1. Growing Up
I hope we’ve grown up in the last ten years we’ve been a band. When we began we were soft-skinned boys, but hard on the inside, like a candied plum. Wrapped in silk, keen to impress. Now we’re harder externally, but softer inside: more forgiving, tender. Like a caramello koala. Just, “here it is”. If you like it, that’s great. If not, that’s ok too.
2. Inspirations
Well, yes, I guess that’s a word that gets bandied about regarding the Snowdroppers, but far be it from me to say we’re inspirational. Tall poppy syndrome and all that. But really, if you do the math, we put out our first album, and then shortly after, Mumford and Sons put out their album.. A few years later Johnny Wishbone stopped playing banjo, and then shortly after Mr. Mumford and Sons stopped playing banjo.. So, you know. Can’t argue with that.
3. Your Band
Well we’ve only done a handful of shows over the last year or so: after touring constantly for years it’s been a bit of a welcomed break by everyone. Including the band, oh ho ho! Actually, we’ve had a few points where we’ve had the talk like, “Should we keep on with it.. or just call time, gentlemen?” Sometimes during a gig. But then something will happen. Like case in point our upcoming Sydney show has sold out already – and it makes you take the metaphorical gun out of your mouth.
4. The Music You Make
Well, the first album was a pastiche of old blues and country, the second album was a more Australian rock’n’roll record, and Business, our most recent record, was more inspired by groove and soul ideas. So we’ve always done something different. We’re writing some new things at the moment and it’s different again, but too early to put a style on it. People’ll just say they prefer the old stuff anyway, yeah? God bless em.
5. Music, Right Here, Right Now
I think I’m too out of the loop to make an accurate health assessment of Sydney’s current live music scene, but it’s always left a bad taste in my mouth when bands/venues/promoters come out and say that people need to “support” live music more, and should go to more gigs – like it’s a charity, or a “good on you” chore like eating more brussel sprouts or volunteering at an old people’s home. If people aren’t going to gigs, look at why not and what they’re doing instead. Are the laws no good? The venues rubbish? The beers too expensive? Figure out what’s wrong – but playing on people’s guilty consciences isn’t going to help.
The Snowdroppers play Newtown Social Club on Friday October 7.
