Getting Informed On The Finkers
Australian band The Finkers haven't had time to let the grass grow under their feet. Aswell as contributions to the Gene Clark tribute album and the popgun 2000 compilation, they are also due to release an EP soon "Last Thing On My Mind" and a new album "Double Back And Go" (follow up to "Fresh Set-O-Prints)
In an E-mail interview, bandmember/songwriter Mickster talks to Chris-K about the new album, the music scene in Australia and more!
When did you first become interested in music and what did you listen to as a kid?
Mickster: Around 1984, when I was 15, I started getting into music/record buying in a big way. I'd pick up Rem albums and anything associated with Mitch Easter. I'd be reading "The Bob" and "Bucketfull Of Brains" checking out the reviews section to see what might turn me on. Luckily for me, we had a cool store in my hometown that would stock Flamin' Groovies to the Smiths. Of course there were also some great bands here in Australia at the time like the Sunnyboys, Stems, Hoodoo Gurus, Huxton Creepers and Ups And Downs. I'd read about all these great local bands in the Sydney rag "On the Street". The first gig I ever attended was in 1985 at the refrectory : Go Betweens, Paul Kelly and Gangajang.
Like most, the first things I heard were my parents records. Looking back they had good taste: Ventures, Sandy Nelson, Chuck Berry and Neil Diamond's "Hot August Night".
How did the band members first meet?
M: I met Spats around 1989 when the Slaters and the Pyramidiacs did a show together at Max's in Sydney. Both bands did a Plimsouls cover in their set that night which I thought was pretty cool! So we all kept in touch, played lots of gigs together and all became comrades in the rock'n'roll spirit. Around 1991, the Slaters were looking for a drummer so I joined. Over the next 5 years we did tours to Melbourne and Brisbane with all three bands that I drummed for at the time (Crusaders/Slaters/Pyramidiacs). We'd call these tours "The magical Mickstery tour", some of the best touring fun I've ever had! Mick O'Regan (Mr Funter) joined the Pyramidiacs around 1991 after his band the Sugarays split. Also around this time , the Pyramidiacs toured Spain with Epstein (featuring three members of the Slaters), so Spats, Funt and I again got to spend some more time on the road together. So we'd all been working together nearly ten years before I put us all together in the Finkers.
What is the scene like in your town?
M: Late 1999, I moved to Melbourne, so now I can boast being part of the healthiest music scene in Australia! The thing about Melbourne is that it has the two best radio stations in all Australia. This fact alone is enough to generate such a great local scene. Many good bands, gig venues on all sides of the city and punters who are in the know.
Do you prefer playing 'live' or working in the studio?
M: You can hear on record that the Finkers have a ball in the studio. So far we've only played 7 shows, so we cherish the times we do get to play together, whether it be live or in the studio. Personally, I love going on tour, playing to new people. That's when I enjoy music the most, winning over new fans!
How are the songs written?
M: I come up with the words and some kind of melody, then I take these ideas to either Michael or Spats and work 'em into songs. We'll just make a guitar/vocal demo and then pass a cassette of that onto the others. We don't rehearse the songs as a band before we enter the studio. So what you hear on our records is pretty much the first time we've ever played a song right through! So we capture that "spark", as everyone's just working out their part, on record.
Tell us about the new EP and soon to be released album "Double Back And Go"?
M: We started the "Double Back And Go" sessions before "Fresh Set-O-Prints" was released. Notlame had asked the Finkers to submit a track for the Gene Clark tribute they were putting together, so we entered Stagefright with "The Radio Song" and a new Finkers track "Caroline". We were quite happy with the way "Fresh Set-O-Prints" turned
out so we decided to again produce the record ourselves. So on and off for the last nine months we've been piecing together the new album as well as compilation and tribute tracks as those opportunites have arisen. When I say "nine months", you've gotta remember that that's nine months of three hours a week.. in total we'll spend about 100-120 hours on an album! We'd pretty much completed the album when Stolen Records proposed the release of an EP prior to the album's release, so we took three of the weaker tracks and put them with two of the strongest from the new recordings and that'll be released as the "Last Thing On My Mind" EP. This left us a few songs short for the album, so we recorded three songs originally meant for our 3rd album. All in all, making "Double Back And Go", a more consistent album.
What bands/singers are you into at the moment?
M: Lately, I've been getting into the Zombies box set, Cotton Mather, The Watts, The Infidels, The Last and Sugar Shack.
Who are your influences?
M: I'll always dig Swingin' Neckbreakers, Yum Yums, Paul Collins Beat, the garagey side of powerpop always gets me excited!
What do you think of the music scene in general?
M: Right here and now in Australia, there are some great releases coming out or just about to come out. In 2000 there'll be new albums by Even, You Am I, Challenger 7, Thurston Howlers, Rocket Science, The Spoilers, Asteroid B-612, The Yesmen, Michael Carpenter, Brother Brick, Stuntcar Drivers and Freeloaders. Also, there are some great smaller labels promoting these acts which is awesome for the local scene. These next few years will prove quite exciting in Australian rock'n'roll.
What's on the agenda for the band for the rest of the year?
M: First, we'll release the new EP and album here in Australia, and do a few shows to promote those releases. Then we should have both albums out mid 2000 in Europe on the Safety Pin label outta Spain, which means if all things go well the Finkers should be touring Europe in October/November this year. Then late 2000/early 2001 we'll start recording album #3
Chris-K ... April 2000. Special thanks to Mickster!!!!