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Monday, 11 September 2006 |
 With the quirky Whitlams meets Supergrass meets Cat Empire pop tunes on their debut EP Act One Scene One turning the heads of music aficionados everywhere, local quintet The John Citizens were doing pretty well for themselves, thank you very much. Until some blokes from Sydney asserted they had that band name first. Not to worry; it’s goodbye John Citizens, hello THE ROCKETSMITHS! BRETT COLLINGWOOD gets the scoop from vocalist/guitarist DOMINIC MILLER and guitarist IANBOY APULI in the run-up to the band’s Valley Fiesta appearance.
It must have been a bit galling to change your name, given you’d already made some headway as the John Citizens.
IANBOY: It was a bit of a bitch at the start but we think it may have helped us as much as it’s hindered us, because we made sure our name was out there and everything’s just been going up and up since. We also think the new name is a lot catchier and people seem to love it.
Your first EP Act One Scene One has been out for a couple of months now, what parts are you still happy with, and what do you think could be improved on?
DOM: Well, I think we're still happy with it. We probably would've wanted more time on it but considering we recorded and mixed that in two days we did a pretty splendid job for six songs.
IANBOY: I've just set up my own home studio so we're beginning to take out whole weekends to just record and get two or three songs perfect. Don't know when they'll be ready but from now on you'll be hearing more of us... and when the songs are ready we're planning to hand them out for free and encourage people to give them to friends, burn them, anything really to help us get out there.
You’re playing the Valley Fiesta on the weekend, who are you most looking forward to checking out there?
DOM: Our set is pretty early on Saturday so I guess I'm just looking forward to sitting back in the beer garden, listening to people I haven't heard much of before. But I really, really, really want to see Texas Tea on Sunday.
What are some of your highlights from past Fiesta experiences?
IANBOY: Definitely Butterfingers a couple of years ago. People were climbing on everything. Just a full-on experience.
DOM: And the whole place smelt like the art teacher’s office. I thought Dave McCormack last year was probably my best. We had a gig that night and I was late because I was watching him.
Suppose the Rocketsmiths were a boy band… what would your individual personas be?
IANBOY: I consider us more like a sitcom than a boy band. We got Heff (keys/vocals), the nerdy paleontologist; Dan (bass) the free loving blonde “hippy type”; Brenty (drums) who is the crazy comic relief; Dom, I guess he'd be Heff's love interest from the first season and then comes back later, then dates Vince Vaughn. I'd be the one who’s watched way too much Friends.
DOM: Can I be the hunky Latino lover? I don't want to date Vince, he's too tall for me.
What's next for The Rocketsmiths?
IANBOY: Season two of House is released shortly. Perhaps we'll buy and watch that.
DOM: Why is the show called House?
IANBOY: It's kind of like Backyard Blitz but for houses, hence, House.
DOM: Oh... I thought it was because he was a Mouse named Henry. Henry Mouse. House.
IANBOY: I don't know… new EP early next year? East coast tour on the back of it. Maybe a couple of bigger supports.
DOM: And celebrity love affairs.
The Rocketsmiths play the Chinatown Mall stage at Valley Fiesta on Saturday at 1:40pm.
1. Written by Em, on 21-12-2007 15:30
I love the Rocketsmiths!!! =] =] =]
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 19 September 2006 )
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