Posted by
PETERHEAD February 15, 2008 -
392 views
BIOGRAPHY
Music To Roll In The Gutter To
Peterhead: lords of the audiologically bizarre, beloved of freak society across the globe, purveyors of all things off-beat and off-key to the music stage. What qualities are necessary to metamorphose a group of rock’n’rollers into something greater than the sum of its parts; a band into “an act”, a “group” into a “show” and furthermore, a show worth seeing in the already oversaturated musical environment that is Adelaide.
Peterhead’s biographical existence began in 2003 devolving largely around founding singer/songwriter Captain I, aka Nathan Dale. The Captain’s long history as a rock guitarist has taken him on a journey through a variety of musical styles ranging from punk (Chuck Daley and the Vomits, Operation Octopus), via metal (Yog Sothoth) to the seriously grindcore as embodied in the highly-regarded Hack (also featuring vocalist Michael Farkas of Grong Grong fame). Always a fan of the world’s more eccentric guitarists (Snakefinger, Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band, Frank Zappa), Captain I’s personal guitar style became progressively more jazz-oriented over the course of his travels which, together with Peterhead’s two saxophone players and his growling Tom Waits-style vocals, is largely responsible for the band’s unusual jazz-punk flavour.
Accompanying the Captain as bass player in many of his escapades and this time in Peterhead, we find the multi-talented Penisfingers (Sam Hartshorne to the sane). As well as his shared stint with Captain I in Operation Octopus, Penisfingers also boasts past membership in Adelaide freak bands Drama Queen (as guitarist) and Sex Weaponry (as bassist and singer) to his list of credits. As the other of the two main songwriters and singers, Penisfingers’ bass lines are founded solidly in blues scales and precise jazz timing while his vocal style has been likened to that of the banshee.
The third of the founding Peterhead members, Anton “Cool Breeze” Becker, is possibly the most versatile. Switching frequently between guitar and saxophone (and occasionally second bass and extra drums), Cool Breeze provides the break-up and shuffle in instrumentation so characteristic of Peterhead; a welcome relief to the usual timbral stagnation common to most “rock” bands. Cool Breeze is no newcomer to genuinely alternative rock music, his most notable performances being as guitarist in Meat, Zekron 7 and Lumpsucker, all of which bands were famous for their experimental approach to the genre.
Fourth in the succession of Peterhead’s drummers, Wex Dabbler is the one they’ve been waiting for. Veteran of one of Adelaide’s longest-running punk bands (Fiendish Cavendish) and renowned for his solo work as The (Mike) Wilczek Experience, Wex’s approach to music happily co-incides precisely with the rest of Peterhead’s in his love of the strange and theatrical, while his skill as a drummer with experience in both punk and jazz styles gives him the ability to hold the band together, in concert with Penisfingers, and provide a rock-solid foundation for the often spontaneous meanderings of the melodic instruments.
Upon returning to Adelaide after a lengthy stint of making a nuisance of himself all over the States, Renestair EJ (“The Mighty EEJ”) promptly made it his business to join every band that would have him as a saxophone player (including Leather Messiah and guest spots in Red Rascal) and co-founded/ fronted as singer the notorious Alice Cooper tribute band, The Billion Dollar Bums. Ren’s pre-States credits include Bloodloss, Lubricated Goat and The Primevils, usually in guitar-playing mode, which is as blue-blooded a pedigree as you get in this town. As Peterhead’s main saxophonist, his style is lyrically chaotic while providing brief moments of (usually inaudible) sensitivity.
Which brings us finally to Boobcat Bob (Lehermayr) on keyboards: Boobcat ‘s addition to Peterhead brought with it an air of, “Of course, a keyboardist, it all makes sense now!”. Sporting an antique analogue synth and a cheap pre-programmed organ, Boobcat’s experiences in Devo cover/ experimental electronic Adelaide band Tardis Retardis have finally been put to good use on three fronts: in support mode to the rhythm section, as a melodic instrument and to provide the interjection of unusual noises at appropriate and inappropriate moments. Boobcat’s musical history also includes time spent as bass player in Yog Sothoth (with Captain I), as well as infamous Disco band Love Fever and Stooges tribute band Raw Power.
Peterhead’s shows are freak shows. Never content to don jeans and daggy t-shirts in the pursuit of punk-rock credibility, Peterhead have become famous throughout Adelaide for their outlandish costumery and stage props. Magic Dirt opted to select the support bands for their recent national tour by calling for acts who were “fucked up out there” to send in a demo. Guess who scored the Adelaide spot. I don’t think Magic Dirt were quite prepared for how “out there” Peterhead were when they hit the stage in full regalia, Boobcat clad in gold lamé G-string in which he was later wedgied before a crowd of 400 or so gobsmacked souls. Peterhead’s stage presence is immense; it makes the audience want to touch them and be touched by them (yes, physically as well as metaphorically). They are nearly always to be seen in the company of bands who adore the freak within and on those rare occasions when they play with “straight” bands, the inevitable result is a whole bunch of norms with dropped jaws staring in disbelief.
These are the people in our society whom we need to embrace.
Compiled by
home D
2007
Peterhead Timeline
2003
Established
Line-up #1: Cougar Stix - drums
Penisfingers - bass, vox
Cool Breeze - guitar, sax
Captain I - guitar, vox
2004 Line-up #2: The Fox - drums
Penisfingers - bass, vox
Cool Breeze - guitar, sax
Captain I - guitar, vox
2005 Line-up #3: The Fox - drums, synth
Penisfingers - bass, vox
Cool Breeze - guitar, sax, vox, drums
Captain I - guitar, vox
Renestair EJ - sax, guitar, vox
Gigs of note: The Sunday Freak Show (October)
Bob Dylan Tribute @ The Gov (December)
Swampfest 2005
2006 Line-up #4 (July): Drum-Hed - drums
Penisfingers - bass, vox
Cool Breeze - guitar, sax, vox
Captain I - guitar, vox
Renestair EJ - sax, vox
Boobcat Bob - synth, percussion, vox
Gigs of note: Salaminc Fundraiser (April)
2007 Current Line-up: Wex Dabbler - drums
Penisfingers - bass, vox
Cool Breeze - guitar, sax, vox
Captain I - guitar, vox
Renestair EJ - sax, vox
Boobcat Bob - synth
Highlights: Album recorded @ The Fish Shop (January)
Degenerate Rock’n’Roll Circus (February)
Magic Dirt support @ The Gov (July)
Peterhead Discography
2006
“Swampfest 2005” Compilation 1 track: I know nothing
“Salaminc Fundraiser” Compilation 1 track: Gullible
“Canadian Sampler” 10 tracks Dedic8 This to Yo’ Mama/ I Know Nothing/ Tell Us About Los Angeles/ Gullible/ Be Your Own God/ Metal Room/ Mummy, What’s a Peterhead?/
One Night in Peterhead/ Time is the Virus/ Funhouse
“In Love With An Arse-Eater” 10 tracks Baby, Not Another Baby/ Yes Today, No Tomorrow/ Bighairyballs vs. The Arse-Eaters/ Looking for The Arse- Eaters/ Sickness Trismegistos/
Woman’s Got a Piece of Judgement Day/ Mummy, What’s a Peterhead?/
Heroin/ Swollen Moon Over Oakden/
In Love with an Arse-Eater
2007
“The Spongiform Malformations 12 tracks Baby, Not Another Baby/ Captain I of Peterhead” Come Again/ Deep Sea Fish are
Beautiful Too/ Be Your Own God/
Yes Today, No Tomorrow/ Treumerei/
Woman’s Got a Piece of Judgement
Day/ Mummy, What’s a Peterhead?/
Robo-Troll/ The Truth/ Agent of the
Flying Saucers/ In Love With an
Arse-Eater
Contact Peterhead
Email: peterhead2005@hotmail.com
Surface mail: Peterhead
c/o SALAMINC
PO Box 325
Kilkenny S.A. 5009
Telephone: 0405 729 269 (Captain I)
Web: www.myspace.com/peter23head2006
