December with Gyroscope before setting their sights overseas in 2015.
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