The Axis of Awesome
The Axis of Awesome |
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The Axis of Awesome is an Australian musical comedy act. The band's members are Jordan Raskopoulos, Lee Naimo and Benny Davis. The trio cover a wide variety of performance styles, and perform a combination of original material and pop parodies.
History
The Axis of Awesome formed in 2006. The trio were heavily involved in improv theatre at university in Sydney and decided to try something different. The band played at a few stand up comedy nights and improv events in Sydney and performed a fortnightly segment on fbi radio, but got their first big break when they released a number of rap parodies lampooning the 2007 Australian Federal Election.
The band gained further success performing in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and making television and radio appearances. Their 2008 Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, The Axis of Awesome Comeback Spectacular received a Moosehead Award. They took that show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2008 and the show was met with critical and audience acclaim[1][2].
After the Edinburgh festival, The Axis of Awesome's song, 4 Chords, a medly of 36 pop songs that all contain the same basic chord structure, received airplay on BBC Radio 1[3]. This airplay drove listeners to the internet and the 4 Chords song went viral, The YouTube version of the 4 Chords song has almost 1.5 million hits. This prompted increased interest, both home and abroad, and the Axis performed the song on many radio and television programs, including Nova 969, Triple M, The Footy Show, Good News Week and David and Kim.
In April 2009 the Axis of Awesome performed at The Melbourne International Comedy Festival with a new show, The Axis of Awesome vs Bee.[4], The show weaved the bands songs into a narrative involving a giant bee. The Axis of Awesome vs Bee was also performed at the Sydney Comedy Festival (formely The Cracker Comedy Festival) in May 2009.
The Axis toured regional Queensland and New South Wales as part of The Melbourne Comedy festival roadshow and performed at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival[5] in May and June. They returned to The Edinburgh fringe in August, with a new sell-out show The Axis of Awesome: Infinity Rock Explosion and appeared at the World's Funniest Island festival in Sydney in October.
Discography
- Scissors, Paper, ROCK! (2007)
Awards
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival Moosehead Award 2008
References
- ^ http://living.scotsman.com/best-of-the-festival-2008/Comedy-Axis-of-Awesome-Comeback.4417124.jp
- ^ http://fest.theskinny.co.uk/article/93746-the-axis-of-awesome-comeback-spectacular
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/nihal/archive.shtml
- ^ http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/season/2009/show/the-axis-of-awesome-vs-bee/
- ^ http://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/adelaidecabaret/archive/2009/index58e5.html?view=CatalogMgr&catalog=220&item=182512