INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN BANDS
HALFWAY AND TIME OF THE ASSASSINS
Interviewed by Cameron Borg
Johnny Busby from Halfway interviewed by Cameron Borg
How can I describe what these guys who make up this band mean to me? It goes back to a shared collective love of independent music, Bob Dylan and The Smiths. It is a friendship built on sharing many happy times, and leaning on each other through hard times. And
HALFWAY's music can tell you all of this and much more ... and not only tell you but make you feel the heartache, the joys, the hangovers and the long drive to Brisbane too!
Their debut album "Farewell to the Faint-Hearted" is out now, and HALFWAY are currently recording their second long-player with Rob Younger (RADIO BIRDMAN) and Wayne Connolly (KNIEVAL) in Byron Bay. Thanks to Johnny for time out from his busy schedule to chat to Thylazine readers ...
CB: Thanks Johnny for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat to Thylazine. We go back a long way mate & I'm quite proud of the success you've had with your current band HALFWAY and especially the great success of your debut album "Farewell to the faint-hearted". Can you let us know how you feel about that album and did its commercial success surprise you?
JB: I am really proud of the record Cam. We put a lot of work into it over about 3 yrs on and off. We have received some good reviews & it has sold more than anything I have worked on before, but the reviews have not really resulted in crazy sales or anything. In saying that the record has pretty much paid for itself so thats is kind of a new experience for me.
CB: The HALFWAY line-up is nearing BOOMTOWN RATS / MADNESS proportions now. Yet the group live sounds very dynamic and sharp, and this comes across on the debut album. What's the secret to avoid a six-plus member band sounding like a huge mess onstage?
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JB: It's kind of boring I guess but most of it is just practise ... we all want the band to sound a certain way & when we rehearse we do our best to accomplish that. In saying that the members all understand the band & sound really well. So sometimes it's a less is more approach. Just because you have an instrument doesn't mean you have to play on everything & play loud.
CB: Would you please run through the current line-up of HALFWAY, and which instrument each member plays?
JB: Ben Johnson - bass, vocals, chris dale - guitar, harmonica, vocals, John Busby - guitar, vocals, Elwin Hawtin - drums, Noel Fitzpatrick - pedal steel, dobro, guitar, Liam Fitzpatrick - banjo, mandolin. |
[Above] Chris Dale at the Halfway House (Autumn 2004) overdubbing "Farewell ..." (Photo by Johnny Busby, 2004)
CB: I am especially fond of HALFWAY as half the band are mates of mine, and originally hail from Rockhampton. In particular ST JUDE are the nucleus of HALFWAY, and left an amazing recorded musical legacy of their own. It must have been a brave move to reinvent yourself as HALFWAY, and start from scratch after earning critical rave-ups and a great live reputation as ST JUDE?
JB: In some ways I didn't have much choice. We lost two crucial members in Chris Dale & Chris Hess. Elwin & myself wanted to keep going, so I thought if we were going to look for new members & start again that it was probably a good time for a directional change & a new name. What happened was kind of odd in that we found new members Chris Dale & Chris Hess later came back & joined Halfway. (Chris Hess has since parted ways with us to live with his partner in Taiwan). I wanted the new band to be better live, more interesting & focused & I think were on our way to accomplishing that. Also the indie rock scene is kind of narrow & sometimes short sighted. I wanted to do something broader & bigger. Something less tangled up in a small scene.
CB: I also admire that you were one of the people who helped get independent music firmly established in Rocky. I remember you in your pre-ST. JUDE days with THE CLERGY, pasting single covers by hand in your bedroom when you were a teenager, and your Mum hosting some legendary parties just so independent bands in town could play their originals somewhere. Did you realise you were helping to kickstart a scene that is thriving and very healthy in Rockhampton even today?
JB: I am pleased to hear that independent music scene in Rocky is still alive & well. I hope it always stays that way. The parties under the house were fun & great times. Mum really deserves a medal for putting up with us.
CB: Going back to HALFWAY's "Farewell to the faint-hearted" album... I believe this is quite a mature effort in terms of Australian independent (& certainly Australian country-rock) music with the breadth of vision it contains. The record encapsulates the dimensions of time & geographic space that are essential to what makes Australian life what it is. The album may cover heartbreak, friendship, drinking and romance in a lyrical sense, but the music and intention of these songs evokes a wide landscape, a huge dry continent - where heartache is measured in hours and kilometres. Was this deliberately planned or just a happy outcome for this record?
JB: We wanted the record to have a geographical home & place. I wanted to try and write about people & places that I thought had been previously overlooked or misrepresented. Like Rocky & Central Queensland. I wanted to hear a song about those people & places that didn't make me cringe like when you hear them in a Lee Kernaghan song or something. I think Australian country music has put forward a completely false picture of regional Queensland. So we just wanted to show another point of view.
CB: HALFWAY aren't quite indie rock (though there's an undercurrent there) and I'm sure the country rock purists disown you - given the unique sound you've forged. As we have "Americana" hybrid rock / country, I'm nearly tempted to coin "Australiana" for you guys. So who is coming to your gigs, and also buying your LP in huge amounts? Do you think the authenticity of a young independent band forging their own sound and singing about now is part of HALFWAY's appeal?
JB: Our crowd seems to be really quite diverse. From indie rock folk to just any kind of music fans of all ages & all types. We have been trying to make music that we think is good & is not exclusive to any particular kind of scene or fan. I had enough of that in St Jude.
CB: Can we please have a quick run-down of each member's instruments and amps? Are live set-ups vastly different to what you use when recording?
JB: We don't go to a lot of trouble with gear really, as long as it sounds pretty good & is reliable enough we use it. This is a list of our own gear. On the latest recording we used a Vox AC 30 & a 1960's Ludwig steel snare, which we hired in Byron.
74 Fender tele deluxe - Rataczyk head - 2 x 12 Orange Box CD - 87 Rick 330 - 74 Gibson sg - Marshall 800 head & box NF - National Dobro 1930's - ShoBud 70's pedal steel LF - Ovation Mandolin - Clareen Tenor Banjo BJ - 70's Gibson Ripper Bass - Danelectro Longhorn - Beringer head EH - Pearl Export kit - Zilzian cymbals.
CB: Are there plans to tour HALFWAY regionally, nationally or internationally?
JB: There are no plans that are locked in yet. But we have to do a lot of touring next year so with a bit of luck we can do all three.
CB: What bands would you cite as your major influences over the years? And why?
JB: There have been so many over the years, personally when I started getting into music it was the Smiths, the Triffids & the Church. The band is influenced in some ways by these bands and also by Dylan, The Band, The Replacements, Big Star, Achers of Loaf, Knievel, Dinosaur Jnr, Wilco. All for different & varied reasons but the one thing they all have in common is good solid songs.
CB: Any current Brisbane and interstate bands you think deserve a good rap?
JB: ... in no particular order Gersey - from Melb. We've played with them a few times & they are a good band & good folks. Mexico City - Brizzy boys who we were briefly labelmates with us on Reverberation Records. Another winning quinella good guys/good band. Screamfeeder - Brisbane city's finest, what more can i say ... La Huva - played with these guys in Sydney, they play near perfect pop music. Tim who plays guitar & sings in La Huva also plays guitar in the mighty Knievel. Knievel - on their day they are the best pop band in the country. Hopefully they will get back to playing again soon. Nick Barker - Hadn't seen or heard of this guy since the Reptiles days but we had the opportunity to play with him a couple of times this year & he was really good. Has a nice acoustic record out at the moment where he does a couple of songs with Tim Rogers & Paul Kelly.
CB: You've had the pleasure of recording with Wayne Connolly & Rob Younger - could you describe their approach to production?
JB: Wayne is an engineer, so controls all of the signals that come through the desk. They work on the production side together. They are both great listeners, so together they try to do their best to make sure the album is taking its proper shape. They didn't make any structural changes to our songs. But just made suggestions in regard to feel, tempo & dynamics. That sort of thing. Its always good to have an extra set of ears to listen to your stuff.
CB: Wayne also fronts the mighty KNIEVEL. Have you played any shows with KNIEVEL in your travels?
JB: We have played with them twice, once at The Healer in Brisbane; the other was earlier this year at the Troubadour. They are a great band & it is always a real pleasure.
CB: Going back to ST JUDE's "p.o.l.A.r" CDEP, it was a great surprise to see fellow Rockhamptonite and GO-BETWEEN Grant McLennan doing backing vocals. That must have been quite an honour as I know you were a great GO-BETWEENS fan in the 80s. Did he mention the Rockhampton connection to you?
JB: It was a great honour, a real privilege. He was well aware of the Rocky connection. He even took the time to show me how to play Cattle & Cane & talk us through how he wrote them about growing up in Mackay & Rocky. It was a good day...
[Above] Halfway group shot (Photo by Stephen Booth, 2003)
CB: Having seen HALFWAY on a number of occasions, I can thoroughly vouch for a night of great music, and great company. HALFWAY come across as a close-knit group of friends who choose to play music for the love of it - which is so refreshing nowadays. My guess is you all enjoy playing live immensely. Any memorable shows?
JB: Playing with Gersey & Knievel at The Healer a few years back when we were just getting off the ground was great! Opening up for J. Mascis was a real dream show for me personally as I am a big fan of his. This year we had some great shows on the back of "Farewell ..." Gomez & the Black Keys were really big shows for us. Probably my favourite was a really dodgy venue we played on tour in Sydney in Dulwich Hill. It was a sports bar & the locals were furious when the lights were turned off & a "Band!!!???" was about to play & interrupt the footy. The PA was just a vocal PA & there were about a million things going against us, but the band played really well regardless & even a few of the locals warmed to us. It was a victory under extreme circumstances ...
CB: If people want to purchase HALFWAY's albums where can they do so, and if they live overseas or interstate can they purchase from the band via mail-order or your website?
JB: In Australia they should be in most good record stores. We have distribution in the US & UK but I am unsure which retailers are the go. If there are any difficulties you can get in touch with our record company online at "www.laughingoutlaw.com.au" Our Distributors in Australia are: Inertia "www.inertia-music.com" UK & Europe: Shellshock Distribution: jane@shellshock.co.uk
CB: How is the second album progressing? Is there pressure to top the debut album, or are you interested in crafting another fine group of songs without any demands?
JB: The new album is coming along nicely. We recorded it at Rockinghorse in the Byron hinterland in a huge timber house. We gutted the house & lived & recorded there live for a few days. Wayne Connolly & Rob Younger stayed there as well. It was kind of a Big Pink/In the Pines type exercise. At the moment I am editing the tracks at home. Getting it ready to do the vocals, which couldn't be kept due to spill. There is always a want to do better than the last record & we are certainly aiming to do that. This record will have a far more live feel to it & I hope a bit more space to breathe. Though with "Farewell ..." we had a few years to work on it, this one will be out in the 2nd half of next year. So we will have to work more & drink less. Which is a shame really ...
CB: Who writes the HALFWAY material?
JB: Chris Dale & myself wrote "Farewell ..." but on the new record both Ben Johnson & Noel Fitzpatrick have contributed songs also.
CB: You occassionally slip in some covers as special treats. What are some of the artists /songs HALFWAY has covered, and why?
JB: We have done: Little Feat - Willin; Bob Dylan - You aint goin nowhere, She belongs to me, Girl from the North country, Moonshiner, Tonight I'll be staying here with you; The Triffids - Stolen Property
CB: I'm guessing the HALFWAY crew are pretty stoked about the plethora of BOB DYLAN music, books and images of late. Can you tell me your favourite DYLAN album and why?
JB: At the moment it is Blood on the Tracks, but this changes a lot. [Ben sent a note saying his favourite Dylan album is 1989's OH MERCY].
CB: Thanks Johnny. Best of luck with HALFWAY and the new album. Could you please give us some contact details and your website address so we can keep tabs on HALFWAY's future successes.
JB: email - halfwaycountry@optusnet.com.au website - "www.halfway.com.au" Cheers mate & thanks for your support, Johnny.
About the Band Halfway
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HALFWAY were formed in Brisbane Australia in 2000. However at least half of the band were formerly independent guitar band ST JUDE, three quarters of whom hail from the regional city of Rockhampton. In 2004 they released their debut album Farewell to the faint-hearted. The album has garnered rave critical reviews. Late 2005 finds HALFWAY at a rural recording studio in Byron Bay, New South Wales with Rob Younger (Radio Birdman) & Wayne Connolly (Knieval) at the producer and engineer helm respectively. A second full length album is due in 2006. |
[Above] Photo of Band Halfway with Rob Younger and Wayne Connolly at Rockinghorse Studio by Steve Sutherland, 2006.
Time Of The Assassins interviewed by Cameron Borg
October 2002 and I'm stepping foot off the late night Newcastle foggy train station at 2.40 am. Early morning - travel tired - and greeted by my good mate Kelly Elizabeth. Kel introduces me to Carissa, and later her boyfriend Mike. We're hanging out at the writers' festival, and Carissa's talking spirtuality and Buffy, and Mike is giving Thurston Moore and SONIC YOUTH huge raps to me. Now two years on and these great people have already released their mighty impressive debut CDEP "The Dreamers", and are recording their debut CD album with STEVE ALBINI (of BIG BLACK fame). Carissa and Mike took time out to chat to Thylazine readers ...
CB: Straight up - congratulations guys - I enjoyed meeting you and being your room-mate at the young writers' festival in Newcastle in 2002, and you had big plans then. I am so glad to see THE TIME OF THE ASSASSINS up and running and with such a great debut CDEP (The Dreamers) to kick things off! When did you get to make the name change from THE DREAMERS to TIME OF THE ASSASSINS?
Aspen Michael Taylor: Me and Carissa started The Dreamers in early 2004 after returning from living in Los Angeles for a short time. We were there pretty much going cold turkey for three months, withdrawing from being on the methadone program. So when we came back home to Melbourne, we were completely clean for the first time in ten years, and all amped up from being in such a full-on place as L.A. and so everything was feeling pretty intense and new to us. In the few weeks after we arrived home we wrote heaps of new songs in a major burst of energy. Songs like 'Cold Machine', 'The Garden' and 'Make Me' were all written in this burst. We spent the next 6 months or so recording and refining demos and searching for a drummer. Then in September of that year, Jason answered an ad we'd placed in the local street press and we all instantly clicked. We've been partners-in-crime ever since.
CB: Could we have the personnel of THE TIME OF THE ASSASSINS and their instruments of choice please?
AMT: Carissa plays bass, Jason bashes the drums and I play guitar. Me and Carissa split the singing duties equally.
CB: So glad to hear a band following their own influences and convictions. Do I detect the influence of early goth bands (Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus etc) meeting Thurston Moore in some strange head-on collision?
AMT: hehe! I don't know, do you?
CB: Has Melbourne been kind and supportive of THE TIME OF THE ASSASSINS? and what kinds of people are coming to your shows?
AMT: The response to our live shows is really great. Melbourne's band scene is pretty full-on and there are positives and negatives to that. The thing is, there are so many bands in Melbourne and there are so many venues. Any given night there are hundreds of bands playing all over the place and so many venues. This is good because i think this city really allows an upcoming band to find their feet and play all the time at all sorts of different places. On the downside it's kinda the same thing- there are so many bands out there. But people are always really kind in the things they say to us after shows.
CB: If I may say so, THE TIME OF THE ASSASSINS represent a cool underground image probably not seen in this country since the sharp fashion and razor edge music of THESE IMMORTAL SOULS. Was THE DREAMERS / THE TIME OF THE ASSASSINS sharp image part of the plan or do you all have good fashion sense that came through in the band?
AMT: We definitely have a pretty strong sense of style as far as the design of everything we do goes and a great deal of care goes into the visual representation of our band. We all have a similar aesthetic in the way we see the visual representations of our music. I do believe that the visual aspect of the music is important and should match or enhance certain qualities in the music. For us, it's really about creating a whole world. I feel like to be able to tell the complete story of what we're trying to say, you need to carry what's going on in the music through to the visual side as well. You need to carry that story into all representations that people might come across to do with the band. We are all into all different forms of creativity, like film, art, literature, photography and all that kind of stuff so it comes naturally. For me personally, the visual component of the music evolves in tandem with the actual songwriting. It's like, a song comes to you and it's a little world that comes with its own landscape and symbols and it's the role of the artist to decode the symbols and give the landscape a physical, tangible form. So yeah, for the picture to feel complete, for me, both sides need to be looked at with care- there's a sonic counterpart and a visual counterpart and they're both extremely important.
CARISSA MELLADO:I just think Michael's such a beautiful designer. He always manages to capture what we need to convey with the right energy in the design. As far as being fashion conscious, I think we all just wear what we feel like wearing. I think punk is an aesthetic not a look. So I like dressing up to reflect my own moods and not what I should be wearing as some sort of "rocker" or whatever. When I dress for a gig, I am also really aware of how i want to honor the songs. When I dress up, I feel like I'm respecting them more - a little pact between me and the songs.
[Above] Photo of Time Of The Assassins by Jason Assassin, 2005.
CB: In case I haven't covered this adequately earlier on, who are the big influences on your music?
CM: Greek mythology, in fact, any kind of mythology is a huge influence on me. Human cycles, death, hope, destruction, courage, overwhelm, surrender, reflection. The tragedy and comedy that exists within the mind of the human animal.
CB: If you had the chance would you be prepared to tour the capitals of Australia, also regional Australia, and internationally? If so which would you prefer and why? What would be your #1 overseas tour destination?
AMT: We just wanna play everywhere really. We are heading over to the US mid-2006 to play some shows there, so that should be fun.
CB: Congrats on the eponymously titled CDEP. Where can folk get their hands on a copy? Do you feel it is representative of where the band is now, and is it a good indication of how you sound live?
AMT: If you go to our website (www.thedreamers.com.au) you can buy it online from there and there's also information about what record stores you can buy it from. As for the second part of your question, for a band that's been together (with Jason) for only just over a year, we have a massive amount of songs and they are all pretty different from one another. It's really hard when you've gotta narrow it down to 4 songs, like on the EP, because in a way, I feel like a lot of the songs are really supposed to be put all together on one record, like a little family, so separating some of them can kind of feel like pieces of the puzzle are missing. So the songs on the EP are a small fragment of what we do, kind of like a small foundation, but we're just getting started, we've got a lot more to come.
CB: What instruments effects (if any) do you use playing live?
CM: Distortion, delay, flanger, phaser and whatever else is handy.
CB: Any other Melbourne bands starting to bubble up from the underground that we should be aware of?
CM: Yes. Look out for Discount Hotel, Quiet The Few, Spun Rivals, Little Athletics, Entropy, The Curious Few, Into The Red.
AMT: There's heaps of really amazing bands springing up in Melbourne at the moment. I think there's a bit of a renaissance brewing - a return to music that's less commercially-based and more substance based. I want to hear music that you really feel, music that hits you in the guts. I think we'll start seeing a return to that stuff in the near future. I think the world's been going through a bit of the same phase as in the '80s, where it's become cool to be depthless and it's been all about the talk and not so much about the walk, things have been pretty superficial the last few years. Of course, there's always people doing cool stuff in the underground, but as far as the mainstream world goes, there's a massive lack. It's like, the representations of women have reverted back to where they were in the '80s and it's disgusting. But I think a change is just around the corner and people will start looking for and feeling like they need something more.
CB: What are the immediate plans for THE TIME OF THE ASSASSINS?
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AMT: We have a couple of shows left for the year and then in January we are gonna be locking ourselves away in our rehearsal studios to prepare for our new record, which will be another EP or maybe a mini-album. We are all super excited about this new record, it's kinda miles away from the first one in tone. It's a lot darker, moodier. We can't wait to get it down on tape and unleash it upon the public. It's definitely going to be a big progression from the first record. We're totally amped about it.
CB: When can we expect the full-length debut album?
AMT: It's hard to say for sure.
CM: We're pretty much thinking of recording a full length record when we get back from the U.S., which will probably be around the end of next year, maybe September or October. That's pretty much the rough plan. We can't wait to get the songs recorded though so who knows, maybe we'll be able to get started on it even sooner.
CB: If you had a choice of any record label & / or producer in the world who would it be and why?
CM: We're not that excited by any major record labels for the obvious reason that they completely fuck you up the arse and destroy your faith in humankind, but there are a few companies that could be o.k, like Kill Rock Stars and maybe Matador. I think we all agree that it would be a dream come true to record with Steve Albini. The sound he gets is just so raw. He really knows how to capture how a band really feels. The way he records drums is just so fantastic as well, he gives you a sense of being with the band, with the music. I'm also really interested in the texture of recording in analog and then mixing and mastering digitally. Thats what we're doing with the upcoming EP and I'm really excited to see how it'll turn out.
CB: Would you say THE TIME OF THE ASSASSINS are a glass half-full or glass half-empty attitude band?
CM: I would definitely say this is a glass half-full band. We pretty much see every experience we have in this band as a learning experience. There's something to be gained from every show, every recording session, every single experience. So whatever we might feel- even if it's crappy, we're always learning - glass half-full!
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[Above] Carissa playing live in Melbourne (Photo by Jason Assassin, 2005)
CB: Would you like to do a gratuitous plug for your band's website? Give people five good reasons why they should check it out!
CM: Because it's sexy! You can listen to MP3s of songs, watch live footage and short films we've made for the songs. All that kind of stuff.
AMT: Isn't that it's sexy, reason enough? hehe
CB: What themes and subject matter do your lyrics deal with? Who writes the bands' originals, and if more than one person, could the other songwriter please describe the other songwriter's style?
CM: Most of the time Michael and I will demo something at home and then bring it to Jason and we work on it from there, but we also have lots of free flowing jams while we rehearse and songs have definitely come out of those as well. Usually whoever is singing the main vocal, did the home demo and brought it to the other two to bring it to life. I think death is probably a strong theme in our music for some weird reason.
AMT: Especially on our upcoming record.
AMT: Death, the afterlife, the immortality of the soul, communion with the dead, ancestors, not forgetting the dead, honoring the people who have come before - it's weird and hard to explain or define. Also hope, change, revolution, creation and destruction. Facing your shadow and kind of moving through that, is actually a really strong theme as well.
CB: Any interest from record labels or publishing companies?
AMT: Well, we've just started on that track now, we're currently sending out CDs and all that kind of stuff now, so we'll see what happens, although honestly we're a bit weary about getting involved with big companies. At the moment we are putting out stuff on our own label. I guess we'll see what happens.
CM: We believe in taking things into our own hands as much as possible. We are happy to work our butts off to pay for our records, our tours, advertising, whatever, which means we're not waiting around for anyone or any deals to do what we want. It would be great to have a great record deal, organized tours and all that stuff but we don't need it to do what we want as a band. At the moment if we want to make a record or play shows somewhere, we are organizing ourselves so that we can do those things. It basically means that things take longer because of the financial restrictions but at least in the long run we're doing what we want to do and we're in charge of ourselves. Each of us basically works to financially support this band. It is our main focus all of the time. That means we're in charge and responsible for ourselves and our activities. So if some deal comes along that's really right for us, that's great, but we don't need to take anything that isn't going to be in our best interests.
CB: Would you be up for film soundtrack work if the opportunity presented itself?
AMT: I think all three of us would totally be up for that. I am actually working on a short film at the moment that I'm writing and directing, so I'll be doing music for that early in 2006 and I'm sure The Dreamers will contribute also.
CB: It's been an honour and a pleasure to introduce you to Thylazine readers. Could you please let interested people know how to get in contact with you.
AMT: Thanks Cam. Again, our website has all the info you need, but our email address is contact@thedreamers.com.au
CM: Thanks.
About the Band Time Of The Assassins
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TIME OF THE ASSASSINS - the latest and perhaps the greatest (time will tell and quite likely prove me correct) Melbourne band with self-same dual agenda of originality and attitude. Their debut CDEP is out now and available via their website "thetimeoftheassassins.com". Their debut release is like a condensed version of those long chats, with some ace music to back up the heartfelt spiritual questioning. |
[Above] Photo of Time Of The Assassins by Jason Assassin, 2005.
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Thylazine No.11 (June, 2006) | 
