Welcome to Part Two of the Psyched As journey! This time we have hardcore punks Swine, our first international interviewees from across the ditch in New Zealand, Dick Move, as well as the amazing Gimmy ,and rising proto-punks The Blamers.
Swine
Swine gauged the crowd well today, and teetered on hardcore delivery, withdrawing just enough not to bewilder aspects of the uninitiated crowd. I especially loved the way their vocalist Burdt would turn his back to the crowd as he marched outward towards them, stomping on the grassy outdoor area stage front before him in reverse. Not something I’d seen before, but I fucking rated it! Bassist Nick Ryan tells me that Swine has been playing for about twelve years now on and off in Sydney.
Swine are:
- Burdt: Vox
- Olly: Guitar
- Shane: Drums
- Nick: Bass
1. Who are you Psyched As to see on this incredible line up today?
Nick: Well bands like Antenna of course. Good Sydney city boys, absolute legends and mates of ours, and they are just fucking incredible…
OB: They are going off hey…
Nick: Ah they are going to blow up for sure, it is that good. Gimmy as well from the Northern Rivers are incredible and they put in a lot of effort into what they do, and the art behind it as well. And Full Flower Moon Band, also just so fucking awesome.
OB: Yeah, the Brissie stronghold of FFMB!
2. As the Hottest 100 is being drawn today, what act would you advise people to keep a close eye on in 2025? (Not necessarily a Triple J artist, but an act that you think deserves attention).
Nick: Well, Antenna. Not to repeat myself but Antenna for sure. And FFMB, they are about to start writing again and they are just fucking awesome, so I think what they will release next will be fucking rad.
3. What’s big in 2025 for your band?
Nick: Ahhh! Maybe rehearsing regularly or… once in a while! Ha-ha-ha-ha! We play shows, and then never fucking rehearse. We had a rehearsal the other night and thought “Hey this isn’t so bad!”. So, I think we are going to record a new EP. I think we were pressuring ourselves to not record until we have an album’s worth of stuff. But we’ve got five or six songs we just fucking heaps like, so we are just going to record them… Get it out there, keep the balloon off the ground, keep it afloat you know.
OB: Yeah awesome. (I requote Shogun’s advice to artist to keep writing and recording)
4. What would you pick if you were to choose between: Sydney rock oysters and Resch’s or Moreton Bay bugs and XXXX Gold?
Nick: Resch’s, for sure. Resch’s is a treat, it’s expensive now. But if I’m like all day at a festival, well XXXX Gold… Mid-strength, hmmm it just keeps you going all day. But me, as a true NSW person, it’s got to be Resch’s and oysters man!
OB: So, Sydney rock oysters and Resch’s?
Nick: I mean Resch’s is its own aphrodisiac, so let’s get the bugs in there. Yeah bugs and Resch’s.
OB: Ha-ha thanks Nick! An incredible set today. Looking forward to seeing you pay in Brisbane sometime soon.
(Swine deserves to be cordially invited to play the Beardo and experience the humid hardcore venue first hand.)
Gimmy
To be honest Dakota sent me to Sydney with a firm pat on the back and a direct order: “Don’t come back unless you can get Gimmy to come back to Queensland!” or words to that effect. Either way she was adamant that Gimmy come up for a visit. After seeing them play on the outdoor stage, I get the FOMO Dakota was sharing, because this previously unearthed gem really is that damned good!
Gimmy are:
- Gemma Owens (Gimmy): Vox
- Samson Radici: Guitar
- Kyle Aubrey: Bass
- Barclay Israel: Drums
1. Who are you Psyched As to see on this incredible line up today?
Gimmy: FULL. FLOWER. MOON. BAND! We are big fans. (Cheering from the other members)
Barclay: Woohoo! Also, we just saw The Blamers, and they are fantastic.. They are insane.
OB: Oh yeah, they are a huge reason as to why I came down to Sydney to see them perform.
Samson: For the context, Steve (OnlyBands) is wearing a The Blamers shirt, Oh wait… it’s a Straight Arrows shirt.
Gimmy: Straight Arrows! Yessss! It’s the other half of The Blamers; it’s a sick shirt.
2. As the Hottest 100 is being drawn today, what act would you advise people to keep a close eye on in 2025? (Not necessarily a Triple J artist, but an act that you think deserves attention).
Gimmy: I think Radio Free Alice (from Naarm/Melbourne).
Barclay: That was going to be my shout too! And then I was just going to say something that’s boring as it’s already too hot – Amyl and the Sniffers ha-ha!
Samson: Amyl and the Sniffers? Nah I’m going Radium Dolls, loving the Radium Dolls.
Gimmy: Oh Fungas! Yeah, I love them.
OB: Ah Fungas yeah, they did a show in Brisbane. I had tickets but they had to swap venues and I missed seeing them. And my hometown lads, we love the Radium Dolls. Radio Free Alice I’ll have to get to know.
Gimmy: So yeah, Radio Free Alice, we are big fans. You are going to love them. Amyl and the Sniffers, Fungas and Radium Dolls, also big fans of them.
3. What’s big in 2025 for your band?
Gimmy: We are doing some more writing, which is exciting. We are going to release a little EP and then a bit of a Europe tour is on the cards.
Barclay: European summer is on the cards!!
Samson: A six track EP, and a Euro moment!
OB: (Again requoting Shogun’s advice for artists to continue writing and recording)
Gimmy: Agreed! And that’s the funnest part of it right! Just making music with your mates, there is nothing better. So fun.
Samson: No way! Performing is waaaaay more fun I reckon.
Barclay: I reckon both are pretty awesome. Depends on how many free beers you are getting! (Everyone laughs).
OB: Well, that is a great segue into the final question…
4. What would you pick if you were to choose between: Sydney rock oysters and Resch’s or Moreton Bay bugs and XXXX Gold?
Samson: Moreton Bay bugs and XXXX Gold!
Barclay: Resch’s dude all the way! I’m from Sydney so I can talk!
Gimmy: I reckon Moreton Bay bugs and XXXX. XXXX is a treat for me every afternoon. And I was actually born in Cleveland, which is in Moreton Bay, so I love a Moreton Bay bug!
Barclay: Agree to disagree…
Gimmy: Ha-ha-ha! Agree to disagree! Ha-ha-ha!
Samson: Oh, that question was so divisive!
Dick Move
The Psyched As crowd was buzzing for Dick Move today, and I was throbbing in anticipation. I missed out on Bigsound last year and was pretty keen to be turkey slapped by the Kiwi punk powerhouse in 2025! Dick Move greeted me with huge smiles and are just absolutely bloody lovely people. I made an executive decision of only interviewing frontwoman Lucy Suttor, who took one for the team in order let the remaining band members enjoy the festivities they had eagerly travelled so far to see. Interviews can be a bit of a drag for artists. That’s why we like to keep ours in short spurts as taking up too much of their time can be a bit of a Dick Move, especially when interviewing our first international artist.
Dick Move are:
- Lucy Suttor: Vox
- Lulu McCrae: Bass
- Luke Boyes: Drums
- Justin Rendell: Guitar
- Harriet Ellis: Guitar
1. Who are you Psyched As to see on this incredible line up today?
Lucy: Antenna!
OB: Who is playing now… oh!
Lucy: Which is playing now, so we will blitz through it ha-ha! The Blamers who just played, who are so sick. And I was talking to our mates from DARTZ, who were here last year and they said you’ve got to see the Psyched As House Band. Apparently it is a real good time. It’s a lot of fun. And then there are other bands I haven’t heard of but I know they are sick, so yeah lots!
OB: I saw DARTZ last month, they were great.
Lucy: Oh yeah, they are good boys.
2. As the Hottest 100 is being drawn today, what act would you advise people to keep a close eye on in 2025? (Not necessarily a Triple J artist, but an act that you think deserves attention).
Lucy: From NZ? GroopChat.
OB: Group chat?
Lucy: Yeah, GroopChat, girls straight out of high school, and they are…fuckin’ rockin’ it!… We’ve played a few shows with them, and they are really cool chicks.
(We were interrupted by the sound of the low altitude flight paths of Sydney planes and squeaking brakes of the nearby by Train line)
OB: Ahh welcome to Sydney it’s trains, planes and automobiles!
Lucy: Ha! I KNOW! We are in the city now. We thought Auckland was a city, but this is a citeeee!
3. What’s big in 2025 for your band?
Lucy: Oooow! We are going to write another album, and we are going to go back over to Europe in September, we’ve just started booking that.
OB: Excellent news. OB and your fans will be following you with that. Well, this next question is pretty biased towards Australians, perhaps you can give it a bit of a Kiwi spin on it?
4. What would you pick if you were to choose between: Sydney rock oysters and Resch’s or Moreton Bay bugs and XXXX Gold? What’s a good Kiwi perspective to that answer? A good pairing of seafood and beer to your hometown.
Lucy: Owww! I would say, a crayfish and a Gisy Gold.
OB: A Gisy Gold?
Lucy: (Pointing at the cool as hell blue and gold t-shirt for Gisborne Gold, she was repping) Yeah, Gisy Gold beer! Ha-ha-ha!
OB:. Now we can both go watch Antenna. (And I’m making a mental note of Gisy Gold)
Lucy: Is it done! Oh easy! Beauty. (We both ran to see Antenna at the speed of light).
The Blamers
To be completely honest, the main reason I came to Sydney for Psyched As was to see The Blamers. After becoming familiar through the Straight Arrows affiliation, and being uncertain when I would be able to see them in the Sunshine State made it impossible for me to refuse the journey south. The Blamers are fresh from supporting Jack White as well, which has put a bit of well-deserved extra swag into their already smooth step. Readers, I implore you to have a run of their juicy 2024 album Class Living, and you’ll be moving with more swagger than a Tarantino movie.
The Blamers are:
- Isobella Grist: Vox
- Nick Lighton: Drums
- Ash McCarthy: Bass
- Alexander Tordy-Smith: Guitar
1. Who are you Psyched As to see on this incredible line up today?
Nick: I was Psyched As to see Antenna today, and we just watched them, very incredible.
Bella: Uplifting Bell Ends, Gimmy!
Ash: I’m going to say, everyone on this lineup is sick, and everyone has shredded it so far. So, I am sure the rest of the night will go exactly the same.
Bella: Yes, It’s a very well curated line-up, so it’s all great.
(Alex sat with us eating his meal, but provided gestures in support of his peers’ responses)
2. As the Hottest 100 is being drawn today, what act would you advise people to keep a close eye on in 2025? (Not necessarily a Triple J artist, but an act that you think deserves attention).
Nick: It’s a hard one that. It might sound so lame, but I don’t listen to many new bands but I saw a new band in Mullum (Mullumbimby) called The Sleeves?
Bella: Yeah! I was going to say The Sleeves, they are sick! They play the kind of old school music we like to listen to, a lot of older sixties, seventies stuff.
OB: Oh Yeah, I know The Sleeves! With Mungo on bass. He plays a beautiful old seventies Rickenbacker bass. Oh that is so good to hear, he’s a lovely bloke, and talented artist.
Nick: I think most of the tracks were covers, but there were a few of their own songs. But, even if they do covers for a while and then release their own songs. I don’t know, just those guys with whatever they do is going to be really, really cool.
3. What’s big in 2025 for your band?
Bella: We are going to record in April which is really exciting. So, we are just getting a few more songs together, so we can record them over a weekend. And just releasing a new album.
Ash: Yeah, album number two!
OB: Nice!
Nick: And the government is handing out heaps of money, so we are going to spend it all on plane tickets!
Bella: Gimme money!
Ash: We go on planes! Woo-hoo!
Nick: Yeah, but with government money yeah!
Bella: And per diems! (expense allowances)
4. What would you pick if you were to choose between: Sydney rock oysters and Resch’s or Moreton Bay bugs and XXXX Gold?
Bella: Well, I think eating any of those animals is … a…. SLAUGHTER!
(I didn’t expect this much animation and vigour in answering this question, but they hooked in with gusto!)
Nick: Anyway, cut that out ha-ha!
Ash: Number one, number one doesn’t have a brain, so we are going number one.
Alex: (Finishing the last of his meal with just enough time to desperately add) Resch’s and oysters is a terrific combination.
Nick: But, if I was north of here, like north of the Queensland border, I’d be hitting it with Moreton Bay bugs and XXXX. XXXX tastes shit here, but when it’s hot and it’s in Queensland, it tastes really good !
OB: And that is it!
All: Ayah! That was fun!
The Blamers killed it on stage that day, so much sound squeezed into a minimal set up. With Bella owning the stage, it made the trip to Sydney worth it completely. While awaiting album number two, waste no time and get right into the modern classic, Class Living.
Stay tuned for part three…
Thanks to Joel McDonald (@yeahrad) and Tom Wilkinson (@tomwilkinson_) for all the amazing shots in this article.
Also a massive congratulations to Dick Move who’ve recently completed a real cracker of a tour with our good mates C.O.F.F.I.N, supporting the legendary Amyl and the Sniffers!
