Pray TV (band)


Pray TV were an Indie pop/Indie rock band from Melbourne, Australia. They existed from 1987 until their breakup in 1997. They released 4 CD albums, several 7" vinyl singles and a 12" vinyl EP. A compilation CD was released in 2010. The band reformed for a one-off reunion show at the Yarra Hotel in Abbotsford on 31 January 2015. After 20 years since their last recording, the band released a new album in August 2016, titled 'Horizontal Life'.

History

Pray TV began in 1987 in Melbourne, Australia. They were one of a number of promising Melbourne bands that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s that also included, amongst others, The Glory Box, Ripe, Autohaze, The Fauves, The Killjoys, The Hollowmen and Sea Stories.
The band's early sound was described as 'songs that have a lot of energy and rock along with power, yet they project this depressive mood that most bands can only get by playing slow. It's a neat trick.' The band had various members over the years, with the only consistent members being Aidan Halloran and Martin Kennedy. Joseph Kennedy, Martin’s brother, was the drummer for most of the band's existence.
Their debut 7" vinyl only single ‘In My Street/A Foreign Land/Surf Nazis’, along with the 6 track, 12" vinyl only EP ‘Sure’ were released in 1989 on Mr Spaceman. Both of these releases were recorded by Perri and Bo at the Phantom Tollbooth in Carlton, Melbourne. Shortly after these releases, Kennedy joined Ascot Vale band Mr Floppy as drummer, but left shortly after. The 7" vinyl only single ‘Spent/She Fell’ was released by Au Go Go Records in 1990. The 7" vinyl only single ‘Cold Dog Strew/Lone Stiff/Still Searching/Sounds of Silence’ was released in 1991 on Shock Records and was lifted from their debut CD LP ‘Flux’ of the same year.
Their second LP ‘Paydirt’ was released on Shock Records in 1992. The album included a bonus track of the band covering the Hüsker Dü song Sorry Somehow, which was also regularly performed live. The single/EP ‘Aftermath’ from the album also included the cover track. Around this time Pray TV were signed by US label Radioactive and released the 'Aftermath' EP in the US, followed by a series of shows in New York and Los Angeles with Radioactive label mates Live.
In 1992 Pray TV featured on a CD called 'Dress Ups' with other Melbourne bands The Glory Box and The Fauves, with each band performing a track from the others repertoire, as well as contributing one original track. Melbourne band Ripe were also intended to take part but didn’t due to other recording commitments.
In January 1994 they supported The Smashing Pumpkins at the Prince of Wales in St Kilda, Melbourne. Their third LP ‘Swinger’s Paradise’ was released on Shock Records in 1995. It was produced by Ed Kuepper, formerly of pioneering 1970’s Australian punk band The Saints. On 27 July 1995 they performed on the RMITV show Under Melbourne Tonight
Their fourth and final album Westona was released on The Hypnotized Label in 1996 and apart from Halloran and Kennedy, featured a new guitarist and drummer as well as new bass player Russell Baricevic, formerly of Geelong band Bored!.
Ashley Naylor of Melbourne band Even occasionally played guitar with Pray TV on studio recordings and also live. Pray TV disbanded in 1997 with a farewell show at the Public Bar in North Melbourne.

Post Break up

Martin Kennedy resurfaced in the late 1990s with new outfit All India Radio.
The 20 track compilation CD ‘Lost Transmissions 1987-1996’ was released in 2010 and contained various tracks from Pray TV’s entire recording career.
The band reformed for a one-off reunion show at the Yarra Hotel in Abbotsford on 31 January 2015, with the line-up of Martin and Joseph Kennedy, Halloran and Baricevic.

Reunion

After 20 years since their last recording, the band released a new album in August 2016, titled 'Horizontal Life'. The album was launched at the Grace Darling Hotel in Collingwood, Melbourne on 10 September 2016, with support from The Glory Box.

Discography

Singles