After making it to the final of Australia’s Got Talent earlier this year "city meets country" band King Social have spent a whirlwind past few months on the road.
On the back of their national TV success, the Townsville band comprising Angus Milne (lead vocal), Stevie Mitchell (hip hop artist), Jason Baillie (lead guitar), Constantine Hagiaglou (drums), and Waqa Vananalagi (bass) have been in demand.
Apart from their pick of gigs, their songs shot up the Australian iTunes music charts following their grand final performance.
Two of their albums Big Man and It Goes Around also shot into the top 10.
The Australia’s Got Talent judges had showered the band with compliments throughout their performances on the series.
Jack Black was amazed by their ‘‘eclectic mix of styles’’.
‘‘I’ve never really heard that combo before; it’s like start off with a little Pink Floyd, then it went into a little Linkin Park and a little Bob Marley. Very cool, man - very original,” Black said.
Kelly Osbourne dubbed them ‘‘a motley crew of amazingness’’, Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson saying they’d be a “perfect festival band” on the international stage and Sophie Monk declaring her love for resident hip-hop artist Stevie Mitchell.
‘‘It’s a great thing to feel so much love and enthusiasm coming from something we’ve created,” Mitchell said.
‘‘We’ve felt it from audiences in north Queensland for a few years now, but to know that it transcends our region and resonates with listeners all over the country is just awesome.’’
Front man Angus Milne said there had been huge demand for King Social to mount a national tour.
‘‘We’ve been invited to perform at dozens of festivals, our social media has blown up and we can’t keep up with the orders for CDs. It’s crazy,’’ he said.
Mitchell admitted he was initially reluctant to audition for the show.
“I actually had an argument with Angus about going on it at the start, but at the end of the day I really enjoyed it and it’s been nothing but positivity from everybody,” he said.
Since forming in 2013, the five-piece outfit has been gaining traction. Their first EP and music video It Goes Around was released in 2013; with the title track and Whiskey and my Gun both topping the Triple J Unearthed charts.
- King Social will play the Miranda Hotel on Sunday, December 11.
