The Red Paintings & their fansstart their own revolution

Tue 19th Feb, 2008 in Local News

Six months ago, Brisbane band The Red Paintings set forth on an ambitious adventure of recording an album completely funded by fan donations.

After previous difficulties with record labels, lead songwriter Trash McSweeney wanted to release their debut album independently, avoiding the bureaucracy that in the past has threatened to stifle his creative mind. After successfully raising money to release their EP Feed the Wolf in June last year, they set upon a mission which many naysayers believed was beyond this five-piece’s wildest imaginations. This mission was to raise $40,000, entirely from the generosity of their fans, to record their debut full-length release The Revolution Is Never Coming.

The band have promised every donation of $40 or more is considered a pre-order for the new album, and it will also see your name in the thankyou column of the liner notes. A similar concept is currently being used by songstress Jill Sobule and other high-profile musicians (notably Radiohead and Saul Williams) have recently avoided major labels to retain their indie edge.

A mere six months later, The Red Paintings have proven they have plenty of support, as they comfortably raised the money to record the LP. The band is about to dive head-first into their last month in the studio and readying the artwork for an expected release of mid 2008.

Trash McSweeney has thanked his fans on their website and whets their appetite with the promise of an epic release featuring a plethora of instruments including a 35 piece string orchestra, brass, woodwinds and a choir featuring fans who have left their “fingerprint” on the album. Trash also thanks his fans for putting their faith in the band despite limited support from the Australian Music Industry and considers this album all the more special knowing that it is an album made for the fans, with the help of the fans.

I, for one, can’t wait to hear the new album which undoubtedly will be one of the best releases this year.