Ahead of the inaugural Old Mate’s Block Party in Sydney this weekend, we get to know a little more about the band who’ve spearheaded the whole shebang, The Lockhearts. In coming together with other local Sydney bands and artists, the event has been formed around the common-shared idea that art in whatever its form and a good dose of partying that comes with it, should not have a timer set against it with the various venue lockdowns in place. The block party is also going to show the naysayers that the live music scene is very much alive and yes, people do care strongly for it.
Tell us who you are and what band you play in?
I’m Tim Meaco and I play in The Lockhearts.
How did this group come together and in particular, how did you get involved?
Originally we met at 1:31am in an alleyway in Sydney after lockout, making our way home to Newtown, hoping to get some drunk kebabs on the way home to stave off our hangry moods, and then were forced to start a fight club to vent our moods on the realisation that food after 12am was not an option. The rest is pretty self-explanatory I suppose.
How would you describe your band’s sound?
Blues-Rock/ Americana doom fuzz
If we were to listen to one song from your band, what should it be?
You can listen to “Low”, the first single off our recent Double EP, check out the video!
What can we expect from your set at the Old Mate’s Block Party?
At least thirty seconds of ecstasy, likely followed a small explosion/fire and 49 minutes of crying. But there will be Coopers and we’ll probably make a couple of salvageable dad jokes.
Who are you most excited to see at the festival and why?
My friend Bill, he owes me $50, and there’s this Nicolas Cage T-shirt I really want to buy.
What were the highlights for the band in 2015?
Unexpectedly completing twwo national tours in Jean Claude Band Van, causing some accidental road closures at our New Year’s Eve house-party festival and playing music with a plethora of talented Australian artists.
What do you have in store for 2016?
Kicking off with Old Mate’s, making a new record, some mental shows and just realising stuff, you know?
How important are festivals like this to the local scene?
Festivals like this are important in general, not just in the context of ‘local’ acts, because there are so many bands and artists in this country who play successful tours, put on incredible shows and put out quality records, who aren’t recognised by mainstream avenues but are well loved by dedicated music fans. More importantly, events like this dispel the negative, outspoken attitudes of ‘the scene is dead’ or ‘nobody really cares about live music’, which quite frankly, is utter rubbish, clumsily spewed by the ignorant.
Who do you think should’ve won the Hottest 100?
Russell Crowe.
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Old Mate’s Block Party is being at The Factory (Factory Floor) on Saturday, January 30th. For tickets, head to The Factory’s website – for only $20 (or $25 on the door), you can’t pass up on it!
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