Outside Chance

ORIGINS: Penrith, NSW

GENRE: Pop-punk

YEARS ACTIVE: 2000-2001

 

MEMBERS:

• Jeff Ozog - Bass, Vocals
• Michael Seager - Guitar, Vocals
• Allan Fryer - Drums
• Surin - Guitar (2000)
• Paul Schroedter - Vocals (2001)

SUMMARY: A shortlived pop-punk band that emerged in Penrith's music scene boom of the early 2000s. Some members went on to other bands in the local scene (One By Wednesday, Save Some For Daddy) and vocalist Schroedter organised an All Ages show called Puddstock in July, 2000. 

 

SHOWS: 

• Great Western Bar, Penrith - 1st November, 2000
• St Clair Skatefest, St Clair - 11th November, 2000

ORAL HISTORY:

MICHAEL: I met Jeff through school. At the time I was heavily into metal and hard rock - he introduced me to pop punk. We played with another guitarist from school for a bit, Surin, and he knew a drummer. We played a few parties, mainly doing covers as a four piece. At some point we entered a competition to play on stage at Evans Theatre in Penrith Panthers Leagues Club. By that point we'd become a three piece - myself, Jeff, and Allan.

Michael Seager (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

JEFF: We were a pop-punk who played a few gigs around the place in the early '00s. Michael and I were the vocalists and at some point we brought Paul in as a dedicated vocalist. 

Jeff Ozog (Bass), Noise Levels discussion, 2024

REVIEW: Outside Chance fucked up but you could tell they were having fun (or didn't give a shit) so that was okay. 

Review by Sean of St Clair Skatefest show, Obzine Issue 17, Dec 2000

REVIEW: I loved bassist's Jeff's improvised vocals hacking shit on singer Paul who, having forgotten or not knowing the lyrics to a Blink 182 song, put down the microphone and started to skank with the audience. The band was enjoying themselves. Funny guys.

Review by Luke of St Clair Skatefest show, Obzine Issue 17, Dec 2000

PAUL: I was brought in as a 'singer' for maybe 12 months after doing a drunken song or two at one of the band's rehearsals at Symphonic Sound Studios. I think the guys had been jamming before that for about a year. 

Paul Schroedter (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

JEFF: Some of my best memories were playing at band nights at the Great Western bar in Penrith. The music scene in the area was thriving at that point. 

Jeff Ozog (Bass), Noise Levels discussion, 2024

LUKE: The Shenanigans went down on Wednesday night to play Great Western jam night. Originally we were up first but we let Outside Chance go on just before us because they were about to be kicked out for being underage.

 Luke (The Shenanigans), Shenanigans band journal, 2000

MICHAEL: I just really enjoyed playing with my mates, even though we were terrible, haha. Somehow we managed to play a lot of parties and local shows even though we weren't great, played a lot of covers, and sometimes didn't even learn the whole songs. But it was a lot of fun!

Michael Seager (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

PAUL: We were atrocious - myself mainly. I had absolutely no business being on stage at all, let alone at the front of a band. It was an extremely embarrassing period of my youth. I cringe every time I think about any of the gigs we attempted, haha. I think I've finally managed to repress any memories of us on stage!

Paul Schroedter (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

RELATED BANDS: One By Wednesday, Save Some For Daddy