Ball Park Music

Ball Park Music is a five-piece indie rock/pop band based in Brisbane, Australia,[1] made up of frontman Sam Cromack (guitar/vocals), Jennifer Boyce (bass/backing vocals), Paul Furness (keys/trombone), and twins Dean Hanson (guitar/backing vocals) and Daniel Hanson (drums/backing vocals).[2]

Ball Park Music
Ball Park Music on the Puddinghead Tour in 2014
Background information
OriginBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
Genres
Years active2008–present
LabelsStop Start Music / Inertia
Associated acts
  • My Own Pet Radio
  • Little Planes Land
Websitewww.ballparkmusic.com
Members
  • Sam Cromack
  • Jennifer Boyce
  • Paul Furness
  • Dean Hanson
  • Daniel Hanson
Past membersBrock Smith

Their 2011 single "It's Nice to Be Alive" was featured in the 2014 film Blended and the fifth season of Gossip Girl.[3]

Origins

Ball Park Music was originally the name given to Sam Cromack's solo work. The band all met while they were studying music together at the Queensland University of Technology.

Career

Early years (2008–2009)

Ball Park Music independently released their debut EP Rolling on the Floor, Laughing Ourselves to Sleep in April 2009.[4] The EP was quickly championed by triple j presenter Stephanie Hughes who gave an early version of "All I Want Is You" and "Black Skies" their first national airplay.[5] Richard Kingsmill said "Rufus Wainwright called. He wants his song back. So he should. This is a pretty good one." about their song "Black Skies" and gave it four out of five stars.

Conquer the Town, Easy as Cake, "iFly" and early success (2009–2010)

In 2010, Ball Park Music released their second EP Conquer the Town, Easy as Cake. The EP spawned their first Triple J hit in "iFly" which immediately was added to high rotation and gained a five star rating from Richard Kingsmill[6] Another song "Western Whirl" was nominated for both Best Alternative and The Courier Mail People's Choice Awards at the 2010 Q Song Awards.[7][8]

In October 2010 the band embarked on their first Australian tour in October with Hungry Kids of Hungary and Big Scary[9] and released a brand new single "Sad Rude Future Dude"[10] which was placed on rotation by triple j.

In November 2010, they were named as a triple j New Crop artist - "one of the 20 best new bands in Australia" - and was also offered a slot at the triple j Ausmusic Month Party in Brisbane where they collaborated with Custard's David McCormack on a cover of Custard's hit song "Apartment". Following this, the band was announced as the Queensland winner of a triple j Unearthed competition and won the chance to play at Big Day Out 2011 on the Gold Coast. Additionally, the band played several festivals in summer of 2010/11 including Falls Festival, South Bound, Sunset Sounds and Good Vibrations.

Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs (2011)

In January 2011, they released their debut album "Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs. When they released the single entitled "Rich People Are Stupid" as an iTunes exclusive and the song was immediately added to high rotation on triple j.[11] They toured in April with Eagle and the Worm and We Say Bamboulee for The Super Commuter Tour.

On 24 June 2011, Ball Park Music signed to Sydney label Stop Start Music[12] to release their debut album Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs. It was released in Australia and New Zealand through Stop Start/EMI Australia on 9 September and debuted on the Australian ARIA Album Chart the following week at No. 36.

Another single called "It's Nice to Be Alive" was issued and was once again supported by triple j.[13] The video for the song achieved a Channel [V] Ripe Clip of the Week, beating out competition from The Kooks's "Junk of the Heart" and Kanye West/Jay-Z's "Otis".[14] "It's Nice to Be Alive" was featured in the film Blended (2014).[15]

Ball Park Music embarked on a four-date headline tour with Adelaide rock outfit City Riots on the How I Met Ball Park Music Tour which was followed by another headline tour to launch their debut album in October with Northeast Party House and The Jungle Giants. Immediately following that, they embarked as main support for Boy & Bear on their "Moonfire Tour".

In November, Ball Park Music were named the Unearthed Artist of the Year at triple j's J Awards. They were also nominated for the 2011 J Award but were beaten by Gotye and his album Making Mirrors.

In December it was announced that Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs was voted No. 10 in Triple J's Top 10 Albums of 2014 and No. 2 in The AU Review's album poll.[16] The third single, "Literally Baby", was serviced to radio and TV, and it quickly achieved rotation on Nova Brisbane and Channel [V].[17] To finish off the year, the band played Peats Ridge Festival, Pyramid Rock and No Years on New Year's Eve in Brisbane.

Museum (2012)

Ball Park Music began 2012 by announcing The 180° Tour; "their most ambitious tour yet".[18] They were initially to play 14 dates with supports Nantes and Cub Scouts but added more shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne due to popular demand.[19] The band was also added to the 2012 Groovin' the Moo line-up[20] as well as Splendour In The Grass.[21]

On 23 March 2012, Ball Park Music were invited to do Triple J's Like a Version, where they performed their single "All I Want Is You" followed by a cover of the Flaming Lips song "Do You Realize??".[22] This was also filmed for triple j tv at the time.[23]

On 20 July 2012, it was announced that the band would release new music in the form of a single called "Surrender" leading into their set at Splendour in the Grass.[24] In a radio interview on Triple J with Zan Rowe, Cromack revealed that band were working on a new album, and they'd be releasing something "soon enough".[25]

In August, Ball Park Music announced their second album, Museum and a headline tour with Loon Lake in support.[26] In a press release, Sam Cromack said he was "inspired by the swift turn around in which the likes of The Beatles would deliver new records every six to 12 months" and issued the band a challenge to release another album in 12 months.[26]

Museum was released in Australia on 5 October[27] and it was named Triple J's Feature Album the following week.[28] The station selected to play nine of the album's 12 songs.

Puddinghead (2014)

The band released their third LP Puddinghead 4 April 2014 under the label Stop Start/Inertia. "Puddinghead" is one of the most commercially successful in the band's history. It was toured twice nationally with one international tour to Europe and was one of the most highly played albums on Triple J in 2014, thanks to popular singles "She Only Loves Me When I'm There" and "Trippin' the Light Fantastic".

Every Night the Same Dream (2016)

2016 album Every Night the Same Dream was released 19 August again under the label Stop Start/Inertia. A change to their sound resulted in an album with more of a Psychedelic rock feel, that was acclaimed by fans and critics and was toured nationally to sold out theatres across Australia.

Good Mood (2018)

Their album Good Mood was released on 16 February 2018.[29] Ball Park Music subsequently embarked on a national tour in February and March being supported by Ali Barter and Hatchie. This was followed by a national tour in which they partnered with San Cisco, Ruby Fields and Tia Gostelow. The single "Exactly How You Are" enjoyed success on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2017 coming in at #18,[30] and the album track "Hands Off My Body" was added to the official NBA 2K19 soundtrack curated by Travis Scott.[31] Ball Park Music also released a limited edition 'Pizza Box' Boxed Set of vinyl LP's that contained their album catalogue from 2011's "Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs" to 2018's "Good Mood (album)". At the ARIA Music Awards of 2018, the album was nominated for three awards; Producer of the Year, Engineer of the Year and Best Cover Art[32]

Other projects

Sam Cromack now records his solo work under the moniker My Own Pet Radio and has released three solo albums, Suburban Lemon Shops and the Bruxer in My Bed (2009), Unidentified Flying Collection of Songs (2010) and Goodlum (2015).

Jennifer Boyce records solo work under the moniker Little Planes Land.

Band members
  • Sam Cromack – lead vocals, lead guitar (2008–present)
  • Jennifer Boyce – bass guitar, backing vocals (2008–present)
  • Paul Furness – keyboards, trombone (2008–present)
  • Dean Hanson – guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals (2008–present)
  • Daniel Hanson – drums, backing vocals (2008–present)

Former members

  • Brock Smith – guitar (2008-2011)

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions shown
Title Album details Peak positions
AUS
[33]
Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs 36
Museum
  • Released: 5 October 2012
  • Label: Stop Start/EMI
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
 9
Puddinghead
  • Released: 4 April 2014
  • Label: Stop Start/Inertia
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
 2
Every Night the Same Dream
  • Released: 19 August 2016
  • Label: Stop Start/Inertia
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 3
Good Mood
  • Released: 16 February 2018
  • Label: Stop Start
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 5
[34]
Ball Park Music
  • Scheduled: 23 October 2020
  • Label: Prawn Records, Inertia
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 To be released

Extended plays
List of EPs, with release date and label shown
Title Details
Rolling on the Floor, Laughing Ourselves to Sleep
  • Released: 30 April 2009
  • Label:
  • Format: CD, digital download
Conquer the Town, Easy As Cake
  • Released: 21 May 2010
  • Label:
  • Format: CD, digital download

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Year-end positions Album
AUS
[35]		 Triple J
Hottest 100
"Sea Strangers (I Don't Really Know You)" 2009 —— Conquer the Town, Easy As Cake
"iFly" 2010 ——
"Sad Rude Future Dude" —— Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs
"Rich People Are Stupid" 2011 ——
"It's Nice to Be Alive" —31
"All I Want Is You" —38
"Literally Baby" ——
"Surrender" 2012 —27 Museum
"Coming Down" —23
"Fence Sitter" 2013 ——
"Bad Taste Blues (Part II)" ——
"She Only Loves Me When I'm There" 2014 7019 Puddinghead
"Trippin' the Light Fantastic" —99
"Pariah" 2016 —— Every Night The Same Dream
"Nihilist Party Anthem" ——
"Whipping Boy" ——
"Exactly How You Are" 2017 —18 Good Mood
"The Perfect Life Does Not Exist" —39
"Hands Off My Body" 2018 ——
"Spark Up!"[36] 2020 —— Ball Park Music
"Day & Age"[37] ——

Music videos
List of music videos, showing year released and directors
Title Year Director(s)
"Sea Strangers (I Don't Really Know You)" 2010 Alex Barnes
"iFly"
"Rich People Are Stupid" 2011 Devin Bowles
"It's Nice to Be Alive" Alex Barnes
"All I Want Is You"
"Literally Baby"
"Surrender" 2012 Dan Graetz
"Fence Sitter" 2013 Andrew Wilson
"Bad Taste Blues (Part II)" Dan Graetz
"She Only Loves Me When I'm There" 2014
"Trippin' the Light Fantastic" Alex Barnes
"Pariah" 2016 Jaymis Loveday
"Nihilist Party Anthem"
"Exactly How You Are" 2017 Nick Maguire
"Hands Off My Body" 2018
"Day & Age"[38] 2020

Concert tours
gollark: If I were somehow wrong, I would simply choose to be right instead.
gollark: Perhaps, but this is irrelevant because I'm not one.
gollark: I know. I'm right, like a correct person.
gollark: What maths is it?
gollark: I am typing.

References
  1. McKenzie, Daniel (4 February 2016). "Ball Park Music to tour new album". Tweed Daily News. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  2. "Ball Park Music at FasterLouder". FasterLouder. 27 January 2010. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  3. "Ball Park Music – TV & Movie Placements". WhatSong. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  4. "The Buzz today!", The Cairns Post, 11 November 2009
  5. "Ball Park Music". Triple J Unearthed. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  6. "Discover new Australian music". ABC.com. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  7. "Ball Park Music part of touring whirlwind", Caloundra Weekly, 27 October 2010
  8. Q Music 22 July 2010, The 2010 Q Song Award Nominations
  9. "Select Music News". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  10. "Ball Park Music release new single and debut live show around the country". Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  11. "Ball Park Music new video + Boy & Bear tour support". Mucho Bravado. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  12. "Your Daily SPA 24 June 2011 Ball Park Music sign to Stop Start". Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  13. "Song".
  14. The In Sound From Way Out | Title = Ball Park Music Beat A Giant
  15. "Ball Park Music – IMDb". IMDb. 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  16. "Triple J Album Polls". Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  17. "Nova FM Literally Baby". Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  18. "Music News". www.abc.net.au.
  19. "Groovin The Moo 2012 Line-up - Chiddy Bang Cancel, Ball Park Music Join". Music Feeds. 22 February 2012.
  20. "Musicfeed.com.au Feb 2012 Splendour in the Grass 2012 Line-up".
  21. "Like A Version: Ball Park Music | triple j Media". www.abc.net.au. 23 March 2012.
  22. "Like A Version". www.abc.net.au.
  23. "Mucho Bravado July 2012 Surrender To The Power Of Ball Park Music".
  24. "triple j June 2012 Sam Cromack of Ball Park Music Takes 5 with his guide to the 90's..."
  25. The In Sound From Way Out | Title: Ball Park Music announce new album 'Museum'
  26. Paul Cashmere (24 August 2012). "Ball Park Music To Release Second Album Museum". Noise 11. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  27. Museum: triple j Feature Albums | Title: Museum: triple j music reviews
  28. "Ball Park Music". Ball Park Music.
  29. "Triple J's Hottest 100". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  30. Christopher Groux (15 August 2018). "'NBA 2K19' Soundtrack Released on Spotify With Tracklist Mixed By Travis Scott". Newsweek. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  31. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (11 October 2018). "2018 ARIA Award Nominees Announced". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  32. All except noted: "australian-charts.com - Discography Ball Park Music". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  33. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  34. For "She Only Loves Me When I'm There": "ARIA Chart Watch #47". auspOp. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  35. Martin, Josh (17 March 2020). "Ball Park Music announce new album 'Mostly Sunny' with first single, 'Spark Up!'". NME. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  36. Newstead, Al (5 June 2020). "First Spin: Ball Park Music conjure dreamy goodness on 'Day & Age'". ABC. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  37. Bruce, Jasper (4 June 2020). "Ball Park Music tease music video for new song 'Day & Age'". NME. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
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