Melbourne garage rock four-piece Wildcat General Strike will launch their new double A side ‘Wrote You A Melody/Young Man’s Pride’ on September 1 at The Workers Club in Melbourne alongside local indie stars The Demon Parade launching their new single ‘She’s Gonna Be A Star’.
After receiving Triple J love with their earlier efforts and earning comparisons to acts as seminal as The Stone Roses and The Cure, Wildcat General Strike’s new release is the sound of a young band hitting their straps. With melody at the forefront, the sharp guitar licks and tight rhythms produce an engaging mix of songcraft and rawness. Combined with the psychedelic grooviness of The Demon Parade, this will be a night not to miss for indie rock aficionados.
Wildcat General Strike, where does that name come from, is that name of band members pet?
It’s a phrase invented by the anti-capitalist/consumerist magazine Adbusters. It means a majority of a society choosing not going to work to force some kind of change from the powers that be.
For anyone who hasn’t heard your music, how would you describe it?
I generally call it melodic indie rock with a strong UK influence.
You’re launching a double A-side at The Workers Club on the 1st September, is it a double A-side because you couldn’t decide which song you like better?
Pretty much. We love both the songs and couldn’t bear to call one of them a B-side.
What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?
I guess it was a friend I had when I was a sixteen-year-old stoner. He was really into music and convinced he was going to be the next John Lennon. Anyway I ended up learning a few chords off him and started writing some lyrics and pretty soon convinced myself that he was mistaken – actually I was the next Lennon! And basically from that point on music and songwriting just became a massive part of my life and something I don’t think I can ever stop doing. I’m hooked.
‘Fess up. What records have you stolen from your parent’s record collection and why?
Loads. My parents are staid, thoughtful types. We mainly rocked Dylan, Simon & Garfunkle and early Bee Gees in our car.
What’s on heavy rotation on your iPod right now
The Stone Roses. We played at a tribute night recently at the Workers Club which kicked off a bit of an obsessed phase which is still happening.
Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage, or even a lucky charm you take with you?
Nah not really, though I’ve begun trying hard to relax during the day before a gig. Normally I can be a bit of a workaholic, but I have started really wanting to have a lot of energy to put into shows so these days i’ll make sure I have a bit of down time before going on stage.
Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with?
Maybe Harry Vanda and George Young. They’re just genius songwriters and I would be trying to learn as much as I could from them.
What is in store for the band for the rest of this year after the single launch?
We’ll play some more shows, probably head to Sydney for a gig or two, keep pushing the double A side out there and I really want to record some more new stuff we’ve written. Should be a busy few months.
Catch Wildcat General Strike on Saturday 1st September at The Workers Club w/ The Demon Parade and The Quivers
