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Like a Piña Colada served in a flatbrim with a side of steak and chips, King Social is at once refreshing and satiating. An eclectic Aussie fivepiece, the group fuses rock, hip-hop, reggae, pop, indie and tight jeans to defy musical convention and transcend the bounds of any singular genre
IMC
Band of the Month
KING SOCIAL
Formed in 2013, the unlikely mates at the heart of King Social look like the stragglers at the shittiest ever UN Convention – there’s an ocker cowboy, a Greek hippy, a rapping Scottish/Aboriginal, a Fijian with an infectious smile, and – when his beard is in full-force – a lead guitarist who could easily be mistaken for Ned Kelly.
Together they create a sound best described as “city meets country” – an edgy and endearing blend of old and new (like seeing your Grandma in jeggings, only not disgusting).
Performing with gusto and passion, King Social has amassed a cult following in its home stomping ground of North Queensland that is quickly catching across Australia and beyond. This fire was most recently fanned by a successful stint on Australia’s Got Talent, where the lads finished in the final five and netted thousands of new fans across the country and overseas.
Their live shows have been described as “electrifying” and “completely addictive”; and, like a siren’s song, frequently draw crowds in the thousands to be swept up in the good-time vibes that seep from King Social. From the first song they’ll win you over with a masterful mix of urban rock and hip hop, while still paying homage to their country roots.
The lads effortlessly weave the crowd into the show and even in front of more than 2,000 fans, there’s something intimate about the seamless transition from Angus’ honest, slightly rough-round-the edges vocals to Stevie’s explosive and perfectly-crafted raps. King Social’s almost contradictory blend of sounds will find you dancing like a maniac while mixing sweat with rockers, ravers, hippies, hipsters, hot mums, bogans, beauties, crossdressers and drunks.
King Social’s first EP and music video It Goes Around was released in 2013; with the title track and Whiskey and my Gun both topping the Triple J Unearthed charts. Since then the band has continued to build on its incredible momentum, working hard to grow its fan base with live shows across Australia.
Their follow-up EP, Big Man, was released in December 2014 and scored them their third #1 on Triple J’s Unearthed Charts with The Dancer. This early success was compounded in 2015 when King Social were named finalists for four Queensland Music Awards and again following their Australia’s Got Talent Grand Final appearance, when both EPs appeared in the top 10 on iTunes’ Australia’s Charts and three singles – Big Man, It Goes Around and The Dancer charted in the top 100 in the overall charts and in the top 10 on the Alternative charts.
King Social has a show that is not to be missed; there’s no doubt, that just like the UN, they will change the world.