Monday, April 22, 2024

Clobassi

ORIGINS: Penrith, NSW
GENRE: Alt-Metal, Hip Hop, Rap Rock
YEARS ACTIVE: 1997-2001
 
MEMBERS:
  • Craig McVea - Vocals, Bass
  • Preston Peachey - Drums
  • Narayan Green - Guitar (1997)
  • Steve Williams - Guitar (1998-1999)
  • Sam Parker - Guitar (1999-2001)
  • Billy Brown - Guitar (2001)
  • Michael Noel - Percussion (2001)
  • Wesley von Grabill - Bass (2001)
  • Karen Booth - Saxophone (2001)
RELEASES: 
  • Let's Get Physical (1999)
    • 1. Too Little Too Late
    • 2. Game Over
    • 3. Action Jackson
    • 4. Little Penny
    • 5. Sensitive New Age Guy


  • Clobalisation (2000)
    • 1. Keep on Truckin'
    • 2. Rollback
    • 3. Stretchin' the Friendship 

  • The Bronx Executioner (2001)
    • Keep on Truckin'
  • Full Tilt Boogie (2001) [Unreleased]
    • 1. Unknown song
    • 2. Unknown song
    • 3. Unknown song
    • 4. For All the While
SUMMARY: Clobassi was the brainchild of Craig McVea, who had played in punk bands but yearned for something a little different in the vein of early Beastie Boys. Teaming up with other core member, Preston Peachey, the dynamic duo recruited a series of guitarists to pioneer a heavy alt-metal/punk style that sat comfortably within a wave of late '90s alternative Australian bands (Quadbox, Beaverloop, Dogbuoy). McVea was one of the most visible faces in the late '90s/early '00s Penrith music scene, putting on many All Ages shows and writing regular local music columns for local newspapers and zines, and this helped build a lot of momentum for Clobassi. 
 
In their final years, the band experimented with expanding to include additional members for performances - such as Wes Von Grabill on bass (allowing McVea to focus more on vocals) and Michael Noel on percussion. After 4 years of solid gigging, and recording an EP that then went unreleased, the band members moved on to work on other projects.
 
SHOWS: 


ORAL HISTORY:
PRESTON: I saw an ad for a drummer, could have been in Drum Media, which was was the Bible in those days. I was keen to do more groove stuff and grew up on rap music and r'n'b. The ad said Toe to Toe and Beastie Boys, which sounded pretty cool. I called this guy, Craig... he lived in Leonay and I was five minutes down the road in Emu Plains. We setup a jam at his house in their spare room and we had just a really fun jam. Craig was probably jumping around. He called his friend Jay to listen over the phone (I'm sure it didn't sound amazing). Craig had a mate, Narayan, who played guitar, so we became a band... named after a phallic sausage. 
Preston Peachey (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024
 
CRAIG: I think it all started at my 18th birthday party in '98. I had The Hassle Brigade and The Shirkers play in my backyard (those were the days when bands didn't start shit about other bands and had a respect for each other no matter what style you were!). Anyways... I wrote a song called 'Wookie' that I wanted to play. So I got some friends together and just did it. Everyone seemed to like it so we played it twice. I had only just met Preston at this stage. He was like, 'fuck, we got to get a band together quick.' A couple of members and gigs later, we stand before you as Clobassi. 
Craig McVea (Vocals, Bass), Anti-Charisma Issue 3, 2000
 
PRESTON: I think Craig had a real sound and feel he was going for... he would have already sketched-out ideas and I just wanted to rock out. I had been listening to heavy stuff and he introduced me to new music. Really inspired by the Beastie Boys instrumental album The In Sound From Way Out and some 'world' music and 90s stuff such as Nitin Sawney. Craig was into all sorts of music that I got into; a lot of discovering new sounds, new drummers. I was also really into Sepultura so I'm sure that was a big part of our sound too. 
Preston Peachey (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024
 
PRESTON: Craig was doing TAFE at Nirimba and I was finishing Year 12. Our first shows I was 17, so I had to sit in the coolroom at Kelts Bar, but most of our shows were all ages.
Preston Peachey (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024 
 
CRAIG: The fuzzy bass... I copied from a bass player I jammed with once. I used to always quote other bands I liked in my set. I was young!
Craig McVea (Vocals, Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024
 
 
PRESTON: We recorded somewhere in the most Blue Mountains'y house ever. The guy was a super chill hippy who made the best chai on his stove.
Preston Peachey (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024 

CRAIG: The high school in Wentworth Falls publicly deemed our first demo as the work of Satan, which is a bit rich considering the cover is a cartoon pic of a skateboarding anus.
Craig McVea (Vocals, Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

CRAIG: One of our best or most memorable gigs would have been Blowout '98 in Kiama. During Frenzal Rhomb's set I was on top of the front speakers about 4 metres from the ground with a hose between my legs spraying everybody, yelling, "When the shit goes down ya better be ready!"
Craig McVea (Vocals, Bass), Anti-Charisma Issue 3, 2000

CRAIG: You wouldn't believe some of the fights we had to deal with around Melrose Hall. Me and Preston and Steve Williams got rolled by the Nepean High School Rugby League team after a Melrose show. The band Save Some For Daddy got in some fights with them too. There were a lot of close calls - definitely a lot of kids were getting rolled in Emu Plains. Another time I went to a prom with Joe Cool (Joey Catanzaro) - it was three couples, we were 19 or 20. We all nearly got rolled with baseball bats in Werrington. I was dressed like Neil Hamburger... I shouldn't have done that.
Craig McVea (Vocals, Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

PRESTON: Best gig... the first Planet Rock gig with Testeagles went off and one gig at the Melrose was cool - it was our first guitarist's last gig. Our worst gig was when we went to Melbourne and played in the back of this tacky pub and the crowd of two fell asleep. Or at Blacktown PCYC - empty hall, shit sound, my kit was falling apart. I wasn't happy.
Preston Peachey (Drums), Anti-Charisma Issue 3, 2000

PRESTON: Steve was an amazing guitarist and friend but I remember a gig in Katoomba where Craig and I played most of our set as a two-piece before Steve finally showed and played a few songs. When we found Sam he was a solid addition and also a phenomenal songwriter on his own, and a great singer. Kind of felt like he was doing us a favour.
Preston Peachey (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024 
 
CRAIG: Prior to 2000, none of our guitarists have ever looked or sounded very Clobassi. None of them have ever given Clobassi much time. And I think that's a good reason why we're not touring at the moment. It just feels like we haven't found him or her yet. It always has.
Craig McVea (Vocals, Bass), Anti-Charisma Issue 3, 2000
 
 
 
SAM: I went to music school with Preston and Craig at Nirimba TAFE. They were a lot of fun. Craig was extremely dedicated to the band and he wrote all the tunes. He was also dedicated to the scene in Western Sydney and was certainly an asset out there.
Sam Parker (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024
 
CRAIG: We were playing in Katoomba with Quadbox. I was really angry at the time and I jumped off my amp and broke through the stage. 
Craig McVea (Vocals, Bass), Obzine Issue 5, November 1999
 
SAM: We got kicked out of a band competition because Craig broke the microphone.
Sam Parker (Guitar), Obzine Issue 5, November 1999
 
REVIEW: Clobassi have been doing a lot of shows recently and this performance was only a few hours after their warm up in Blacktown. As always they kicked out a happy vibe with their blend of heavy rap and punk pop. Craig was definitely into the performance and sported a pair of headphones for the first few songs. Once again, an energetic performance. Clobassi played new and old tunes with a couple off their new CD which doesn't really have a title at the moment due to copyright infringements on their previous title. 
Mark Alston, Obzine Issue 6, December 1999
 
REVIEW: Finally, it was time for Clobassi to show their stuff. With the main lights out, the coloured lights really lifted the atmosphere, and the mistakable heavy-rap stomping sound filled the hall. Craig, the singer with the fuzzy bass guitar, seemed determined to have fun since putting on this Right Here, Right Now show had cost him many dollars. There was a sizeable mosh and most people seemed to get right into it. At the end of the set, which included songs off their CD, Clobalisation, the crowd's shouting for more was enough to extract one last song out of the band.
Mark and Dave, Obzine Issue 7, January 2000
 
REVIEW: Clobassi's awesome stomping punk/metal/rap sound is too much for any self-respecting skanker to resist. The band is going off and we all dive for a Skankheath T-shirt as it is launched from the stage. The smoke machine has set off the fire alarm, but everyone is enjoying the music too much to care. The set finishes on a high note with 'Keep on Truckin'.
 Dave Schleter, Obzine Issue 9, April 2000
 
WES: I was 16... from the West Coast of America... and Craig was 18 or 19 and already an accomplished musician and performer. My stepdad was Craig and Preston's TAFE teacher and he took me to a uni gig late one weekday to try and motivate me to get more into music and stay in the country. That's where I first saw Clobassi live and they were fantastic. I instantly took notice of Craig's charisma and energy on stage, jumping onto the bar with his bass as Preston smashed his drums with a hint of lag similar to my favourite drummer of the '70s. I remember Craig used to cover his bass in a furry material he customly sewed on (probably because he couldn't afford a good bass and was insecure about it but that creativity ended up making his bass so much more unique and cool than the most expensive bass in the world). This bass-condom of sorts gave birth to him calling his bass THE WOOKIE. To this day it's still one of the most original concepts conceived by us 'humble' bass players.  
Wesley von Grabill (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024 

                                                                                                                                                                                         
CRAIG: Playing the Opera House steps with Preston and Sam was a great memory. Another favourite memory was stage diving at Melrose Hall and not face planting it. 
Craig McVea (Vocals, Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024 
 
REVIEW: Clobassi rocked as hard as they could. They pulled out all the crowd faves: Keep on Truckin', Too Little Too Late, Stretchin' the Friendship and Wookie, to which the crowd moshed up a frenzy. The Daily Planet bouncers soon cottoned on to this and realised what they were meant to be doing, and formed a barrier in front of the band so that no one would get too close to the stage. Bassplayer/vocalist Craig pulled out all his usual moves, stroking his furry bass and jumping about like an acid-crazy maniac, causing the crowd to get very excited indeed. I think Clobassi were my favourite band of the night.
Luke Bartolo, Obzine Issue 11, June 2000

SAM: The Testeagles support at the Daily Planet was chockers and the crowd was amped. Neither of the others drank so I got the whole rider. 
Sam Parker (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

WES: My favourite Clobassi memory was at the Melrose Hall. Skuzz supported and Clobassi headlined. We did 2 newspaper photo shoots for the gig and put up posters everywhere. It was packed. They performed their first EP and at one point Craig put down his bass, and the guitarist and Preston kept playing and he jumped into the crowd. They carried him and passed him down from the front of the stage to the back of the hall and then back onto stage again without him ever touching the ground. That was a full house! And perhaps the peak of Clobassi's powers.
Wesley von Grabill (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024 

CRAIG: Preston was a weapon. We just couldn't settle on a guitarist. Michael Noel played final year or so with the band; he was awesome. We were at our best then. I think of Michael regularly; such a beautiful soul. We were lucky to get the time we did with him. 
Craig McVea (Vocals, Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024 

REVIEW: Clobassi kicked arse at the Grounded Festival. Craig was jumping around so much I half-expected him to crasgh through the stage. They were joined by a member of Sickend with percussion and a small brass section, which really added to their heavy funk-laden sound.
Daniel, Obzine Issue 12, July 2000
 
PRESTON: We guested Michael Noel on percussion and this is how I met Michael and he later joined Endusk. We also had Wesley Von Grabill join on bass towards the end when Craig wanted to run around and go crazy.  
Preston Peachey (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024 
 
WES: Craig was nice enough to let me play bass for him on stage a couple of times. Once in the back alley of a High Street Penrith venue and once at a Grounded Festival. Both times I was shitting in my pants. 
Wesley von Grabill (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024 


REVIEW: The almighty legends of local hip-hop-rock, Clobassi, made their way up in front of the Blaxland audience. They rocked. If you haven't seen them then I honestly don't know what's wrong with you. As always the band made themselves interesting to watch, with Craig adding demonic-sounding scats to some of their tunes, as well as leaping from the top of the P.A. during 'Rollback'. Another standout of their set was the song 'Wookie', where crowd members were invited onto the stage to say their cheesiest pickup lines, with invariably comical and bizarre results. The band ended on the epic masterpiece 'Keep on Truckin'.
Luke Bartolo, Obzine Issue 12, July 2000

SAM: I ended up leaving the band because I was living in the Inner West and didn't have transport. Lugging gear on the train wasn't really an option. Preston was the Uber then, but it just ended up wearing a little thin. 
Sam Parker (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

REVIEW: It's the second Grounded Festival, it's Craig's birthday, and he doesn't look like a hung over man after enduring a night of partying. He's all smiles as Clobassi fly onto the stage with a presence I have never seen from them. A new guitarist, guest rapper, and Prestons' new kit make for a fresh set from these funk rap rockers. 
 Reviewer, Obzine Issue 20 June 2001

BILLY: I came to be in Clobassi through Karen Booth, ex-sax player for Clobassi. I was good friends with her. She hooked me up, they needed a guitarist so I said yeah, I'll try out. They tried a couple of guys, they got me two practices in a row or something. Craig actually asked me if it would be cool to have two guitarists and I kinda of said 'nah', cause when it comes time for recording, and you'll see why on the new CD Full Tilt Boogie, I like to have a good range of what I can do.
Billy Brown (Guitarist), Obzine Issue 22, September 2001

CRAIG: Our new guitarist Billy has really injected his musical personality and character into the band. I love it. I don't think I've seen all of what he can do yet. 
Craig McVea (Vocals, Bass), Obzine Issue 22, September 2001

PRESTON: I think the band just faded and fizzled as we moved onto other stuff. Craig did Fat Slinky and I did Endusk. We were all pretty close friends though. We had a basketball team called Team Larraby.
Preston Peachey (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

CRAIG: We didn't release or sell our last EP Full Tilt Boogie. We moved onto other projects... I didn't really wanna do prog rock but I loved what the other band members went on to do. Everyone started their own direction - some went punk/ska, some went prog rock. All great musos. 
Craig McVea (Vocals, Bass), Noise Levels correspondence,2024

RELATED BANDS: Kreture, The Shirkers, Fat Slinky, Endusk, Day of the Dead, Sickend, Skuzz, Germ Warfare Specialists, Samegma, Jugular Cuts, Scratch Habbit, Carnage Flail, Irrelevant, Lucy & the Pheromones, Moonbombs, Spankin' Brothers, 1000 Slimey Things, Superb Lyrebird, Cumflood




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