Sydney’s Sticky Fingers in many ways mirrored the often-repeated indie scene story–scrounging for gigs, recording demos and looking for that elusive break. That is until 2012 when they broke away from the pack, adding a chapter to their story that few achieve and in the process smashing over 200,000 clip views and having one of the biggest Australian alternative hits of the year with “Caress Your Soul”.
Whether it’s psychotic alt pop or sinister surf dub, the infusion of genres has hit a chord with an audience looking for an alternative to American hip hop and DJ led pop. It’s raw, real and triple j voters put the Newtown misfits at #61 in their annual Hottest 100 poll, flying in the face of the “rock is dead” epitaph being chiseled by bandwagon-chasing hipsters.
The band began their rise when drummer, Beaker and bass player Paddy Fingers, met busker Dylan Frost one night in early 2009 outside the Coopers Arms hotel in Newtown. Dylan, fresh from N.Z., was on the streets with his guitar busking outside the pub. “We met him,” Patty says, “when the Coopers Arms bouncer started telling us we should give him some money.”
The band’s early live shows and recordings led to support tours with Donavon Frankenreiter, Art Vs Science, Tame Impala and Urthboy and an acoustic EP Happy Endings in early 2012, recorded amongst the ghosts at The Annandale Hotel. The EP caught the attention the band deserved, giving them their first taste of national airplay and setting the scene for the successful release of “Caress Your Soul” in July.
Taking the band solidly to the next level, touring and a second single “Clouds and Cream” nailed in the success as the band put the finishing touches on their debut album as they continued a run of over two years on the road, playing sold out shows around the country. The new album, instores and online March 6, features the band not only doing what they do best – singing songs about feeling low and getting high and sees Sticky tighten their focus, and songwriting.
The Caress Your Soul album ticks all the boxes a debut should with already two hit singles melting into a journey, taking the listeners through cohesive and often surprising party tunes, breakup odes and psychotic love songs. The album’s third single “Australia Street” is set to be another alternative anthem, further solidifying Sticky Fingers as one of the country’s finest rock acts.
Sticky Fingers will be backing the album with an extensive five-state tour, taking the record on the road to fans around the country.
“Sticky Fingers betray an obvious love for dub and a healthy dose of experimentation is just as prevalent. Particularly noteworthy is the lead guitar (one solo in Willow Tree suggests many hours trying to master Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb), which lifts the Fingers to something much more.
This is promising stuff.” ~ – Sydney Morning Herald
“The band have managed to develop a fresh, clear-cut sound without flaunting too much studio polish…
…whatever it is, it’s working it’s charm.” ~ – Who the Hell
Fri Mar 22
Manning Bar
Sydney, NSW
Sat Mar 23
Mona Vale Hotel
Mona Vale, NSW
Wed Mar 27
Rosemount Hotel
Northbridge, WA
Thur Mar 28
The Prince Hotel
Bunbury, WA
Sat Mar 30
Settlers Tavern
Maragret River , WA
Fri Apr 5
The Entrance Leagues
Gosford, NSW
Fri Apr 12
Republic Bar
Hobart, TAS
Sat Apr 13
Royal Oaks
Launceston, TAS
Thur Apr 18
The Zoo
Brisbane, QLD
Fri Apr 19
Great Northern Hotel
Byron Bay, NSW
Sun Apr 21
The Big Pineapple Festival – QLD
Sat Apr 20
Hoey Moey
Coffs Harbour, NSW
Fri May 10
The Gov
Adelaide, SA