Tell us about ‘The Cricketers’ and what’s on the horizon for Fountaineer.
‘The Cricketers’ is a beguiling image which was painted by Aussie artist Russell Drysdale in 1948. It still hangs in the hallway of our parents’ house. It feels like our lives have been played out in the shadows of that painting, and it’s watched us grow into men. We’ll have our album launch later in the year, and I’ve also got the side way of the house to fix up. Thinking fake grass or pebbles, something very low maintenance. I don’t want to be on my hands and knees all day.
You’re supporting Gang Of Youths nationally – tell us a bit about the Gang and what you expect to get up to together?
I’m hoping we get to have a game of cricket in every city, seeing as Max (GOY bass player) is from NZ. We’ll pack the electrical tape, they can bring the balls (and the hair ties). I’m absolutely confident we will kick their arse – so much so they won’t want to play after the first Fountain Of Youths Test Series. I’ve also recently bought a thermos for the trip, and got a new book for my birthday by Hanya Yanagihara called A Little Life (it’s 900 pages!), so some downtime and walks off the beaten track and a few adventures in the great outdoors would be delightful. We’ll probably carry their bags for them, too. And we might steal some merch.
What is it about Bendigo that’s bled into your sound?
‘Bled’, I like that. Fountaineer is the sound of us going against everything in town. When locals question why you have a laptop on stage, you know you’re doing something right. The lyrics definitely have blood dripping off them. They’re critical but hopeful, and the album is all about our hometown and the trials and tribulations (and don’t forget the triumphs) of the place. This sounds a bit like the premise of Home And Away when spoken out loud. But this ain’t Summer Bay, and pretty faces we are not.
You guys are a long way out of Melbourne – do you consider yourself distinct from the Melbourne ‘sound’ or scene?
We are not involved in any ‘scene’ whatsoever. I don’t even know what the Melbourne ‘sound’ is, either; is it trams and traffic? Growing up, I always felt a bit intimidated by people from the city. They could talk un-selfconsciously about things like music and art, but in the country no one really takes you seriously, so you play things down; never mentioning too much because many people just don’t get it. But we discovered we had great stories to tell in our proverbial backyard, and it’s been a blessing making music out here on our own.
The lyrics definitely have blood dripping off them. They’re critical but hopeful.
Who else blows your mind in Aussie music? If you could have another act join you on the Gang Of Youths tour, who would it be?
I heard a great Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever song the other day. And the Scott & Charlene’s Wedding song ‘Don’t Bother Me’ has been stuck in my head ever since they came to Bendigo. I’m not sure how they’d do in a gruelling test match, though. Bernard Fanning is really into cricket and would be a great addition to our team, seeing as though we’d be one short. We could also maybe give him a refresher on teamwork after the recent Splendour controversy. Deep down, though, we really want the Gangs boys all to ourselves – we don’t want to share them with anyone, not even Bernard.
Greater City, Greater Love is out now through 1825 Records; catch Fountaineer with Gordi supporting Gang Of Youths at the Hordern Pavilion on Friday September 8.
