THE Herd had a big party in November last year. It was the night of the federal election and members of the group were performing at a festival in Victoria-NSW bordertown of Albury, in support of frontman Urthboy's solo album.
Knowing their keen interest in politics, the promoters kindly left a TV in their backstage area, a tiny cleaning supplies room. Seated among the brooms, mops and detergents, the group watched with anticipation, and growing elation, as each seat was lost or won.
When it was announced that Kevin Rudd would replace John Howard as Prime Minister, the band danced with glee.
Several beers later, Urthboy (aka Tim Levinson), who normally likes to stay sober and professional during gigs, took to the stage.
Audio: Hear The Herd's song The King is Dead
"It was just one of those days," he recalls. "I walked out on stage and all I cared about was the moment mid-song, at some point while we were bantering, where I was able to reveal the news to all these people who were at the festival all day and wouldn't have known the results. I was just so excited to do it."
The moment is captured in the band's latest single, The King is Dead, off their new album, Summerland, which contains the chorus: "We danced like New Year's Eve; We danced from sheer relief." Sung in pleasant melodies by Jane Tyrrell over rapping by Urthboy and Ozi Batla, it's a catchy number.
Anyone who has heard the Herd's cover of the song, I Was Only Nineteen, a hip-hop tribute to the Redgum anti-war classic, wouldn't be surprised by their left-of-centre political leanings. And they wear their political insignia on their sleeves. There's a quote the Herd uses at the start of the song When You Escape, from the new album. It comes from a documentary about British punk band The Clash. One of The Clash's friends says they shouldn't mix music and politics.
It's some advice the Herd doesn't heed. And why should it? For Summerland, its fourth album, the Sydney eight-piece rag-tag of multicultural musicians has decided to not hold anything back.
"For the most part, we're not one of those bands who inspire indifference in people," says Urthboy, who also runs the band's record label, Elefant Traks. "Usually, we are a bit of a flashpoint for opinionated people. We get both praise and love from various sides of the spectrum and we also get a lot of vitriol."
Their songs, anchored by a hip-hop core, are harmonious, multi-instrumental feasts that make for a great live show.
And politics isn't the only subject that gets their creative juices flowing. Another memorable track on the album is Zug Zug, a fun road-trip tale full of anecdotes that the band say reflects a truer nature of the Herd, more so than any of their political numbers.
Summerland is out now. The Herd plays Billboard on September 5. Tickets: 9369 4000
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