Twin Beasts, the band formerly known as the Toot Toot Toots, have reinvented themselves in more ways than just the name change. Their upcoming album Badlove, for which they have released the title track, is set to be a world apart from the Melbourne quintet’s previous material.
“I think when we went into the studio, Burke Reid produced it for us, kind of really made us focus on the rhythm section of the band, and along with that, putting more bass and drums in; really go for the groovier sound. It’s kind of taken away that rootsier edge that was in the older stuff, it’s a bit more poppy, more dance-y,” explains Dan Hawkins, vocalist and guitarist.
“I think we were trying to turn that sort of country thing we were doing, that throwback sound we had from our early inspiration into something more modern; more unique. We wanted to create something new and original that’s just, ‘us’,” bassist Steve Gavan agrees.
The band’s previous album Outlaws was a concept record, or as the band describes it, “a spaghetti western rock opera” – the songs written loosely around the tale of a Jewish widower and his daughter on the hunt for gold during Australia’s gold rush.
The new album, however, will depart from the rock opera style – although the band has, in their signature fashion, kept a theme running throughout.
“There’s a loose theme that flows throughout it,” says Gavan, “around the idea of bad love.”
Hawkins adds, “Love in its various forms, too; how it can be damaging, I suppose. We looked at different kinds of relationships, not just male/female relationships. Family relationships, you know, relationships between people on land and, yeah, everything! It goes through a few different forms, but there’s no overarching narrative like there was with Outlaws, or Curse The Crow before that.”
The video clip for ‘Badlove’ seemed pretty narrative-based, but Gavan and Hawkins say it wasn’t a conscious decision.
“Finding a new name was a nightmare! We went through at least two or three hundred different names.”“We had no budget for the film clip, so we had to just come up with something super simple!” Gavan laughs. “When we were writing the song, we really just thought it sounded like a sleazy dance song, and the song is about an older guy lusting over a girl, so we just wanted to do something really sleazy.”
During the recording of the album, the band’s influences and playlists seemed to be quite a big part of the process.
“We were listening to a lot of stuff,” Hawkins agrees. “A lot of Kurt Vile, and obviously we don’t sound anything like Kurt Vile, but it definitely influenced us.”
“Lots of Bob Dylan, too,” adds Gavan, “when we first started writing the album we just went back to what we’ve always been listening to – Beck, PJ Harvey. A good mix of old and new stuff, I guess.”
Twin Beasts, having built their career by playing show after show in small venues around Melbourne, truly know the value of local music. “There’s so much good music in Melbourne!”
The band’s pick of their favourite Australian artists is completely unanimous. They tout Fraser A. Gorman, Courtney Barnett, Whitewash, Sagamore and Grizzly Jim Lawrie as future leaders in Australian music. As for three songs that absolutely everybody should have on their iPods, it doesn’t take them long to decide
“I like the new Preatures song, ‘Is This How You Feel?’. It’s got a really cool groove to it, and a great melody. Makes me want to dance and sing along, and it’s one of those songs you can sing to as soon as you’ve heard it for the first time” admits Dan.
“I think my favourite song from last year is Courtney Barnett’s ‘History Eraser’. EVERYBODY needs to hear that song,” Steve adds. “For the last one, let’s go with Immigrant Union’s ‘Alison’. Great country, Grateful Dead-esque song.”
New album aside, a pressing piece of news with the band was their name change earlier this year – a departure from the Toot Toot Toots which, as the band broke into the overseas market, was misinterpreted as being a fart reference.
“Finding a new name was a nightmare!” they admit. “We have a secret Facebook group, and we talked about it for about a month. We went through at least two or three hundred different names. Coming up with a band name that’s not taken is so hard!”
So why Twin Beasts, then?
“It seemed to be the one that everyone didn’t hate, really! It kind of makes sense for us because we have the two grizzly frontmen, kind of.”
They say they were expecting a “horrible backlash” from the name change, but the band was pleasantly surprised at the mixed opinions of their fans.
“I think we were trying to turn that sort of country thing we were doing, that throwback sound we had from our early inspiration into something more modern.”“Industry people and younger people seem to like it,” says Gavan, “probably because they know how dorky the Toots was as a name. A lot of the older people hate it, but they might not understand how daggy it really is!”
On being compared to acts such as Nick Cave and Tom Waits, they’re still pretty sceptical.
“I don’t think that we’re really compared to them, as such. We just try and do what we do, I don’t think anyone expects us to reach that level.”
“We’re working up to it, though!” Steve jokes.
As far as dream touring partners go, it seems to be an idea the band’s thought a bit about.
“Tom Waits, it’d be called the We’re Not Worthy Tour!” they giggle.
How much, then, would they have to be paid to work with the elusive Mr. Justin Bieber?
“I’d do it for free!” Dan says excitedly. “I’d make Bieber cool. I’d lift his audience to beyond nine year-olds.”
While the band can’t revel too many hilarious tour stories that aren’t incriminating to those involved, Steve reveals, “I once passed out on a flight home from Tasmania, woke up with a respirator on, being fed orange juice.
“Once Dyfan, our drummer, and I, got food poisoning in Brisbane, and we had a nine-hour drive to Port Macquarie that day, that was NOT pretty.”
Not just your generic Bieber-supporting act, Twin Beasts prove they are a force to be reckoned with in the Australian music industry.
Twin Beasts Australian Tour 2013
Friday 4 October – Barwon Club, Geelong (VIC) Tix: http://www.trybooking.com/DOAH
Saturday 5 October – Chopped Festival, Newstead Racecourse (VIC) Tix:http://www.chopped.com.au/
Friday 11 October – Grand Poobah, Hobart (TAS) Tix: http://www.trybooking.com/DNOI
Saturday 12 October – Royal Oak, Launceston (TAS) Tix: http://www.trybooking.com/DNOP
Thursday 17 October – Manly Steyne, Manly (VIC) (Free entry)
Friday 18 October – Polish Club, Canberra (ACT) Tix: http://www.trybooking.com/DNZG
Saturday 19 October – Tathra Hotel, Tathra (NSW) (Free entry)
Saturday 26 October – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (VIC) Tix: http://northcotesocialclub.com/
Friday 1 November – The Commons, Newcastle (NSW)Tix: http://www.trybooking.com/DNRJ
Saturday 2 November – Secret Show (NSW)
Sunday 3 November – Bitter & Twisted Festival, Maitland (NSW) Tix: http://www.bitterandtwisted.com.au/
Sunday 3 November – Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland (NSW) (Free entry)
Friday 8 November – Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine (VIC) Tix: http://www.trybooking.com/DNRS
Saturday 16 November – Beers By The Bay, Mornington (VIC) Tix: http://www.beersbythebay.com.au/
Saturday 23 November – Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff (VIC) Tix:http://www.qmf.net.au/
Friday 29 November – Baha (Taco Joint), Rye (VIC)
Thursday 5 December – Prince Of Wales Hotel, Bunbury (WA)
Saturday 7 December – Indi Bar, Scarborough (WA)Tix: http://www.trybooking.com/DNRY
Sunday 8 December – Clancy’s Dunsborough, Dunsborough (WA)(Free entry)
