Hey, I’m Joel, I sing (some may say shout) in Melbourne rock n roll band Them Bruins. We’re about to go on tour.
Yes the tour, tell us what you love about playing live?
Losing it for 40 minutes in an 8 mile style moment. That and the 2 shots of whiskey I gargle before going on.
What’s been the craziest on stage moment at a Them Bruins gig?
Ben kicked a jug into some poor girls face the other day. An accident of course. Though had she been among the majority of punters who weren’t sitting on the floor it would have hit her in the shin so.. ya know, people get up!
What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?
I mimed Twist and Shout with a cardboard guitar in front of assembly when I was 9. That got me prized bench-space next to local ‘It Girl’ Erin McCormick next lunch so that combination was fairly inspiring.
This is first time you’ll be playing interstate shows, who’s likely to have the most annoying tour habits?
Jimmy is completing his cert 4 in road-side traffic reflector identification. He has to Dictaphone his daily sightings and being that there’s are only really two types of road-side traffic reflectors (if you exclude the Reynolds TR1 Balisha Beacon, which is technically a traffic beacon, not a traffic reflector) then you can understand that 12 hours of Jimmy repeating “Red left, yellow right” every 100 meters you travel is a vvvery annoying habit.
Can you tell us fans can expect from your forthcoming debut record?
Hooks, hooks, a couple of hooky acapella interludes and then more hooks. It’ll be pretty much the best damn short sharp and shouty rock record four professionally amateur musicians can muster.
Who’s your favourite Aussie band at the moment?
The Queens Head – Melbourne band that kicks ours and every other band you’ve ever seen’s collective arse.
Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage, or even a lucky charm you take with you?
I have an almond that I call ‘International Almond’ that I’ve had since 2004. I carry it everywhere with me. If I were to lose it I’m not sure I could get out of bed let alone play a gig.
When you’re Rolling Stones Big, what are you going to request on your rider?
Almonds for one, I don’t want to get hungry and potentially ruin my life.
Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with?
Forces – so I steal the singers dancing secrets. I love him, he’s like a really dour early nineties dancing Jesus.
Why should people come along to see Them Bruins?
So long as I don’t lose that international almond you come to Them Bruins because you want to get kicked in the head by a beer jug then realise it didn’t even hurt because you’re lost in the shenanigans that is live rock n mother f****ing roll!
When can we expect to hear your debut album?
Late 2013 me thinks.
Don’t miss Them Bruins on tour during February:
Friday 8th February @ Purple Sneakers Melbourne
Thursday 14th February @ Alhambra Lounge Brisbane
Friday 15th February @ Byron Bay Northern Byron Bay
Saturday 16th February @ Tyms guitars (ALL AGES) Brisbane
Saturday 16th February @ Parkwood Tavern Gold Coast
Thursday 21st February @ Brighton up Bar Sydney
Friday 22nd February @ “Sabotage” The Forbes Hotel Sydney
Saturday 23rd February @ Old Manly Boatshed Sydney
