:: Rock-A-Thon ::

We're playing heaps of shows over the next couple of weeks (see the gig guide for details). The most impressive of which is undoubtably the Lou Barlow support at the Zoo on Sunday the 22nd of June. And you thought he wasn't gonna come to Brisbane, shame on you all (and us). Shame.

:: ...And Sydney Shall Know Us By The Trail Of Deflated Airbeds ::

Holy shit: We're going to Sydney for a show. And we're playing with the dude from Art of Fighting. In one night. Lock it in kids, Friday JUNE 20th @ The Spanish Club w/ Ollie from Art Of Fighting. Its official Playing In A Band really is the 'Hobby of 2003'. We recommend it.

:: New Shows Added To Gig Guide ::

Check it out, we've got it all going on in May/June.

:: National Release Date For The Understudy EP ::

Our new record should be in stores around the country on June 9 thru the fine folks at MGM Distribution. Shopkeepers, please stock us. Interstate music folks, please buy it if you liked the MP3s.

:: Toowoomba Rocks ::

Yes, let it be said 'Rock Over Toowoomba! We Salute Your Scene'. The shows up on the mountain over the weekend went well. After checking out Gatton College (the birthplace of Ian's plethora of insecurities and the subject of the occassion Lee Kernigan and Dollarbar song) on the way up we played the classy Bon Amicis Cafe (Toowoomba) in the afternoon to a fair few seated punters. We intended to play really, really quietly until we worked out that we don't exactly have any really, really quiet songs. It was wild, but fun. And it was quiet too, quiet enough to hear us laughing at each other. Thanks you James of Bon Amicis, you've yet to see the last of us. The Autumn Giants finished up the night and showed us what a home ground advantage is all about, amazing. Oh yeah...a solo guy by the name of Greg opened up the show with some more than adequate Malkumus-esque solo gear. And we got free beer.

Now, dinner was difficult. This clown called Johnny Farnham was in town with his circus tent (literally) and every other clown in town with more money than dignity was rushing on down there to partake of the magic. Parking was horrible everywhere. Restraunts were full everywhere. Horrible music lovers were everywhere. So we got the fuck out of there and headed out of town until we found an all-you-can eat multi-national food chain where we gorged ourselves sick. Later on we checked out a nearby lookout and headed over to the National Hotel for the show.

The National Hotel is a backroom venue if you know what I mean. Big band room out back, big bar and pokies out front. First off the rank was The Dambusters Carnival, who according to Jos Giants sound different everytime they play. Tonight is was some sort of rock-swamp-folk boogie. I can't say we really dug it but they're drummer sure did bash the living shit out his drumkit which was fun to watch. Hometown indie-rock all-stars, The Autumn Giants played next and showed us why the billing was all around the wrong way. We booked these guys a show in Brisbane a few months back purely from hearing their demo (so send us your demos kids) and back then they proved themselves a fine live band. Fast forward to last weekend and well...they were straight-up amazing. A big sonic mish-mash of feedback, delay and distortion remincent of Sounds Like Sunset and 'Young And Full Of The Devil'-era Magic Dirt all somehow held together. It was hot shit. And they're gonna be playing with us a lot more often, mark our words. We played okay. It started out bad with a few sound problems, the stage at the Nato is fucking loud. But we pulled it together by the end: strings were broken, noise was made. People actually danced, can you believe it? The drive home was sugar fueled. The next morning was a haze.

Thanks be to Daniel, Christian, Jos and Ben of the Giants for gear, organisation and cheer, to Steph for the spare hands and merch skillz and to Scoobs for the filmingand sparehands. Kids, go to Toowoomba: you need to see their town and they'd like to hear your band.

:: THE UNDERSTUDY IS GO ::

Hey the CD launch at The Zoo happened last night and it all turned out for the best: people came, The KT26ers played and rocked it, some more people came, Turnpike played and rocked it, and then some more folks rolled in from thursday night drink specials at RGs and then we played and thought 'yeah...uhmmm' but everyone seemed to like it so it all ends well. We also sold some ceedees and badges, not an artistic achievement but one we needed to score none-the-less. Thanks to everyone for coming, especially those who did so early. We'll post some photos from the night really soon. And there was even some video footage shot...which we can safely say will never be posted. Okay...maybe in ten years or something. Thanks also to the staff of the Zoo for having us, making us feel especially welcome and for making us feel like rockstars with our very own rock'n'roll food platter. Ian ate all the fruit, those mandarins were kick ass.

Time Off reviewed our EP:

:: IRON ON ::
THE UNDERSTUDY
(Ruth Street)
The debut EP from Brisbane four-piece Iron On is like drinking light beer: while the initial effect is minimal, continued consumption can be intoxicating; don’t stop and you’ll develop an addiction. Kate Cooper’s oddly absorbing, natural vocal delivery is a key. ‘Ruddy’ builds momentum to a rousing chant-along via stop-start pacing and tumbling rhythms, ‘Old Cat’ rattles along to thick licks and a sea of rolling beats, while ‘Sleep In’ is all understated sweetness. Dual vocalist Ross Hope delivers more direct emo-rock stylings on the zippy ‘Everything Takes Too Long’ and the equally punchy ‘Best Or Less’. A stunning debut that should earn them a place on T-shirts everywhere.

Now if only we had t-shirts.

Toowoomba you're town is fucking next. Get ready.

:: RADIO PLAYED MY FAVOURITE SONG ::

Hey long time, no updating. Nothing really to report: we've been practising and writing some new songs. Our CD launch for The Understudy EP is next week at the Zoo. Ross, Kate and Nic were on Triple Zed's Stereo Hog program this afternoon, playing hits. This was the track listing:

Iron On by Superchunk
Keflex by Sandpit
Down In Splendour by Straightjacket Fits
Summer Fling by Unwound
Like I Care by Helmet
I Better Be Quiet by Elliot Smith
Jimmy Rogers by Fur
One More Hour by Sleater Kinney
Last Chance For A Slow Dance by Fugazi
Aspirins and Alcohol by Last Days Of April
Anarchitect by Something For Kate
Why Would You Want To Live Here by Death Cab For Cutie
He Wore by Cat Power
Driving Man by Denvar
Huffer by The Breeders

Its all there really: indie-rock, indie-rock, singer-songwriter indie-rock, NZ indie-rock and a touch of sheet metal for icing.
Seeyrs next week.