Switch 3
Encyclopedia
Switch 3 is an Australian band that began in the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...

 in late 2002.

History

Switch 3 formed when Maf and Mick's previous band, LapSpeed, folded. Although LapSpeed was primarily a punk band, both Maf and Mick wanted to try something different with a new lineup and new sound. The search for a guitarist was short lived, with Maf making a call to his bass playing brother Ben, who would eventually join the band as a guitarist, passing bass duties to Mick. Next was the drummer. After a couple of abortive starts the three decided to put up some flyers looking for "a drummer who must be quick and use a double kick". Nick Lucey fit that bill perfectly and the early days of Switch 3 started.

Each member brought a different musical taste to the band. Maf grew up listening to such bands as Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...

, the Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...

, and the Misfits. Mick was heavily influenced by Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...

, and Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...

. Ben brought the old school metal edge with his preference for Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...

, while Nick sat firmly in the pop punk camp.

Switch 3 quickly recorded a demo EP in 2003, Sidelined, followed up by another EP called Memories Fade in 2005. Touring on the back of Memories Fade took them to Japan where they played with some of the countries top melodic punk bands in Tokyo, Osaka and Shirahama.

After the tour, Nick left the band to pursue his interests in another group.

The search for a new drummer ended when Evan Dorrian joined the fold. Evan stayed with the band through the recording of its first full length album, Calm Before, and subsequent Australian based touring - after which he departed for Europe to pursue a career in jazz and experimental music.

Ben, Mick and Maf knew they had to get the right person to take over drum duties - someone that could help push the sound they wanted to craft to another level. With a relocation to Brisbane, Australia the search began in earnest and quickly ended the moment Luke Pammenton showed his chops honed from his time obtaining a Masters of drumming at the Queensland Conservatorium and regular sessions with his jazz band The Sounscapes Quintet. Luke joined Switch 3 in 2009

Tours and TV appearances

Switch 3 conducted a tour of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 in 2005, which saw them sharing the stage with Japan's top melodic punk bands and winning over capacity crowds night after night in Shirahama, Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...

 and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

. Switch 3 have also had their songs played on local and national radio stations within Australia, as well as appearing on television shows Video Hits
Video Hits
Video Hits may be the name of a television series devoted to music videos:* Video Hits * Video Hits...

, Rage
Rage (TV program)
Rage is a popular all-night Australian music video program broadcast on ABC1 on Friday nights, Saturday mornings and Saturday nights. It was first screened on the weekend of Friday, 17 April 1987. With Soul Train no longer being produced, it is the oldest music television program currently still...

 and Saturday Disney
Saturday Disney
Saturday Disney is a children's program which has aired on the Seven Network in Australia for over 20 years, with the first episode going to air on 20 January 1990. Although, according to the hosts during the 800th episode of the show, they revealed the show premiered in March 1990, causing...

.

Switch 3's second tour of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 took place in 2010 during which the band welcomed the distinction of being the first Western band to ever perform in Tanabe (during the Tanabe Summer Festival). The tour also took it to Tokyo - a city that seems to keep drawing the band back as evidenced by word of a third tour to the city taking place in May 2011.

Discography

Sidelined
Sidelined was recorded in late 2003 and was released as a demo in limited numbers.

Tracks
  • 1. All You Have To Say
  • 2. Sidelined
  • 3. Tiny
  • 4. Today
  • 5. Wish I


Memories Fade
Recorded, produced and mixed by Anton Hagop
Anton Hagop
Anton Hagop is an ARIA award winning music producer / engineer who has worked with the likes of Silverchair, Powderfinger, Will Smith, Missy Higgins, Natalie Imbruglia and The Superjesus. He is currently based in Sydney, Australia.----...

 at Electric Avenue Studios, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...

, December 2004. Mastered by David Macquarie at Studios 301
Studios 301
Studios 301 is an Australian recording studio. Established in 1926, Studios 301 is the longest running professional recording studio in the southern hemisphere. It is also Australia’s largest Studio complex featuring state of the art 72 channel Neve 88R console and 72 channel SSL K Series console...

. Music by Davis, Davis and Hoorweg, lyrics by M Davis (AMCOS). Cover by Peter Rohen.

Tracks
  • 1. Memories Fade
  • 2. Stain
  • 3. Blank Faces
  • 4. Bulletproof
  • 5. Taking Stock


Calm Before
Recorded and mixed by Anton Hagop
Anton Hagop
Anton Hagop is an ARIA award winning music producer / engineer who has worked with the likes of Silverchair, Powderfinger, Will Smith, Missy Higgins, Natalie Imbruglia and The Superjesus. He is currently based in Sydney, Australia.----...

 at Origami Studios, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...

, January 2008. Produced by Anton Hagop
Anton Hagop
Anton Hagop is an ARIA award winning music producer / engineer who has worked with the likes of Silverchair, Powderfinger, Will Smith, Missy Higgins, Natalie Imbruglia and The Superjesus. He is currently based in Sydney, Australia.----...

 and Switch 3. Mastered by Ted Jensen
Ted Jensen
Ted Jensen is an American recording engineer. Jensen is the chief mastering engineer at Sterling Sound. He started his career as a mastering engineer in 1976 and is currently the most active Mastering Engineer in the industry...

 at Sterling Sound, New York. Music by Davis, Davis and Hoorweg, lyrics by M Davis (AMCOS). Cover photograph by Ali Nasseri, design by Peter Rohen.

Tracks
  • 1. Last Day
  • 2. Blackout
  • 3. Come To Me
  • 4. Esperance
  • 5. The Prize
  • 6. Rows of Sleep
  • 7. An Axe, Hessian Sack and Quicklime
  • 8. Calm Before
  • 9. The Dunes
  • 10. Sometimes

Equipment

Switch 3 use:
  • Mesa/Boogie Amps - (www.mesaboogie.com)
  • Yamaha
    Yamaha
    Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...

     Guitars - (www.yamaha.com)
  • Smith Optics - (www.smithoptics.com)
  • Vance Custom Guitars
  • BBE Sound
  • TC Electronic
    TC Electronic
    TC Electronic is a Danish audio equipment manufacturer.Its current product ranges include guitar effects, bass amplification, computer audio interfaces, audio plug-in software, live sound equalisers, studio and post production equipment, studio effect processors and broadcast loudness processors...

  • Yamaha Drums

External links

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