Category: The Basics
Exclusive Special Interview: The Basics
theaussieword.com had the pleasure of catching up with the talented lads from The Basics for an exclusive special interview!What can you tell our readers about you? How and where did it all begin?
Kris and Wally were already playing and needed a guitarist and I was the only one who answered the ad! The name ‘Wally’ stood out and I thought “this looks like a great band of old farts I can get stoned with on the weekends”. When I turned up they were full of annoying youth and ambition.
What had you first interested in music?
Six years old listening to Chuck Berry, Arlo Guthrie and Laurie Anderson. Weird combo.
Who motivates or influences your quest to make great music?
Myself.
Do you have any planned tours coming up?
No. But we’re heading to London soon to play a gig and record at Abbey Road studios.
What are some of your biggest goals you hope to accomplish as an artist?To earn a living from it.
Success, what is the secret to it and what has been your biggest career highlight so far?
I think success is when you’re happy with what you’ve done. The secret perhaps is not to take advice or directions but go your own way. You’ll be happier and more interesting. Career highlight would probably be touring in remote Australia.Which other musicians of the music industry do you find inspiring?
A lot of older Australian musicians who have had success and failure but keep going and aren’t perturbed by trends or any of that bullshit.
How would you best describe you and your music to your fans?
Terrible blokes, great music.
What can you tell us about your latest album?
It’s a live CD/DVD from a gig we did at the NSC. It’s really good.
Are there any new exciting projects in the works?
Recording at Abbey Road.
The music industry is huge, where do you see yourself a few years from now?
In a little shack on the beach, miles from anywhere.
Name a few of your favourite Aussie artists.
Paul Kelly, the Cruel Sea, the Necks, the Easybeats, The Loved Ones, Died Pretty, Cold Chisel, The Go-Betweens, AC/DC, the Bad Seeds, the Divinyls, the Triffids, Midnight Oil, You Am I. Too much to choose from. We’re very lucky here to have such good music.The shape of the music industry has changed significantly over the years, including the use of social media, how do you feel about the industry as a whole and what does it mean to you in getting your records out into the public eye?
Yeah, it’s exciting how quickly things are changing. With social media and the internet, a lot more people are hearing our music. The whole idea about artists getting ripped off because of illegal downloads is rubbish. A lot more worthy artists are being heard now, whereas in the past you had to be sign to a record label in order to be published.
Thank you for the interview! What can you leave fans of theaussieword.com with here today?
Thanks.
Website: thebasics.com.au
Between The Bays 2014
Saturday 22nd February
Tex Perkins with The Ape, Diesel, Daryl Braithwaite, The Basics, Boom Crash Opera & Russell Beggs
Gates open at 2pm
Music will commence at 2:45pm
Music will finish at approximately 10:30pm
Access to Between the Bays is via Rickards Road, Moorooduc.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit: www.betweenthebays.com
The Basics ‘My Brain’s Off (And I Like It) Concert/Film!
 Love supporting local live music, but hate getting squashed and sweated on? Well, there’s good news for you precious ones, as Melbourne’s favourite rock ‘n’ rollers The Basics are about to release their first concert film My Brain’s Off (And I Like It). Recorded at the Northcote Social Club during their recent Leftover Ingredients tour, this 2-disc set offers the concert as both a stereo CD and for-the-first-time, a live DVD mixed into glorious 5.1 surround sound by Sydney’s Michael Carpenter and the folks at Abbey Road Studios.
So while there’s that opportunity to watch the lads over-and-over-again in the privacy of your own bedroom/lounge/dungeon, they’re going the extra mile and putting on a special “red carpet” screening at ACMI’s Cinema 1 on December 12 (tickets on sale Nov 19) ahead of when My Brain’s Off (And I Like It)‘s release on December 13. There you’ll get to experience My Brain’s Off (And I Like It) in full High-Definition Cinema resolution, complete with nibblies, drinks and a Q&A session with Wally, Kris, Tim and director Ryan Gaskett.
Click Read More to see The Basics festival dates!
This nicely rounds off a busy time for the band, who after a 3-year hiatus have been selling out club shows around the country, including two at the NSC and one at Richmond’s Corner Hotel. With the response as good as it was, they’re now in talks to begin recording a new studio album, and in the meantime have a host of festival dates over Summer to keep you all very much entertained:
Friday 22 November – Mullum Music Festival, Mullumbimby NSW
Sunday 24 November – Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff VIC
Saturday 14 December – Festival of the Sun, Port Macquarie NSW
Sunday 29 December – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodfordia QLD
Monday 30 December – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodfordia QLD
Tuesday 31 December – The Esplanade Hotel, St. Kilda VIC (NYE Concert)
Thursday 2 January – Space Theatre, Adelaide SA (Adelaide Festival)
Saturday 4 January – Summer of Soul Music Festival, Mossvale Park VIC
Friday 7 February – Perth International Arts Festival, Northbridge WA
Saturday 15 February – Riverboats Music Festival, Echuca-Moama VIC/NSW
Saturday 22 February – Between the Bays Festival, Mornington VIC
media release
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New Music: The Basics ‘So Hard For You’
Having just revealed their first tour in over three years, cult heroes THE BASICS have been blown away by the sustained hunger for their stagecraft, announcing a 3rd Melbourne show at the upsized Corner Hotel following their sell-out of the Northcote Social Club twice already.
The clip’s strength is a variety of faces new and old, including that of the song’s fearless leader Wally De Backer (aka Gotye), bassist Kris Schroeder (recorded on location in Kenya, complete with Malaria), and guitarist Tim Heath, with cameos from Harry Nilsson and Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, the late, great Frank Sinatra adding some cheeky spice to the mix.
To celebrate, they are lifting the lid on a brand-new filmclip for their latest single “So Hard For You”.
The clip’s strength is a variety of faces new and old, including that of the song’s fearless leader Wally De Backer (aka Gotye), bassist Kris Schroeder (recorded on location in Kenya, complete with Malaria), and guitarist Tim Heath, with cameos from Harry Nilsson and Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, the late, great Frank Sinatra adding some cheeky spice to the mix.
Realized by filmmaker Andrew Mortlock, the clip has an old-school vinyl flavour, mirroring that fresh-yet-classic vibe The Basics have been known for since their formation in 2002.
Abandoning the live circuit in 2010 in favour of individual pursuits, the band summed up Act One of their career earlier this year with the “must-have” set Ingredients and rarities collection Leftovers, prompting rumours of a reunion, which were confirmed with the announcement of a tour this September.
“I think of the tour and every possibility that might come out of it as a sign from on High,” said Kris Basic, speaking from a Kenyan hospital. “The break has been very healthy for us (aside from the actual near-death experiences) – a good chunk of time to focus on ourselves, build on our strengths and see this band of ours from the outside. Talking to Tim and Wally lately, it’s evident how this new perspective has got us all excited about where we might go next.”
The band’s career has spanned well over a decade, outlasting most of their contemporaries, and giving us four albums with singles ‘With This Ship’, ‘Like a Brother’ and ’Wait For You’ added to triple j. These and other tracks featured in hit US TV shows like Californication and Scrubs have also earned the band a cult following across the globe.
“It’s been a great challenge nutting out how to bring a large band, visuals and studio compositions together for the Gotye live shows over the last two years,” said Wally Basic, having recently concluded his tour commitments. “But right now I’m looking forward to getting sweaty behind the drums and playing rock ‘n’ roll in these fab clubs with my brothers Kris and Tim, and what better track to lead them into the fray with than So Hard For You.”
The Basics Return!
After three years in the wilderness, Melbourne cult heroes THE BASICS announce their return to the stage.
Abandoning the live circuit in 2010, the band summed up Act One of their career earlier this year with the “best-of” set Ingredients and rarities collection Leftovers, prompting rumours of a reunion.
If life experience is the key to a great band, then – as with any relationship – time apart can yield some unexpected results. Between Tim’s film work on “The Rise and Rise of Richard Latté”, Wally’s triple Grammy win (as Gotye) and Kris’ latest bout of malaria, all signs point toward an interesting future for the band.
Abandoning the live circuit in 2010, the band summed up Act One of their career earlier this year with the “best-of” set Ingredients and rarities collection Leftovers, prompting rumours of a reunion.
“So it is written, so shall it be done”, and the return of the Jedi Basics has them very shortly heading around the country with shows in all East Coast capitals (and a few other places, too) and tickets on sale Wednesday June 12.
“I think of this tour and every possibility that might come out of it as a sign from on high,” said Kris Basic, speaking from a Kenyan hospital. “The break has been very healthy for us (aside from the actual near-death experiences) – a good bit of time to focus on ourselves, build on our strengths and see this band of ours from the outside. Talking to Tim and Wally lately, it’s evident how this new perspective has got us all excited about where we might go next.”
The band’s career has spanned well over a decade, outlasting most of their contemporaries, and giving us four studio albums with singles ‘With This Ship’ and ‘Like a Brother’ added to triple j. These and other tracks featured in hit US TV shows like Californication and Scrubs have also earned the band a cult following across the globe.
“It’s been a great challenge nutting out how to bring a large band, visuals and studio compositions together for the Gotye live shows over the last two years,” said Wally Basic, having recently concluded his tour commitments. “But right now I’m looking forward to getting sweaty behind the drums and playing rock ‘n’ roll in these fab clubs with my brothers Kris and Tim.”
Whatever comes next, The Basics will be celebrating their catalogue of good-time genre-bending classics, with their latest single “So Hard For You” showcasing the gritty live sound that has come to define the band. Time to get excited, people!