LEO Leo is an appropriate name for a band that has circled the globe spreading their anarchic, acoustic rock and Eastern European mix up to audiences far and wide. On their triumphant return to Australia in Dec/Jan 2007 be a witness for the legendary live style of Leo whose commitment to performance often leaves them too busy to record. With 5 albums under their belt, entheusiastic audiences and innumerable side projects including Ogres de Barback and 17 Hippies, they have generated a sound that is often hard to describe yet manages to get mosh pits happening from Japan to Russia, Hungary to Australia. Their constant touring reflects their Gypsy inclinations Their music has been described as a cross between The Pogues and Les Negresse Verte, but it goes way deeper than any Anglo comparison. Heavily influenced by a dance style known as Java, which was popular in the late 1800s in Paris, fast paced and accordion heavy the celebratory sounds spawned a French saying faire la java, having a party! And that’s exactly what you get when the 8 piece band takes to the stage. It all started in 1995 in Bordeaux, playing bars and venues and they released their first album Café des Jours Heureux in 1999. Their songs were about the everyday things that happen to them, and it was heavily influenced by punk. 2000 saw La Belle Affaire build on the poetic and realist base that they had first released, drawing us into their own part of the world while dancing like maniacs to their upbeat rhythms. In 2001 they formed a side project, the afore mentioned Ogres and played out at the Latcho Drom in Paris and released Un Air Deux Familles. As a live album it firmly cemented their reputation as an astonishing act and they continued touring and playing at festivals and clubs throughout the world. 2003 saw the release of Quest Terne fine tuning their observations on life, their songwriting abilities and spontaneous creativity and in 2004 they went on to record another live release Hardcore Troubadours with fellow travelers 17 Hippies, straight out of Berlin and amalgamating the sounds German and French to popular acclaim. Now with their new release Les Temps Suspendu, an exclusive Australian double release including a live disc, they have crafted their best yet. From the opening menace of Les Poles, through the gypsy inflections of Au Temps Suspendu and finishing with the drama of Fleur all musical boundaries are crossed and mashed together. In between all of these releases, Leo have remained true to their vision of spreading music to far flung stages, live. In 2002, 2003 and 2004 they toured Australia, and have gathered earnest fans along the way. Don’t miss out on another live installment of the Leo story. For interview opportunities contact: |
