Currently touring the country with Grinspoon are Port Macquarie’s The Foreign Objects. While on the road, we chatted with Luke Hall about life on that road, the new EP 321, working with Phil Jamieson and plenty more… read on!
Let’s start by talking about the new EP 321 … you recorded in Byron Bay with Phil J on production duties – sounds like it would have been an enjoyable recording experience?
Yeah it was so sick recording Studio 301, so many great records have been made in that studio and the old mixing desk in there is responsible for some of Australia’s greatest albums. The desk dates back to the 70’s and was used in Festival Studio’s in Sydney before the 301 crew got their hands on it. So it defiantly felt cool putting our music through something that’s created so much Australian music history. The whole record was recorded straight to a 28 track tape machine made in Holland. It was a much more expencive process and a little more testing on your playing but theres nothing like the warmth of tape for Rock and Roll music. Tracking to 28 tracks allows you to be on your game a little more when your tracking and helps the record feel a little more live as apossed to layering hundreds of tracks and making a Garage Rock band sound too over produced. Phil did all the pre production on the record. He helped with arrangements and melodies some cool changes and things like that. He was on tour with Grinspoon while we were in the studio so every day we e-mailed him our progress and ran with his feedback. Phils an amazing musican and song writer. He’s funny quick witted and we were honered to have him on board…
It wasn’t long ago that you released your debut EP Amongst Ghosts, By The Sea – how do you feel the albums compare?
We made ‘Amongst Ghosts, By the Sea’ after being a band for about 3 months. I feel like we were still finding our feet as a group. We were lucky enough to have recorded it with Rob Mestric (our local music shop owner/ friend) in his home studio. Rob helped us out alot with finding the right sounds ect. Everything was digital. Most guitar tones/ effects were added in after we tracked them. I still feel like we all did the best job we could. When we made 321 we did everything a little more authentic. The guitar tones you hear were how they sounded coming out of the amps, The vocal effects were vintage mics not Pro Tools. I also think the song writing is a little more creative in 321. If we had the money we’d make every recording we do on tape and not use a computer at all for any of the process involved in recording.
How did Phil come on board for the record? He’s not exactly well known as a producer!
Phil lives in Port Macquarie, as do we. I think we were playing Poka one afternoon and i hit him up. We wanted to make a new record for a while and had a bunch of new material to through down so we worked out dates and took it from there.
Of course, you’re on the road with Grinspoon at the moment – as I write this e-mail you’ve only played one show in Noosavilla, but how’s it gone so far?
Yeah good. The gig was awesome, We played to a full room of beer guzzling grinners fans who want nothing more than a good night of Rock n Roll so we gave it to them best we could. All the Grinners guys are nice dudes and there crew are so onto it. I love playing shows with bigger production gear and great sound guys.
How did The Foreign Objects first get together?
Dave (drummer) and I are brothers, and the rest of us are good mates. We all surf, party and have a rad crew of friends down there in little old Port Mac town. Dave and myself had the idea for a while and piece by piece we put this foreign objects puzzle together. First of all we asked Josh (lead guitarist) who was fronting a local Garage punk band called Sierra Hotel Bravo to come over and jam. We all got on really well and had fun writing so we decided we needed a Bass guitarist. At this point Dave suggested we hit up Cam Campbell. Cams an old friend we’ve known since him and Davo were only about 6 years old. Cam was born to be in a Rock n Roll band. You only need to spend an hour with Cam to work out he’s a smooth talking Bad Ass..
What’s the reason behind the name “The Foreign Objects”? How did it come about?
About a year before we officially formed the group I took a leak in a port-a-loo at ‘Festival of The Sun’ down in Port Macquarie. There was a sign saying “Do not place Foreign Objects in this toilet” It got me thinking what the fuck could be more foreign then a festival turd. Then it hit me just like in the movies. Because everything kinda felt like it was a movie at the time anyway. So it stuck Dave liked it and so did the boys. It wreaks of mystery and perhaps naughty behaviour and so do we.
You’ve played with some big acts including Silversun Pickups, Spiderbait and Little Birdy – what has been your most ‘Rock N Roll’ experience so far?
I think being a band no-one’s heard of and going through the miles on the road, playing to empty rooms and drinking whatever you can get for free, for less money than a visit to your local brothel is more Rock n Roll than playing at the Festivals. It’s not too ‘Rock and Roll’ at a most music festivals because you get your ‘Pill heads’ wanting to listen to DJ’s and ‘Footy heads’ in fluro singlets flexing in front of the mirrors in the toilets with slip on girls shoes and outdated haircuts. Alot of people go to these festivals not even knowing who’s playing. But they can say “yeah i went to Big Day Out” or whatever. But to answer your question The most ‘Rock n Roll’ experience i’v had was meeting a band from Melbourne called FANGS. They party hard, play hard and write Bad Ass Rock songs. The first time i saw these guys i was really intimidated then we all became good friends. Make sure you look them up.
I’m interested to hear what you thought about playing Coaster Festival… we found it an, um, unique experience for lack of a better word…
Cypress Hill were insane, so was the free booze and the really pretty girl looking after our riders. The giant sling shot was cool too. Oh, and there was really good pizza. Somebody stole my custom made mic stand at that festival. Over all i just thought it was another run of the mill festival. See answer above.
What could someone going to one of your shows for the first time expect?
Expect an honest Rock n Roll show. In fact don’t come if your going to have expectations. Just rock up and hopefully you’ll dig it. If not keep drinking till it sounds good and the girl or guy you wouldn’t bat an i lid to earlier starts to look like hot. Then you might dig our sounds.
Who are your greatest musical inspirations?
To answer that question would take me an hour a 6 pack of cold beer. It would be unfare to name one without naming them all. x
What lies ahead for the band from here?
Lots of driving. Were going to a crocodile farm in Cairns. Josh will catch so many snakes of the side of the road. Dave will tell an interesting fact about the worlds history or war or something every time he farts. Cam will skits at every red light and i’m going to keep the boys awake at night with my chainsaw style snoring.
Finally, Describe your music in one word…
Loud
The Foreign Objects’ ‘321’ is out 26th November on Cross Section through Inertia.
Questions by Jennifer Peterson-Ward and Larry Heath.
