One By Wednesday

ORIGINS: Penrith, NSW

GENRE: Pop-punk, Punk

YEARS ACTIVE: 2001-2002

 

MEMBERS:

• Andy Marsh - Vocals, Bass
• Adam Watts - Guitar (2001)
  
• Michael Seager - Guitar
• Matt Perriman - Drums

RELEASES: 

• 50 Years to Nowhere (2001) - Download Here
  
• 1. Filmore
• 2. Killed in Action
• 3. [Unknown]
• 4. Occupational Hazard
• 5. San Luis
• 6. Tear Jerk Radio
• 7. Lame
• 8. X-Ray
• 9. No Way Home
  

SUMMARY: Starting under the name 'Loophole', One by Wednesday were a Penrith-based four piece pop-punk band who developed their sound while frequenting Wednesday night jam nights at the Great Western Bar in Penrith. Streamlining to a three piece with the recording of their EP, the band dissolved not long after as members moved on to other projects.

 

SHOWS:

• Gearin Hotel, Katoomba - unknown date, 2001 [as Loophole]
  
• Great Western Bar, Penrith - 7th March, 2002
  
• Timebomb 2, Scout Hall, South Penrith - 3rd August, 2002
  

ORAL HISTORY:

MATT: One By Wednesday started with me and my neighbour across the street, Andrew Marsh. We were both mutual mates with Michael and we started jamming at the old Great Western bar... We were listening to pretty much everything on Drive-Thru records at the time - New Found Glory, The Movie Life, that sort of thing. Lots of pop-punk.

Matt Perriman (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

ADAM: Me and Andrew went to school together and were in music class and into the same kind of music - pop-punk. One day he called me up and said he was going to jam with a drummer across the road, Matt. This was our first get-together. From there, Matt had a mate, a second guitarist who came to our next jam - Michael. We were influenced by bands such as Blink 182, New Found Glory, Yellowcard, MxPx, NOFX, and Australian locals For Amusement Only.

Adam Watts (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

MICHAEL: I'd been in a band with a few high school friends that mainly played covers. I think we had one original. One By Wednesday was the first band I played in that mainly played originals. We still snuck some covers in from time to time - 'Chick Magnet' by MxPx, 'Letters to You' by Finch, and 'Chop Suey' by System of a Down. I don't remember our first show but it was probably someone's party. I always enjoyed playing live... I'd be nervous leading up to it but always had a great time.

Michael Seager (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

ANDY: Our first show was played at the Gearins in Katoomba as 'Loophole', before we decided to change the band name. Pretty sure it was 2001.

Andy Marsh (Vocals, Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

ADAM: We were originally called Loophole but the name was taken. We were playing the open mic night at Great Western on a Wednesday night and we were brainstorming a name and in frustration I said, 'Come on, guys, we need one by Wednesday'. It stuck.

Adam Watts (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

MATT: We got booked for a show with The Shenanigans on a Wednesday and didn't have a name. We needed one. By Wednesday. That was how the name came about. The first time we got paid for a show it was also at Great Western Bar... $100 and it was the first time any of us had been paid for playing music, which was pretty cool. I think we bought beer.

Matt Perriman (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

ADAM: Our first gig was at the Gearins Hotel in Katoomba. We also played the Jolly Frog in Windsor and every Wednesday night at Great Western Bar for about two months straight. We also played terribly at a house party... we were too loud, had no idea how to set our sound up with no PA, and the drums were deafening. Good times!

Adam Watts (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

MATT: We recorded an EP with Tim from Unpaid Debt at his studio. It looked like an American burger diner... I did all the drums live without a click track, Marshy and Seager then layered their stuff over everything. I think we did it in about three days, over the one weekend. 

Matt Perriman (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

ADAM: We started to record an EP but it was evident that I was not good enough. My timing was off. The guys came over to my house one night in Werrington and said they had a band meeting and had decided that the band would move forward without me. It sucked. Felt like my first breakup and it also sucked as I felt like I lost the riffs I had written. After that I lost contact with the guys and let them do their own thing without me. 

Adam Watts (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

MICHAEL: Recording with Tim Walter was great. We went in with a bunch of songs and wanted to record them all. We were quite clearly unprepared but he was very patient and flexible with us. He very kindly let me use an old Marshall amp of his. After that, I put together the cover art and burned copies at home. It was a very slow but fun process. 

Michael Seager (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

ANDY: We were starting to develop different musical interests. I don't remember it being a bad split, though. And I ended up in a band with Matt a few years later anyway, called Evolvar. The highlight of playing in One By Wednesday was getting to do something that I loved - playing music - with my best mates. And making lifelong friends with people from other bands or people that I met at shows along the way. I learnt that I couldn't sing very well, haha, but that it also didn't matter if you weren't the best musician or band - if you were having fun and putting out a fun vibe, people would come to your shows and have a good time too.

Andy Marsh (Vocals, Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024 

 

MATT: I genuinely don't remember why we finished when we did. Maybe some sort of falling out? I don't remember chatting to or seeing Seager much after that. Marshy and I went on to form Evolvar with CJ before his time in Thy Art Is Murder. 

Matt Perriman (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

MICHAEL: I'm not sure why the band stopped when it did. I don't remember it even being a definitive decision, we just kinda went our own ways. There was probably some conflict that seemed major at the time but is trivial 20 years on, haha.

Michael Seager (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: Evolvar, Kiai Academy, Me vs. You, Ashes, Mole Men, Moxham, Vegas in Ruins, Beneath the Crown, Thy Art is Murder