GREG KERSLAKE, frontman of Melbourne grunge revivalists MOTHER AND FATHER, talks to JODY MACGREGOR.

JODY MACGREGOR: What was your reaction to the closing of The Tote?

GREG KERSLAKE: Rubbish! We weren’t even in Melbourne at the time ... We were lucky enough to launch our album there and that was a really good show for us. When I first came to Melbourne, before we had a drummer, our dream was to pack out the Tote so without sounding like a bloated wanker I’m glad we got to tick that box.

JM: How do you keep yourselves occupied when you’re travelling?

GK: We have a ute, so when we travel we are all squashed up next to each other. Other bands think we’re such hick rednecks when we show up to shows. But we usually play CDs and rag on each others’ parents. Oh, and the Straight Arrows introduced me to a game called “Kill / Sex / Baby”. Someone would name three people you know, and you have to categorise them ... it can get very awkward ... and questionable!

JM: Your vocals are often very raw – have you ever damaged your voice during a gig?

GK: I used to not be able to talk afterwards, but I’m used to it now. I can’t talk during the show as my voice would break from the yelling. So now I don’t speak. 

JM: You get compared to Nirvana a lot and I have to admit I did the same thing when describing your sound. Does it bother you or are you used to it?

GK: Not really, I think it’s behind us now. The way I see it a lot of artists imitate or mimic their idols. For example, Nirvana’s Bleach sounds like Scratch Acid ... It’s actually ridiculous. You only have to listen to My Bloody Valentine’s early stuff to see what I mean ... Don’t forget Warsaw (Joy Division) ripping off the Sex Pistols. I suppose I’m just trying to say that bands evolve. We know we’re in this for the long haul so we just want to have a large body of work that is reflective of our lives at certain points. We’re not in any hurry to be Coldplay or U2 ... I want to be like Pavement and Sonic Youth.

MOTHER AND FATHER play The Step Inn on Friday Apr 9 with Geese, The Butcher Birds and Feathers. Their album, NOTHIN’, is available now on Z-Man Records. www.myspace.com/motherandfathermusic

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