ROYMACKONKEY

Indie Week launch Part 2: more from The Hideout

Roy Mackonky took the stage. Man, these guys are yet another reason not to judge a book by its cover…. or in this case, a band by its name. I knew very little about these guys going in, and off the bat their name sounded a little hokey to me. I was expecting some kind of sentimental folk band with a western twist, and man was I wrong! This Australian group knocked me over with their hard edge and melodic vocals. The lead singer looks like the front man for Three Doors Down, but with a better voice. These guys are high energy and really flourish with their harder songs. With a sound along the lines of Disturbed, these guys will pump you up and keep you engaged. Definitely check them out TONIGHT at The Bovine! - Mikey Riot

Indie Week launch Part 2: more from The Hideout

Roy Mackonky took the stage. Man, these guys are yet another reason not to judge a book by its cover…. or in this case, a band by its name. I knew very little about these guys going in, and off the bat their name sounded a little hokey to me. I was expecting some kind of sentimental folk band with a western twist, and man was I wrong! This Australian group knocked me over with their hard edge and melodic vocals. The lead singer looks like the front man for Three Doors Down, but with a better voice. These guys are high energy and really flourish with their harder songs. With a sound along the lines of Disturbed, these guys will pump you up and keep you engaged. Definitely check them out TONIGHT at The Bovine! - Mikey Riot

The Australian alternative rock band Roymackonkey took the stage next with a powerful stage presence.

From the outright imposing vocals of front man John Coulehan, to the mind-melting power of lead guitarist Darryl Barba, with the soulful bass of Brian McLeod, and the thunder of drummer Fletcher Bowman.

PLUS, John is nice enough to give me a free copy of their latest cd. - Curtis Sindrey

"The Northern Territory boys win my ‘band most likely to get flogged on Triple J’ award and I mean that in every good way possible. I kept thinking ‘WWF meets rock and roll.’ For the record, Roy Mackonkey is frickin’ cool. They’re melodic and edgy, loud and fun, all with a very energetic lead singer who pulls these crazed Henry Rollins faces. It’s classic. Imagine the contagiousness of Matchbox 20 with balls, the fun of the Bare naked Ladies, and the power of Live, and the soundtrack to a WWF match, all rolled into one. Rock and roll, baby. The crowd loved it. Keep an ear to your radio dial - if there is any justice in this world, Roy Mackonkey songs will be blaring out of your car radio".
Excerpt from Jim Beam National Campus Bands Competition Website 2002 review - Jim Beam National Campus Bands Competition Website

"The Northern Territory boys win my ‘band most likely to get flogged on Triple J’ award and I mean that in every good way possible. I kept thinking ‘WWF meets rock and roll.’ For the record, Roy Mackonkey is frickin’ cool. They’re melodic and edgy, loud and fun, all with a very energetic lead singer who pulls these crazed Henry Rollins faces. It’s classic. Imagine the contagiousness of Matchbox 20 with balls, the fun of the Bare naked Ladies, and the power of Live, and the soundtrack to a WWF match, all rolled into one. Rock and roll, baby. The crowd loved it. Keep an ear to your radio dial - if there is any justice in this world, Roy Mackonkey songs will be blaring out of your car radio".
Excerpt from Jim Beam National Campus Bands Competition Website 2002 review - Jim Beam National Campus Bands Competition Website

October 13/14/15 – Roymackonkey @ A whole lot of venues

First off, you might be wandering about all the dates. Well, if you were making the never-ending (painful) flight over to Toronto from Australia, you’d be squeezing in as many gigs as possible into your weekend too. Roymackonkey are alt-rockers with quite a fab EP out, “Cassandra Never Lies,” which showcases a wide range of rock stylings between songs, as well as within each track. In fact, you may find yourself checking them out more than once, just to discover all their musical nuances. Formed in 1997, Roymackonkey is anything but new to the music industry and they’ve played with the likes of Wolfmother, Shihad and Screaming Jets. In Toronto, they’ll play October 13 @ Hideout, October 14 @ Bovine Sex Club (1:30 a.m.) and October 15 at the Australian Showcase (can’t wait for this!) @ Underground Garage (10:30 p.m.) - Barbara Pavone

Edition 1 -THU 24 AUG 2006, Page 026
Roy's boys to rock on
as top acts strut stuff
By BEN LANGFORD

String-snapping
fun as Shredder
takes to stage
THEY call Roy Mackonkey's Darryl Barba ``The Shredder'' ... well, if they don't they should.
The rocking guitarist is building himself a reputation as a prolific breaker of strings. He went through four of them at a gig on Sunday night.
Barba says his approach is simple: ``Play fast, play hard.'' He said he's gone through almost a full set of strings in their past three gigs.
``They usually last me a couple of shows,'' he said. ``(That last gig) it was four stings I took out.''
Some of the stars of Territory music will rock the Star Shell tonight in one of the musical highlights of the Darwin Festival. Mackonkey will be playing last.
The NT Music Festival has been running with the Darwin Festival, and tonight's Showcase will feature five of Darwin's top music acts turned loose on the huge sound system at the Shell.
Roy Mackonkey have been one of Darwin's favourite bands for years.
They're known for their acoustic sets as well as their harder style, but Barba said they're going to make the most of the sound system and give the crowd a healthy dose of hard rock.
``The acoustic shows are a lot softer, easier listening,'' he said.
``But the heavier shows are a bit more energetic.
``It makes us want to rock out.
``The (Star Shell) guys have been handling the sound pretty well for the last couple of shows, so I'm pretty excited.
``It will be good to see some faces out there showing support for local acts.
``We haven't played with The Groovesmiths before ... or Cooperblack.
``It should be a good mixture.''
The other acts on the bill are Blastcorp, Cooperblack, worldfly, and The Groovesmiths.
Blastcorp is multitalented musician Kris Keogh, a performer known for his ability to bring up the emotions with his slow love songs and clear the dance floor with his ``undanceable'' dance music -- all in the same gig. His music was described by a New York reviewer as ``like listening to a PlayStation hump a John Cage record''.
Continuing the innovative music will be worldfly, who combine cello and more traditional rock instruments in songs that saw frontman Michael Maher win the Australian Songwriters Association Songwriter of the Year Award last year.
The Groovesmiths and Cooperblack will make an interesting combination, with The Groovesmiths playing music described as ``organic roots and hip-hop'' and Cooperblack's music being called ``cyber jazz, organic electro.''
While multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Conlon is responsible for most of the layered sounds, vocals, drums and keyboards add to the post-punk mix.
The NT Music Festival Showcase is at the Star Shell from 8pm tonight. Tickets $15/$10.
Caption: HEARTSTRING BREAKERS: Darwin rocker John Coulehan of Roy Mackonkey, set to go off tonight
Illus: Photo
Library Heading: 2OO6 darwin festival
Section: ENTERTAINMENT
Type: Music NT
© Copyright. All rights reserved. Most articles on Newstext are copyright News Limited. Some copyright is owned by third parties. You may read this article on-screen or print it once for your own personal use. You may not make further copies, forward it by email, post it on an internet or intranet site or make any other use of it without written permission from us. These and any copyright licensing queries should be sent to us at newstext@newsltd.com.au
- Northern Territory News

Edition 1 -THU 24 AUG 2006, Page 026
Roy's boys to rock on
as top acts strut stuff
By BEN LANGFORD

String-snapping
fun as Shredder
takes to stage
THEY call Roy Mackonkey's Darryl Barba ``The Shredder'' ... well, if they don't they should.
The rocking guitarist is building himself a reputation as a prolific breaker of strings. He went through four of them at a gig on Sunday night.
Barba says his approach is simple: ``Play fast, play hard.'' He said he's gone through almost a full set of strings in their past three gigs.
``They usually last me a couple of shows,'' he said. ``(That last gig) it was four stings I took out.''
Some of the stars of Territory music will rock the Star Shell tonight in one of the musical highlights of the Darwin Festival. Mackonkey will be playing last.
The NT Music Festival has been running with the Darwin Festival, and tonight's Showcase will feature five of Darwin's top music acts turned loose on the huge sound system at the Shell.
Roy Mackonkey have been one of Darwin's favourite bands for years.
They're known for their acoustic sets as well as their harder style, but Barba said they're going to make the most of the sound system and give the crowd a healthy dose of hard rock.
``The acoustic shows are a lot softer, easier listening,'' he said.
``But the heavier shows are a bit more energetic.
``It makes us want to rock out.
``The (Star Shell) guys have been handling the sound pretty well for the last couple of shows, so I'm pretty excited.
``It will be good to see some faces out there showing support for local acts.
``We haven't played with The Groovesmiths before ... or Cooperblack.
``It should be a good mixture.''
The other acts on the bill are Blastcorp, Cooperblack, worldfly, and The Groovesmiths.
Blastcorp is multitalented musician Kris Keogh, a performer known for his ability to bring up the emotions with his slow love songs and clear the dance floor with his ``undanceable'' dance music -- all in the same gig. His music was described by a New York reviewer as ``like listening to a PlayStation hump a John Cage record''.
Continuing the innovative music will be worldfly, who combine cello and more traditional rock instruments in songs that saw frontman Michael Maher win the Australian Songwriters Association Songwriter of the Year Award last year.
The Groovesmiths and Cooperblack will make an interesting combination, with The Groovesmiths playing music described as ``organic roots and hip-hop'' and Cooperblack's music being called ``cyber jazz, organic electro.''
While multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Conlon is responsible for most of the layered sounds, vocals, drums and keyboards add to the post-punk mix.
The NT Music Festival Showcase is at the Star Shell from 8pm tonight. Tickets $15/$10.
Caption: HEARTSTRING BREAKERS: Darwin rocker John Coulehan of Roy Mackonkey, set to go off tonight
Illus: Photo
Library Heading: 2OO6 darwin festival
Section: ENTERTAINMENT
Type: Music NT
© Copyright. All rights reserved. Most articles on Newstext are copyright News Limited. Some copyright is owned by third parties. You may read this article on-screen or print it once for your own personal use. You may not make further copies, forward it by email, post it on an internet or intranet site or make any other use of it without written permission from us. These and any copyright licensing queries should be sent to us at newstext@newsltd.com.au
- Northern Territory News

Edition 1 -FRI 17 NOV 2006, Page 033
Mellow sound waves in wet
By BEN LANGFORD

Rockers unplugged for Monsoon Sessions
IT'S been a while since there was a Monsoon Sessions gig at the Darwin Entertainment Centre, but the popular gig returns at an appropriate time.
Darwin rockers Roy Mackonkey are gathering for the opening night of Music NT's rainy season gig series.
The band will usually be found playing loud -- really loud -- but they're going unplugged tomorrow night, and have expanded the band to suit the occasion.
Original Roy boys John Coulehan (vocals), Darryl Barba (guitar), Steven Smith (drums) and Brian McLeod (bass) will be joined by Leah Flanagan, Skye Mead, Toby Robinson and Netanela Mizrahi.
The guests will bring voices, violin, cello, piano and slide guitar to the the Entertainment Centre studio theatre, fleshing out a sound that could fill any room.
Coulehan told Friday Fix he looked forward to pulling out the glad rags for the occasion, which they have called Themes for Drowned Lovers.
``I'm pretty excited, a bit nervous,'' he said.
``It's gonna be a bit of a classy gig for us ... tuxedos and everything.
``I reckon I'll get dressed up -- it's not often I get get to wear a suit and the whole place is air-conditioned.
``It's going to be recorded and videoed, so at some stage there'll be a DVD. It's something we don't normally do, so it's a bit of a special occasion.''
Coulehan said it would be one of the band's last gigs before they headed into the studio to work on an album.
Roy Mackonkey play the Monsoon Sessions at the Entertainment Centre from 8pm tomorrow. Presale tickets $20/$17.50, at the door $22.50/$20.
Caption: RAINY RHAPSODY: (From left) John Coulehan, Skye Mead, Brian McLeod (sitting), Steve Smith and Darryl Barba
Illus: Photo
- Northern Territory News

Edition 1 -FRI 17 NOV 2006, Page 033
Mellow sound waves in wet
By BEN LANGFORD

Rockers unplugged for Monsoon Sessions
IT'S been a while since there was a Monsoon Sessions gig at the Darwin Entertainment Centre, but the popular gig returns at an appropriate time.
Darwin rockers Roy Mackonkey are gathering for the opening night of Music NT's rainy season gig series.
The band will usually be found playing loud -- really loud -- but they're going unplugged tomorrow night, and have expanded the band to suit the occasion.
Original Roy boys John Coulehan (vocals), Darryl Barba (guitar), Steven Smith (drums) and Brian McLeod (bass) will be joined by Leah Flanagan, Skye Mead, Toby Robinson and Netanela Mizrahi.
The guests will bring voices, violin, cello, piano and slide guitar to the the Entertainment Centre studio theatre, fleshing out a sound that could fill any room.
Coulehan told Friday Fix he looked forward to pulling out the glad rags for the occasion, which they have called Themes for Drowned Lovers.
``I'm pretty excited, a bit nervous,'' he said.
``It's gonna be a bit of a classy gig for us ... tuxedos and everything.
``I reckon I'll get dressed up -- it's not often I get get to wear a suit and the whole place is air-conditioned.
``It's going to be recorded and videoed, so at some stage there'll be a DVD. It's something we don't normally do, so it's a bit of a special occasion.''
Coulehan said it would be one of the band's last gigs before they headed into the studio to work on an album.
Roy Mackonkey play the Monsoon Sessions at the Entertainment Centre from 8pm tomorrow. Presale tickets $20/$17.50, at the door $22.50/$20.
Caption: RAINY RHAPSODY: (From left) John Coulehan, Skye Mead, Brian McLeod (sitting), Steve Smith and Darryl Barba
Illus: Photo
- Northern Territory News

radioindy.com — Aussie band Roymackonkey delivers solid, ‘90s era rock with their newest effort “Cassandra Never Lies.” After spending the summer touring the “land down under” with Wolfmother, it seems like this band is ready to spread their sound overseas and beyond. Their sound is sort of dated, but in a good way http://www.radioindy.com/bands/5546/
- radioindy

The Grow Your Own series is a compilation released by Damien Gerard Studios and Foghorn Records, drawing together an array of unsigned Australian artists. They are also responsible for releasing volume twelve – the second one for 2008 – that contains nineteen tracks from various genres.

Unfortunately, this release is offered in an environment where music snobbery prevails and many people are hesitant to listen to material from acts they have not yet “heard” about, and others who are using the Internet to learn about new artists. Thus, these people have an uphill battle in nurturing the careers of these up-and-comers, which is a shame given the level of talent on offer here.
Roymackonkey's "THE FEAR" sounds like something for kate due to the singer sounding like paul dempsey. - thedwarf.com.au