Five albums in and Melbourne psych-rock outfit The Sand Pebbles are still getting folks of all ages rocking up and blissing out in venues across Melbourne (with recent interstate endeavours too). In fact, I couldn’t help but notice the sheer number of young hotties in the audience at their recent sold-out album launch at the Northcote Social Club. But that’s beside the point. I caught up with bassist Chris Hollow, chatting everything from the colour pink, to cults and nudity, and of course their newly released album Dark Magic.
You’re a couple albums in now – is recording albums getting easier or harder?
It’s definitely getting harder. The politics of four songwriters, two singers and five opinions is very hard to negotiate. We recorded more songs than necessary for this album and the process of which ones were in and which were out was brutal.
That album cover has a lot of pink – a favourite colour of the band?
I wanted something that leapt off the shelf, off the page or the screen no matter what the size. A real eye catcher. Hot pink does the job. Also, men wearing pink still manages to upset people, even after all these years.
Dark Magic – please explain. Did you all join a cult?
Someone pointed out that Tanner (Andrew Tanner, vox + guitar) does actually look like a warlock.
What’s your favourite song on the album?
My favourite song is “Spring Time [Who Hasn’t Lost Their Head?]”. Who hasn’t lost their head come spring time? Only squares. I love the idea that there’s a season where you can lose yourself, follow harebrained ideas, random leads, hot romance and other folly and be able to blame the scent in the air. Most of the crazy things I’ve done have been in the months September, October and November.
You recently played a show in Sydney…I heard a rumour that you failed as the ‘merch guy’?
A friend took us out onto the Harbour on his boat and I was so bedazzled by the view and the possibilities that I forgot the reason I was in Sydney. To sell t-shirts.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I suppose the strangest place I’ve been nude is the football club showers. I can honestly say I’ve showered with thousands of naked men.
Cue mental imagery.
Catch The Sand Pebbles’ encore album launch on Saturday October 22 at Phoenix Public House with Black Cab, with a stack of national shows lined up throughout the rest of 2011. We’ve got more info for you here.
