THE HEDRONS
BALCONYTV.COM 14/06/2007
PRESENTED BY KIERON BLACK
The Hedrons music is decidedly one part Ramones-esque brawn, one part femme-fatale roar, and one part ruthless guitar-driven nerve. Or as lead guitarist Rosie humorously puts it, "If you listen to us, you wouldn't realise it was girls until Tippi starts singing - you'd think it was a bunch of big hairy guys playing." And although the girls would personally describe their sound as the modern love child of the Foo Fighters and Joan Jett, they would also say that the very same is proudly godfathered by Iggy Pop & The Stooges.
In 2005 The Hedrons were formed in their native Glasgow. With a relentless gigging schedule, a UK Top 20 indie single and further back-to-back Top 5 indie singles chart success, the four-piece have established themselves as one of the country's foremost emerging rock bands. This has only been further emphasized by the recent release of the band's debut album 'One More Won't Kill Us' which accomplished further indie chart triumph when it broke the Top 40 of the official UK indie album chart.
In the UK throughout 2006, The Hedrons were the focus of many a press feature and gained plenty of airplay, including from the likes of Radio 1 and XFM. The band was first tipped in the NME who said of them 'an all-girl four-piece who sound like Patti Smith meets Penetration with a dash of early Blondie and a smidging of The Runaways... you have to hear this band!' Off the back of this attention and all their touring, The Hedrons were confirmed to perform at several summer UK summer festivals including Download at Donington, T In The Park and Guilfest. Of particular significance, the band was invited by the band Alice In Chains to step in as special guests at their only UK show at the London Astoria. Overall, The Hedrons satisfied a healthy appetite of over 120 gigs by the end of the year, accomplishing sell-out status at many venues up and down the UK / Ireland and generally causing much fan frenzy wherever they appeared. One of those gigs gained special significance, when in October The Hedrons became the first British band ever to play a live, virtual gig as 3-D figures inside the virtual world 'Second Life' as avatar's of the band performed in the customised venue 'The Hedro Dome' whilst the real band performed in Glasgow!
Release wise, the band's first single 'Be My Friend' was released in July 2006 on Scottish indie label Measured Records and entered the official UK charts as a top 20 Indie Single, selling out of its limited edition vinyl pressing as did the second single 'I Need You' that was released in October and entered the same chart at number 5. A third single 'Heatseeker' was released in January 2007 and achieved identical top 5 indie chart success. The debut album 'One More Won't Kill Us' was released in February and was met with an official Top 40 indie album chart position.
This year was kicked off in typical Hedrons fashion with the band hitting the road in the UK for yet another headline tour. The album has just been released in Japan to frenzied acclaim, and live dates there are currently being lined up. March will see them venture across the Atlantic for the first time as they fly in for a mini-tour across North America, including showcases at both Canadian Music Week and SXSW as well as dates in New York and California.
Although The Hedrons have just started out in their career, they have already made a healthy impact on the music scene. And, according to drummer Soup, one thing's for sure, "For four girls, we make one hell of a noise."
http://www.myspace.com/thehedrons
http://www.thehedrons.com
Tune in again tomorrow!!!
