Violent Soho - Big Day Out Interview

2013 saw the return to glory for proud Brisbane quartet Violent Soho with their third album ‘Hungry Ghost’. This, their first album since 2010, saw an impressive expansion both instrumentally and lyrically, and this vibe was transferred to an ecstatic and triumphant live show. While they weren’t drowning in their own facial hair during major head banging, vocalist Luke Boerdom and guitarist James Tidswell took the time to sit down with Ruben Seaton backstage at the 2014 Big Day Out.

AACS: We are here with Luke and James, one half of Brisbane rock band Violent Soho, hey guys – how does it feel to be at the Big Day Out?

James: I’d say awesome. We grew up going to Big Days Out on the Gold Coast… Luke bought a ticket when he was 16 and his parents wouldn’t let him go so he pegged a cereal bowl at the wall and said “Fuck you” ran away and went to Big Day Out. I got to see my favourite band in the year 2000, Blink-182, that was sick. So we’re stoked to be on Big Day Out – we’ve been on Falls Festival too, and we are so lucky and grateful to get the opportunity to play here.

AACS: You’ve knocked down two BDOs with Adelaide and Perth to go – how has the tour been treating you?

Luke: Pretty good, we would have to say it’s one the best festivals we’ve played so far, Gold Coast was so crazy.

AACS: 2013 was a massive year for you, releasing your third album ‘Hungry Ghost’ – how do you feel releasing new music to the world and touring behind it?

James: It feels awesome, because it’s been many years between records, it’s been a really long process and it took a long time for us to find our feet, and find a sound that we really wanted to work on in the studio. It’s really good to realise it and have the record come out. We were really happy with the recording process, we just did it in Brisbane in a shed and that’s how we wanted it.

AACS: You’ve mentioned the title ‘Hungry Ghost’ actually comes from traditional Chinese Buddhism – was there a bit of meditating and mindfulness going on in the Violent Soho studio?

Luke: (laughs) No, I was just reading a book and I just read this sentence halfway through recording the record (‘We sit around on couches, buying what we think makes us who we are, like a hungry ghost’) and it felt like it related to the whole message of the record… But I’m definitely not a Buddhist, I just really liked that analogy.

AACS: In support of the singles off Hungry Ghost, you released some contenders to what could have been music videos of the year: for people that haven’t seen it, can you describe what the video for ‘In The Aisle’ is all about?

James: There was this dude in Brisbane and his name is Dario Houghton and basically he was famous in Brisbane for trying to throw a nudist bicycle ride around the city and he rocked up to the nudist ride in jeans and all these people had actually come ready for this real nudist ride… In addition, for about six years he ran an ad on the local radio station for a female, nudist, non-smoker to rent a house with. Anyway, he kept rocking up to our music videos and wanted o be in them, and in ‘Neighbour Neighbour’ he stripped down into his underwear and jumped into his pool, but we didn’t use the footage (laughs)…. So finally, for the video for ‘In The Aisle’ Luke was sick so he couldn’t do the video so we got this dude in last minute, and basically we just gave him a whole video to ride around Brisbane naked, and loves it… and if you look in the comment section on YouTube, he will probably reply to your comments too.

AACS: So what about the video for ‘Covered In Chrome’ – it features some great synchronised head banging and then finishes with one of your mates setting your clothesline of fire, were you a bit worried that it could have gone pear shaped and you would end up with a fire in (bass player) Luke’s backyard?

Luke: Kinda, but it was his problem… It’s a rental, so we just said ‘Do you have a lease? Yeah, cool, let’s do it’.

AACS: Now I’ve got to tell you, I’ve been spinning Hungry Ghost at home a lot and the other day when ‘Covered in Chrome’ came on my mum said ‘This is the best ‘yeah yeah yeah’ chorus since Nirvana’s Lithium. How does that feel?

Both: Woah. Seriously? We take that as a compliment. Thanks, mum.

AACS: Although your sound is extremely diverse, especially on Hungry Ghost, you have been compared to early nineties grunge legends like the Smashing Pumpkins, Mudhoney and Nirvana, is that a compliment for you guys?

James: Well, it’s a very hard thing, you know, we have gone to just jamming with our friends to all of a sudden being playing festivals like this, so we don’t really care because these bands like Nirvana were around before we had even started playing instruments. It’s a hard question to answer.

AACS: At All Ages Concerts we really support young musicians finding their way in the music industry – do you have any advice for young people starting out in music?

Luke: Don’t write shit music. It seems harsh, but I’m just being honest, kids write music and they just write what comes out, don’t do that. Give it time, work on it – I mean months or weeks or whatever. Whenever I see a young band they always seem to rush their song writing, so just take it slow.

James: More importantly, if you’re not into playing it and enjoying it with your band, then don’t bother. People talk about how record sales are dead these days – well, good in some ways; it weeds out the people that don’t enjoy making music.

AACS: A question from Facebook fan James Quick – how strong is the brotherhood between DZ Deathrays and Violent Soho?

James: Oooh. On a scale of one to ten, eight. That’s mega high – we have been playing together since we were kids and we were in the same venue playing together, watched each other evolve and grow – it’s all one big family.

AACS: It is Australia Day and Australia Day means Hottest 100 Day – do you think some songs off Hungry Ghost could jump up into the Hottest 100?

Luke: Yeah, well anywhere would be awesome… It’s always been Top 200 for us so anywhere in the top fifty would mean a big party on the way back to Brisbane tonight. (‘Covered in Chrome later came in at #14 in the Hottest 100)

AACS: Obligatory Australia Day question: What is the most Australian thing you have ever done?

James: Move here.

AACS: From?

James: New Zealand. Man, that’s pretty patriotic and Australian, right? I wanted to come here because I was stoked to be in Brisbane and Sydney. In New Zealand I had to ride a bike to school in the rain every morning when I was four years old, and now I live in Queensland and I never wear a raincoat.

Luke: I’m feeling fairly unpatriotic at the moment actually….. I think I made pavlova once, that’s Australian, right?

AACS: Nope, I think that’s from New Zealand…

Luke: (laughs) Well, shit. I can’t think of anything. I’ve never done anything for my country. Lamingtons.

AACS: Luke Boerdam and James Tidswell, thanks so much for talking to All Ages Concerts Sydney.

James: Thanks, man

Interviewed by Ruben Seaton

#rubenseaton #bigdayout #interview #bdo2014