Autopilot

When so many bands today aim for the “modern alternative rock” label, and end up producing dismally dramatic and out-of-tune music that’s a pain to listen to, it’s refreshing to find a band that succeeds in creating the good stuff.

As a young and relatively unknown band, Autopilot have done very well for themselves so far. They started out making melodic rock music in 2006 and swiftly released their “8 Feet And Climbing” EP, which was featured in SL and on Tuks FM.

They then went through a few changes to get to the five-piece band most of South Africa is coming to know today, but they seem to have arrived at the magic formula, as their star is definitely on the rise.

Influenced by bands like Our Lady Peace, Flickerstick, Kings Of Leon and Paramore, Autopilot creates modern rock music with soaring choruses and solid beats – described by the band as “fluid groove alternative rock” or “humpty dumpty alternative rock”. Good times. They finished their debut EP, “Beautiful” (a debut for the new line-up, at least), in early 2007 and it immediately got picked up by Bowline music for country-wide distribution – no small feat for such a fledgling band!

If you haven’t heard the title track from the EP yet, you must be dead or out of the country, because it was all over MK, SABC and various radio stations throughout the country in late 2007. It even reached the number two spot on samp3.com.
   
So, if you’re lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, catch Autopilot at the Plett Garden Party in Plettenberg Bay on the 2nd of July at 10pm or at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival on the 4th of July at 10pm.

For more info on the band, go to www.autopilotband.co.za or their Myspace and Facebook pages.