The Mess Hall were a two-piece drums and guitar combo based in Sydney, Australia, specialising in "raw, edgy bluesy rock." The band consisted of Jed Kurzel (lead vocals/guitar) and Cec Condon (drums/backing vocals) for most of its tenure. The band was often praised for its live shows: "When plugged in and turned up," wrote The Sydney Morning Herald, "the duo produce enough energy to power a house full of floodlights."[1] The band released four studio albums before amicably parting in 2011. They reunited for a series of shows in 2015.
History
2001-2004: Early days
The Mess Hall originally formed as a trio: Jed Kurzel on lead vocals and guitar, his brother Justin on bass, and Anthony "AJ" Johnsen on drums and backing vocals. After Justin's departure a few months after forming, Jed Kurzel and Anthony Johnsen began playing shows as a duo in 2001. They quickly gained a reputation as a live act. They also recorded their self-titledlo-fi album, to distribute at live events. In 2003, the band signed with Shock Records and released the EP, Feeling Sideways. Produced by Matt Lovell (Something for Kate) and Chris Joannou (Silverchair), the short album earned an ARIA nomination for Best Independent Release.[2] In early 2004, Johnsen left the band and was replaced by drummer Cec Condon[3] of The Tremors and Mexico City.
2005-2006 :Notes from a Ceiling
In 2005, The Mess Hall released their second studio album, Notes From A Ceiling. Jed Kurzel said the only recollection he has of recording the album is that Cec Condon nearly set fire to the studio whilst barbecuing, and that while he was suffering vertigo, the attending doctor was more interested in whether the band were touring on the next Big Day Out than attending to his illness.[4]
2007-2011: Devil's Elbow, For the Birds and hiatus
During September 2007, The Mess Hall signed to Ivy League Records and released their third album, Devils Elbow. Soon after its release, the album won the Australian Music Prize, gifting the band $25,000 in prize money. As their momentum started, the Mess Hall also won the support slot for the Foo Fighters' Australian tour.
The Mess Hall released their fourth and final album, For the Birds, on 13 November 2009 in Australia. The first single released from the album was "Bell". Kurzel and Condon last performed together in 2011, as members of Noah Taylor & The Sloppy Boys. Condon joined The Cops, while Kurzel focused on film scoring full-time.
2015: reunion
The band returned to playing shows in 2015. The band performed on New Year's Day at Sydney's Vic on the Park and at Wollongong's Farmer & The Owl Festival before returning to inactivity.
The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. They commenced in 2005.
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