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Bit by Bats
Also known asThe Hurts
OriginAdelaide, South Australia, Australia
GenresIndie pop
Years active2003 (2003)–2007 (2007)
Labels
  • Shiny
  • Architecture
  • Guano
Past members
  • Owen Eszeki
  • Peter Gravestock
  • Ben Macklin

Bit by Bats were an Australian three-piece rock band originally from Adelaide with Owen Eszeki on vocals, electric guitar and theremin; Peter Gravestock on vocals, bass guitar, and electric guitar; and Ben Macklin on drums.[1] The group had formed in July 2003 as The Hurts. Their early influences were the Cure, Joy Division, and Television.[2][3][4]

Bit by Bats have toured with the Australian bands including Cut Copy, Youth Group, the Grates,[5] and supported international acts including Bloc Party,[2] Pretty Girls Make Graves,[6] Les Savy Fav,[6] Von Bondies,[2] Peaches,[2] and Wire.[2][7]

In January 2004, they relocated to Melbourne, where Darren Levin of The Sydney Morning Herald observed, "[they] have tapped into [that city's] fledgling post punk scene, playing shows with like-minded no wavers Snap! Crakk! and Love of Diagrams."[2][5] Their debut self-titled six-track extended play was released on the Architecture label and reached No. 13 on the Australian Independent Record charts in February 2004.[8] In July - August 2004, the band undertook its first tour of the eastern states, with Youth Group and I [Love] Space, during which they released a limited edition tour EP, Sir! Beat Sir!, although only 100 copies of the release were pressed. In October that year, they recorded their second EP, Let's Go Romeo, at Birdland Studios with Dean Turner, although the EP wasn't released until March 2005.[9] This was followed by a tour with The Grates[10] and their own headline tour, supported by the Pharaohs.[5]

For the Big Day Out tour of 2006 they appeared at the Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney venues.[11]

Their debut album, Go Go Go!, was recorded at Birdland Studios with production by Dean Turner of Magic Dirt, Rob Long and Lindsay Gravina of Birdland, and was released in April 2007.[1][12][13] The Sydney Morning Herald's George Palathingal described it, "a life-affirming collection of spiky, urgent, danceable new wave."[1] Sabine Brix of Mediasearch attended an album launch in East Brunswick in April, and observed, "[they] didn't disappoint with their show either. Frontman Owen was in fine form belting out tracks, both old and new. It's great to see a band which has been around for a few years still performing with so much fervour and passion."[14]

In March 2007, the band toured internationally with a showcase performances at the Canadian Music Week and in the UK, as well as at the Essential Festival. In October, the band recorded a cover version of "Orinoco Flow" for Triple J's Like a Version, the recording was included on the compilation album, Like a Version Four, which was released in November 2008 and reached No. 34 on the ARIA charts.[15] In December of that year, Bit by Bats announced they would disband, although all members remained on good terms.[16] Eszeki went on to perform with Sailors & Swine, and then the Kits. Macklin has performed with Brillig.

Members

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  • Owen Eszeki – vocals, electric guitar, theremin
  • Peter Gravestock – vocals, bass guitar, electric guitar
  • Ben Macklin – drums

Discography

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Albums

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  • Go Go Go! (31 March 2007) Shiny Records (BATSGOFOR1)[17]

Extended plays

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  • Bit by Bats (19 January 2004) Architecture Label (ARC018)[18]
  • Sir! Beat Sir (July 2004) (limited release - 100 copies)
  • Let's Go Romeo (18 March 2005) Guano Music/Inertia Records (GUA001)[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Palathingal, George (20 April 2007). "Bit by Bats". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Levin, Darren (30 June 2006). "Bit by Bats". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Bit by Bats". Australia Music Online. Archived from the original on 19 December 2004. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Bit by Bats - Bit by Bats". OZ Music Project. Archived from the original on 6 August 2006. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Eliezer, Christie (12 July 2005). "Bit by Bats". themusic.com.au. No. 463. Archived from the original on 17 February 2006. Retrieved 27 February 2018. Note: only confirms the Grates.
  6. ^ a b Carew, Anthony (19 November 2004). "Jagged Seven Inches". The Age. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Bit by Bats - Go Go Go!". Australia Music Online. Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Singles/EPs Released on Independent Labels through an Independent Distributor". Australian Independent Record charts. 16 February 2004. Archived from the original on 9 August 2003. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  9. ^ "New Australian Releases". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 2005. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  10. ^ Biles, Joanne (31 March 2005). "Announcing The Grates & Bit By Bats Double Bill Tour!". FasterLouder. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  11. ^ Cashmere, Tim (16 November 2005). "Big Day Out Lineup Complete". Undercover News. Paul Cashmere, Ros O'Gorman. Archived from the original on 17 November 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  12. ^ "New Australian Releases". Australian Recording Industry Association. March 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  13. ^ Tijs, Andrew (23 January 2007). "Bit by Bats Go Global with Debut Album". Undercover News. Paul Cashmere, Ros O'Gorman. Archived from the original on 16 May 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  14. ^ Brix, Sabine (April 2007). Carmine Pascuzzi (ed.). "Bit by Bats Album Launch – East Brunswick Club, East Brunswick". Mediasearch. Archived from the original on 3 September 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Triple J's Like a Version Four (Album)". Australian Charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  16. ^ Walker, Ted (4 December 2007). "Bit by Bats call it quits". FasterLouder. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  17. ^ Bit by Bats (2007), Go Go Go!, Shiny, retrieved 26 February 2018
  18. ^ Bit by Bats; Gravestock, Peter; Macklin, Ben; Eszeki, Owen (2004), Bit by Bats, Architecture, retrieved 26 February 2018
  19. ^ Bit by Bats (2005), Let's Go Romeo, [Australia] Guanao Music, retrieved 26 February 2018
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