Hold onto your horses as Brisbane’s very own Flamingo Blonde reveal their long-awaited debut EP ‘Two Trick Pony’. A culmination of their musical journey over the past 5 years, this all-killer-no-filler debut EP is a call to arms for doomscrollers awaiting the second coming of 2000s guitar bands.
Featuring already released singles Eddie and Karaoke, Baby!, the 6-track EP is an ode to good memories made with those the Brisbane indie-rockers hold near and dear. Flamingo Blonde dreams of nothing more than it becoming “one of those records that just makes sense to throw it on during a bus ride to the Valley or driving around running errands on a Saturday morning”.
Flamingo Blonde draws influence from the likes of Pixies, Daft Punk and fellow Brisbanites Ball Park Music, whilst pulling pop culture references from Joe Rogan and Eddie McGuire to create a coming-of-age staple. Pulling trick after trick from its sleeve, ‘Two Trick Pony’ encapsulates the struggles of finding your feet in a confusing landscape of overconsumption, misinformation and the horrors of being chronically online. On creative process, Flamingo Blonde says “Bunkering up for a few days at a time in the studio, throwing everything onto the recording and stripping it back – it’s been one of the most fun processes for writing music.”
‘Two Trick Pony’ opener, Eddie mixes Talking Heads absurdism with the glossy sleaze of British New Wave before hazy lo-fi track Think You’re Coming Around keeps the party going with its groove-heavy bass lines.
On Your Side unveils a high tempo tale of maturity and self awareness, reflecting on the discomfort and empowerment of setting boundaries and taking some much-needed space, while shimmery Karaoke, Baby! sees pop-prophet Asha Jefferies sing it out with Flamingo Blonde against the backdrop of a late-night karaoke bar.
Layering pitch-shifted vocals over an electronic drumbeat, New Casino paints a picture of Brisbane’s brutalist skyline before closing the EP on a triumphant note with Time Alone, a mirror maze of noise intended to mimic the mild headache incurred by watching a friend realise they’ve over invested in a relationship.
Flamingo Blonde will be taking ‘Two Trick Pony’ across the country in November, set to play a string of dates in Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, Brisbane and Newcastle with special guest supports announcing soon.
Flamingo Blonde is the project of James Bartlett, supported by the best band this side of the brown snake, The Brunettes. In only a short time, the Flamingo Blonde live show has become synonymous with the spirit of Brisbane: warm and untamed. An unpredictable experience that has to be seen up close, Flamingo Blonde has supported the likes of Last Dinosaurs, Hope D, Jaguar Jonze and Beddy Rays. On top of that, they’ve proven that their sunny sounds can pull a major crowd, selling out hometown Brisbane shows at The Zoo and The Brightside.
FLAMINGO BLONDE
AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
Friday 3 November – Vic on the Park, Sydney NSW
Sunday 5 November – North Gong Sundays, Wollongong NSW
Monday 6 November – ‘Social Sanctuary’ @ Northcote Social Club, Melbourne VIC
Friday 24 November – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane QLD
Friday 8 December – King Street Bandroom (supporting Hope D), Newcastle NSW
With thanks to Morse Code PR
