The Gold Coast music scene is surfing in style, talent and dedication, with many artists heading in the right direction: straight up! One such band that caught my eye and ear with their own skyward trajectory is Zenith. The ascent of this punchy four piece rivals that of any Gold Coast theme park rollercoaster.
The band have been sending sparks flying as they grind through the Gold Coast scene and tonight marked their first trip as a band up the road to Brisbane. They’re elated to have been hand-picked to support Bad//Dreems in celebrating the tenth anniversary of cult favourite album, Dogs at Bay.
I snuck into the red, velvety, burlesque surroundings of Lefty’s Music Hall after Zenith’s line check to interview them before they descended on the unsuspecting crowd. I could sense they intended to carry punters off the rails in a G-force driven tornado of heavy rock alongside some classic covers, with more twists and turns than the Gold Coast light rail saga.
Zenith are:
- Cooper Sawyer: Vox
- Jackson Lloyd: Guitar
- Jack Sheppard: Bass
- Lachlan Hethorn: Drums
Photo by @lneilpics1. Zenith by meaning is the absolute highest point you can go, therefore can you use the song title 6, to describe the heights of Zenith? That’s right you’ve got 6 words to use between you to do it.
Cooper: Oh, good one we might have to brainstorm.
Lachlan: Loud.
Jackson: War… W.A. R!
Cooper: Quiet.
Jack: Outspoken.
Cooper: And fun.
OB: Excellent, I was definitely going to suggest fun and a bonus answer, you thought this would be easy right?
Cooper: Nah, I thought this would be a”‘bloody walk in the park!” (cracks a beer) I’ll go… vulnerable!
Lachlan: Yeah, that is fair.
OB: Nice one. And for your first interview ever remember, OnlyBands don’t roll like most other media interviews.
2. Who in the band is the Workaholic, the Caveman, the Howler, and with in absence of more song titles, a 6?
Jackson: Who is the 6 then? Ha-ha-ha! (All pointing at Cooper)
Cooper: Wait! Why am I the 6!? I’d say Jackson is the Workaholic, Jack is the Caveman, and Lachie is the Howler, as it’s the only way I can describe Lachie and it doesn’t apply to anyone else.
Lachlan: Yeah, I’ll take that!
Cooper: And I’ll take the title of being a 6. I’ll own that!
(Band all have a hearty laugh to Cooper’s glum acceptance of this burden).
Photo by @lneilpics
Photo by @lneilpics3. This is your back up show after supporting HOON and now Bad//Dreems on the Dogs at Bay tenth year anniversary concert. Pretty epic stuff! What Dogs at Bay song would you like to do a cover of?
(The band has a low murmur mumbled huddle together to discuss their selection)
OB: You do that wonderful cover of These Boots Are Made for Walking by Nancy Sinatra. What would capture your admiration for Baddies in the same vibe as that?
Jackson: My Pal, I reckon we’d do My Pal. I like that one.
OB: I don’t think that’s on that album.
Jackson: Is that not on Dogs at Bay?
OB: No, but a great song though.
Jackson: Bullshit! Ha-ha-ha!
OB: And of course, that’s already a cover of the song originally done by the Melbourne band, GOD.
Jackson: Exposed! Ha-ha-ha!
Jack/Lachlan: Cuffed and Collared (said in unison).
Cooper: These boys say Cuffed and Collared, Jackson and I say Hume.
OB: Both good choices. I didn’t want to push, and put words in your mouth (literally), but I was hoping you’d say Cuffed and Collared. I think you’d do a great cover of that, and a top way to honour Baddies.
Lachlan: Yeah, I think it was the first Bad//Dreems Song I ever heard.
OB: And the crowd go fucking bonkers over it!
Jackson: I am dead keen for this show.
Cooper: I am so excited to get into it, just to watch Bad//Dreems, and have them watch us do line check!
Jack: I’ll be “Bleeding on the ground” at the end of it!
Lachlan: At least we play first, so we can hang back and watch them.
Photo by @lneilpics
Photo by @lneilpics4. House prices are bonkers right now, but if you could buy a Propatee to turn into your own music venue with a recording studio etc., where would it be?
Jackson: It would be at Lachy’s house, his laundry!
Jack: It’s where we started. It’s the spot.
Cooper: At Nerang…
Lachlan: It’s where we became who we are.
OB: Is that like Propatee studios?
Jack: Rivergum Studios we’ve named it, I believe.
OB: Is there a Penthouse?
Jack: No, he doesn’t even let me out of the basement usually! Ha-ha!
5. What makes the perfect musical Molotov Cocktail? As in what’s an Aussie act that makes you go on a riot?
Jack: An Aussie actor?
Cooper: What?! No, this is music not theatre!
Jack: I know that’s why I was like huh?
Lachlan: Radium Dolls. For Sure
Jack: Definitely Radium Dolls.
Cooper: For sure! We’ve been on them for ages.
OB: How good are they?! There really is no one out there like them hey.
Cooper: Not at the moment that’s for sure. Who else is there? We love Mini Skirt, C.O.F.F.I.N are fucking unreal!
Jackson: Because, they are both so passionate and have a red hot go every time singing about stuff that matters. So, I think that’s a good Molotov Cocktail.
OB: Yep, same as Baddies with Jack and Mansfield 6.0 you know? Reshape our way of thinking.
Jackson: I’ll also say Amyl (Amyl and the Sniffers) That’s pretty dope.
OB: Any local acts?
Cooper: Wizz, From Brisbane. They’ve changed their name from Annoying Neighbours to Wizz.
OB: Oh Wizz! That’s the second time I’ve been told about them this week; I must see them. Well, that’s it! Thank you.
Cooper: Keep your eyes peeled for new music, we’ve got a new song coming out soon Lust. It’s a bit softer than our other songs, a bit darker, it’s where that word vulnerable plays in, I think.
Lachlan: And then after that, just more political commentary, I think!
The Dogs at Bay tenth anniversary party was a sold-out show, with Zenith setting the mood and winning new fans along the way, Royal Ratbags charming every soul in the room, and Baddies doing what they do best: rockin’ the place into the ground! Look out for Zenith on the local scene because they’ll be on their way to the top before you know it.
A huge thanks to Lachlan Neil (@lneilpics) for all the photos in this article. Zenith aren’t the only one on their way to their top, this bloke has some serious talent of his own.
You can listen to more of Zenith below:
