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Juke Kartel rock ‘n’ rolls back into Mildura

Posted on January 6, 2012

Juke Kartel frontman Toby Rand wows the crowd during the band's last visit to Mildura nearly three years ago.

By VINNIE RODI

MILDURA’S music lovers are in for a special treat tomorrow night, with former Melbourne-based rockers, Juke Kartel, to take the Sandbar stage as part of its ‘Freeway Oz Tour.’

Making their second appearance at the venue in three years, the current Hollywood residents like it here, with front man Toby Rand saying the five-piece was excited to be back in Mildura.

“We had an absolute ball the last time we were here,” he said. “The people are fantastic, and the Sandbar is a great venue for live music.

“I personally enjoyed performing on the outdoor stage, while also having the chance to mingle with locals.

“It’s exciting to be heading back, and once again showcase our music to a town that has been very good to us in the past.”

Known for its ‘loud and proud’ style, Juke Kartel has come a long way in its short career, going on to share the stage with rock legends including former Motley Crew bad boy Tommy Lee, Nickelback, and Slash and Friends (Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Navarro, Fergie, Billy Idol, Andrew Stockdale, Chester Bennington, Travis Barker and more).

In fact since moving to the United States, Juke Kartel has been regularly compared to their Canadian counterparts, Nickelback – labelled as the Australian version of Nickelback from a popularity standpoint.

“It’s a comparison that’s been put to us a couple of times,” Toby said. “A number of music critics have said that from a popularity and fan-base point of view we’re like the Nickelback of Australia.

“To be compared to those guys – who have had enjoyed tremendous success – is flattering, and I certainly wouldn’t be complaining if we enjoyed half as much success as those guys have.

Toby said the two years since the group’s last visit to Mildura had proved hectic ones, relocating to a new home in Hollywood, establishing a solid fan-base in the US, and signing with an American-based record label at the top of the list.

“It’s been a hectic ride since making the permanent move to Hollywood,” he said.

“We’ve re-recorded an album, played a large number of gigs across the country, and have really established ourselves as a favourite band for a number of different people.

“It’s been educating, challenging and a lot of fun.

“It’s a move that has really allowed us to work with the right people – including top-line producers and artists – and improve as a band.

“Our style has also changed, while before we considered ourselves a mid-tempo rock band, we’ve taken it up a notch in recent times, and will be unveiling five or six new tracks on this tour that can only be described as energetic and fast-paced.”

Like most young rock bands, Juke Kartel has had to pay their dues in the music industry, spending seven years playing in Melbourne’s pub scene.

The group – which now consists of Toby on vocals, Dale Winters on guitar, Jay Pinfold on drums, Tommy Kende and AJ Oliveira on keyboard – found themselves on the verge of kick-starting their careers four years ago, after being asked to support Nickelback during the Melbourne leg of their Australian tour.

Soon after opening two shows for Nickelback, the band’s future was put on hold, with Toby taking part in the US reality show ‘Rockstar Supernova,’ where many Mildura Weekly reader’s may well have gotten their first glimpse of the enigmatic Aussie.

Toby eventually finished third in the competition, coming close to taking out the title.

Winning would have meant instant fame, and the chance to front a band consisting of former Guns and Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke, former Metallica bass player Jason Newsted, and former Motley Crew drummer (and one of Toby’s music idols) Tommy Lee.

As fate would have it, coming third proved a lucky break for Toby and Juke Kartel, with the newly-formed Rockstar Supernova managing only one album before calling it quits.

Toby opted to return to his Juke Kartel band mates following the show’s conclusion, and just as the band’s career looked destined to return to the pubs of Melbourne, the Aussie rockers were instead given the chance to support Rockstar Supernova in the US, Canada, and Australia.

Toby, at the time, said the world tour had introduced the band to the rocker lifestyle, describing the chance to play in front of huge audiences, and perform in massive stadiums, as an opportunity of a lifetime.

Shortly after finishing their stint with Rockstar Supernova, Juke Kartel started work on their debut album – ‘Nowhere Left to Hide.’

Unfortunately the group became frustrated with the album’s progress, opting to change record labels.

“Our first stint in the recording studio was a simple case of bad timing,” Toby said.

“Our first record company was trying to control how we sounded, trying to turn us into something we didn’t feel comfortable becoming.

“It just didn’t sound like Juke Kartel.”

Signing with international management firm ‘HJM Management’ in 2008, the band managed to secure a worldwide record deal with Emporium Music, and the opportunity to pursue their own sound and musicality.

‘Nowhere Left to Hide’ finally hit the shelves at the start of 2009, with the boys then deciding to embark on a national and international tour.

Already household names in the United States thanks largely to Toby’s popularity and success on Rockstar Supernova, the band decided an official introduction (or reintroduction) to Australian audiences was needed, with Mildura one of the lucky areas to host the band in 2009.

Since then they have broken further into the US music scene, releasing their second album ‘Levolution’ (which included new material and re-recorded songs from Nowhere Left to Hide) with Carved Records, while also enjoying chart success.

Toby said following the conclusion of the Freeway Oz Tour, the group would look to continue going from strength to strength, before entering the recording studio.

“The music industry has changed a fair bit in the past couple of years,” he said. “Nowadays it’s all about consolidating, building a demand for your product, and then producing.

“We’re surrounded by great people who are in the know, and who are helping us get to where we want to be.

“The plan is certainly over the next few months to head back to Hollywood, continue building our fan base, and eventually get back into the studio.”

Juke Kartel will be supported tomorrow night by fellow rockers ‘10,000,’ with tickets $10 at the door – which will open from 9pm.

“We want to see a great crowd there,” Toby said. “Mildura is a town that knows how to rock, and we’re just looking forward to getting amongst it again, and sharing a beer with a few people after the show.”

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