MELBOURNE punk rockers Clowns still receive daily online abuse due to last year’s “creepy clown” phenomenon, but frontman Stevie Williams said the band would never contemplate a name change.
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Creepy clown sightings began in the US last August and quickly spread around the globe. Clowns, who don’t wear make-up or costumes, inadvertently became involved in the controversy.
“We’re still getting messages daily,” Williams said. “When you look at the people’s profiles you see they’re obviously a dumb arse and it doesn’t surprise you they’ve gotten the wrong Clowns page.
“A lot of it is actually young kids, which is funny. It’ll be a 12-year-old kid and they’ll say ‘stop scaring my sister and go get cancer’.”
Regardless, Williams said the phenomenon has provided extra publicity for the five-piece. Clowns have also been receiving plenty of press for their recently-released album Lucid Again. The record combines the band’s traditional ‘80s hardcore punk sound with a new psychedelic edge.
“We were very conscious not to create the same record again,” Williams said. “We’re all fans of other psych bands like Pink Floyd, Brian Jonestown Massacre and garage bands like Eddy Current Suppression Ring, so we thought we’d throw a few curve balls in there.”
Clowns have developed a strong following in eastern Europe and will return to Serbia in July to play the Exit Festival alongside The Killers and former Oasis singer Liam Gallagher.
“I never thought when I started this band at 18 that we’d be playing alongside The Killers in Serbia, but here we are,” Williams said.
Before Clowns return to Europe you can catch them at the Small Ballroom on June 10.
PLACEBO EFFECT
GOTH-rock innovators Placebo are coming to Newcastle in September and have vowed to perform their most iconic material.
Seven Australian dates have been added to their 20-year anniversary world tour, which began last year to mark the release of their self-titled debut album in 1996.
The Newcastle Entertainment Centre will host the duo of frontman Brian Molko and bassist Stefan Olsdal on Tuesday, September 12.
ALTAI SAY BYE
NEWCASTLE alternative band Altai are preparing to wave goodbye temporarily after releasing their impressive debut self-titled EP last Sunday. The five-piece are taking 12 to 18 months off to focus on university and solo projects, which includes lead singer Ryan Nott moving to New Zealand to work in the ski fields.
It’s a shame because Altai’s EP is one of the most mature recordings heard in the past year in the Newcastle indie scene. Nott’s soulful raw vocal soars on Flower Petal Boy and the acoustic Straw Hat, while guitarist Josh Webb gets his turn to shine on the epic closer, Standing Bear.
“On Standing Bear I tried to go for U2 and The Edge, that epic sounding Where The Streets Have No Name feel,” Webb said. “I think I pulled it off with the boys. We really worked together.”
Altai perform their last show before their sabbatical on Sunday when they launch their EP at the Cambridge Hotel.
GIMME CHENEY
CHRIS Cheney receives plenty of love from the Novocastrian faithful. The Living End’s gig at the Cambridge Hotel in March was one of the biggest crowds seen at the music pub.
The guitar maestro is returning to the Cambridge on October 5, but this time a part of cover supergroup Me First & The Gimme Gimmes. The Los Angeles-based Cheney joined the Californian punk band on its recent US spring tour, filling in on lead guitar for The Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett.
Cheney has since been invited to play with the Gimme Gimmes on their seven-date Australian tour alongside Lagwagon’s Dave Raun and Joey Cape and Bad Religion’s Jay Bentley. Me First & The Gimme Gimmes perform a punk rock take on various pop classics, ranging from Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On to Culture Club’s Karma Chameleon.
FINAL SNOWDROP
SADLY news broke this week that Sydney blue-rockers The Snowdroppers are calling it quits after a decade.
The Wickham Park Hotel will host the four-piece’s penultimate show on November 18. The Snowdroppers have built a strong following in the Hunter through their three albums and energetic live performances which combine punk rock, blues and polka.
JAPANDROIDS BACK
CANADIAN garage two-piece The Japandroids have added a Newcastle date to their upcoming Australian tour. The duo of Brian King and David Prowse will play the Small Ballroom on July 15 as part of their expanded seven-date tour.
The Japandroids released their third album Near to the Wild Heart of Life in January, their first in five years. Their record Celebration Rock was described by Rolling Stone as one of the “10 coolest summer albums of all time.”
