The Axis of Awesome
 |
The Axis of Awesome | |
|---|---|
| Origin |  Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Genres | Comedy rock |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Members | Jordan Raskopoulos (Lead vocals) Lee Naimo (Guitar, vocals) Benny Davis (vocals, Keyboard) |
| Website | www.axisofawesome.net |
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, their name being a play on the phrase "axis of evil" used by United States President George W. Bush. 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, titled "The Axis of Awesome Comeback Spectacular", received a Moosehead Award. They took the show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2008 where it was received with critical and audience acclaim.[1][2]
After the Edinburgh festival, The Axis of Awesome's song "4 Chords", a medley 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 "4 Chords" went viral, receiving millions of hits on YouTube. The success on YouTube 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 9am with 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 wove the bands songs into a narrative involving a giant bee. The Axis of Awesome vs Bee was also performed at the Sydney Comedy Festival (formerly 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.
In February 2010, The Axis of Awesome released their second album Infinity Rock Explosion! and performed sold out seasons at The Adelaide Fringe Festival, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, The Sydney Comedy Festival and The Singapore Flipside Festival. They received The Time Out award for best local talent at the Sydney comedy festival and recorded their first DVD "The Axis of Awesome Live" which was released in Australia on October 6, 2010 by Punchline and Beyond Entertainment.
Discography
- Scissors, Paper, ROCK! (2007)
- Infinity Rock Explosion! (2010)
- Animal Vehicle (2011)
Awards
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival Moosehead Award 2008
- Time Out Sydney Comedy Festival Best Australian Act Award 2010
- Time Out Sydney Best Comedy Show 2010-2011
Four Chords Song
"Four Chords" is one of The Axis of Awesome's best-known works. It is a medley of popular songs that all follow the pop-punk chord progression. The work is an attempt to outline the perceived formulaic nature of popular music. The "Four Chords", in Roman numeral analysis, are written I - V - vi - IV.[6] Since these four chords are played as an ostinato, the band also uses a vi - IV - I - V, usually from the song "Save Tonight" to the song "Torn". The band plays the song in the key of E so the progression they use is E-B-C♯m-A. Many of the songs featured in the medley have been transposed from their original keys.
The medley of songs that composes the "Four Chords" song is continually varied, often incorporating new releases. The Axis' song "Birdplane" (itself a parody of the Five for Fighting song "Superman") is always included, as well as Australian folk song "Waltzing Matilda" and "Down Under" by the Australian band Men at Work. The melody usually starts with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'".
In 2011, Axis of Awesome played a version of this song at Red Nose Day 2011.
On July 20, 2011, Axis of Awesome released an official music video for "Four Chords" on their YouTube channel.
References
- ^ Comedy: Axis of Awesome Comeback Spectacular - Scotsman.com Living
- ^ 2008: The Axis of Awesome Comeback Spectacular | Fest - the ultimate guide to Edinburgh Festival reviews
- ^ BBC - Radio 1 - Nihal Archive
- ^ The Axis of Awesome vs Bee | Melbourne International Comedy Festival - 1-26 April 2009
- ^ 2009 Adelaide Cabaret Festival - 5th - 20th June 2009
- ^ Lynskey, Dorian (17 December 2010), "Don't Stop Believin': the power ballad that refused to die", The Guardian, p. 3 (Film & music), retrieved 19 February 2011