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SIXTEEN ODD YEARS FOR EVEN
Their debut album was called Less Is More. So did Even ever
think they'd survive 16 years? "I didn't think too much
about the future when I was in my 20s," laughs singer Ash
Naylor. Ash and drummer Matthew Cotter had been in a band
called The Swarm (fronted by SEN's Francis Leach). "Matt
and I did some demos in '93 and a good friend of ours, Jeff
Tennant [who also managed The Fauves], mentioned to Wally
[Kempton] that we were looking for a bass player. As it
happens, Wally liked the demo and had some time up his sleeve,
and here we are." Even did their first gig in 1994, at the
Empress with Ammonia and Hurdy Gurdy. Has Ash made a living
out of Even? "Sometimes." Any regrets? "As far as what we've
done on stage and on record, no." Has the band ever actually
broken up during the 16 years? "No." Ash says Even "gravitated
towards like-minded bands" in the early days, and they've
outlived just about all of 'em, including Snout, Sidewinder,
Oliver, 78 Saab, Ammonia and Knievel. As Even get set for
their "Sweet 16th" show (with The Stems at the Hi-Fi on
Friday) and prepare to release their sixth album, In Another
Time, we put Ash in the Howzat! hotseat:
What's been the most exciting moment during the 16 years?
"The moment before we go on stage."
Best gig? Worst gig? Biggest gig?
"The next show will be our best gig! Worst: Big Day Out
1995 - I lost my voice. It was the longest 45 minutes. And
the biggest: Probably supporting silverchair and Spiderbait
at the Sydney Showgrounds in 1996. Scary, yet exciting."
What's your favourite Even song?
"I'm fond of all of them, but the easiest ones often end
up being favourites. Life Gets In The Way is one of those
songs."
Favourite review?
"There are some rippers in the archives, but hindsight taught
me to treat good and bad reviews in the same way. It is
extremely rare for a review to capture the true essence
of a record or show."
Worst review?
"I try not to read the bad ones - it can poison your mind.
Musicians have enough self-loathing and doubt; reading bad
reviews can compound this."
Favourite Even headline?
"A cover page in The Drum Media in 1996. The photo shoot
was conducted at a friend's house the morning after a huge
night in Sydney. Shooting was interrupted by my vomiting,
which peppered my face with broken capillaries. Nice look!
The headline was something to do with our rise to the toppermost
of the poppermost."
The first album included the line, "You must have lost your
mind, has it lost you?" What's been the band's craziest
period?
"Probably when Less Is More came out. It was bizarre garnering
so much attention. But, thankfully, we had the machine behind
us and a good record to justify the spotlight. It was crazy,
in a good way."
Your favourite Even album?
"Another impossible question, but Free Kicks will always
be dear to me. We had been interrupted by some music industry
headaches at this time. Being able to finance the album
ourselves gave us the impetus to form our own label and
not be at the mercy of the whims of the industry around
us. And having Ian McLagan play on the album was an incredible
experience."
What advice would you give a young band starting out today?
"Write great songs."
RONNIE'S SOLO RETREAT
After nearly three decades of making wonderful music with
Died Pretty, Ronnie S Peno is finally working on his first
solo album. Ron is writing with Cam Butler and plans to
hit the studio in August. "It's just little steps, there's
no need to rush," Ron told Neil Rogers on RRR last week.
Ron will release the album under his initials - RSVP (Ronald
Stephen Valentine Peno) and his band is called The Return
To Senders. They're doing three "sneak preview" gigs - this
Thursday at 9pm at the Retreat, Sunday at the Old Bar (9pm),
and Sunday, June 6 at Yah Yah's.
BARKER BACK TO WORK
As Nick Barker and the Reptiles get set to do their first
shows in 17 years, Nick is also busy promoting his seventh
solo album, Black Water Blues. He's playing at the Workers
Club on Friday.
CHART WATCH
Vanessa Amorosi hits the Top 5, and Perth group Pendulum
swing into the Top 40 with Watercolour, which has already
debuted at number four in the UK.
Mr Mysterious VANESSA AMOROSI (number four)
We Speak No Americano YOLANDA BE COOL (19)
Unbroken STAN WALKER (30)
Love Lost THE TEMPER TRAP (35)
Watercolour PENDULUM (37, debut)
Seventeen JET (40)
The brilliant British India have a Top 10 debut.
Iron Man 2 AC/DC (number four)
Compass MARK VINCENT (six)
On Broadway DAVID CAMPBELL (seven)
Avalanche BRITISH INDIA (10, debut)
Golden Rule POWDERFINGER (13)
Down The Way ANGUS & JULIA STONE (15)
April Uprising THE JOHN BUTLER TRIO (17)
Koonyum Sun XAVIER RUDD (18)
Hazardous VANESSA AMOROSI (24)
The Enchanted Way DAVID HOBSON (25, debut)
Conditions THE TEMPER TRAP (26)
Wonder LISA MITCHELL (39)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
Don't Wait EVEN
Age 14 REBECCA BARNARD
Vanilla BRITISH INDIA
First Frost LIZ STRINGER
Sunny's Song NICK BARKER
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