Youth Group
Catch Youth Group at the Vanguard before they say goodbye Newtown, hello New York.
By Brooke Salisbury
Youth Group on board their Sydney studio
Newtown's café lined streets and grungy nightlife bustle with Sydney character. Youth Group's Toby Martin loves it, but there's guilt deep down. "I moved to Sydney in ‘97 and I've lived in Newtown since... It's done me well, but I'm pretty keen to live somewhere else; New York actually. Youth Group as a band is moving there later this year. When The Night Is Ours is released we'll head over and see how it goes."
The band's catchy guitar pop has been well received overseas since their second album Skeleton Jar was a hit in 2005. They've been chipping away quietly since 1997, but success has been less urgent than enjoying the ride. "Releasing the last two records and touring them has changed things," says Martin. "It's made Youth Group a full time thing because up until now I never seriously considered the possibility of living this kind of life."
This epiphany is due largely to global record giant, Epitaph. The band was picked up after Skeleton Jar, despite the label never having seen them play live. Did the album represent a creative development or a coming of own for the band?
"I didn't even know it would be released!" laughs Martin. "It was recorded when we had two members leaving and more joining; we weren't even a band. It was more, ‘We've got some songs, let's record them.'"
If there were any remaining questions to the bands credibility, 2006 cleared things up in a big way. A decade's hard work was finally recognised when they covered the 80s Alphaville hit Forever Young, earning endless mainstream praise. The band rode the wave of popularity into their next record, Casino Twilight Dogs, although the release couldn't have been further from the pop sounds of Forever Young.
"I want people to think our sound has changed every time we release a record. We don't play our older stuff anymore, but there's reference to the past albums in every release. The recording of [1999 single] We Are Mean signaled our exploration into the world of the miniature Casio keyboard and we still use it now. We've got a more extensive range of keyboards and synthesizers these days, but often we'll be recording and say ‘Maybe we should try the Casio. Oh, that's so good!'"
Where their third album Casino Twilight Dogs revelled in a gritty, live sound, The Night Is Ours is polished. "The sound we went for this time was more dense and layered. It's a carefully arranged album, and it's taken much longer to record. We've actually had to go back and strip some songs down again because we got carried away."
The album sees the boys back on the road, after supports to Coldplay, Kings of Leon and Interpol, so it's no wonder they're feeling inspired. "Coldplay are completely captivating. Their shows are total art, everything's so carefully done. They're the best big stadium band I've ever seen."
It's those shoes Martin eventually sees Youth Group trying on for size. "Without sounding too vain, I think our sound is best suited to that stadium feel," Martin muses. "We've got a wide-screen, cinematic approach to music. We enjoy playing smaller shows just as much. I'm sure we'll be playing some very intimate gigs when we arrive in New York."
And as for little old Newtown... "Nothing against King Street but I don't think it's going anywhere. I'm sure I'll cross its path again when we come back some day."
The Night Is Ours is out through Ivy League now
Youth Group play their "Intimate Theatre Show" at the Vanguard on 30 July
Listen to the new track 'All This Shall Pass' by using the player below