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Howzat! with Jeff Jenkins
HOWZAT!
MEET GRETCHEN LEWIS
You may remember him from such self-help
videos as Smoke Yourself Thin and
Get Confident, Stupid. The voice
of The Simpsons’ Troy McClure was
provided by Phil Hartman, who was sadly killed by his third wife in 1998.
Phil’s first wife was Gretchen Lewis,
which was also the name of a prostitute in the American comic book series Noble Causes. Melbourne singer Del
Sinki came across the name when he was reading a book called The Hollywood Book Of Death. “I just
thought the letters that went to making up her name, ‘Gretchen Lewis’, were
strong and bold, like our music,” Del explains. Gretchen Lewis have
launched their debut album, Issue
One,. Gretchen made the album at Birdland with producers Lindsay
Gravina and Rob Long. They sound like a throwback to the early 90s, which
is no bad thing – think Faith No More, Primus and early Chili Peppers.
Their new single, A Night In The
Devil’s Bed, is a dark tale filled with drugs, dependence and death.
“It’s one of 14 chapters in our comic book, which runs the duration of the
album,” Del says. “One of the characters, Isabel, is taken to by some hired
thugs, who want to be rid of her before the night is through.” The video
features the band performing at a cemetery. Did they have to get permits,
or did they do it guerilla-style? “The clip took about four weeks to make
as it was done guerilla-style with myself and a friend, Johnny Flynn,
shooting it with no permits. It was just, ‘Okay, go, go, go, now!’” You can check out the clip at
myspace.com/Gretchenlewis.
First gig?
“A uni band comp in late 2002.”
Best gig?
“Probably a recent Saturday night at the
Vineyard. We threw in a cover of Primus’ Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers and the whole place was
heaving.”
Worst gig?
“At the Tote about two years ago. About 12
people there and a tumbleweed blowing through.”
Ultimate gig?
“Supporting Faith No More at Festival Hall.
Oh well : ).”
A comparison you’ve liked?
And one that’s surprised you?
“We liked being likened to New Zealand band
Supergroove. One that surprised us was being likened to Metallica.”
Your MySpace page lists
only international influences (Chili Peppers, Mr Bungle, Faith No More,
James Brown …). Any Aussie influences?
“I would have to say Regurgitator.”
Groupies: Yes/No?
“Actually, yes.”
GOODBYE AND GOOD LULUC
Melbourne duo Luluc are relocating to the US, which means that Steve
“Harmony” Hassett is taking leave of absence from Wagons. Steve’s exquisite backing vocals will be a big loss,
but he’s leaving on a high – Wagons have just done the Big Day Out, and The Rise And Fall Of Goodtown should
be on the shortlist for this year’s Australian Music Prize. The complete
shortlist of nine albums will be announced at the St Kilda Festival on
Sunday. Meanwhile, Luluc do their farewell show this Thursday at the
Christmas Street Warehouse, 188 Christmas Street, Fairfield.
PERRY
GOOD
Speaking
of Aussie albums, get your money on Perry
Keyes’ Johnny Ray’s Downtown for
the 2010 AMP shortlist. He’s crafted an Aussie classic. The album is out on
March 6.
ONE
HIT TO THE BODY
It’s
disturbing to see the nationalisation of The Herald Sun’s features’ sections. Will this mean fewer
Melbourne acts getting exposure in the paper’s Hit liftout? In her
first editorial, Rebekah Devlin wrote: “Hit
is about you – it’s for your free time, your fun.” Yet, she’s based in
Sydney. Fortunately, Cameron Adams remains as music writer, and the new
section keeps Mikey Cahill’s brilliant Rock City column.
LOVE
WALKS IN
Her
dad hung out with Bon Scott. Her mum, known as Mouse, is a textile artist
who’s worked on movies such as Moulin
Rouge, Mission Impossible and Muriel’s
Wedding. And Loene Carmen
was on the big screen when we first got to know her, playing Freya in the
coming-of-age classic The Year My
Voice Break. But Loene has carved a career as a musician. Her fourth
album, It Walks Like Love, was
released late last year (through Inertia), and it’s too great to fall
between the cracks. Loene’s sound has been called sultry, smokin’, suggestive, seductive,
sensual and smouldering. She’s also been described as “like a female
Australian Bill Callahan … she sits in a magical, rarefied space, somewhere
between Tom Waits and Dolly Parton”. Asked how she would describe her
sound, Loene smiles and says: “Wordy. Funnier than you might first think.” It Walks Like Love features
contributions from Loene’s dad, Peter Head – who played in Adelaide prog
blues band Headband, who supported the Stones and Elton John – and Loene’s
daughter, Holiday Sidewinder from Bridezilla. “It was lovely having them on
the album,” Loene says. “I plan to do more of it, I’m in awe of both of
their talents.” Loene loves her music. Asked to list her three favourite
Australian songwriters, she provides 14: Tex Perkins (“I love
his humour, braggadocio, dirt, beauty, brutality, vulnerability,
elegant turn of phrase, a suggestive raised eyebrow and no fear of telling
it like it is”), Ian Rilen and Cathy Green (“songs that are simple, tough and
tender and conjure up the road and darkened rooms”), Rowland S Howard, Paul
Kelly, Don Walker, Gareth Liddiard, Jed Kurzel, Joel Silbersher, Kim
Salmon, Louis Tillett, Spencer P Jones, Conrad Standish, Ron Peno … the
list goes on.” Howzat! caught up with Loene as she gets set to return to
Melbourne. She’s playing on Sunday, February 21 at the Toff.
Being the “daughter of a
wild rock ‘n’ roller” was a music career inevitable?
“Not
at all, especially the fact that I certainly never harboured any illusions
about music being a path to wealth and fame! However, my father did nurture
an incredible love of music in me and I can’t really imagine being anything
else.”
A favourite description of
your music?
“Soft
chaos.”
A comparison that’s
surprised you?
“Occasionally,
my songs are described as ‘heartbroken’ or ‘bitter’, which I find odd, as
all of my songs are celebrations of love in some strange form or another.
I’m not very interested in exploring heartbreak or bitterness.”
“‘I’m tougher than leather and softer than suede’” ... is that a
line about yourself?
“Guilty,
your honour.”
Do you prefer music to
movies?
“Yes.”
Are there similarities
between making music and acting?
“Both
require a certain leap of faith and blind belief in what you’re doing in
order for it to connect with other people. And they’re both just about
getting a story or a feeling across when it comes down to it. The thing I
love most about making music is that I’m responsible for the whole package
– I can make any choice I want for the best way to get my point across,
whereas when I’m acting I’m responsible for trying my hardest to fulfill
someone else’s vision, which I also really enjoy, but it’s a pretty
different scenario; all care, no responsibility. But I’ve racked up a lot
more recorded music time than screen time; acting is pretty rare for me
these days.”
A
JJJ-OKE
So,
this year’s number one song in the Triple J Hottest 100 comes from UK band
Mumford & Sons. Howzat! has only one question: Triple J are all over
this song, yet they don’t play Wagons?!
NOT
JUST A TOKENVIEW
It’s
great to hear a young band filled with ambition. Sydney’s Tokenview have delivered a grand
debut with Patience At Sea (through
Inertia). In particular, the single, What
Can I Do, is a gem. Epic, cinematic rock.
HOWZAT!
PLAYLIST
A Night In The Devil’s Bed GRETCHEN
LEWIS
Oh Apollo! LOENE CARMEN
Will You Shine? PERRY KEYES
Never Been To
Spain WAGONS
Oh Apollo! LOENE CARMEN
What Can I Do TOKENVIEW
The Gambler WAGONS
Tickety Boo STEPHEN CUMMINGS
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