What A Year For The August River Band !
It’s been a big year for the August River Band, releasing their first two singles ‘Crazy’ and ‘In These Arms’, followed by the debut album ‘Thank You Pain’. With the band playing at the Updraft Music Festival on the 4th of December, we squeezed in a quick chat with the guys, were we asked them about the new album, the bands unique configuration and the self description of their sound as if “Roy Orbison was fronting an unplugged Faith No More”
For those that haven’t heard your music before , how do you describe August River Band's sound?
Hearing August River Band for the first time, you may find yourself thinking Roy Orbison was fronting an unplugged Faith No More show with Stuart Copeland on drums.
Prepare yourself for cinematic lyrical noir with dark tales full of imagery from a lost Cohen Bros script, odd-time metal riffs played on acoustic guitars, soaring and swooning classical violin layers underpinned by heavy dub rock basslines, harmonies and a heavy dose of poetic romance.
What can fans expect from your debut album 'Thank You Pain'?
“Thank You Pain" is an ode to Pain. I am deeply grateful for its teachings. Make no mistake I don’t like it and certainly aim to avoid it but, alas, there is no greater mentor.
The songs on this album span across the last ten years moving from a religious dogma to the secular one. Religion, self-actualisation, they are no different. In both you are constantly at war with what you are and what you think you should be. This all being said, Peace is not good for art.
We felt very honoured to be working with Paulie B at Yama Nui Studios. Engineer, production, bassist and backing vocals, the full package. We were also extremely privileged to have OJ Newcomb doing some double bass work for us. Sharing a space with this high * level of artists is truly amazing.
As a band we are proud of this, our first body of work and are experiencing the expected evolution that comes with releasing the culmination of 2 years’ work.
As hard as it is I feel privileged to be making music at the cusp of a revolution in consciousness. The art of this generation is going to come riding in on an avalanche of courage and perseverance. A decade that starts like this is destined for greatness.
…“can you remember the incredible revolution in art in the early 2020’s after the Covid pandemic”
What's your favourite song of the album?
Thematically The Gift and Hallowed Be embody the celebration of collateral beauty perfectly. We love performing In My Arms and have, over time are falling deeper in love with Cupid’s .45, with its ebb and flow through the tale of love, its resistance and its embrace..
The band has a unique configeration with the tortured vocalist, the classically trained Violinist and heavy hitting rock drummer, how do you bring the styles together in a cohesive fashion?
At the outset and throughout Eev encourages his fellow musicians to be whatever they are and find their path to what gives them joy. It's not so much cohesion as it is calibrating the different personalities and styles within a collaborative environment to facilitate harmony..
Are there plans to tour for the 'Thank You Pain' album?
In 2022 the Album as well as a new single will be toured throughout Queensland Australia. Covid still restricts our movement at this stage but as soon as it's possible the band will tour nationally and internationally.
How did you get your start in music?
Eev: I started learning only at the age of 20 and wrote songs from the day he had 3 chords. He spent the first 10 years as a worship leader in church before breaking out around 2010.
Gerard: I played in various bands since the 80’s both covers and original outfits.
Who do you credit as your musical influences?
Eev: My first love as a boy was Roxette, Queen, Dire Straits, Nirvana and Dave Matthews. Nowadays it's classical movie soundtracks, Hiatus Cayote and new artists I discovers and consumes every day, one more diverse than the next.
Gerard: The Police, ….
“Hearing August River Band for the first time, you may find yourself thinking Roy Orbison was fronting an unplugged Faith No More show with Stuart Copeland on drums.”
Who would be your ultimate Collab Partner be?
We would love to collaborate and tour with John Butler and Gang of Youths and the producers of the Only By Night Album from Kings of Lyon
Who in your crew or team deserves a shout out but never gets one? And what is it they do that keeps your world turning?
Our unsung hero is Peta Kerr, Gerard's wife, she has poured her last drops of energy out so many times in the early years, a true legend
What's the future for the August River Band? What can fans look forward to next year?
2022 - Touring, new releases, 2023 album & a world tour
Interview by Michelle Symes
December 2021