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DUTCH TREAT
There's nothing like the energy of youth. Melbourne's Sand
Pebbles are probably the only band in the world to have
five members born in five different decades, from the '50s
to the '90s. Despite having released four albums, the band
had done just three interstate shows - two in Adelaide and
one in Sydney. But then the Pebbles got a new member, drummer
Wes Holland, born in 1990. "Now I'm in the band and the
new record is out, I decided to book a show in Sydney, which
led to a show in Canberra," Wes reveals. "Then a tour. My
next challenge is getting us booked on the Austin Psych
Fest bill ... how hard can it be?"
Wes instantly became one of Howzat!'s favourite drummers.
He hits hard, adding muscle to the Pebbles' mysticism. Being
the "young fella" and "new boy", do the other guys make
Wes do menial tasks? "They tried for a while. Apparently,
asking for the band rider is the job of the youngest member.
Then I started to give them back some attitude. Now they
take their orders from me."
Wes famously made his live debut with the Pebbles playing
tambourine at Basement Discs. "I'd just purchased a drum-mountable
tambourine from a music shop," he recalls. "On my way home,
I bumped into the band outside Basement. Their drummer hadn't
shown and they wanted me to step in. I was shitting myself:
what if my tambourine playing was out of time? Anyway, it
was packed. I was sweating. A guy came up to me afterwards
and said, 'Dude, you're the first person I've ever seen
play a drum roll on a tambourine.'" Suddenly, the Sand Pebbles
had a new drummer.
Who's been Wes' biggest drumming influence? "There are three:
Keith Moon is the best musician who has ever lived. And
the best dressed. Bobby Gillespie did more with two drums
than most do with 20. And Scott Asheton, having to sell
off pieces of his drum kit to survive, until all that was
left was a ride, a snare, and a bass drum - and it still
sounded incredible. What a guy."
Sand Pebbles launch their fifth album, Dark Magic, at Northcote
Social Club on Saturday. Aside from Wes, who is the most
magical Pebbles member? "It's so hard to say," Wes smiles.
"Andrew Tanner is the most handsome frontman of his generation.
The sounds that come out of Ben Michael X's amplifiers hurt
my soul, in a good way. [Guitarist and singer] Tor is the
most mysterious person I know. And [bass player] Chris [Hollow]
has the most magical personality trait I've ever seen -
he enjoys awkwardness. He thrives on it."
There have already been plenty of glowing Dark Magic reviews.
Howzat! called it "deliciously dippy, a little bit hippie
and often trippy". What's been Wes' favourite description?
"MOR psychedelica." The album opens with a roll call of
the months: "April warned May about June and July … September's
your friend, she is gentle and kind …" What month would
the Pebbles be? "November - the month of the Scorpio. There
are three Scorpios in the band, which basically means we're
forever holding grudges. It certainly keeps things interesting."
DOC ROCKS THE CRUE
Ned Kelly has been in the news lately, and one of his relatives
hits town this weekend for a solo show. "I'm still with
The Angels, contrary to rumours," says Doc Neeson, a descendant
of the bushranger. But Doc is supporting Motley Crue at
Rod Laver Arena on Saturday without the rest of The Angels,
who have been doing shows with Dave Gleeson as their singer,
even releasing a new single, Waiting For The Sun. Who knows
what's going on, but we do know that Angels ain't Angels
without Doc.
HIT AND MISS
I guess it's the future, but the local scene took another
hit last week when the Herald Sun moved Mikey Cahill's must-read
Rock City column online. It's good that the column still
exists, but it's disappointing that it will no longer be
found in the pages of Hit.
CHART WATCH
Gotye becomes the first Aussie act this millennium to spend
six weeks at number one. The last Aussie male solo artist
to spend this long on top was John Farnham 25 years ago
(seven weeks with You're The Voice).
Somebody That I Used To Know GOTYE (number one)
Inescapable JESSICA MAUBOY (14)
Get It HAVANA BROWN (38, debut)
ARIA does not recognise Kimbra as an Aussie act, even though
the NZ-born artist is based in Melbourne. She spends a second
week in the Top 5. Meanwhile, strong Triple J support helps
Brisbane band Ball Park Music have a Top 40 debut.
Making Mirrors GOTYE (number two)
Vows KIMBRA (four)
Blue Sky Blue PETE MURRAY (six)
White Heat: 30 Hits ICEHOUSE (eight)
Rrakala GURRUMUL (16)
Moonfire BOY & BEAR (22)
Yes I Am JACK VIDGEN (25)
Ghosts Of The Past ESKIMO JOE (33)
Get 'Em Girls JESSICA MAUBOY (35)
Happiness And Surrounding Suburbs BALL PARK MUSIC (36, debut)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
Spring Time SAND PEBBLES
Autumn Leaves HUXTON CREEPERS
This Time ANIMAUX
Run, Wild DEAD LETTER CHORUS
Money Talkin THE BLACK SORROWS
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