2017 has definitely been the year when pop music got more politicised. Personally, I think this is a good thing. There’s only so many songs you can stomach about being in da club or (even worse) just being yourself and not giving a shit about what anyone else thinks. In fact, I believe that all of the popstars who have been putting that message out over the last few years have been treading dangerously. If the message was be yourself but make sure you take account of others feelings as well, then I could endorse it. But just not giving a shit what others think of you is dangerous. There's no empathy - it's just selfish. That’s how criminals think.
With musicians being more politicised it helps inspire an arena for fans to think about things a little more deeply – irrespective of if you agree with the artist or not. Not thinking about things too deeply leads to complacency and history has taught us that complacency can have dangerous implications.
Yet whilst music has become political I also believe there’s a need for the opposite; music that is silly and a bit fun. It’s pop music’s job to provide escapism and make you feel good about things – even if it’s only for a fleeting hour. This is why it's OK to like Radiohead / Bon Iver and also Girls Aloud / Britney Spears.
It's also where a band made up of members of Australian bands The Belligerents, Moses Gunn Collective and the Jungle Giants come in. Because they formed a new super group called Confidence Man.
For Confidence Man are all about fun, dancing and letting yourself go. They’re the sort of sexy disco shorts excitement bubble that everyone needs in their life now and then. Sure, their music isn’t going to be up there in the hallowed rock n roll halls of fame alongside Pink Floyd, The Clash, The Smiths or Oasis, but you’ll probably never wiggle your hips to any of those bands like you will Confidence Man. I reckon they'd even make Thom Yorke throw his arms in the air and thrust his crotch backwards and forwards a bit.
Back in March 2017 Janet Planet, Sugar Bones, Reggie Goodchild and Clarence McGuffie first got introduced to the readers of Breaking More Waves and they went on to be one of my undisputed highlights of both The Great Escape Festival and Glastonbury. This is a band who put on a high camp show of sass. In 2018 we should get an album via Heavenly Recordings. Go and see them live if you get the chance and get ready to dance like nobody is watching.
In a world that sometimes feels like it’s turning to shit, Confidence Man will give you a reason to smile again. Get ready to get down (under).
Confidence Man - Better Sit Down Boy
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