The Glory Box (Australian band)
The Glory Box were an Indie pop band from Melbourne, Australia. They existed from around 1988 until their break up around 1994. They released several 7" vinyl singles, a 12" EP and a CD album. A compilation CD was also released, bringing together all the singles and the EP.
History
The Glory Box were one of a number of promising Melbourne bands that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s that also included, amongst others, Pray TV, Ripe, Autohaze, The Fauves, The Killjoys, The Hollowmen and Sea Stories.
The Glory Box were: Matt Aston (vocals), Daniel Haskell (bass), Robert Caflisch (drums), Will Johnston (guitar), Kieran Doolan (guitar). Doolan left the band in ~1993 and was replaced on guitar. After playing some more gigs, the band broke up around 1994.
Their debut 7" vinyl single 'Raining Embers/My Friend' was released in March 1989 on Mouth & Vinnie Records. This was followed by another 7" vinyl single 'Regrets/One Picture', also relased on Mouth & Vinnie Records in December 1989 as part of a single-giveaway at The Punters Club. 'Regrets' was also re-recorded for the 5 track 'Donkey' EP, which was released on Polyester Records in September 1990 on 12" vinyl only. Another 7" vinyl single 'Precipice/Day After Day' was released on Shock Records in April 1991 as part of a single-giveaway gig at The Tote Hotel.
Their debut 11 track album 'Fudgeland' was released in 1991 on Shock Records. The track 'House on the Hill' was released from the album as a 4 track 7" vinyl single, which also included the tracks 'Oh No' from the 'Fudgeland' album, as well as 'Intersect' and 'Cut' from the 'Donkey' EP. A demo version of 'House on the Hill' also appeared on the Shocktober sampler CD, released by Shock Records in October 1991. A compilation CD 'This Is The Glory Box' was released on Shock Records in 1991 and included all of the singles and the 'Donkey' EP tracks, as well as the demo version of 'House on the Hill' from the Shocktober sampler CD. 'Raining Embers/Regrets' were released together as a 7" inch vinyl single by English record label Tea Time Records in February 1991(1).
In 1992 The Glory Box featured on a CD called 'Dress Ups' (Shock Records) with other Melbourne bands The Fauves and Pray TV (2), with each band performing a track from the others repertoire. This release also included each of the three bands recording a track by Melbourne band Ripe, however Ripe did not appear on the recording.
Other tracks never released but often played live by The Glory Box included the energetic 'Crash & Burn' and 'Swan'. The band regularly played the track 'Mr Pharmacist' by 1960's San Francisco band The Other Half. On the 'Fudgeland' LP the track 'The Other's Way' (sung by Doolan) was a cover, originally by the 1980s New Zealand band The DoubleHappys.
The Glory Box sound was one of jangly guitar pop and rock. Their sound was often compared to English band The Wedding Present from the same period. Song structure was varied from straightforward 3-chord power pop (see the track 'Regrets'), to a more complicated and melancholy style, highlighted on the track 'Intersect' from the 'Donkey' EP. Lyrics focussed on themes such as relationships, envy and self-assessment.
The Glory Box were one of the first Melbourne bands to have a T-Shirt launch gig, a concept that proved popular in the early 1990s in Melbourne. The T-shirt launch was held at The Tote Hotel on 1 December 1990, with support bands the Underground Lovers and Glass.
Post Break up
Since breaking up the band have played together on the odd occasion, featuring the original line up with Doolan on guitar. In November 2006 they played a gig (with Autohaze and Mark Murphy from Ripe) at The Tote Hotel as part of the 'Long Player' series(3), which featured 1990's bands playing one of their albums from start to finish, similar to the 'Don't Look Back' concept. They played all of 'Fudgeland' and some of the singles and tracks off the 'Donkey' EP.
On 28 November 2010 they played at a Punters Club reunion gig at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne, with other notable early 1990s Melbourne bands such as Frente!, The Hollowmen and The Fauves(4).
Discography
Singles
- Raining Embers / My Friend (March 1989) - 7" vinyl, Mouth & Vinnie Records
- Regrets / One Picture (December 1989) - 7" vinyl, Mouth & Vinnie Records
- Raining Embers / Regrets (February 1991) - 7" vinyl, Tea Time Records (TEA 10)
- Precipice / Day After Day (April 1991) - 7" vinyl, Shock Records
- House on the Hill (1991) - 4 track 7" vinyl, Shock Records
EP's
- Donkey (September 1990), 5 track 12" vinyl only, Polyester Records
- Dress Ups (1992) with The Fauves and Pray TV, Shock Records
LP's
- Fudgeland (1991) - Shock Records
Compilations
- This Is The Glory Box (1991), Shock Records
References
(1) http://www.twee.net/labels/teatime.html (2) http://www.musiciscrap.com/thefauves/bio.html (3) http://www.indieinitiative.com/ifShowHeadline.asp?ID=5340 (4) http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/yesterdays-heroes-unite-for-the-love-of-a-punt-20101125-188o7.html