Fresh Talent: The Good Fun
Author: Jonathan Carson
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We like animals,” says The Good Fun’s lead singer/guitarist Leroy Clampitt when asked to describe his own idea of ‘good fun’.
“To be able to hang out and talk with, for example, a lion for a day, would be pretty good fun.” And right away (as if his name wasn’t giveaway enough) I realise that this Waikato four-piece possess that slightly unhinged quirkiness creative musicians are renowned for.
The Good Fun (Clampitt, Jimi Mataio, Kam Chadderton, and Fraser MacDonald) formed 18 months ago with the purpose of entering the 2009 Smokefree Rockquest, where they had moderate success winning the Best Song Award at the Waikato Regional Finals. A year later and the band returned, all now 17, to place second at the Waikato Regionals, then take out first place at the Rockquest National Finals, joining the likes of new Kiwi music luminaries Evermore, Falter and The Electric Confectionaries. “It’s an amazing feeling looking back at past winners and seeing what they’ve gone on to do.”
Clampitt attributes their Rockquest success to their athletic physical fitness. “Stamina is essential in creating an interesting stage show,” and the charming appeal of their stage ‘presents.’ Yes, The Good Fun actually handed out hand-wrapped gifts to the crowd to show their appreciation.
“We decided the least we could do was to give them some presents, and of course there was also a pretty terrible pun involved.”
The Good Fun define their style as melodramatic indie pop – a more hyperactive interpretation of traditional indie pop.
“There’s a lot of loud barking, karate noises, and overly put-on accents.”
With influences from Vampire Weekend to Notorious B.I.G their sound is difficult to pigeonhole, as it dabbles in the fun qualities of an assortment of genres. Their live show is also known to tilt towards the melodramatic incorporating, “heaps of wit… obscure get-ups… and audience participation.”
Winning Rockquest 2010 and the hoard of prizes that come with it has changed their focus, bringing realisation that the future of The Good Fun looks remarkably promising. They recently recorded their debut single Naughty Little Sin at York Street Studios, and shot their first music video with Max-Volt Productions. A three-date tour of Fiji is booked for November and they are working towards a follow-up to their debut ‘E.P Phone Home’. However, despite any sense of overnight success, the plan is to “put in a whole lot of a hard work… and take one day at a time.”
Young, composed, and oozing potential, this is just the beginning for The Good Fun… emphasis on the fun.
“To be able to hang out and talk with, for example, a lion for a day, would be pretty good fun.” And right away (as if his name wasn’t giveaway enough) I realise that this Waikato four-piece possess that slightly unhinged quirkiness creative musicians are renowned for.
The Good Fun (Clampitt, Jimi Mataio, Kam Chadderton, and Fraser MacDonald) formed 18 months ago with the purpose of entering the 2009 Smokefree Rockquest, where they had moderate success winning the Best Song Award at the Waikato Regional Finals. A year later and the band returned, all now 17, to place second at the Waikato Regionals, then take out first place at the Rockquest National Finals, joining the likes of new Kiwi music luminaries Evermore, Falter and The Electric Confectionaries. “It’s an amazing feeling looking back at past winners and seeing what they’ve gone on to do.”
Clampitt attributes their Rockquest success to their athletic physical fitness. “Stamina is essential in creating an interesting stage show,” and the charming appeal of their stage ‘presents.’ Yes, The Good Fun actually handed out hand-wrapped gifts to the crowd to show their appreciation.
“We decided the least we could do was to give them some presents, and of course there was also a pretty terrible pun involved.”
The Good Fun define their style as melodramatic indie pop – a more hyperactive interpretation of traditional indie pop.
“There’s a lot of loud barking, karate noises, and overly put-on accents.”
With influences from Vampire Weekend to Notorious B.I.G their sound is difficult to pigeonhole, as it dabbles in the fun qualities of an assortment of genres. Their live show is also known to tilt towards the melodramatic incorporating, “heaps of wit… obscure get-ups… and audience participation.”
Winning Rockquest 2010 and the hoard of prizes that come with it has changed their focus, bringing realisation that the future of The Good Fun looks remarkably promising. They recently recorded their debut single Naughty Little Sin at York Street Studios, and shot their first music video with Max-Volt Productions. A three-date tour of Fiji is booked for November and they are working towards a follow-up to their debut ‘E.P Phone Home’. However, despite any sense of overnight success, the plan is to “put in a whole lot of a hard work… and take one day at a time.”
Young, composed, and oozing potential, this is just the beginning for The Good Fun… emphasis on the fun.
