Boomgates can’t stop themselves

boomgates

Carol Bowditch has a quick chat to Steph Hughes of Boomgates in the run up to the Sugar Mountain Festival, which takes place next week in Melbourne:

What was it that made you decide to form Boomgates when you are all already in other bands (including Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Twerps and more)?
Because we are sickos that can’t stop ourselves.

What does the album title Double Natural mean?
That’s the name?? What were we thinking??

When it came to recording did it require extra discipline to not just hang out, but to work through writing and recording the tracks for the album?
I think we’re pretty good at just making a list and working through it until everyone’s content.  It is a form of hanging in itself yeah? It was three days or two days or something. Sometimes Shauny drags the chain by stopping to hydrate and go to the toilet. Arsehole!

How were the first gigs as Boomgates? Did everything run smoothly as a new band playing new songs?
They seemed to. Speaking for myself, I had to get used to not playing an acoustic guitar on the couch and wailing like an aggravated Vashti Bunyan during the ads of Home and Away. I had to do that more standing upright.

What other bands influenced you while you were writing the record?
Was it the Everly Brothers that always played on an empty stomach? I was pretty hungry until lunch time, then Rick and Gus made really good salad rolls.

You’re playing at the Sugar Mountain Festival, (which has a great lineup might I add). Do you like playing festivals? Or do you prefer more intimate gigs?
We are easy going about gigs. There’s been shows on both ends of the spectrum that stick out. Big spaces or weird regional Milk Bar gigs with the lone geriatric hip thrusting at the front. You name it. Particularly excited for Sugar Mountain though, it’s a local favourite.

carol bowditch
Interview by Carol Bowditch. The Sugar Mountain Festival takes place on Saturday 19 January 2013 at The Forum Theatre, Melbourne and there are satellite events a few days either side of it. Tickets are available here

 

MUSIC: DIRTY PROJECTORS | ESG | PEANUT BUTTER WOLF | ACTION BRONSON | BOOMGATES | BROTHERS HAND MIRROR | COLLARBONES | FORCES X ANTONY HAMILTON | HTRK |HUNX AND HIS PUNX | JONTI | KIRIN J CALLINAN X KRIS MOYES | LAUREL HALO | LOWER PLENTY | NAYSAYER AND GILSUN | WOODS
VISUAL ARTS: KRIS MOYES | HAMISHI | ANTONY HAMILTON | MISHA HOLLENBACH | KIT WEBSTER | MARKUS HOFKO | KEITH DEVERELL | THOMAS RUSSELL | PANTôSCOPIA | JEREMY EARL