Coolboys and the Frontman

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Coolboys and the Frontman
OriginMelbourne, Australia
GenresRock, pub rock, Insult
Years active2015 (2015)–present
LabelsSouthern Cross Austereo
Associated actsHamish and Andy
Websitehamishandandy.com
Members
Past members
The band wearing their traditional outfits. (Jack Post, Hamish Blake, Andy Lee)

Coolboys and the Frontman are an Australian rock music band formed in 2015.

The band was formed by the members of the Hamish & Andy radio show in late 2015 after a request for Rob Thomas to play live on the show during an interview was knocked back due to his backing band not travelling with him. After Thomas promised that the members of the radio show could perform instead, the band was created.

2015: Rob Thomas Performance[]

In late 2015, the members of the Hamish & Andy radio show had Rob Thomas on the show for an interview. After a request for a live performance was knocked back due to his backing band not travelling with him, the hosts of the radio show jokingly offered to be his backing band, to which Thomas accepted (not knowing it was, in fact, a joke). A few months later, in early November, Thomas contacted the radio show, notifying them that he would be coming out to Australia in less than a week; the band was then hastily formed. At the time, the band had no name and was not meant to be continued past the one performance. Hamish Blake, who claimed to have "natural percussive talent" (and had previously bought and sold two electronic drum kits) became the drummer; Andy Lee, who learned the trumpet at high school, became the trumpeter; and, while the show was on air, sound producer Jack Post, who played in a punk-rock group called Last Chance while in high school, became the band's guitarist. The song chosen was "Smooth" due to the use of trumpet, drums and guitar while also being a famous Rob Thomas song. Due to such short notice from Thomas and it being their first time playing together, the band initially had trouble performing the song at a competent standard and getting through any practice without severe "in-fighting". After much difficulty, the song was eventually performed live on-air to much success on 16 November 2015.[1] After this performance, however, there was little talk of further performances.

2016: Conrad Sewell Performance[]

In 2016, the band was recalled, as a promise was made to perform with Conrad Sewell in the same manner as the Rob Thomas performance. This time, the band would learn and perform the INXS song "Never Tear Us Apart". The song title was seen as fairly humorous due to the large number of fights and insults that were consistently traded between the members of the band. After learning the song, it was eventually performed at Cruise Bar in Darling Harbour, Sydney, to a live audience.[2] After the performance, the band still did not have a name and again fell dormant. The Veronicas later asked Hamish Blake to perform as their drummer for a live performance on the radio show in July 2016.[3]

2016: Half Way to the Top Tour[]

In October 2016, Blake and Lee announced that they were reforming the band and would be performing a tour in late November.[4] After receiving news that they would be able to hire a tour bus that had been used by One Direction and was owned a by friend of the show, Shane Jacobson, Lee received his bus license so he could be the bus driver for the tour. He later grew a moustache that was dyed grey and crowned the ''bustache", as it was said by the members of the radio show that bus drivers usually had grey moustaches. Because of the bus's capabilities to have beer on tap, Post was crowned "keg monkey" and was made to wear a monkey costume and ensure there was always a keg hooked up to the bar. After deciding to tour, Blake and Lee named the band ''Coolboys and the Frontman'', where they were "Coolboys" and there would be a guest frontman for each show. The show decided on learning and performing "Uptown Funk", a Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars song. After realising that they would require a bassist, an anonymous bassist was recruited to perform under a black tarp and be known as the ''hidden agenda". Eventually the song proved too difficult for the trumpeter, Lee, and incredibly unpopular with the shows listeners, so the song was changed to "Long Way to the Top", by AC/DC, which required Lee to learn to play the bagpipes. In late November, the band travelled from Melbourne to Byron Bay, performing in Wodonga, Rankins Springs and Newcastle, before finishing at the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay.

Half Way to the Top Tour Dates[]

Date City Venue Front Person Attendance
28 November 2016 Wodonga Catholic College Wodonga The Veronicas 300
29 November 2016 Rankins Springs Rankins Springs Pub Shannon Noll 1200
30 November 2016 Newcastle, New South Wales University of Newcastle (Australia) The Wiggles 250
1 December 2016 Rest Day Rest Day Rest Day Rest Day
2 December 2016 Byron Bay, New South Wales Byron Bay Beach Hotel Guy Sebastian 900

Band Outfits[]

For the Half Way to the Top Tour, all three members were given the chance to choose one item for themselves, and one for each other member of the band.

The final choices are listed below:

Performer Outfit
Hamish Blake Viking Helmet, Giant Pacifier & Fake Tan
Andy Lee Scottish Kilt, "No Smoking" Sombrero & Monocle
Jack Post Eyepatch & Roller skates

The Tour[]

Day 1 – Catholic College Wodonga

Gig Front Person Comments Worst Performer
Catholic College Wodonga The Veronicas Andy Lee

Day 2 – Rankins Springs Pub

Gig Front Person Comments Worst Performer
Rankins Springs Pub Shannon Noll Hamish Blake

Day 3 – Harbourview Function Centre Newcastle

Gig Front Person Comments Worst Performer
Harbourview Function Centre Newcastle The Wiggles Jack Post

Day 4 – Rest Day

Day 5 – Byron Bay Beach Hotel

Gig Front Person Comments Worst Performer
Byron Bay Beach Hotel Guy Sebastian Nil

2017: We Are The Champions Private Jet Tour[]

We Are The Champions Private Jet Tour[]

Date City Venue Front Person Attendance
27 November 2017 Newcastle, New South Wales RAAF Base Williamtown Ricki-Lee TBC
28 November 2017 Hamilton, New Zealand Young Farmers – Five Stags, Pirongia, New Zealand Bret McKenzie TBC
29 November 2017 Brisbane, Queensland Battle of the Bands: Round 5 – The Brightside Brisbane Jessica Mauboy TBC
30 November 2017 Uluru, Northern Territory Rest Day Rest Day Rest Day
1 December 2017 Melbourne Margaret Court Arena Vance Joy TBC

Band Outfits[]

For the 2017 private jet tour, all three members were given the chance to select their outfit out of a hat from three predetermined options.[5]

The final choices are listed below:

Performer Outfit
Hamish Blake Baggage handler
Andy Lee Top Gun outfit
Jack Post 1920s aviator outfit

Personnel[]

Listed in ascending order of instrument prowess:

Current members
  • Hamish Blake – Electronic drums, insults, team player, natural percussionist, vibing it out, soft jacket lapels (2015–present)
  • Jack Post – Electronic guitar, insults, understated stage presence, cackling, sponsored, slow guitar (2015–present)
  • Andy Lee – Trumpet, bagpipes, insults, keyboards, backing vocals, piano, keyboard, keytar, other novelty instruments, birthdays (2015–present)
  • Front Person (various) – Vocals (2016–present)
  • Hidden Agenda – Bass, guitar (2016–present)

References[]

  1. ^ "Our bands first gig".
  2. ^ "Never tear us apart with Conrad Sewell".
  3. ^ "The Veronicas on Hamish and Andy".
  4. ^ "Tour Dates".
  5. ^ "Picking Our Band Outfits".

External links[]

  • www.hamishandandy.com
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