Five Quickfire Questions at Inner Phest 2024
Hey everyone, it’s Steve again, back at it with our first interview article! Amidst the Swiftie frenzy earlier this month, I felt like the local music industry was in dire need of some support. While everyone was off supporting her next private jet flight, I flew south with Jetstar and supported my band of choice, DZ Deathrays, at Inner Phest held at Crowbar Sydney. The festival was backed by the delicious Philter Beer. On the line up as well were DZ’s good mates These New South Whales (TNSW) and The Buoys, along aside a smattering of Sydney punk outfits including Arse, The Darrans, Hoon, GrXce, Dr Robot, Good Pash, Great Job, and Curses.
Hell, I didn’t even purchase accommodation, just early flights, and a willingness to party all night. Thanks to a bottle of King Parrot Absinthe and the presence of Luke Henery I can confirm this did indeed occur. Quintin couldn’t make it this time but he sent me down with a list of five questions and the assignment of asking them to as many artists as possible. It was a big day and I was lucky enough to sit down with DZ Deathrays, These New South Whales, The Buoys, The Darrans, and guitar tech extraordinaire Dave “Bunny Man” Herington.
(Editor’s Note: All responses have been edited for clarity)
Quintin’s Quickfire Questions:
1. This being Inner Phest and backed by Philter, what’s your favourite Philter beer and how many Philters have you had already?
2. How many times have you played Crowbar Sydney and what’s your favourite memory here?
3. If you had to put one member of this band to participate in the Olympics, what talent or trait of theirs do you reckon they’d win a gold medal for?
4. Now while it’s not great to play favorites, can you name another band on this line up that you’re excited to see and tell us why they’re your top pick?.
5. If the world was about to be engulfed by the apocalypse and you had one record to listen to before the shit hits the fan, what would it be?
The Darrans
First cab off the rank for the day were The Darrans, who I reckon represent all things great about Australian garage punk. Crowbar Sydney is many things, including a bit cramped at times and on rainy Sydney day with no real space to do the interview indoors, the lads suggested doing it under the half pipe in the car park, beneath the sign reading the “Bald-Faced Stag Est 1830”. Brilliant!
(Editor’s Note: Crowbar Sydney used to be the Bald-Faced Stag before the current team gave it a much-needed facelift)
Members
Billy: Drums AKA Weasel
Luke: Bass AKA Hog
Big Al: Guitar and vocals AKA Oily Boy
James: Guitar and vocals AKA Slab
1. This being Inner Phest and backed by Philter, what’s your favourite Philter beer and how many Philters have you had already?
Big Al: XPA for sure…. The lager one is pretty good, have you tried the green one? The Easy Hazy is pretty fucking good as well.
James: If you are watching the footy, four of those Hazy’s whoa!
Big Al: Up the Eagles!
Luke: Hmmm make it eight cans now!
James: We’ve had a couple, maybe six in (*beer can cracks*).
2. How many times have you played Crowbar Sydney and what’s your favourite memory here?
Billy: I think this is our third time playing here now.
James: We’ve played one here with Dick Lord on the mainstage.
Big Al: I reckon maybe five or six times.
Luke: Holy shit, yeah. We played with C.O.F.F.I.N here once too.
(A general discussion starts about playing more shows with Dick Lord and the mainstage, front stage, and waiting to load in and out twelve hours between sets!)
OnlyBands: So maybe anywhere between four to six times? With eight to nine beers? Good numbers there.
3. If you had to put one member of this band to participate in the Olympics, what talent or trait of theirs do you reckon they’d win a gold medal for?
James: I reckon Hog for rolling his ankle! In the hundred metre rolled ankle (roaring laughter ensues).
Luke: This isn’t my first time in a moon boot! So, I’ll take that.
OnlyBands: Were they all incident related?
Luke: Yeah, a few mosh pit related accidents, Blink-182, and the other may or may not have been a circle pit at Taylor Swift gig.
4. Now while it’s not great to play favourites, can you name another band on this line up that you’re excited to see and tell us why they’re your top pick?
Billy and James: For me and James, it’s definitely These New South Whales (all said in perfect synch).
James: Yeah, they were in my top one to five songs in Spotify Wrapped last year for me. They are a great band and the last album is just so fucking sick, should have won an ARIA.
Luke: DZ Deathrays are so freaking sick…
Big Al: Yep, they are my pick as well.
James: So, we are split down the middle. Fight! Oh, actually it’s… The Darrans actually! (the band all cheers). The Moon Boot version.
5. If the world was about to be engulfed by the apocalypse and you had one record to listen to before the shit hits the fan, what would it be?
Big Al: (without hesitation) Anything Johnny Cash related for me.
Billy: I could listen to some Lou Reed I reckon.
Luke: Maybe Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous?
OnlyBands: We have some cracker answers. And James?
James: Hmmm I dunno, maybe Creed? HAHAHAHA! (all laughing). Probably a Blink-182 album, maybe Dude Ranch, I’d listen to that a hundred times before I die.
OnlyBands: Thanks very much fellas, that was great. We’d like to invite you up to Brisbane, as we have a really close connected punk scene. Also looking forward to more music from you in the future.
The Darrans: Fuck yeah! We’d love that, up the Tomcat, that was sick. We played there before, and we love The Zoo. We are going in to record an album this year!
OnlyBands: Can’t wait, sign me up.
The Buoys
Next up was the band stealing the hearts of Australia with their fuzzy indie-punk sound and electrifying live shows, The Buoys!
Members
Zoe: Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
Tess: Drums
Courtney: Bass
Hillary: Lead Guitar
1. This being Inner Phest and backed by Philter, what’s your favourite Philter beer and how many Philters have you had already?
Hillary: Oh, Red Philter. Red Philter for sure… We are upstairs and, in our rider, we are getting the Session Ale which is pretty tasty. That’s gotta be my favourite.
Tess: I second that!
Courtney: Lager, I’m on the Lager now. I like that
Zoe: I’ll go the Red.
OnlyBands: I’m over forty so I’ll go the mid strengths!
2. How many times have you played Crowbar Sydney and what’s your favourite memory here?
Zoe: We’ve played here a bunch of times; we had a really great gig here supporting Psychedelic Porn Crumpets a couple of years ago.
Courtney: That’s right, I remember I disappeared into the crowd for a while, and then I had to tell the sound guy like “I’ve got to go back, you need to tell the crowd to send me back,” and the band was like, “Where’s Courtney gone!” and I was like right down the back stuck in the crowd. We love this place, it’s the best.
Tess: It’s also a real local, literally the closest, I live just up the hill from here. So, it’s the dream venue for me.
OnlyBands: Cool, so you can have a few more Red Philters and…
Zoe: She can walk home, yes!
3. If there is one member of your band to nominate for the Olympics what talent or trait do you reckon, they’d win a gold medal for?
Zoe: Is there trivia at the Olympics? As I would nominate Hillary.
Hillary: I have some opinions, actually Tess would be doing the horse riding – equestrian, but Courtney would be like scoring goals for the Matildas a hundred percent.
Zoey: I used to be a trampolinist, but I was never good enough for the Olympics. We definitely wouldn’t be ten pin bowling, as we went recently with only getting gutter balls and we tried really hard. We tried filming it saying maybe this time we will get it! And every time was the gutter, we ended up with the nickname Gutter Queens!
Courtney: You give me eight hundred meters or hundred-meter sprint… I will shred! Track is my baby.
Zoe: True! That’s right. We are the multi-faceted Buoys!
OnlyBands: Was that while on tour on the Jameson’s Bus?
The Buoys: Yeah, what a week… ah.
4. While it’s not great to play favourites, can you name another band on the lineup your excited to see and why they are your top pick?
Tess: Oh yeah… Arse. I’ve seen us a bunch of times and they are just so sick. Just awesome punk music, with a full hectic drummer, such a great band.
Zoe: One of our first ever regional tours was with DZ Deathrays, and we ended up doing another tour with them, and we’re like a big family. So, it’s been a while since we’ve seen them play, and the feeling and element that you’re sharing stage with your family again, I am just really excited to watch them again.
Hillary: Yeah, my heart was bursting when I just saw Lachie (Lachlan Ewbank from DZ) backstage. Like they have just been so encouraging of us, and so supportive we can’t wait to see them play again.
Courtney: I’d have to say Good Pash. Not being biased because I used to play in the band. But because I am so stoked to see them play, haven’t seen them in a while. Awesome band, from inner-west of Sydney.
Zoe: Also, I have to give a shout out to GrXce they almost made me cry, I had goose bumps the whole time.
OnlyBands: Oh no, I’m almost crying (all laughing). I remember the first time I met you after the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets concert at The Triffid, and with my usual habit of saying to any artist “You should hear the new DZ Deathrays!” and you all responded saying how much you love them, so that’s really cool.
Tess: Especially since Luke Henery is in the band now, he is such an absolute legend in Aus music.
Zoe: The first time we met Murray was at the Manning Bar after a DZ gig, and Hillary and I were so anxious to ask him for a photo, as he was doing it for everyone, but how could we not.
Hillary: He was such a good sport, and we were deeply uncool about it, I’ve got to say!
Zoe: But the photo we have with him is adorable. I have this vein that pops out in my forehead when I’m really excited, and we were all shiny faced.
5. If the world was about to be engulfed in an apocalypse and you had one album to listen to before shit hits the fan, what would it be?
Zoe: OMG, I am actually stumped.
Courtney: I will still listen to Grace by Jeff Buckley, that’s my out-apocalypse album.
Zoe: Mine would be Reputation by Taylor Swift. As it has like a full fuck it who cares anyway vibe and I’d probably dance into the oblivion with it.
Hillary: I reckon, I’d have to go something classic like Love Supreme by John Coltrane, or there is always the Charlie Hayden, Jerry Allen, Paul Motian Trio. That’s what I’d come back to.
Tess: My brain is just exploding from this question argh! I know no one in a band would possibly say a greatest hits from a band in an album, but possibly Crowded House. Because it has a bit of everything in it. It’s nostalgic, so you’re going to get all your memories out as the world is about to end, and there’s heartbreak, and oh my god his voice, there is amazing drumming in it, maybe yeah Crowded House.
Zoe: I’d back the greatest hits album, as I have The Doors Greatest Hits CD in my car, and it has jammed in there so it’s the only CD I can listen to in my car, and I’m not mad about it at all.
Courtney: My favourite greatest hits alum is Red Hot Chilli Peppers album and I love it. It’s got the whole DVD set to watch along with. Californication, I think, is THE Apocalypse song
DZ Deathrays
Amidst them also having to do podcast with TNSW that day, we managed to catch up with our good friends Simon Ridley and Shane Parsons (separately) of DZ Deathrays.
Members
Shane: Vocals/Guitar
Simon: Drums
Lachlan: Guitar (not interviewed)
Luke: Bass (not interviewed)
Shane
1. This being Inner Phest and backed by Philter, what’s your favourite Philter beer and how many Philters have you had already?
Shane: I think the XPA is unbeatable, that was the first one I ever had from them and it’s yeah unbeatable. Today? I think I’ve had three so far, I am trying to hold off, I had a coffee and a Powerade. And they have a good mid-strength.
2. How many times have you played Crowbar Sydney and what’s your favourite memory here?
Shane: We have only ever played here once. And that was on the floor in the main bar. So, this is our first time playing the actual big room. Yeah, I think we played here before when it was the Bald-Faced Stag. Yeah, it was a long time ago, they used to do bands here. I’m talking twelve or thirteen years ago, so we came down and played a show. But I hardly remember it. I remember there was no one here watching! And this is our first on the main stage, can’t wait.
OnlyBands: Mine of course was the R.I.F.F album launch.
Shane: (Laughing) Yeah that was great, it was fun playing on the floor. It was chaos, and guitar tech Dave Lupton, he held the crowd back and he said “I didn’t think it would be that rowdy!” And I said “Yeah me neither!”. (That night Dave formed a human shield to protect Shane after he had been knocked over by a rumbunctious and supercharged crowd)
Favourite memory from here, I’ve had a lot of late nights here, but I can’t really remember them clearly! To be honest I came here the other night and saw Shihad play. And I loved Shihad when I was a kid, and still do, and it was fucking awesome to hear them play, they sounded amazing.
OnlyBands: Wow! I recall your 2014 ARIA Award acceptance speech, and you were seated in from to Shihad, and were up against them. The first thing you did was acknowledging Shihad, in a very humble and genuine way.
Shane: Yeah, I grew up as a huge fan of them, so it was weird being in the same category as them, your heroes as a kid. It was awesome they were super nice about it and came up afterwards to congratulate us. Which if I could go back and tell sixteen-year-old me, I’d lose it! Yeah, it was a very cool moment.
3. If you had to put one member of this band to participate in the Olympics, what talent or trait of theirs do you reckon they’d win a gold medal for?
Shane: Ah, it would have to be Simon. It would have to be something you’d need really long arms for, because that guy has got really long arms (laughing). I don’t know what it would be… maybe he’d be good at like javelin or something like that ha-ha-ha. I feel like he has those long leavers.
OnlyBands: Maybe archery
Shane: Yeah, maybe archery and I feel he is the guy that would put the most amount of effort into something and just focus on it.
OnlyBands: Cool… I’ll let him know. Maybe we will find out (both laughing).
4. Now while it’s not great to play favourites, can you name another band on this line up that you’re excited to see and tell us why they’re your top pick?
Shane: The Buoys. Yeah, we did some shows with them in 2019, regional shows. We had lots of other bands supporting us, and they were the first band to come up to us and say hey, how are you going, lets all have a beer together. And we couldn’t believe how cool they were. And we became really good friends after that, and we are definitely on the same wave length:
OnlyBands: I recalled first meeting The Buoys, and the admiration they had for DZ (Shane laughs at me, shaking his head at all my fan-buoying).
Shane: Yeah, that is so good that it is reciprocal. We love the The Buoys.
5. If the world was about to be engulfed in an apocalypse and you had one album to listen to before shit hits the fan, what would it be?
Shane: It would be Moon Safari by Air. Yeah, the perfect record, really calms you down too.
OnlyBands: Wow I wasn’t expecting that one! Cool.
Simon
OnlyBands: It’s time for Simon’s answers to… Quintin’s Quickfire Question Quiz!
Simon: HAHAHA! Is that the segment now? Quintin’s Quickfire? It’s pretty good, it’s got good a ring about it ha-ha!
OnlyBands: I mean who doesn’t like a quick in and out? I saw an interview with Freddie Mercury, and it went for a minute and a half. He said it was the best interview he’d ever done.
Simon: Really? What did they cover?
OnlyBands: Not much… “Do you like the country and will you come back for the all the beautiful ladies and have children here?” He replied “probably not”.
Simon: Hahaha, brief, well researched! Hahahaha… Insightful, hahaha!
1. This being Inner Phest and backed by Philter, what’s your favourite Philter beer and how many Philters have you had already?
Simon: I think the XPA ‘s are pretty solid. What am I at? I think four or five tins so far? The night is young…. Ha-ha!
2. How many times have you played Crowbar Sydney and what’s your favourite memory here?
Simon: Hmm I’m not sure how many times we’ve played here. You know the answer already, is it two?
OnlyBands: It is!
Simon: Yes, sick! I swear we’ve done the stage before, maybe… and then we played the Crowbar in Brisbane a few times.
OnlyBands: Oh (we lament it’s passing once again). Perhaps when it (Crowbar Sydney) was the Bald-Faced Stag?
Simon: I don’t know if we played to it as that. The Annandale used to be on the same street as well. When it used to be the big punk bar. But now this place works since they took the reins as this being the punk venue on the same street.
OnlyBands: A similar vibe to Brisbane, probably just that punk connection yeah?
Simon: Yeah, just Chad and Tyler, doing what they do, killing it with doing what they do. Getting all the good people, awesome punk music, and good times together.
3. If you had to put one member of this band to participate in the Olympics, what talent or trait of theirs do you reckon they’d win a gold medal for?
Simon: Oh, that’s good! Um… Luke Henery for head banging! I don’t know if that’s an Olympic sport yet, but I reckon after they see him in action, they’ll give gold to him for it!
OnlyBands: Yeah, he is the Usain Bolt of head banging.
Simon: That’s it, although he is more like an endurance race in headbanging, that’s what it is.
4. Now while it’s not great to play favourites, can you name another band on this line up that you’re excited to see and tell us why they’re your top pick?
Simon: Oh, I think it’s The Buoys, because I haven’t seen them play in years. It’s been a long time.
OnlyBands: That’s interesting, Shane said the same thing.
Simon: Yeah? And every time I see them, they just keep getting so much better, and it’s just wild.
OnlyBands: (I recount to Simon how much The Buoys reciprocate the sentiment and how they just did so before) It’s a wonderful supportive community in the Aus music scene.
Simon: Oh! That’s so nice. Yeah absolutely, great people, good music what else could you want right?
OnlyBands: And great fans!
Simon: Haha! Yeah, and that helps too. That definitely makes it work ha-ha.
5. If the world was about to be engulfed by the apocalypse and you had one record to listen to before the shit hits the fan, what would it be?
Simon: Um… maybe like Rust in Peace by Megadeth?
OnlyBands: Ow! Yeah nice!
Simon: Why not? Yeah, just lean right into it, bring the metal.
OnlyBands: Interesting you’re the only one that has gone in that direction. You’re like “Fuck it”.
Simon: Yeah! Ah well, why not? Let’s do it at a hundred percent.
These New South Whales
We were also lucky to get punk rock troublemakers These New South Whales to do the interview despite them probably having the busiest day out of all the bands! It actually took a slight bit of begging from me to get them to do the interview because they’d just done a podcast with DZ and was yet to play. However, once I told them that Simon’s interview had taken just over five minutes, they were game!
Members
Jamie: Vocals (not interviewed)
Todd: Guitar
Will: Bass (not interviewed)
Frank: Drums
Todd
1. This being Inner Phest and backed by Philter, what’s your favourite Philter beer and how many Philters have you had already?
Todd: I haven’t had any, might be a bad answer but just laying off the beers for the evening, so I apologise.
OnlyBands: No apologies needed, that’s all good.
Todd: Lovely beers by all reports though.
OnlyBands: I must say thanks to your Young Henrys backed podcasts; the Young Henrys Stayer is now a solid favourite of mine. Shout out to Young Henrys!
2. How many times have you played Crowbar Sydney and what’s your favourite memory here?
Todd: Well, we’ve only ever played here once before, and that was on our album tour for the second album, and it was a really great show, I think one of my greatest memories of here is that it’s a well-run venue, and everyone here is so into music and the bands. They kind of put the bands first, which is not always the case unfortunately, so it is so nice to come to a venue like this where it is welcoming and they treat you well. It is great to be back here again.
OnlyBands: Yeah, I know. I’m not a fan of mainstream concerts in large venues, that vibe is diluted.
Todd: Yeah, sometimes you just don’t get that, and they have always been like that here and the Crowbar in Brisbane (we both make a sad face that it’s gone).
(Another plane scrapes its belly on the pub roof as we discuss other Brisbane punk venues)
Todd: I can’t believe there’s so many bloody planes here!
3. If there is one member of your band to nominate for the Olympics what talent or trait do you reckon, they’d win a gold medal for?
Todd: Well, I think Frank is definitely the sportiest. He has done a half marathon, so maybe Frank for long distance running. Or me for table tennis, I’m very non-Olympic level but definitely the best in the band.
OnlyBands: Are you competitive?
Todd: I’m not that competitive myself but I do enjoy a good game.
4. Now while it’s not great to play favourites, can you name another band on this line up that you’re excited to see and tell us why they’re your top pick?
Todd: Well… I love a lot of the bands on this line-up actually, and we are lucky enough to be friends with many of them. DZ, The Buoys, but I’d have to say Arse, they’ve bought out a new album.
OnlyBands: They went off didn’t they.
Todd: Yeah, and they’ve been a favourite band of mine for a long time, so any time they bring out new music I’m really happy to see them live. Yeah, Arse.
OnlyBands: They smashed it, the first time I have seen them.
Todd: Oh, so good.
5. If the world was about to be engulfed by the apocalypse and you had one record to listen to before the shit hits the fan, what would it be?
Todd: That’s a good question because there is a specific situation for it. I’m not that good with like favourites. I really find it hard to pick out an exact favourite band or something like that, but off the top of my head, I usually listen to pretty heavy music, and hard punk, but maybe I’d chose something chilled for that though… I’m in love with the Dives’ old records, so maybe some of them on and just relax to it.
OnlyBands: Not Catchy Smile?
Todd: Ha-ha. No, no nothing like that.
OnlyBands: Cool. Thank you, Toddy! That’s it.
Todd: That’s it? Oh pleasure, hope you got all that. Good stuff.
Frank
1. This being Inner Phest and backed by Philter, what’s your favourite Philter beer and how many Philters have you had already?
Frank: Okay, so full disclosure, I can’t drink before I play. My technique just goes out the fucking window, and I feel like I’m just barely hanging on when I play the songs as they feel too fast for me, so I find that if I drink more than one beer before a show, it ends bad for me. So, I tend to stay off them, and just hit the alcohol-free beer if I’m that way inclined. Tonight, it is the Heaps Normal as that’s what’s in the rider fridge, and that may not be Philter beer, but I’ll be straight onto whatever lagery, draughty number they have to offer me afterwards.
2. How many times have you played at Crowbar Sydney and what’s your favourite memory here?
Frank: I think I’ve played here once. This may be only my second time here, and that was really early in my time in the band like first year I started playing in the band. And it was a sick show! I think Arse might have played here man, oh and RAAVE Tapes.
OnlyBands: Arse, they went off!
Frank: Fucking oath! Yeah, Arse are so good. I’ve been such a big Arse fan for such a long time. I’m a big fan of the Arse.
OnlyBands: And that is such a great thing to be able to quote you on!
Frank: Yeah, fully hahaha. The cool thing about Arse, well there are tons of cool things about that band, but they are a three piece and they have two of my favourite drummers in the country in their band. The drummer Tim is like the steeziest motherfucker on the tubs I swear. He is so inventive, he is so expressive, but he is also so in control and so in service of the song.
OnlyBands: That’s amazing, Simon said words to the same effect about them to me.
Frank: No way, no shit! Oh, it is really gorgeous, gorgeous drumming. But then you have Johnno, who is the bass player who is… fucking savage on the drums. He is just unequivocally one of Australia’s best rock drummers when he is in full beast mode.
OnlyBands: I saw Gut Health the other day and they have a drummer and percussionist.
Frank: Oh yes! Is it Myka? Fucking hell, they are so good! Very cool.
3. If you had to put one member of this band to participate in the Olympics, what talent or trait of theirs do you reckon they’d win a gold medal for?
Frank: Hahaha okay… Jamie played baseball briefly. Todd was an AFL man in his day in Radelaide, yeah and he kicked twelve goals once. Yeah, its’s not an Olympic sport but I feel those skills can be transferable.
4. Now while it’s not great to play favourites, can you name another band on this line up that you’re excited to see and tell us why they’re your top pick?
Frank: On this line up? I mean, Arse yeah… Arse really opened up to me… Their brand of punk sounded really new to me, gave me goosebumps, and made me think about the genre differently. In ways that have led me to find other bands that I may not have previously appreciated. Also, they have got a really enduring, influential supply in my art. And DZ are sick too.
OnlyBands: How good is it that each week you can find a new Aus punk band? It just keeps on coming.
Frank: They do, I think it’s in a healthy place right now.
5. If the world was about to be engulfed by the apocalypse and you had one record to listen to before the shit hits the fan, what would it be?
Frank: Wow! Me and my girlfriend were talking about a similar thing today on the way to the airport. One contender I come back to is Deep Forest by Deep Forest in 1992. Two French dudes, that basically went into the jungle, and I may be wrong, but I think they just did anthropological excursions into the jungle and found different cultures singing, and recorded them and then turned into like fucking nineties dance music.
OnlyBands: Yeah, I suppose that was the same time period as Enya.
Frank: Yeah, so that they had that at their fingertips, and they had this track called Sweet Lullaby, and it was like “Duff duff duff duff…duff duff”.
OnlyBands: I know the one, I can’t do that of course!
Frank: Yeah, I don’t know what it is about that album, it’s fucking just so good. There are no skippable tracks. It’s perfect for every mood, and really uplifting and effective. That’s a genre I don’t ever get sick of listening to as well in all situations.
OnlyBands: That’s pretty insightful. That’s great. You know the only one to have gone hardcore was Simon with Megadeth.
Frank: Oh fresh! That’s cool! Yeah, bring it!
Dave "Bunny Man" Herington
(Editor’s Note: Amateurish of us I know but we do not currently have a photo with David.)
If you go to a lot of bigger Australian indie and punk gigs in Australia, you’ve probably seen him up on stage right before the bands are about to play. Not that many people know his name however, but they should! Skegss love him so much that they’ve released a song about him, Bunny Man. Our last interviewee for the night was Dave Herington, who keeps the instruments working and the tour wheels turning for artists like Violent Soho, Dune Rats, Ruby Fields, and so many more.
1. This being Inner Phest and backed by Philter, what’s your favourite Philter beer and how many Philters have you had already?
Bunny Man: I don’t drink! So, none of them. I’ve never had one before. Is this not going to work for the advertising for Philter beer? Hahaha.
OnlyBands: I think that’s where he (Quintin) is going with this. HA-HA-HA but I guess with your level of responsibility, it’s probably not a bad thing.
Bunny Man: That’s true. But my favourite looking one is the blue one, the blue and white mid-strength one. It looks great together. So yeah, that will do for me.
OnlyBands: I think there are some Heaps Normals getting around too. Alcohol-free.
2. How many times have you worked at Crowbar Sydney and what’s your favourite memory here?
Bunny Man: Let me think, I think this is my fourth or fifth time I think working here. This could be my favourite memory today, I don’t know, it hasn’t all finished yet though. But I think it was when we did a show here, where we had to spin a chocolate wheel to determine the lineup set. It was Ruby Fields, Hockey Dad, Skegss, and Dune Rats. And it was just awesome. It was really fun. Everyone was really, really drunk.
OnlyBands: Private Function did something similar at The Zoo the other night. They passed out a box of song titles on pieces of paper as a lucky dip and had crowd members pull them out, also winning prizes in the process.
Bunny Man: Really? That’s cool, I like that. Very clever idea.
3. If you had to put forward one member of the bands you work for to participate in the Olympics, what talent or trait of theirs do you reckon they’d win a gold medal for?
Bunny Man: Well BC from Dune Rats would hands down win the Olympics for Connect Four for sure.
OnlyBands: Connect Four?
Bunny Man: Yeah, I have never ever beaten him at Connect Four not once in eleven years, he is amazing at it, really really talented at Connect Four. If it was a sporting event, Shane from DZ is a really good bike rider, he could probably compete at mountain biking and do very well at that.
4. Now while it’s not great to play favourites, can you name another band on this line up that you’re excited to see and tell us why they’re your top pick?
Bunny Man: I love watching The Buoys. Just so much, and we are missing them as they play right now (we can hear them playing) but that’s ok I love it. The BOO-IES if you’re American.
OnlyBands: (We agree to race down the stairs straight after to see them play) And Zoey’s voice, it just keeps getting better and better each new song, it’s crazy.
Bunny Man: Absolutely an incredible band, love watching The Buoys, and These New South Whales as well, I love that band very much. I mean, it’s pretty hard, it’s such a wonderful line-up in general of great bands and friends.
OnlyBands: It was like your recent wedding. Congrats from OnlyBands Dave, where was the paparazzi? Every band was there, they were all there!
Bunny Man: They were all there taking the photos, they were in there (big smile on his face, everyone loves Bunny Man).
5. If the world was about to be engulfed by the apocalypse and you had one record to listen to before the shit hits the fan, what would it be?
Bunny Man: (Without any hesitation) Hungry Ghost by Violent Soho.
OnlyBands: Ay! Thanks Dave, that’s it!
Bunny Man: Absolutely. Thanks so much for doing this.
OnlyBands: No, the thanks are all from me. I’m so grateful to you and the artists for this opportunity. They have all been so welcoming and kind, just lovely people.
Bunny Man: Of course. They are, yeah. Just the best and that’s why I love working with them.
OnlyBands: Let’s go watch The Buoys play their set (we gallop down the creaky stairs and join the other bands enjoying the moment).
A massive shoutout to Nicholas Bon Frere for all the amazing photos in this article, check out more of his work on his website and Instagram.
A big thank you to all the bands for putting up with us as usual. Thanks to Crowbar Sydney and Philter for both their hospitality and their supply of tasty beers to us as well!