The Megahorns: The New Wave of Funk

What do you think of when you think of “rock n roll”? Jimi Hendrix? Led Zeppelin? Nirvana?

Some of you may even think of Gary Numan. So what if he’s a pop star who’s got his pilot’s license? What’s wrong with you? You ought be slapped and mailed back to your mother!

What’s consistent with those bands? All of them are purely amazing, influential and hugely popular. But they all had a very set line up of instruments. Guitars, drums, bass, keyboards and vocals, the usual suspects. But who says a rock band has to have those instruments?

Let’s say a band had, a tuba, baritone, alto and tenor saxophones, throw in a couple of trumpets and some damn funky drums and you sir have yourself The Megahorns!

The Megahorns is an eight piece band. That’s right, I said eight! Now before you get all conservative and start saying “Whoa man, that ain’t cool. A rock band should have no more than four, maybe five members; exactly who do these kids think they are?” Take some time out to actually listen to these guys  and take notice of the serious waves these guys are making.

The band has been playing together since 2006, constantly developing and recreating their sound, messing up the line between solid tradition and offensive originality. From humble beginnings basking in Melbourne’s CBD, the band has now grown into a regular fixture in Melbourne’s live music scene, tearing up venues such as The Espy, The Corner Hotel and The East Brunswick Club. The band has also become a festival favorite, this year having played Big Day Out, Moomba, Apollo Bay Music Festival, Boogie Festival, Alphington Music From The Wetlands, Stonnington Summer Jazz Festival, Whitehorse Twilight Series, Moonee Valley Festival and more.

So, I hear you asking, that’s right I can read your mind, “so what, without guitars, bass and a keyboard it will sound like a pig being put through an industrial size electric fan!” You sir are ignorant beyond belief and clearly need psychological help because that couldn’t be further from the truth.

I caught the boys at a lovely little place in Northcote called “303″ and I was absolutely blown away by what force, presence and attention they demand.  What you get is an amazing blend of pure rock n’roll, funk, and soul, and with the vocals coming at you with tighter rhymes than a Dr. Seuss anthology, a new breed of Aussie hip hop (I refuse to call it “skip-hop”). If James brown, Jimi Hendrix, Dr. Dre and John Bonham took part in a crazy orgy in a bathtub the result would be The Megahorns!

You can catch The Megahorns around town at these dates and places:

21 Nov 2009    10:00pm First Floor -monthly residency-Fitzroy, Victoria

27 Nov 2009    8:00pm Queenscliff Music Festival Victoria

28 Nov 2009    11:00pm Queenscliff Music Festival Victoria

29 Nov 2009    11:00pm Queenscliff Music Festival Victoria

5 Dec 2009    9:00pm The Horn    Collingwood, Victoria

For more information go to www.Myspace.com/megahorns

Rob Ryles, Contributor

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