Author

Matt Ryan

Them Rumblin’ Bones

Them Rumblin’ Bones launch there LP this Saturday at the Spotted Mallard, 314 Sydney Rd Brunswick

Don’t bother trying to label TRB in a genre. They mix hard rock with stadium rock, a bit of funk, a bit of soul and everything else inbetween. Featuring Venom, Michael Stangel and one of St Kildas best landlords Dave Stevens, they avan/t played a city gig yet, but with an LP on the verge look out for em. Dave spoke to me in his St Kilda pad.

dave

Dave: it’s a strange story how we came together. Me and Michael meet in high school and formed our first band at 13 which broke up when we were 14. We had nothing to do with each other for 30 years. Not for an issues, we just went our own ways. When Pure Pop was going under he got in touch with me and he was offered a development deal to do a TV show, and he contacted me and said ive got this idea for a show. We do a mockumentary about a reality show for a record label. I would play this guy that ran this record shop/venues that was shut down cause of noise complaints and now the two of us are running a record label in Geelong. We picked ideas to this production company and they were supportive and he threw them theses ideas and they were like yeah its great keep at it. After a year we released the show wasn/t going to happen so we thought we better earn some money. We had all these situations for this fake record company so we thought lets put it into practice. And we came up with this cover band, doing gigs in reginal Victoria. We had ideas for funny hijinks for the show, so we thought lets do it but for real. So we did classic rock covers for a year, me Michael and Venom. It gets soul sapping for after a while and we thought well we/re good enough players so lets write some tracks. We had access to a studio in Geelong, and we wrote all these songs. The studio is not a commercial studio so we had unlimited time so the meter wasn/t running. We spent four months recording a mixing and now its ready to go. Its funny as sometimes you ave a band that has a member that plays in a cover band, and plays in an original band on the side. But now where all in the same boat (laughs) so we can/t double book ourselves.

Munster: you mentioned before the meter wasn/t running and you belted out the songs in four months, that’s a pretty quick turn round most bands would kill for that.

Dave: Well that’s the things this studio in Geelong is amazing guy Pail. HES a lawyer who works three months a year doing pro bono work in Aboriginal community’s in Norther Territory. He has a studio in his house and he opens it to schools and all kinds of people. Hes one of the good rich people hes an angle and a big supporter of the arts its not a profit thing. Was great to use it and ave attention to detail and get thing right.

Munster: The three of you are big music fans so it must ave been hard to pick a genre to stick to

Dave: Yeah that’s the thing we didn’t ave a vision as what we wanted to do when it came to original music. It wasn/t pre planned like what band do we wanna be. We just went into a room and this is what we came up with. There were times when say Mike would come up with some chords and it sounded Hendrix like, so I would add my own thing, but it wasn/t calculated, its just what we came up with. When I ran Pure Pop I put the bass away for 10 years I don/t know if people at Pop knew I played bass. So this has been great to do, been like therapy. And you know a band is only as strong as its weakest member. With MICAHEL AND Venom ive had to lift my game. Having not played for ten years its great to play with amazing players. Theres that saying if you’re the best muso in your band youre in the wrong band (laughs). That’s not the case with me.

Munster: With the covers band I take it artistically that might not ave been the most fulfilling thing but from learning to play again it must ave been good.

Dave: It was, its like training, in saying we do the cover band we weren/t top 40, just a classic cover band, we weren/t doing songs we didn/t like. That was good just to get the chops up but it comes back quick. I was still playing at home, I just wasn/t in a working band. If one of us didn/t like the song we wouldn/t do it, cause it has to be fun, and playing old rock songs is great.

Munster: you mentioned before how you threw up your own ideas and use different styles in the same song, so it must ave been a pretty egoless environment were you can all do your own thing.

Dave: yeah usually the best idea is the first idea. The songs, like a four minute song if one of us suggested something, it would cost four minutes of our life. Your heard the ideas that worked, the ones that didn/t were shithouse (laughs) you cant be afraid to try something new. If someone says something ave a go. Its obvious if something doesn/t work we don/t need to say it. Its no issue we/ll just try something else. We all ave three pretty crazy egos, but we all trust each other’s tastes and opinions.

Munster: Fred Negro recently drew you wearing a shirt saying cock rock, you think theres a bit of that in here?

Dave: That actually came about as the three of us did Cock Rock Friday in Geelong. It’s the cover band and a guy called Andrew on second guitar, and we do 80s hair metal and cock rock. Gunner and Whitesnake. We made some shirts saying cock rock, and Fred saw that hence the drawing. But we do a lot of big rock riffs, so I can see that influence.

Munster: you mentioned before you can all sing but was there any argument on who was going to do lead vocals?

Dave: No not at all. Michael was always going to be lead singer. I can sing Venom can hold a tune but Michaels a singer. I can hold a tune but not a frontman. We all over 70s rock, and in that hard rock theres backing vocals and harmonies which you don/t hear in todays rock. We all had ideas for harmonies and that gives us more a 70s rock vibe and we all like to sing and makes us sounds bigger. I always loved rock that has great harmonies.

Munster: Michael does ave a very appealing, kinda stadium rock style to him.

Dave: Hes gotta a powerful voice, one of the tracks he come across like a young Doug Parkinson kinda raspy rock style, and he can do it all in one go, never needs a second take.

Munster: Prior to Pure Pop you mentioned you were in a band playing bass, but not quite as rocky as this?

Dave: no I was in a band called Lynch Pin, I don/t wanna say power poppy kinda melodic, Crowded House style. We went overseas a few times. Before that I was in a band called Stickyback Monkey which was round the early 90s we had loops, guitar bass and drums but we were outta place as we were during the grunge era. We made a EP and we made it with Toney Cohen. If you Google us the only mention of Stickyback Monkey its on his disogs page. And I also played with Jeff Lang, he went to high school with me and Michael.

Munster: tell us what some of your favorite gigs at Pure Pop were?

Dave: So many, Glen Hardson was fantastic, Lee Renaldo and Steve Shelly was amazing. Barry Adamson did a fantastic show. But I loved that Courtney Barnette played in front of ten people. And she also played the classic Album series where she did INXS. She was this girl that came from Tassie that made her way. She had something special bout her. She might not ave been the best guitarist but she did it in a special way. Alex Leslie played there 100 times but watching him develop was incredible he asked for his first gig at 16. There was such a great vibe from the stage and the audience, they were there for the music, not to be seen in a cool joint.

Munster: Whats next ?

Dave: the LP launch is in Brunswick in OCTOBER 8 at Spottered Mallard, and we wanna record again, even though this one isn/t out yet. And pretty much just play, and looking forward to peoples reaction to the music.

Munster: And favouirte Fall LP to end this?

Dave: Don/t ave one?

Munster: Ween?

Dave: Sorry

Munster: Pixies.

Dave: Doolittle

https://www.facebook.com/themrumblinbones/?fref=ts

Them Rumblin’ Bones launch there LP this Saturday at the Spotted Mallard, 314 Sydney Rd Brunswick

October 6, 2016 0 comment

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2016 Community Cup write up

written by Matt Ryan

My attempt at covering a game of football. Make this what you will

I wake at 10 to a text from Miriam saying street bar at 11:30. I got the call up so thats were i gotta be. I walk to the bakery to get me and my housemate Cath and i breakfast. Meat pie for me, onion pie for her. As i walk out the bakery Tim Rogers walks past me. Hes wearing a beautiful light colored suit and hat. Tells me what a glorious day it is for a game of football and tells me he/ll tell me hes Turbonegro story when i see him next. Walk home, give Cath her pie. Shes off to the game to with mates of hers. I walk down to the street bar for further breakfast. On the way i see Garth and his mates aving a BBQ outside his place. I already love the community spirit is see going on. I arrive at the bar late. Miriam is there as is Jack and Georgia. Jack wearing one of his army coats that i love, and Georgia wearing a beautiful full length red dress. The group is on the Gordons gin while i start with a Canadian Club dry. Its is a beautiful day, and i say something like we/re living the dream. Gabe walks past and says hes gotta work, bloody shame that. Rosie comes by then we are joined by Geoff the Viking and Juri. The usual traffic problems go on in front of us as is that comes with the end of the trams stop on Acland and Barkly. We discuss the tram stop proposal and what will become of the village Belle. Miriam Jack and Georgia head to the game with Juzi and Johnny join us. Johnny says what did i tell you last year bout the scarf combo. He called me a cunt last time, then again several people did. Sigh. Bout 12:30 we walk to the ground. Love Johnnys red flannie and he tells me its from France, for free. Walk to the ground, and theres a fucking line again. A bloke on an acoustic guitar is playing American Ruse. Really? No one should lover MC5 on an acoustic guitar without a permit. Thinking im going to be in line for ages, some bloke ushers me Johnny and Juzi as we don/t ave bags. Run to the bar naturally. Johnny grabs me a beer, i forget what it was. Johnny, i owe you a drink next hook. See Rosie and Georgia at the ground, and also Mikey, ive always got time for him. Top bloke. We discuss the art of record shopping for a long time, talk about our mutual love of Poison City and Heartland Records. I tell him i recently brought the new Bob Mould LP and he tells me bout a local act called Terry. Leaping Larry L walks past, one of the best creative minds this country has to offer his hear. Look forward to his call as always. Mattie O walks past asks how i am. I always look out for the Matts. Toorak Mick stops by as does a fellow on crutches. Two of my favs, Fiona and the hardest working muso in St Kilda Jack Howard are here. Think Fi said something bout the scarfs. Ross Wilson does his reworking of Eagle Rock. I liked Daddy Cool but i aint big on the original, this is very good. JVG walks past in a very nice white suit. He tells me not to talk to loud as he has mic in hand. Pauline Bailey says hi and thanks for the zine.

I look at my watch and confirm at 1:16PM i break the seal.

Mikey and i got for a walk round the ground. Someone comes up and rubs me sideburns and its Amy, one of me favourite people ever, my Ralph Steadman. Amy just got back from holiday told me i gotta do it. Said she didnt regret a cent or second. Shes with Ruby and introduces me to two of her former co workers. So good to ave Amy back in the country. I see Gaz from Hell walk past but he don/t hear me. Im a bit said as i don/t see any of the Collingwood quorum of Jackie, Pete Rob, and the Rockdogz President Fred. I get a text from Mr President saying hes in Gravys rehearsal and asked me to keep him up to date with the score. Liz walks past. She tells me my scarfs are wrong is saw there right. We disagree but its all good. Game starts, Dogs get the early advantage, i need to leak again. No line thank god. Quarter time Dogz lead 18 to 8. Biggsy says line of the day when he refers to last years margin as like beating Old Yeller. Leapster reminds us to keep real dogs on leashes, and says Biggsy would prefer kids on leashes, Biggsy says something bout breeders. Seriously, why hasn/t Leaps, Biggs or Ruari been in the mix to replace Denis Cometti? DON/T GIVE US LUKE DARCY OR BT. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON/T.

Second quarter i go for a walk to the Pure Pop end, as Bernie Carr has called it, which is the scoreboard end. I see Lucian, always great seeing him. Simon from the Interceptors and his lovely wife Jane greet me with friendly hello as always. Simon gives me an Interceptors badge, very thoughtful. Waz comes round, like me he thinks why isn/t there this many people seeing live music everyweek in Melbourne. In the beer line Geezer is there, as is Ciaran. He got me onto a writer called Andy Mitten, my new favourite soccer writer. He don/t approve of the Collingwood scarf but i said i gotta support the team. He agrees and we separate on that note. I see a lady named Deb, who refers to me as Annes mate, i refer to her as Annes mate too. Half time, i text the Rockdogz president, Dogs up 37 to 10. I inform the president, he replies with go dogs! Gravys are up by 110 go gravys. As i walk round the ground i see Liz again, and see Polly. She tells me of how she got a photo of her dog with Tim Rogers. I see Mikey and chat with him again, Tim Rogers winks at me but does not approve of the scarf combo. I hear the band playing but to occupied to notice.

I catch up with Miriam again, and also see a bunch of my favs round, including Garry (who took a pic of me), Evan (wearing an old Roys jumper), Adam, Cat Denis, Deb, Rich, Jo Gay, Jen who has a pies ball with her, geez i wish i could ave a kick today. One of my favs Teagan is here to, she asks if i had a chance to listen back to the interview we did, i say yes and say it was brilliant. See Ciaran again. Again in the drink line, which is where im going. I lose track of how much ive had. Fiona takes a photo of me behind the bins, the Jack asks for Fi to take one of us. Ive been asking rock starts for photos all my life so its kinda call a world class rock start like jack asks for one with me. I see a lot of my friends wearing Russian hats, did i miss a memo or something on that. See the great man Dave Moll chatting with Greg Macainsh from Skyhooks, and Paris is here too.

Game starts again, Leapster at one pint says person passes to person. Leapster also brings up funny call from Steven Quartermaine, something bout how the better team will prevail. Me mate Stacey gets plenty of it. He should be in the AFL, both for his skills and personality. We need 20 blokes like him running round, some real characters. Im at the bar and see Tim Rand, tell him i got a new gig, also see Brett and Sarah and Johanna, all three top people. Specking of top people Bernie carr greets me with hello cunt. Love him. A cheerleader says i ave the wrong scarf on it turns out to be Anna and see Olga for the first time, also a cheerleader. Missi comes by and says hi. Fuck i suck at reporting football. Janet from another Planet comes round in her Tigers jacket. She says cant drink CUB beer as they underpay there workers. Pack of pricks they are. Then i realise i would die if i didn/t drink Melbourne Bitter, thank god its not on sale here, this other beer which i cant remember. Tina and Steve say hi, i go to the toilet twice, one time Johnny smiles and says something i forget and second time James Young is ahead of me, like the sideburns hes growing. And its game over. I text the Rockdogz chairman Dogs up easy 63 to 30. I get onto the president and he replies Yay! Gravys up 200 to nil aarrr. I love doing our Mark E Smith impersonations, especially in text form.

Andy and Kylie are here, say hi. Rohan Connolly is here to present the Steve Connolly medal, then Regurgitator hit the stage and thats my line to leave and walk to Winnebago for the Large Number 12s. I see Andy on the way tell him where im off to. Glenn o texts and asks for the score. As i walk in the Largies are playing Like a Rolling Stone, its a packed house as i expected. I go straight to the bar to see the Rockdogz president Fred and congratulate him on the teams win. He tells me the Gravys rehearsal was a success and we clink glasses. Then Anne walks over, always rad to see her. She hates the c bomb. Me too, although for me the c bomb is Carlton. Outta respect to Anne i won/t say her version of it anymore in this article. Well maybe once more. Lewi comes round. The Largies play the Billy Miller submarine song i love. Fred says when the sheep go down. Think i like that version better. Martys here to, and half the cup crowd are here too. I walk outside to ave a fag and i bump into Nigel again and he tells me of a cassesstte he gave Marty, its a Motley Crew tape but inside its not the one advertised on the cover. Gold. The other highlight of the gig was Billy Pommer Jrs drum solo. Amazing gig, now off to dogs Bar, but should prob go home. A stuff it. Arrive at Dogs, Viv and Sally are there, they ask if there will be a write up of the day. We/ll see i guess. The two awesome owners Gavan and Sonja greet me as they always do, Gav telling me better luck next year. Bernie is here too, wearing a Collingwood shirt and Megahertz scarf, could i love this guy anymore? MARTY Nigel and i discuss MASH, the Tuttle episode rings a bell, Anne comes and joins the table, and Tina and Greg are here. I see a pic of the commentators getting a medal, fucking good on em. I think i discuss politics with Joanna, i cant talk out it when im sober what chance i got when im pissed. Marylin is here now. And i remember Jo Gay saying to me on Friday Richmond hates Collingwood, and i say avent they always? Whats changed?

A lady comes up to me and says something about me looking like a werewolf, and shes a vampire and something bout bitting my neck. A werewolf and a vampire, don/t know about these inner species couples. But each to their own a guess. Like Mick Maulthouse (cunt, sorry Anne) i go one club to many and pop into the Neilson. Miriam, Bridget, Catie and Teagan are all here. Girl named Rachael here too. I think i told her i do a comic instead of a zine. She asked to be in it, i think. At this point im as pissed as four Shane McGowans. Need to go home, i don/t even know what time it is. Rcahel, forget what i said to you but feel i need to apologize for being in your ear, so sorry love. On the walk home Dave leaves Lost and plays me a song from his new band Them Rumblin Bones. Look forward to seeing them live. I get home eventually.

All in all, what a ace day, well done to all involved, and 2017, GO MEGAZ

June 29, 2016 0 comment

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