Dave Holloway

Dave Holloway

• The Skam (1999-2001) - Guitar
  
• The Signals (2004-2007) - Guitar
  
• Steppin' Razor (2004-2008, 2012) - Guitar
• Resistor (2014) - Guitar

REGION: Castle Hill / Sydney, NSW

 

Steppin' Razor

ORIGINS: Baulkham Hills, NSW

GENRE: Ska-punk, ska, street punk

YEARS ACTIVE: 2004-2014, 2024

 

MEMBERS:

• Andy Mifsud - Vocals, Guitar,
• Luke Holmes - Bass, Backing Vocals
• Mark Heather - Saxophone (2005-2014)
  
• Tome Fowler - Drums (2006-2014, 2024)
  
• Dave Holloway - Guitar (2004-2008, 2012)
  
• Cohen Brown - Guitar, Backing Vocals (2008-2010, 2024) 
  
• Adam Pank - Drums (2004-2005)
• Simon Smith - Keys (Live, 2012)
  

RELEASES: 

 

• Self-Titled (2005) - Download Here.
  
• 1. Intro
• 2. Criminal
• 3. It Aint Right
• 4. Politics
• 5. All About Control
• 6. Tell Us What You're Gonna Do

• These Pictures (2005) - Download Here.
  
• 1. Desperation
• 2. These Pictures
• 3. Kingston and Liberty
• 4. Corporate Police
• 5. Monsanto
• 6. Back Dock

• People in the Shadows (2010) - Download Here.
• 1. Black Storm
• 2. Calling the Shots
• 3. Trusted
• 4. Waiting for the Day
• 5. Uprising
• 6. Throw Away Your Mind
• 7. Man's Best Friend (Pt 1)
• 8. Man's Best Friend (Pt 2)
• 9. Disorder
• 10. Ghost Ship
• 11. Death in Custody
• 12. Broken Homes
• 13. Slaughterhouse
• 14. Australian Values
• 15. Threatened by an Image
• 16. Waste of Time
• 17. Rocksteady
• 18. Calling the Dub
  

•  Compilation Album (2006) - Combined the two EPs with two additional tracks
• All You Feel is Hate
• Trash
  

SUMMARY: Formed in 2004 after long-term bandmates Andy and Dave (The Skam, The Signals) met Luke Holmes, Steppin' Razor rose as an heir to an earlier tradition of slightly-trad ska-punk bands (EG. The Last Hemeroids), gigging solidly up and down the east coast after smashing out two EPs in their first year. A drummer changeover occurred towards the end of 2005, with the two EPs getting reissued as one album around this time. 

Steppin' Razor continued to play consistently in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne until original guitarist Dave left and was replaced by Cohen Brown (The Brazen Hearts). The band continued to play for another 5 years or so before things petered out. They reformed in 2024 as a four piece without Mark Heather on sax (he had relocated to Vietnam by this point).

 

At the Harp in 2004

 

SHOWS: 

 

2004-2005

• The Harp, Tempe - 29th October, 2004 
• The Harp, Tempe - 31st December, 2004
  
• The Harp, Tempe - 6th January, 2005 
• Arncliffe Hotel, Arncliffe - 15th January, 2005
  
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 29th January, 2005
  
• The Harp, Tempe - 24th February, 2005
  
• Marlin Hotel, Ulladulla - 25th February, 2005
  
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 5th March, 2005
  
• Collegians, Wollongong - 6th March, 2005
  
• Harbour Cruise, Sydney - 20th March, 2005
  
• Green Square Hotel, Zetland - 2nd April, 2005
  
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 8th April, 2005
  
• Brewhaha Youth Week Festival, Darrell Jackson Gardens, Summer Hill - 9th April, 2005
  
• The Harp, Tempe - 16th April, 2005
• The Aussie Nash, Woolloongabba (QLD) - 23rd April, 2005  
• Jubilee Hotel, Brisbane (QLD) - 24th April, 2005
• Arncliffe Hotel, Arncliffe - 7th May, 2005
  
• The Harp, Tempe - 27th May, 2005
  
• SKA-B-Q, The Harp, Tempe - 4th June, 2005
  
• Green Square Hotel, Zetland - 17th June, 2005
  
• Spectrum, Darlinghurst - 18th June, 2005
  
• Arncliffe Hotel, Arncliffe - 25th June, 2005
  
• The Lucky Country, Newcastle - 2nd July, 2005
  
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 15th July, 2005
  
• Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta (QLD) - 22nd July, 2005
  
• Jubilee Hotel, Brisbane (QLD) - 23rd July, 2005
  
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 30th July, 2005
  
• The Arthouse, Melbourne (VIC) - 4th August, 2005
  
• The Arthouse, Melbourne (VIC) - 5th August, 2005 (Day show)
  
• The Barleycorn, Collingwood (VIC) - 5th August, 2005 (Night show)
  
• Pony, Melbourne (VIC) - 6th August, 2005 (Day show)
  
• Old Bar, Melbourne (VIC) - 6th August, 2005 (Night show)
  
• The Harp, Tempe - 11th August, 2005
  
• Oxford Tavern, Wollongong - 1st September, 2005
  
• Shed 5, Burleigh Head (QLD) - 10th September, 2005 (Day show)
  
• Orient Hotel, Brisbane (QLD) - 10th September, 2005 (Night show)
  
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 17th September, 2005
  
• Punk ROCKtober Tour, Wollongong Youth Centre, Wollongong - 8th October, 2005
  
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 8th October, 2005
  
• Annandale Hotel, Annandale - 9th October, 2005
  
• Alliance Tavern, Spring Hill (QLD) - 14th October, 2005
  
• The Clash Bash, The Rev, Brisbane (QLD) - 15th October, 2005
  
• Punk ROCKtober Tour, Dapto Ribbonwood Centre, Dapto - 29th October, 2005
  
• Sandringham Hotel, Newtown - 30th October, 2005
  
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 4th November, 2005 
• National Beer Day, Gearin Hotel, Katoomba - 5th November, 2005
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 10th December, 2005
  
• The Tote, Melbourne (VIC) - 15th December, 2005
  
• Mega Bar, Melbourne (VIC) - 16th December, 2005
  
• The Tote, Melbourne (VIC) - 17th December, 2005 (Day show)
  
• The Arthouse, Melbourne (VIC) - 17th December, 2005 (Night show)
  
• Church Bar, Canberra - 5th December, 2005 

The Harp, 2005

2006

• Annandale Hotel, Annandale - 8th January, 2006
  
• Sandringham Hotel, Newtown - 29th April, 2006
  
• Mek Anarchy Studios, Sydney - 6th May, 2006
  
• Candy's Apartment, Kings Cross - 16th June, 2006
  
• Maggotville, Marrickville - 1st July, 2006
  
• Palm Court, Corrimal - 9th July, 2006
  
• East Brisbane Bowls Club, Brisbane (QLD) - 14th July, 2006
  
• HMB, Brisbane (QLD) - 15th July, 2006
  
• Visible Ink, Brisbane (QLD) - 16th July, 2006
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 21st July, 2006
  
• The Lucky Country Hotel, Newcastle - 22nd July, 2006
  
• Oxford Tavern, Wollongong - 29th July, 2006
  
• Punk Fest '06, EV's Youth Centre, Melbourne (VIC) - 4th August, 2006
  
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 12th August, 2006
  
• The Rev, Brisbane (QLD) - 18th August, 2006
  
• Shed 5, Burleigh Head (QLD) - 19th August, 2006
  
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 26th August, 2006
  
• House Party, Enmore - 15th September, 2006
• Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney - 15th September, 2006
  
• Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham - 22nd September, 2006
  
• Harbour Cruise, Sydney - 2nd October, 2006
  
• Club Blink, Sydney - 14th October, 2006
  
• National Beer Day, The Union, Penrith - 4th November, 2006
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 11th November, 2006
  
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 23rd December, 2006
  
• Vic on the Park, Enmore - 30th December, 2006 

National Beer Day, 2006

2007

• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 13th January, 2007
  
• Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham - 7th February, 2007
  
• Sandringham Hotel, Newtown - 4th February, 2007
  
• Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham - 2nd March, 2007
  
• Frenchy's Birthday, House Party - 7th March, 2007
  
• Punx Picnic, Sydney Park, St Peters - 17th March, 2007
  
• Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney - 6th April, 2007
  
• Utopia Records, Sydney - 14th April, 2007
  
• The Pint Hotel, Melbourne (VIC) - 20th April 2007
  
• The Espy, Melbourne (VIC) - 21st April, 2007
  
• Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham - 7th May, 2007
  
• Jubilee Hotel, Brisbane (QLD) - 7th May, 2007
  
• Herman's Bar, Sydney University, Sydney - 16th June, 2007
  
• Crest Hotel, Sylvania - 14th September, 2007
  
• Vic on the Park, Enmore - 27th September, 2007
  
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 30th November, 2007 
• Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham - 7th December, 2007
  
• Joe Strummer Tribute Gig, Gaelic Club, Sydney - 22nd December, 2007
• Utopia Records, Sydney - 29th December, 2007
  
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 31st December, 2007 

2007

2008

• Oxford Tavern, Wollongong - 8th January, 2008
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 12th January, 2008
  
• Sandringham Hotel, Newtown - 19th January, 2008
  
• Show for Holly, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown - 8th February, 2008
• Empire Hotel, Annandale - 12th January, 2008
  
• Ska Vs. Rockabilly, Gaelic Club, Sydney - 23rd February, 2008
  
• Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills - 2nd May, 2008
  
• The Empire, Annandale - 17th May, 2008
• Stikki Records, Newtown - 8th June, 2008
  
• Sandringham Hotel, Newtown - 27th June, 2008
• Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham - 4th July, 2008
• Mat 'Keato' Keating Memorial Gig, Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt - 12th July, 2008
• Joe Strummer Tribute Show, Hopetoun Hotel, Surry Hills - 16th August, 2008 

2010-2014

• The Lansdowne, Sydney - 28th May, 2010
• The Annandale, Annandale - 18th June, 2011
  
• Revolution Rock, The Vanguard, Newtown - 10th September, 2011
  
• Sandringham Hotel, Newtown - 17th September, 2011
  
• Brews Bros, Woolloongabba (QLD) - 16th December, 2011
  
• 4ZZZ Carpark, Brisbane (QLD) - 17th December, 2011
  
• Spring Hill Tavern, Brisbane (QLD) - 18th December, 2011
  
• Sandringham Hotel, Newtown - 6th January, 2012
  
• Ska Nation 5, The Espy, Melbourne (VIC) - 15th September, 2012
  
• Sandringham Hotel, Newtown - 6th October, 2012
  
• The Rev, Melbourne (VIC) - 13th October, 2012
  
• Town and Country, St Peters - 15th December, 2012
  
• The Red Rattler, Sydney - 22nd December, 2012
  
• Harbour Cruise, Sydney - 17th March, 2013
  
• Town and Country, St Peters - 23rd March, 2013
  
• Gladstone Hotel, Sydney - 3rd May, 2013
• Hermann's Bar, Sydney University, Sydney - 11th May, 2013
• The Union Hotel, Newtown - 16th May, 2013
  
• Black Rose Books, Newtown - 15th December, 2013
  
• The Bush, Baulkham Hills - 17th April, 2014 

2010

2024 (Reformed lineup)

• Leichhardt Bowlo, Leichhardt - 29th June, 2024
  
• Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville - 31st August, 2024
• National Beer Day, The Moshpit, Newtown - 2nd November, 2024
• Dicey Rileys Hotel, Wollongong - 4th January, 2025
  

ORAL HISTORY:

ANDY: I was first introduced to ska music through Rancid (And Out Come the Wolves) by fellow band mate Dave. We grew up together and were into skateboarding liked the same type of music. This must have been around 1995. I realised that I really liked the skateboarding-sounding songs from their album. Through some backtracking and early internet searching, I soon discovered Operation Ivy, and learnt about punk and ska. I went down the usual rabbit-hole and discovered The Clash (still my favourite punk band) and really loved their reggae influences. That's when I really got into 2-Tone ska, and eventually went back further to 1960 Jamaican ska and rocksteady. Rocksteady is absolutely my favourite style of music and has been for a while. I think I liked punk and ska for their simplicity, and the strong vibe they both created. I resonated with the political and social messages through punk music (I was pretty idealistic back then). With ska, I loved how raw it was, had simple chord progressions, beautiful melodies and harmonies, and catchy bass lines. It was just good music to dance to. I also loved the community that came with the music. I never really fit in with my school friends in Baulkham Hills, except for Dave. It wasn't until I met people at punk and ska shows where I found people that shared similar political thoughts. I was very vegan/vegetarian in the early days. I eventually moved out of home while studying Music and Education - and moved in with some mates I'd met at the Tartan Heart Ska Nite Club; Glen Smyth [The Signals] and Jo Donovan [The New Justice Team, The Signals]. It felt like I found my music and my people. It sounds lame, but ska music really shaped my life. 

Andy Mifsud (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

LUKE: I met Dave and Andy through friends at parties by wearing Operation Ivy and Clash shirts. I think I have met so many friends in my life wearing Operation Ivy shirts. I met Dave and Andy when I was 17 and it turned out they lived with Jo - this is when my other band at the time The New Justice Team had just started up, which Jo sang in. Dave and Andy were in The Signals at the time and I was living at my parents' house. So just from meeting at parties and shows we talked about playing some music together because we all had similar taste in punk and ska.  

Luke Holmes (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

DAVE: Steppin' Razor started around 2003 or 2004 with me and Andy jamming and recording a couple of songs in Cubase. We soon met Luke Holmes, who was a gun on bass guitar and was into all the same bands as us. We had a few practices at the terrace house that me and Andy were living in at St Peter's. We advertised for a drummer in Drum Media I'm pretty sure. Adam Pank responded to the ad and had a practice with us at Zen... he was living in Nowra and would drive up for practice every week.  

Dave Holloway (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

LUKE: We placed an ad in Drum Media for a drummer. We got a reply from some guy named Petey but when we went over to his house to practice he wasn't there and his dad kept on saying how much of a 'mad c_nt' his son was on the drums. It was weird. Then we got a reply from a guy in Nowra, Adam, who has been our drummer ever since.

Luke Holmes (Bass), CTW Issue 10, 2005

 

 

MARK: I was the last person into Steppin' Razor's original lineup. During 2004, Andy, Dave, and Luke got the band started and put an ad for a drummer in Drum Media. Adam Pank, from Nowra, replied and was in. I'd known Andy, Dave, and Luke from gigs for a fair while but didn't know anything about the band. I was playing sax in The Optionals at the time and Emily was on trumpet, however, she was heading to the U.S.A. to live and the decision was made to continue The Optionals as a 3-piece without horns. That same week I was at a H-Block 101 gig at the Vic on the Park and talked to Andy, Dave, and Luke. They told me they were starting a band and wanted to know if I was interested in playing... so the timing was perfect. I went to where they were living on Unwin's Bridge Rd and listened to the songs they'd written. I heard 'Back Dock' and I was hooked.

Mark Heather (Sax), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

DAVE: It was around this time that Mark had finished playing in The Optionals. We had seen him play in Riot City and The Last Hemeroids and really liked both bands so we asked him to join on sax. 

Dave Holloway (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

ANDY: We used to practice at Zen Studios, which was literally across the road from the share house where Dave and I lived in St Peter's. 

Andy Mifsud (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

MARK: Zen Studios was across the road from where the others lived and there was always some shopping trolleys on hand to move amps to and from there for band prac. 

Mark Heather (Sax), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

LUKE: First Steppin' show was a party and then we played a show at the Harp or Arncliffe Hote, with The Signals or The New Justice Team maybe. 

Luke Holmes (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

ANDY: Playing our first proper pub show was pretty surreal. We had played a few shows at parties, but that gig at The Harp was the first with Mark on sax. It felt like my first real band, playing music that I really wanted to play. I remember it was pretty rough back then but had a real good vibe. I think we started off with a couple of originals, and a few covers - I definitely remember playing 'Safe European Home' by The Clash, who were probably my biggest influence. The Harp went on to be a source of many memories, particularly playing Ska-BQ and heaps of other shows. It was the kind of venue we liked to play - small room, good community feeling, Guinness on tap. 

Andy Mifsud (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

LUKE: It was super easy playing in this band - we were all into the same kind of music so it was just us jamming with cool riffs. Andy is super talented so he would throw us a riff with a kinda singing part for something, like a chorus, and then would kinda sing/mumble until he would grab a hold of some words that form some sort of meaning - then the songs wold evolved from there.

Luke Holmes (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

ANDY: We recorded pretty early on, with a 6 song EP at Noisegate Studios in February 2005. I think we only had 6 originals at the time, and then a bunch of covers like 'Safe European Home' (The Clash), 'Razors in the Night' (Blitz), and probably an Operation Ivy cover too. 'All About Control' was a good representation of the band. I was studying sociology at Uni at the time, and most songs took a politcal stance. The song is about ways people in power control others - through religion, advertising, media, policies, etc. Musically, the song is also a good representation of our style: fast, upbeat ska. Mostly in D major, and moving between a related G chord with an unrelated F major chord thrown in. It gives the song a slight off-valance feel - one that we often used in other songs. It also features a breakdown section in a half-time reggae feel. We played this song at our 2024 reunion gig and, although it was one of our earliest, I still feel it's one of our best songs. 

Andy Mifsud (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DAVE: Playing with The Suicide Machines stands out as a memorable show because I loved that band during high school. I think it was a mid-week show at The Annandale with us and Bagster supporting. There were very few in attendance but the Suicide Machines put on a great show and played all the songs I loved during high school.  

Dave Holloway (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

ANDY: In 2005, after the EP came out, I remember we played a lot. I think that year we averaged a show per week. Mark was the main reason for this. Not only was he supremely organised, but he also knew a heap of promoters from his time playing in other bands. We ended up playing a bunch of shows in Sydney but also made our way to Brisbane/Gold Coast and Melbourne a fair bit. We felt really welcomed in Melbourne and Brisbane - might have just been the fact that we weren't from there, but the bands we played with and the people who came to watch were some of the nicest people I've ever met and super supportive of our music. We would crash at someone's place while we were there and would repay the favour when those bands came to Sydney, staying at our share house on Unwins Bridge Rd, and later Edgeware Rd in Enmore. It felt like one big community. And all this time we were still writing new songs for a next recording.  

Andy Mifsud (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

 

REVIEW: Steppin' Razor are a newish Sydney-based ska-punk band... Think Rancid, Last Hemeroids, Operation Ivy, all thats ort of thing, complete with a sax player. The EP kicks off with an instrumental... 'Criminal', 'All About Control' and 'Tell Us What You're Gonna Do' are all great catchy tracks with great gang-choruses, and 'Politics' just sits really well with me, not because of its lyrics or anything, I just like the shape of the song I guess. Anyway, if you like ska-punk even a little bit then you should get yourself a copy of this EP because it's rad.

Review of Self-Titled EP, CTW Issue 10, 2005

 

ADAM: I'd describe our music as an awesome mix of rhythm, pitch and harmony. Music is an expressional device. We hope somebody gets something out of it.  

Adam Pank (Drums), The BlackList Issue 1, 2005

 

CTW Issue 10, 2005

 

REVIEW: Tonight Steppin' Razor blew me away. Hailing from Sydney, they bring with them punky reggae sounds reminiscent of Op Ivy and The Clash. Stand out tunes 'Criminal' and 'It Aint Alright' had the crowd skanking. Steppin Razor obviously won themselves a lot of fans tonight.

Review by Joe Scenester of Jubilee Hotel show, The BlackList Issue 1, 2005

ANDY: Most of the lyrics are about social issues. I usually get an idea when I hear or read something that pisses me off. I think good lyrics prompt listeners to investigate what the song is about through subtle references to issues. Our newest song is about the lack of democracy in the biotechnological industry, and I guess I would really like people to read up on how there are only four or five companies running the whole show. That's the ultimate aim, but recently I have started also writing stuff that affects me personally.

Andy Mifsud (Vocals, Guitar), CTW Issue 10, 2005

 

TOME: I was in high school. I already knew of Steppin' Razor and saw an ad in Drum Media. I think it was Luke who I first got in touch with. I learned a few songs and went to audition at Zen. They were stoked and so was I. That was it, I was in. My first show was at the Sando. It was rad! Felt awesome being a part of the band. Because I already knew Steppin' before joining and had looked up to the guys it felt awesome to be accepted into the fold. I think the show went well. Pretty sure I was nervous as fuck but I think we smashed it. 

Tome Fowler (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

ANDY: Tome changed the sound and dynamic of the band. He was still young - just finishing high school. In fact, he did a Steppin' Razor song for his Music HSC and we went in to accompany him. But yeah, he had a really good feel right from the start. Original drummer Adam played a little more pop-style, but Tome really knew ska, reggae, and punk. I think we all really grew as a band. 

Andy Mifsud (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

MARK: There was a pretty big age difference between myself and the rest of the band. Tome is actually younger than my oldest daughter and when he joined the band, I was 42. The average age of the rest of the band was 21, but it worked. The other guys might have watched me playing in other bands for years, but I'd never touched an instrument until I was in my mid-30s. I'm sure some of them had been playing music longer than I had and they were way more talented than me. So, with a bit more life experience it was easy for me to organise shows, tours, merch and finances, while they took the lead with the music. We made a decision early on that we'd only play the shows that we'd want to go to anyway, and I think that was a big factor in why we are all still good friends 20 years later.

 Mark Heather (Sax), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DAVE: I only recorded the first two EPs with Steppin' Razor. I remember us wanting Andy to add in all the instruments he could play like keys, melodica, and piano accordion!  

Dave Holloway (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

ANDY: We recorded the second EP, These Pictures in August, 2005, also at Noisegate with Ian Pritchett, same as the first EP. The songs were more sophisticated, lyrically and musically. One song, 'Monsanto', became a bit of a crowd favourite (although I got a bit tired of playing it) and was about the Monsanto Corporation genetically engineering crops. 'Kingston and Liberty' was a ska song all about finding your tribe. For me it was the story of moving out to Enmore and finding people that I connected with. And 'Back Dock' was our first reggae tune. We used to splice this together with The Clash song 'Armageddon Time'. After this point we were playing a lot - we would head up to Brisbane and down to Melbourne a bunch.

Andy Mifsud (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DAVE: I originally left Steppin' Razor in 2007 when I decided to go travelling for a while. I played in the band again a couple of times over the next few years but never for more than a few shows.  

Dave Holloway (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

From the Steppin' Razor website, 2007/2008

COHEN: The Brazen Hearts were friends with Steppin' Razor from gigging and going to the same shows together, and I was initially only filling in on guitar while Dave was overseas (around 2007-2008). That ended up becoming a permanent thing, and I played on the People in the Shadows album. 

Cohen Brown (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

With Cohen on guitar

 

ANDY: Dave ended up going overseas for a while, so we reached out to Cohen to join the band. He was (is) a wicked guitarist with a great voice, and just a great guy. It was a great fit for the band. This is when we recorded the album, People in the Shadows. It was recorded after we built up a bunch of songs, all pretty political. This was the only recording with Cohen, and he laid down some great solos. I think we all matured by that time, so it's probably the best we sounded. We recorded this one ourselves at the school I was working at (and I'm still there). As it was free, we recorded over the school holidays and had heaps of time to work on songs. Some songs we never played live, but they worked well recorded. 

Andy Mifsud (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

TOME: Recording People in the Shadows was cool! We recorded at the school that Andy works for. Did it over a week or two; recorded it ourselves. 

Tome Fowler (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

Alternate cover of the album, used for the unmastered version released in 2009

 

ANDY: We had some fun with the last track on People in the Shadows, 'Rocksteady', laying together a whole bunch of rocksteady/reggae tunes. For the album, I really wanted to push the reggae vibe. Luke wrote most of the punk-ska tunes. It felt like a really creative time. 

Andy Mifsud (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

REVIEW: Steppin Razor are a local Sydney band that have infused their music with the sounds of 1980s ska and punk... The band composes songs that promote and question issues of Australian society, such as the ever-present racism, war in foreign countries, and the struggles of living in a society obsessed with money and commodities. The audience just embraced their music, dancing the night away and drinking amongst friends. 

Review of 2010 Album Launch, Frilly Young Things, Blog

 

TOME: The band drifted apart to do our own things and focus on different projects. There was some heavy stuff going on in our lives at that point too.  

Tome Fowler (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

DAVE: My favourite thing about playing in Steppin' Razor was the other people int he band. We had heaps of fun together and got to play with a lot of talented other bands on the eats coast of Australia.

Dave Holloway (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

MARK: The best memories of Steppin' Razor weren't any particular shows but the time we spent together. In particular, the tours we did to Brisbane and Melbourne... the weird things that happened and can still bring a smile to my face. Luke getting asked if he wanted bacon on his veggie burger, or having a tomato sauce packet explode in his face (I swear there was a mohawk outline splattered on the roof). Dave deciding he wasn't getting out of the car all the way from Sydney to Brisbane, and he didn't. Twice our accommodation fell through post-gigs, once in Brisbane and once in Melbourne, so at 2am we started driving back to Sydney, and even then, we weren't pissed off with each other. The friendships we had with bands and people in both those cities made us feel welcome whenever we toured, which made arriving after an 8-12 hour drive all worth it.

Mark Heather (Sax), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

TOME: I liked 'Kingston and Liberty' before joining the band 'cause it's a song about moving outta home and starting your life in a new place with a fresh outlook. 'Calling the Shots' is another favourite song; it speaks to the unseen powers that exert control over society, which I think it important to think and talk about. 'Uprising' is another fun song to play, it's catchy and has good lyrics that resonate with me. 

Tome Fowler (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

Reformed lineup, 2024

ANDY: Steppin' Razor reformed in 2024 because of weltschmerz, or 'feeling the pain of the world'. In a time where we voted no to an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, wars are still being fought in the Middle East, we face existential threats of climate change and nuclear holocaust, and potentially four more years of Trump, we need a bit of Steppin' Razor to restore some balance. Our first jam back was fun and getting back together just felt right. 

Andy Mifsud (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: The Skam, The Signals, The Last Hemeroids, The Optionals, Riot City, The New Justice Team, Operation Ibis, Clenched Fist, The Brazen Hearts, Reason Strikes, Nevertheless, Velvet Alley, The Deviates, It's All Relativf, Everything I Own is Broken, Trash Bears, Luke Holmeslice, No Gods No Masterchefs, Love Maul, Slant 6, Sleazybeats, Trenchtown, Backy Skank, Complete Madness, Rocksteady Ratpack, The Upbeat Ambassadors, Front Your Enemy, Cap a Capo, Year of Scummery, Vex Machina, SlugPunch, Punish, Sweat and Shame, Topnovil, Thoughtcrime, Cohen Heart, Not OK

 

The Skam

ORIGINS: Castle Hill, NSW

GENRE: Ska-Punk, Ska

YEARS ACTIVE: 1999-2001

 

MEMBERS:

• Liam Moran - Vocals, Guitar
  
• Dave Holloway - Guitar
• Jono Mifsud - Bass
• Andy Misfud - Keyboard
• Jono Alvarez - Drums
• Glen MacDonald - Trumpet
• Cy Harrild - Trombone
• Shelly - Saxophone
  

RELEASES: 

 

• Self-Titled (2001) - Download Here.
  
• 1. Deep Inside
• 2. Indiana
• 3. Next Door
• 4. Breakdown
  

SUMMARY: The Skam were a ska-punk band that formed while members were in Year 9 at Gilroy College together in Castle Hill. They recorded a demo and played a handful of shows in Sydney before breaking up as members got to the end of high school. Andy and Dave would go on to play in two other ska-related bands together.

 

SHOWS: 

• Green Square, Zetland - 3rd March, 2001

 

ORAL HISTORY:

DAVE: I got an electric guitar when I was in Year 8 and was into bands like Blink 192, Pennywise, NOFX, Suicide Machines, Rancid, Operation Ivy... These were the bands I wanted to play along to. But the bands that originally put the idea into my head of playing guitar and wanting to be in a band (before I was able to get my hands on a guitar) were bands like Nirvana and, closer to home, Silverchair.

Dave Holloway (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

JONO M.: We were all at Gilroy College together. Everyone apart from me was int he same year group (I was one above). It started with Andy and Dave, they were in Year 9 at the time. They would get together and play ska and punk covers. Myself and Liam joined soon after. I played bass and being Andy's brother it was pretty convenient. Liam was also in their year but I think he travelled in different circles to Andy and Dave. Anyway, he joined on vocals. Jono Alveraz also happened to be in their year and we knew him from primary school. He played the drums so we asked him to join... We rehearsed at Dave's sometimes but once Jono joined on drums we would usually practice at my parents' house in Baulkham Hills. The guys on horns came a bit later... we even brought in a saxophonist I was studying with called Shelley for just one gig. She wasn't really in the band but deserves a mention. 

Jono Misfud (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

 

LIAM: I've been singing since I was about 4 years old and have always had an interest in music. I taught myself guitar in my early teens, mostly to accompany my own singing. Dave Holloway and I started playing some stuff together in high school and invited Andy to jam with us and then grabbed some other lads from school. 

Liam Moran (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DAVE: The Skam started in high school - I think roughly Year 10 - with my friends Andy (a very talented musician who could already play piano and had also picked up guitar) and Liam (who could sing much better than anyone else I knew and had a great ear for music). We were all listening to a bunch of third wave ska bands and pop punk bands and wanted to start a band in the same vein. Andy's older brother Jono played bass and was keen to jam with us. We knew a drummer in our grade also called Jono, who had been playing drums for years (I recalled him playing drums in the school talent quest around Year 4 and absolutely destroying). He was already gigging with his dad's Latin American band. We asked him to play with us and he agreed to it. We had the core of a band but, like most third wave ska bands, we wanted to have horns too. A good friend of ours, Glen, was convinced to learn the trumpet and immediately joined. To fill out the horn section we asked Cy, who played trombone in the school band, to join and he was into it. We also briefly had Shelley on saxophone and she was a friend of Jono's, possibly through a music course he was enrolled in at JMC Academy.

Dave Holloway (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

 

DAVE: We mainly practised in Andy's parents' garage or the living room at my parents' house, probably once every couple of weeks. We started off playing covers of Op Ivy, Suicide Machines, Reel Big Fish, Blink 182, Five Iron Frenzy, The Hippos, and other bands of the genre. Andy wrote a bunch of original songs and taught us all how to play them. At some point Andy moved to keys and Liam played guitar as well as singing. We played at our school a few times for various events with our first show being at a party somewhere, possibly one of Jono's friends' places or a Scout Hall, I can't really recall but I do remember it being absolutely terrible or possibly we didn't even play. Either way, it must have been bad because I've blocked it from my memory.

Dave Holloway (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

JONO M.: The first gig was terrible! We played a party in a community centre with a few other bands. I didn't know the first band but the second band was a metal band from my year called Notion; they were a bit like the Deftones. We didn't all have amps and had to beg another band to use theirs. While we were playing, someone cut the lights for ambience but it was so dark that Dave couldn't play and stopped mid-song! No one was really into it anyway. 

Jono Misfud (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DAVE: We got our first real gig at Hypefest, at the Masonic ovals skatepark, where we played with The Kirbys and some other local bands. It was a Battle of the Bands and The Kirbys deservedly won it. After we played at school one time, our Vice Principal (and my Math teacher) Mr Hoekstra approached us and said his son Tom and his partner Dianni put on a monthly ska night in the city and he would pass on our recording to them if we wanted to try and play there. At that point we had a shitty tape that was just recorded on a tape deck in a garage at a band practice but it got us a gig at the Tartan Heart Ska Nite Club at the Green Square Hotel.

  Dave Holloway (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

ANDY: We played our first gig at a school lunchtime concert and the Assistant Principal spoke to us afterwards and said his son played similar music and have us his contact. Turned out his son was Tom (AKA Crappy, from Riot City), whose girlfriend at the time (Diani) was the organiser for the Tartan Heart Ska Nite Club at the Green Square. Soon after that we played our first show at the Green Square and that's how we were introduced to the scene.

 

 

DAVE: We were all underage at that first Green Square show and I think we opened the night. We played again with The Kirbys and possibly The Lyrical Madmen. The gig didn't go all that well and I remember a lowlight of the set was our ska rendition of 'Hotel California', fuck it really dragged, ha. A few months later we played at the Green Square again and it went much better.

  Dave Holloway (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

JONO M.: Things got better when we played at the Green Square hotel. They had a punk night once a month, which we opened sometime in March. I remember because it was Mardi Gras weekend... It was one of our best gigs and it opened the door to meeting loads of people in the scene in Sydney. I remember there was some trouble that night, someone got glassed and the place was pretty rough. We were all underage at the time and I reckon the licencing police got involved because we were all carded next time and couldn't get in. I remember going back to speak to the manager about putting on an underage gig in the future but they weren't having a bar of it.

Jono Misfud (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

LIAM: I think we were mostly 17 at the time so it was pretty daunting to be playing in a pub in the city that we normally wouldn't be able to get into, haha. We thought we'd kinda made it though - playing a ska pub in Sydney city was a massive jump and made us think we were the real deal! It was awesome.  

Liam Moran (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

 

JONO M.: We played a few more gigs - one at school and another Battle of the Bands. We were a lot more experienced by that point. The gig at school went great and while we did win the Battle of the Bands, I felt we came close based on the comments from the judges.

Jono Misfud (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

LIAM: There was a band showcase at high school and we played 'Islands' by Suicide Machines. We told them our set had no swearing but we lied. The funny thing was that whoever was on the sound desk tried to turn down the mics and essentially mute the swear words... but they were always too late so it would often be 'fuck' followed by vocal silence as they muted the next couple of words. It was a Catholic school - needless to say, they weren't impressed.

Liam Moran (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

JONO M.: We spent a day in a studio - we all chipped in and recorded two or three songs.

Jono Misfud (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DAVE: I think it was at the end of 2001 when we recorded a demo at Noisegate Studios in Castle Hill.

  Dave Holloway (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

LIAM: We were all so excited and just wanted to produce a really good little demo and show what we all could do. I remember it being super exciting being in the studio and being able to play around with guitar licks, keyboard solos, and vocal harmonies. We were all handy musicians in our right, especially considering we were so young.  

Liam Moran (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

  

JONO M.: Some of my fondest memories were of how funny Liam was - the guy had so much energy and could turn any situation into a bit. Playing with a drummer like Jono was also a highlight. He brought a lot of other influences to he music we played and the guy was as solid as a metronome. He was a lovely bloke too.

Jono Misfud (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

 

DAVE: We never released the demo as by this time we had finished high school and most of us lose interest int he band and the music we were playing. Me and Andy were still wanting to play in bands and maybe a year or so after The Skam finished we got asked by Glen Smyth if we wanted to start a rocksteady/reggae band with him - and that was the start of The Signals.

  Dave Holloway (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

ANDY: The Skam didn't last after high school finished but Dave and I continued to go down to the Green Square and watch shows, eventually meeting other ska kids and moving out to the share house at Unwins Bridge Road, which led to joining other bands.

 

JONO M.: Unfortunately it just fizzled out. I finished school a year ahead of the rest of the band and I could already seem things slowing down after I finished Year 12. By the time the rest of the guys were at uni a lot of us had just gone our separate ways doing other things... It was a fun band to be in at school but deep down I think we all knew it wasn't going to last once we all graduated.

Jono Misfud (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: The Signals, Steppin' Razor, Backy Skank, Bent Penny, Liam Moran (Solo Act), Slant 6, Sleazybeats, Trenchtown, Complete Madness, Rocksteady Ratpack, The Upbeat Ambassadors, Resistor