hawnay troof
Evading trends and falling into repetition might be career suicide for most, yet somehow Hawnay Troof, the solo outlet of Vice Cooler, has defied these odds and created a world of his own. Over the past four albums he has mixed drive, impulsiveness, and an ever-evolving vision to create some very dividing and interesting sounds. Avoiding all pigeonholes, Daggers At The Moon is the new album and continues the Hawnay Troof trajectory.
Since the release of Islands Of Ayle in 2008, Vice Cooler (yes, that is his legal name) completed a world tour and watched Hawnay Troof’s profile expand by leaps and bounds. The video for “Connection” was voted the #2 Indie Video of 2008 by MTV2’s Subterranean viewers (beating out heavyweights like Bjork and MGMT), and shortly after ranked as #1 on MTVU. He performed at Australia’s Parklife Festival, along with headliner, Peaches. In 2009 he also was chosen to open for High Places, Matt and Kim, and Vivian Girls, and stole the stage at Austin’s Fun Fun Fun Fest by creating a near riot in the parks dustbowl. In between Hawnay Troof business, Vice remixed music by Ssion, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Yacht. He also played drums in Chicks On Speed, Boredoms BOADRUM 88, and The Raincoats while also beginning work on a collaborative art book/ band with Mira Aroyo of Ladytron. All in all, it’s been a busy year.
Emotionally rawer than any previous release, Daggers At The Moon captures the mind of someone troubled yet trying to function in the normal world (Vice has been diagnosed with mental illness). From the epic one chord sadness of the self-questioning “This Is How” to the upbeat happiness celebrated in “Body Armageddon,” the moods run all over the map. The albums closer, the timid “Everything Is,” features another new addition to the HT artillery: a piano. Every song calls on his experience as a “free” drummer, connecting tightly to the pulse that drives the album. Vice Cooler’s output on Daggers is a captivating look into one of the most creative and underrated minds of America’s under- ground. With co-production and mixing from Greg Saunier of Deerhoof, the sound is more pure and crisp than past HT albums, marking an important crossroads for Hawnay. Over the years, Hawnay Troof has known the power of surprise. This is someone who once fell of a stage into a lake during a show, yet somehow went on to win accolades on MTV and play to tens of thousands of screaming kids at rock festivals. He lives by the motto that he chanted on his last album: “Live for no rules”. So if there is anything to expect from Daggers At The Moon, it should be to lose all expectations and enjoy the wonderment.
JUST ANOTHER DAY or TWO of HAWNAY MAYHEM – DAGGERS AT THE MOON TOUR…
WED 3 MAR – MIGHTY MIGHTY Wellington
THUR 4 MAR – GOODBYE BLUE MONDAY Christchurch
FRI 5 MAR – KINGS ARMS Auckland
SAT 6 MAR – LOST WEEKEND Brisbane Riverstage
WED 10 MAR NSC Melbourne
with guests SIMO SOO (Syd), YUKA DISCO BEANS and KT SPIT
FRI 12 MAR SPECTRUM Sydney with THE SCARE
* Album includes Mary Pearson (High Places), David Scott Stone (Melvins, Unwound, Sads), Greg Saunier (Deerhoof), Ed Rodrigez (Deerhoof, XBXRX), Annie Lewan- dowski (Curtains), Bretzel Goring, Jenny Hoyston, Carla Bozulich (Evangelista), Liz Harris (Grouper), and Iggybaby.
* Held several art shows in 2008- 2009 while also self publishing two books of his art: The Dollar And Deed Tour and NFJM026. Both went out of print on the Internet within one hour of release.
* Toured with High Places, Peaches, The Gossip, Eagles Of Death Metal, Mates Of State, Rogue Wave, Deerhoof, Glass Candy, and Stereo Total.
* Played at Lowlands, Fun Fun Fun, Parklife, Ososphere, and For Noise festivals
