I remember the first time I heard the music from The Trouble with Templeton. I was transfixed by its heart and intimacy. However, somewhere along the way my enthusiasm started to wane as the band’s sound became louder. So I’m thrilled to hear the group’s singer/songwriter Thomas Calder has emerged with a brand new solo side project Daggy Man.
With the first single “Little Whip,” Thomas has returned to his roots. The song is small bit compelling, and just beautiful. It’s our first taste of an EP which Thomas wrote and recorded while travelling around the United Kingdom earlier this year.
Tag: The Trouble with Templeton
The Trouble with Templeton Tour Rookie Album
With their new album Rookie in stores now, The Trouble with Templeton are preparing to head out on the road.
They’ve also released a new single, “You Are New”, to celebrate. This is such a lush orchestral number, and the whimsical film clip is the perfect accompaniment.
“Much like the song itself, the film clip for ‘You Are New’ feels almost like a culmination and fond look back on everything we’ve done up until this point. The sombre tone of ‘Someday Soon’ meets the playfulness of ‘I Wrote a Novel’ and the theatricality of ‘Like A Kid’,” explained The Trouble with Templeton brainchild Thomas Calder. “’You Are New’ feels to me like the real first step into the next part of our journey as a band. And the clip is a perfect representation of that feeling.”
See the band usher in the next chapter at the following shows.
16 August 2013 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
17 August 2013 – Ed Castle, Adelaide
22 August 2013 – Transit Bar, Canberra
23 August 2013 – GoodGod, Sydney
24 August 2013 – Republic Bar, Hobart
29 August 2013 – Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
30 August 2013 – The Zoo, Brisbane
31 August 2013 – The Brewery, Byron Bay
The Trouble with Templeton @ Lizotte’s, Kincumber – 23 December 2012
Amongst the pre-Christmas baking, wrapping, and general craziness it was a pleasure to sit down and relax at my favourite musical haunt, Lizotte’s. It doesn’t matter who I’m going to see, or who’s keeping me company, the evening is always stellar. And it was no exception when I stepped out to see The Trouble with Templeton.
Before the Brisbane band took the stage we were treated to a performance from Sydney duo, The Falls. I loved their debut single “Home” and was thrilled to hear more of their pitch perfect harmonies and gentle folk melodies. Melinda Kirwan is an especially compelling performer who draws you in with her conviction. Their set was sublime, and over all too soon.
Then it was time for The Trouble with Templeton, an outfit that’s grown from solo act to ensemble in recent years. I became a fan in those early days when Thomas Calder adopted his moniker and released his impressive debut Bleeders. He seems at ease with his band, a bunch of talented performers in their own right, but I’m not sure they really fit a venue like Lizotte’s. And I’m not just referring to The Cubby House’s small stage! The sound was turned way up to eleven, a jarring contrast to The Falls’ more delicate set. There’s nothing wrong with being brash and bold, but sometimes less is more. Something tells me I’d have been better able to appreciate their songs if I could catch all the lyrics. It was also disappointing to see “Bleeders” so poorly represented. The cries for “I Wrote a Novel” fell on deaf ears; it would have made the perfect encore if they’d felt like giving us one. Encores are almost mandatory these days, so I was surprised the band didn’t return to the stage.
Any night at Lizotte’s is a good night, and The Trouble With Templeton are clearly a talented band. They just need to pare things a back a bit of they hope to make the impression of their stellar support act.
Image source: own photos
The Trouble With Templeton Come Home
After wowing crowds at sold-out shows in the United States, The Trouble With Templeton are coming home. The folky Brisbane outfit headed by Thomas Calder will play festivals and headliner shows around the country to promote their latest single “Six Months in a Cast.”
The track marks a shift in direction for The Trouble with Templeton, who are now experimenting with a much fuller, rock-tinged sound. It seems the gamble’s paid off though, as the song was the iTunes single of the week in September. It also reached number four on the AIR Independent Radio Charts, thanks largely to the support of Triple J and community radio stations across the country.
The tour kicks off with a hometown performance at the Harvest Festival tomorrow before winding its way up and down the East Coast. Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.
18 November 2012 – Harvest Festival, Brisbane
25 November 2012 – Communion Music Night @ The Toff, Melbourne
28 November 2012 – MGM & SPA Presents… ARIA Week Upstairs at The Beresford, Surry Hills
6 December 2012 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
7 December 2012 – Bon Amici Cafe, Toowoomba
8 December 2012 – 5 Church Street, Bellingen
12 December 2012 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
13 December 2012 – Front Gallery, Canberra
14 December 2012 – Barcode, Wollongong
21 December 2012 – Lizotte’s – Newcastle
22 December 2012 – Lizotte’s – Kincumber
23 December 2012 – Lizotte’s – Dee Why
28 December 2012 – Worker’s Club, Melbourne
29 December 2012 – Falls Festival, Lorne
Image used with permission from Tiny Monster
The Trouble with Templeton Grows with Single Release
The Trouble with Templeton are ushering in a new chapter with the release of the single “Six Months in a Cast.”
What started as a solo act became a duo, then a trio. Now as a five-piece, The Trouble with Templeton are forging forward with a much bolder sound. It’s still as melodic and focused on lyrics, but there’s something much more compelling about this new lush, multi-instrumental act.
“Six Months in a Cast” is available as a digital download today, and The Trouble with Templeton are taking every opportunity to promote it. The Trouble with Templeton frontman Thomas Calder will play solo gigs and shows with his quintet, including a few festivals, some headlining gigs, and dates with Julia Stone, in the coming months. With the I Wrote a Novel EP hitting stores across North America on September 4, The Trouble with Templeton will also do a bit of spruiking stateside.
Here are all the places you can catch this exciting act at home and abroad!
6 September 2012 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine (with Julia Stone – Thomas Calder solo)
7 September 2012 – Forum Theatre, Melbourne (with Julia Stone – full band)
8 September 2012 – Meenlyan Town Hall, Meeniyan (with Julia Stone – Thomas Calder solo)
12 September 2012 – Big Sound Showcase @ Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane (full band)
13 September 2012 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle (with Julia Stone – full band)
14 September 2012 – Dream Festival, Dubbo (full band)
15 September 2012 – The Metro, Sydney (with Julia Stone – full band)
21 September 2012 – Community Centre, Byron Bay (with Julia Stone – Thomas Calder solo)
4-7 October 2012 – 3 showcases at Filter’s Culture Collide, LA (Thomas Calder solo)
16-20 October 2012 – 6 showcases at CMJ Music Marathon, NY (Thomas Calder solo)
26 October 2012 – GOMA Up Late @ Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane (Thomas Calder solo)
Image used with permission from Tiny Monster
The Trouble with Templeton Take on US
It’s going to be a big couple of months for The Trouble with Templeton. Later this month Thomas Calder and his posse will release a five-track EP, featuring songs from his LP Bleeder, to American college radio.
Hopefully that release, which features the lead single “I Wrote A Novel” will build some real buzz ahead of the act’s American shows in September and October. While The Trouble with Templeton’s stateside, the band will play some industry showcases and write and record some new material. Those tracks, as well as the one’s they’re currently laying down in Australia, will form album number two.
Before they spread their wings The Trouble with Templeton will find time to play some local shows. Queenslanders can catch the band at Black Bear Lodge on July 11 and 12. They’ll also support Banjamin Francis Leftwich at Victoria’s Northcote Social Club on July 16 and Sydney’s The Vanguard on July 17. Then it’s back to Melbourne to support Father John Misty at The Corner on July 28.
Image used with permission from Tiny Monster
The Trouble with Templeton’s Bloody Good Music Video
The Trouble with Templeton’s always impressed me with his artistic music videos which are consistently the perfect match to his songs. But he’s taken things to another level with his latest clip for “Someday Soon.”
I’ll warn you up front, this video isn’t for the faint hearted or squeamish. There’s an awful lot of blood, so much that I had trouble stomaching it. But it’s the sort of clip we might expect from a big international act rather than an independent Aussie artist. It makes one hell of an impact.
Again the clip sees The Trouble with Templeton collaborating with his brother Josh Calder.
“We always come from a place where our sole aim is to do justice to the music, rather than trying to create something that looks ‘cool’,” Josh explained. “We always strive to create something that really reflects the songs mood, character and style. We’re both story tellers at heart and with each music video we try to up the ante.”
Is your mind blown?
The Trouble with Templeton Releases “I Wrote a Novel”
“I Wrote a Novel” is one of my favourite tracks from The Trouble with Templeton’s debut album Bleeders, so I’m thrilled to see it’s also the disc’s latest single.
Its release is accompanied with this music video which is every bit as whimsical as I hoped it’d be. Remarkably the clip was shot in just one take on one camera. They just don’t make them like this anymore.
Again The Trouble with Templeton worked with his brother Josh on the clip, just as he did on the “Bleeders” video. I think they’ve done a great job, don’t you?
The Trouble with Templeton will play at the Peats Ridge Blues and Roots Festival over the New Year, so if you’re there make sure you head on down to the Chai Tent and check him out!
“Bleeders” – The Trouble with Templeton
All too often I get excited about an album on the strength of its single, before discovering the long player doesn’t live up to the hype. It’s much rarer to find a disc that makes me appreciate the artist even more than I did before, but I found it with The Trouble with Templeton’s Bleeders.
I became enamored with the title track last month, commenting on its slow burning beauty. However just quietly I wondered whether that slow burning charm might wear a little thin and turn sleepy on an extended release. Happily Bleeders is about more than this mellow number. While it sits well on the album, it’s just one side of a very diverse artist.
I became excited at the opening track “When Will,” a song that started quietly but snuck up on me, enveloping me in such gorgeous sounds. The Trouble with Templeton has a real knack for creating soundscapes which make lush backdrops for his emotive lyrics. As a writer I was particularly drawn to “I Wrote a Novel”; it’s easy acoustic folk strumming and harmonica strains blend beautifully with the very personal yet relatable lyrics. After hearing such velvety vocals the gritty ones of “Someday Soon” took me by surprise, but they were so fitting for a track which channels the slave roots of rhythm and blues. I also loved the way the playful background vocals of “30 Something” propelled the tale of dissatisfaction.
I enjoyed listening to Bleeders so much that I was shocked when after just nine tracks, it was over. It really felt a little short, but that might not be such a bad thing. I was left wanting more, and surely that’s better than a disc that drags.
Bleeders is an impressive debut for this Brisbane singer-songwriter. I only hope he doesn’t leave us waiting too long for the next one.
Image source: The Trouble with Templeton Bandcamp page
The Trouble with Templeton Gets Spooky
Brisbane singer-songwriter The Trouble with Templeton should appeal to all the Twilight fans out there with his eerie new video for “Bleeders.” It’s pretty clever to appeal to the current taste for the macabre, but there’s more here than simply smart marketing. The song’s stunning, a real slow burner than builds beautifully.
“Bleeders” is the title track from The Trouble with Templeton’s forthcoming solo album, which was impressively self-recorded and produced. It doesn’t drop until November 4, but if you’ve fallen for the song you can own it now for free through The Trouble with Templeton’s Bandcamp page. And if you like what you hear you can catch The Trouble with Templeton at the following shows.
21 Oct 2011 – The Vanguard, Sydney (supporting Skipping Girl Vinegar)
4 November 2011 – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi (supporting Skipping Girl Vinegar)
5 November 2011 – Beetle Bar, Brisbane
11 November 2011 – Fresh, Launceston
12 November 2011 – Republic Bar, Hobart
31 December 2011–2 January 2012 – Peats Ridge Festival, Central Coast