Published: December 12, 2009 8:06 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight December 2009 Edition
The Bon Scotts
The Bon Scotts photo by Damien Sutton and Rebecca Agnew
The Australian Band The Bon Scotts certainly knows how to grab one's attention with their unique and stylish blend of music. The band has carved something original and fresh that music lovers will find fun to listen to when fans hear the bands music. In a recent spotlight with our Webzine, we spoke to the group about their music and the direction the band is heading in this special spotlight. Enjoy!
Isaac: What's the name of your band? What's the origin of that name? Have you changed the bands name before?
The Bon Scotts: THE BON SCOTTS. The name comes from one of Australia's greatest rock icons, Bon Scott, who died in 1980. We named the band amidst the The Band craze when everyone was stealing riffs and melodies from the great rock bands of the 70s and 80s. It was meant to be a bit of fun, as well as a bit of a tribute.
Isaac: What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
The Bon Scotts: We would say pop, or folk, but we mainly get indie in the press. Indie is the new television jingle; it is used to sell everything.
Isaac: How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
The Bon Scotts: I guess this is the bands second coming, we formed in 2005 but only I (Robert Zimmerman) remain, this current line up has known each other for less than a year. We met on dating sites.
Isaac: When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
The Bon Scotts: We get along well and have very different tastes, so it is great the way it all comes together.
Isaac: Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?
The Bon Scotts: We are still tossing up on this one. Labels are a big discussion.
Isaac: What can you tell me about your instruments? (i.e., Are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever's available? What made you choose the instruments you have now?
Was it cost or was it a style/model/brand/color preference?
The Bon Scotts: I play a bunch of old American acoustics, a 50s Gretch syncomatic and a few beautiful 50s Harmony's, the most overlooked guitar. But the band uses everything, piano accordions, melodicas, pots and pans, Nord Electro keyboards, wind organs, harmoniums and percussion from all over the world. We are a true multinational band.
Isaac: Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
The Bon Scotts: We play all over Melbourne these days, but our favourite bar would be the Wesley Anne, it is one of Melbourne's oldest churches, converted into a tasteful little venue.
As for worst shows, I guess we have run into a couple of exploitive bars around the traps, thankfully word spreads quickly and these venues usually change owners before long.
Isaac: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
The Bon Scotts: We have about 20 songs of our own, love to end on love song for a riot, real upbeat number with a chugging guitar line and a lot of shouting. I think the only cover we have ever played is Kimya Dawson's Tyre Swing I could be mistaken then.
photo by Damien Sutton and Rebecca Agnew
The Bon Scotts
Isaac: Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
The Bon Scotts: I write all the songs, about whatever is relevant at the time, cheeky of course and often I use whatever political rhetoric is floating around at the time, I guess love in a time of conspicuous consumption would be a good one line to sum it all up.
Isaac: Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
The Bon Scotts: We write and record everything in a 4 by 3 metre home built studio, have no idea what that is in feet. We made it using crap we stole from hard rubbish, or kerbside collection and a heap of acoustic insulation. It is cramped but produces a great sound, which means we can play around with instruments and vocals for as long as we want without having to fork out heaps of money to a studio or and engineer who doesn't care for your songs.
Isaac: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
The Bon Scotts: We rehearse in our lounge room, in winter it is bitter cold and in summer unbearably hot. The tea is served hot or cold depending. We usually spend more time chatting and day dreaming that rehearsing, but it is fun.
Isaac: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
The Bon Scotts: We are more confident in our product, so we have a lot of fun; guess we are more spontaneous now. We definitely try to get people involved more than when we first started, be it dancing or shouting along.
Isaac: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
The Bon Scotts: Business is by far the challenge, you start doing the business and you stop writing. Forging a balance between the two is and forever will be the test. I have dedicated times for business and now only do business in those times; the others are for gardening and writing.
Isaac: What's your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
The Bon Scotts: We want to end up miming everything on rotating stages with ridiculous stage shows featuring over 40 performers, everything from break dancers to midgets, low rider bikes with athletic clowns; We want a television the size of a suburban McMansion it takes 29 semi trailers to move. Just like Britney.
We want to keep moving in the direction we are heading, it has been a lot of fun and we are starting to get a name for ourselves, regular radio play and gigs. Fame and fortune doesn't really come in to it.
Isaac: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
The Bon Scotts: Write good songs and have fun.
Isaac: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
The Bon Scotts: You can hear our debut album Oddernity at www.myspace.com/thebonscotts or buy it from almost any online retailer.
Isaac: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
The Bon Scotts: Not really, everyone we should thank we have thanked in person, these sort of speeches feel icky.
