Supported by Skinny Hobos
Bohemian trio Brendon Thomas & The Vibes, comprised of frontman Brendon Thomas, drummer Timothee Nolier and bassist Michael Anderson teleported from the psychadelic 60’s to our TV screens earlier this year, auditioning for the sophomore season of The X Factor NZ in 2015.
Already a seasoned outfit on the local circuit, the boys applied for the show after the announcement of a bands category, a first in the show’s international franchise. After a barnstorming take on Hendrix’s Foxy Lady, Brendon and his stagemates earned themselves a reputation as a live highlight among the show’s top 12.
Wearing their influences (Hendrix, Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Who) on their tassled sleeves, Brendon Thomas and The Vibes made their way to the show’s grand final, putting their signature spin on every song they covered, smashing a few guitars and guiding their debut EP The Eclect to #1 on the NZ iTunes charts.
The trio also managed to catch the ear of Kiwi rock and roll luminary, Split Enz’s Eddie Rayner, who signed on to produce the bands forthcoming ‘Wrap You In The Sun’ EP.
“BTV caught my eye when the appeared on the X-Factor,” says Rayner, “They distinguished themselves with uncompromising performances, and endeared themselves to me and the NZ public with their enthusiasm and genuine delight with 'jamming' with each other and strutting their stuff to audiences. I was reminded of my years in Split Enz, where we felt we were on a mission, germinating in NZ but determined to take our 'thing' to the wider world.”
“The Vibes are great young musicians and remind me hugely of bands from the greatest era of popular music, the 1960s. Bands such as The Small Faces, Blind Faith and even the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The new EP displays their musical and compositional prowess and the quality of Brendon's voice. I'm excited to be working with them, excited to see how the EP is received, and definitely excited about seeing their future unfold!”
‘Wrap You In The Sun’ captures Brendon Thomas and The Vibes live in studio at their most elemental, spanning a range of tracks from supercharged retro riffs and mature pop sensibilities. With a release date just around the corner, the EP is the perfect calling card for the trio’s psychedelic assault – but first, let their nine-date tour introduce you to the tracks in their purest form; live, loud and soaked in the sounds of rock’s glory years.
Brendon Thomas & The Vibes – ‘Wrap You In The Sun’ tour
With local supports.
Tickets from Under The Radar
Thursday, 28 July - Keri Keri - Homestead Tavern
Friday, 29 July - Whangarei - Butter Stone Factory
Saturday, 30 July - Auckland - Galatos
Thursday, 4 August - Rotorua - Pig & Whistle
Friday, 5 August – Hamilton - Nivara Lounge
Saturday, 6 August - Gisborne - Dome Room
Thursday, 11 August - Tauranga - Brew Bar
Friday, 12 August - Palmerston North - The Royal
Saturday, 13 August - Wellington - Bodega
brendonthomasandthevibes.com
