Anon

ORIGINS: Lower Blue Mountains, NSW
GENRE: Grunge
YEARS ACTIVE: 1994-1997

 

MEMBERS:

• Andrew Stout -Vocals, Guitar
• Ben Parker - Bass
• Lachlan Donaldson - Drums

RELEASES:

• Demo (1995)

SUMMARY: Anon was a three piece grunge band active in the Blue Mountains during the mid-'90s. Starting as teenagers while attending Blaxland High, the band was influenced (like many other bands in the area) by local indie rockers Plastic Dinosaur. Anon recorded a demo (now lost) and members moved on to other projects (Lycanthia, Futile, iFly) after 3 or 4 years of playing shows from Penrith to Katoomba.

SHOWS: 

• Rainbird Festival, Katoomba Showground, Katoomba - 9th December, 1995

ORAL HISTORY:

ANDREW: Plastic Dinosaur inspired a lot of Lower Blue Mountains bands - they were like the mothership. The bands that followed them were Futile, Pounder, Glister, Dalkiel, and my own band Anon. It was 1994 and I was writing some songs... we started jamming in Lachlan's garage. As with all families of drummers, his parents must have been super cool to allow us to make all that racket. I remember his mum quite a few times asking to read my lyrics folder, seemingly interested in particular lyrics of particular songs after we'd been jamming sometimes... so pretty awesome parents to show interest and be up for all the noise!

Andrew Stout (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

LACHLAN: We would have been in, like, Year 10 at Blaxland High. I was drumming, Ben played bass, and Andrew had songs written, so we just formed a three piece jamming in my garage. I was listening primarily to metal back then - Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Cruciform, and some older stuff like Iron Maiden, Megadeth, and Motorhead. 

Lachlan Donaldson (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

BEN: Andrew and Lachlan were in the same music class in Year 10 and were playing together a bit for school. Andrew had some songs ready to go when he brought Lachlan and I in, and it went from there. 

Ben Parker (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

ANDREW: I had friend named Jason Dunn, who wasn't a muso or related to any of the local bands, who I used to write lyrics with. I'd bounce my ideas off him and he suggested bits here and there. He mainly told me whether something was worthy or lame.

Andrew Stout (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

BEN: We used to catch the train to Katoomba to play at the Gearins open mic nights, 'The Bent St Jam'. That was the first time we'd ever played in a pub - we were only 15 and 16 at the time. It was a lot of fun. Around that time some of the local bands would also put shows on in their driveway, loungeroom, or backyard, and that was always good too. Playing in a band at that age was really exciting and the all age gigs just had the best vibe. 

Ben Parker (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

ANDREW: We cut our teeth catching the train up from Blaxland to Katoomba and sneaking into the Gearins while underage and playing at the Bent St Jam nights, which was an open mic gig on Tuesday nights. The band Tang were also often there. We also played at the Axolotl in Werrington a good few times and at the Rainbird Festival in Katoomba.  

Andrew Stout (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

LACHLAN: Thinking back, the songs were actually really good and we should have pushed harder and kept going with it. If we had the demo now and reformed  - refined the songs and re-recorded them - I think we could really turn it into something. 

Lachlan Donaldson (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

ANDREW: We ended in 1997 because school was winding up and we'd each started to drift in different directions and pursue different interests. At the end of Year 12, Lachlan went to England on a gap year to teach at Catholic Choir School, which would have made it hard to continue regardless!

Andrew Stout (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

RELATED BANDS: iFly, Elysium, Snare, Lycanthia, Lota Lane, Brown Helmet, Futile, Dalkiel, Sickend, A Case of Severed Limbs, Magma One, Flying Fists of Fury

PGF

ORIGINS: Sydney, NSW

GENRE: Grunge, Alternative

YEARS ACTIVE: 1995-2001

 

MEMBERS:

• Jason Tansley - Vocals, Guitar
• Mat Tansley - Drums
  
• Dylan - Guitar (1995, 1998), Bass (1996-1997, 1998-2001)
• Ashley Moors - Guitar (1995)
  
• Wilton - Bass (1998)
  

RELEASES: 

 

• Self-Titled (1996) 
• 1. Fly
• 2. Feral
• 3. Small
  

Compilation-only Tracks

•  'Green Scone'  (from Exposed compilation, 1998)

SUMMARY: Standing for 'Puss Gone Feral', PGF was formed in the garage by brothers Jason and Mat and their friend Dylan after the demise of a previous band, Sunbud. After a year of practice, the band began playing live shows. Dylan swapped to bass for most of the band's run, with a brief interlude with Wilton (of Purr and Tripitaka) on bass.

 

SHOWS: 

• Feedback, Newtown - Sunday, 24th November, 1996
  
• Lewisham Hotel, Sydney - Thursday, 19th March, 1998
  
• The Agincourt, Sydney - Thursday, 16th April, 1998 
• The Agincourt, Sydney - Friday, 29th May, 1998
• Iron Duke, Alexandria - Sunday, 11th April, 1999 
• Caringbah Bizzos, Caringbah - Saturday, 3rd October, 1999
• Northpoint Tavern, North Sydney - Friday, 17th March, 2000
  
• Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills - Friday, 21st July, 2000

ORAL HISTORY: 

MAT: PGF originally stood for 'Puss Gone Feral', as in 'pussy cat', not oozing bodily fluid of grossness. After not long it was just PGF because it meant nothing to us, and no one could be bothered coming up with a better name. Occasionally we would change it when playing live and announce ourselves as 'People Getting Funky', 'Please Get Fucked', 'Ploughing Grain Fields' and others I can't recall.

Mat Tansley (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

ASHLEY: We had Sunbud the punk band, out Bankstown way. Then we wanted to do noise rock, I switched to second guitar, and we got a different drummer - Mat. We played one gig at Feedback with Tweezer then I figured they were better as a three piece and I went back to bass and started the band Swut.

Ashley Moors (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

MAT: Our first live show was at Feedback Niteclub supporting Purr and Bent in 1996. We weren't nearly as ambitious as we could or should have been. We did a play a bunch of shows but we never actively sought out shows. We had friends in lots of bands that were fans of our music and we inevitably got asked to play shows on a sporadic basis. Could be three shows in ten days and then none for months. It never bothered us much, we were in a band for fun.

Mat Tansley (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

MAT: What we did, to be a bit original, was come up with a logo with no name or lettering on it. We put that on our demo cover - the spine and back had our name on it but the cover was minimalist, just that symbol.  

Mat Tansley (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

MAT: We never officially called it quits - we just had increasingly longer breaks ranging from weeks to months then years. When we first started we had two guitars and no bass. By the time we were gigging one of our guitarists sacrificed himself and switched to bass. A couple of years later Wilton (who was the drummer from Purr and bassist from Tripitaka) joined us for a short period on bass so Dylan could go back to guitar. But it turned out that Wilton wasn't a fit and Dylan went back to bass, and we stayed a three piece from then on.

Mat Tansley (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: Purr, Tripitaka, Swut, Sunbud, Tarmac, Lowercase, Callum Park

 

Bubble Vicious

ORIGINS: Sydney, NSW

GENRE: Grunge, Alternative

YEARS ACTIVE: 2000-2004, 2007

 

MEMBERS:

• Sonya Burgess - Bass
  
• Penny Vlamis - Guitar
  
• Nerida 'Ned' Wu - Drums (2001-2004)
• Michelle Child (2004) - Guitar
  
• Azaria Byrne (2007) - Drums
  
• Jules (2007) - Guitar
  

RELEASES: 

• Garage Recordings (2001)

• Smash the Novelty (2002) - Download two tracks here.
• 1. Raze Torment
• 2. Dry
• 3. Cobwebs
• 4. Black Look Daggers
• 5. Learning to Breathe

• Domesticated (2004) - Download three tracks here.
  
• 1. Scene is Dead
• 2. I Don't Know
• 3. Perfect Day (Deplore)
• 4. End of the World
• 5. Carnivorl
• 6. Veil of Amnesia
• 7. Crawl
• 8. Broken Down
• 9. Mermaid Who Drowned
  

SUMMARY: Bubble Vicious were a three piece alternative rock band who formed when the members met each other at an audio engineering course. Gigging fairly solidly around Sydney, they also embarked on a tour to Queensland in 2002, and added a second guitarist before breaking up in 2004. The band briefly reformed for some further shows with an amended lineup in 2007. Founding member and drummer Nerida 'Ned' Wu is now well-known internationally as a drumming artist and performer in musicals such as Tap Dogs.

 

SHOWS: 

• Lane Cove Youth Centre, Lane Cove - unknown date, March, 2001 
• Green Square Hotel, Zetland - 26th July, 2001
  
• Green Square Hotel, Zetland - 17th August, 2001
  
• Bar Broadway, Sydney - 31st August, 2001
• Green Square Hotel, Zetland - 1st September, 2001
• Botany View Hotel, Newtown - 6th October, 2001
  
• Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills - 16th October, 2001
• Bar Broadway, Sydney - 6th December, 2001 
• Botany View Hotel, Newtown - 15th December, 2001
• Art Start Youth Festival, Ramsgate Park - 16th December, 2001
  
• Youth Centre, Menai - 8th February, 2001
  
• Botany View Hotel, Newtown - 2nd March, 2001
  
• Phoenix Club, Sydney - 14th March, 2001
  
• Vic on the Park, Marrickville - 29th March, 2001
  
• Varna Room, Sydney - 11th April, 2002
  
• Club 77, Kings Cross - 16th April, 2002
• Varna Room, Sydney - 9th May, 2002 
• Northpoint Tavern, North Sydney - 29th May, 2002
  
• Bat and Ball Hotel, Sydney - 8th June, 2002
  
• Varna Room, Sydney - 14th June 2002 
• Australian Institute of Music, Sydney - 29th June, 2002
  
• Carringbah Bizzos, Carringbah - 5th July, 2002
• Gabbag Hotel, Brisbane (QLD) - 11th July, 2002
  
• National Hotel, Toowoomba (QLD) - 12th July, 2002
  
• Racehorse Hotel, Ipswich (QLD) - 13th July, 2002
  
• Alliance Tavern, Brisbane (QLD) - 14th July, 2002
  
• SJs Hotel, Newcastle - 31st July, 2002
  
• Balmain Leagues Club, Balmain - 2nd August, 2002 
• Tall Timbers Hotel, Ourimbah - 9th August, 2002
  
• Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills - 10th August, 2002
  
• The Standard Hotel, Orange - 24th August, 2002
  
• Club 77, Kings Cross - 13th September, 2002
• St George PCYC, Rockdale - 28th September, 2002
• shX, Surry Hills - 4th October, 2002 
• Annandale Hotel, Annandale - 7th April, 2004
  
• Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney - 7th May, 2004
• Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney - 13th August, 2004
  
• Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills - 27th August, 2004
• Annandale Hotel, Annandale - 26th September, 2004
• Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills - 2nd October, 2004

ORAL HISTORY:

BAND BIO: Sydney rock trio Bubble Vicious formed in December 2000, united by a common desire to write and perform in their own style. Powerful drumming and steady, dark bass rhythms are the backbone for Bubble Vicious's signature tempo changes, while the vocal melodies combine the rawness of grunge/punk with trashy pop overtones... Their style blends old school influences such as The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees with a more modern rock edge from the likes of Placebo, Babes in Toyland, and PJ Harvey.

Band Website, www.bubblevicious.net, 2001

 

PENNY: I feel like I've always been interested in music in some way or other. We had an old upright piano in the house so I took piano lessons as a kid... I think I can appreciate that a lot more now than I did back then. from there it was just a journey and evolution of musical tastes. Anyway, we all met at the same music college and decided to start playing music together. I was heavily inspired by Babes In Toyland and Hole at the time, so that was the style of music we played.  

Penny Vlamis (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

SONYA: I was really into 90s grunge and alternative tunes and asked for a bass guitar for my 16th birthday. Played along to all my faves in my bedroom, then signed up for an audio engineering course at AIM where I met Penny and Ned in 2001. We were forced to perform live as part of our respective courses, thus Bubble Vicious came into fruition. I was very reluctant, hate being in front of crowds, which is why I did an engineering course. We initially put 'Vicious Nancy' out there as an option for the band name - Sex Pistols-related tragic story and all that. Penny saw an episode of the Powerpuff Girls and it was called 'Bubble Vicious', where Bubble went a bit rogue, so there you have it. We later had a Canadian all-girl group message us through MySpace asking if we were called Bubble Vicious, 'cause they wanted to call themselves Bubble Vicious. They politely changed their name. So lovely!

Sonya Burgess (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

PENNY: I was looking through the TV guide and saw a review of a Powerpuff Girls episode. The episode was called 'Bubblevicious', where one of the characters, Bubbles - who is all sweetness and light - turns nasty, causing widespread havoc. 

Penny Vlamis, Drum Media, 30th July, 2002

 

NED: I'm probably influenced by stuff that was happening around then and also Brit pop stuff like Supergrass and Doves and that kind of thing. The main songwriters are Penny and Sonya, and Penny's influenced by Babes in Toyland, The Cure, that kind of thing, and Sonya's more influenced by The Cure and Slipknot and more metal stuff. 

Nerida Wu (Drums), Revolver, 7th May, 2002

 

 

PENNY: Our very first recording was to tape in the studio that was part of the music school we went to. We had only been a band for a few months and it was an exciting and brand new experience. I think we recorded our album at various small studio spaces around Sydney over a year or so.  

Penny Vlamis (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

SONYA: I have a feeling that our first show was a gig down in the Shire, on a Sunday. The fear of the unknown, the adrenaline rush and getting off stage feeling euphoria; we can do this! 

Sonya Burgess (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

NED: The indie scene at our level... there's a heaps more supportive thing happening. For example, Moulder and bands like that are really keen to help everybody out.

Nerida Wu (Drums), Revolver, 7th May, 2002

SONYA: I think Bubble Vicious's most memorable gig was supported Cog. We had one Thursday in Maroubra and a weekend slot opening for Cog and Full Scale. The singer from Cog was found sitting on my bass speaker post-show out back. I cracked the shits and he offered me a sip of beer. What do you do? Haha. 

Sonya Burgess (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

From the Bubble Vicious website, 2002

 

 

PENNY: A lot of our shows came about through other bands who saw our shows and invited us to play... I guess that's probably what stands out, the community of musicians at that time. Also, there were a lot more venues hosting live music. We used to play the Excelsior, the Hopetoun, the Annandale - RIP all of these venues.  

Penny Vlamis (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

REVIEW: All girl Sydney-based noizemakers who don't mashing a bit of rumbling bass with angsto vox and plenty of jagged rhythms... A raw debut that should see a little more punch as the sound fattens and the live experience hones the obvious inherent passion. Open up loud and go for it girls!

Mark Fraser, Redback Rock, 7th May, 2002

 

Review of Smash the Novelty EP

 

REVIEW: Bubble Vicious are locals and relative newcomers... they display an energy and uniqueness that you really only get at such a venue as the Varna Room - a strange sort of semi-decent, semi-scungy underground gig venue where the bands are loud. Bubble Vicious play a great set of riot grrrl music.

Liz, Oz Music Project, 14th June, 2002

REVIEW: There is nothing more beautiful in the world of rock than chicks who... well fucking rock man! But it aint all noise. They peak and lull, drive it and lay back. Lead chick has gotta get a special mention. She blasts out the vocal, croons it then hits mesmerising falsetto all within the one tune. And she cuts a mean axe too.

Steve Anderson, Drum Media, 10th August, 2002

SONYA: We added a second guitarist Michelle for a little bit, before we disbanded in 2004. She studied at AIM as well. 

Sonya Burgess (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

SONYA: I remember photo shoots, playing with shadows and graffiti. We made one video clip (for the song 'Dry') in our mate's apartment - don't ask me where that footage is, I have no idea but I'd love to watch it again. We performed some fun shows with Zombie Ghost Train, Dead Inside the Chrysalis, Cog, Full Scale... What sticks with me is the people I met, some I'm still mates with, but the confidence I got from being thrust into the live scene, performing in front of people, and - my gosh - the bass skills I acquired... I fucking love that instrument. 

Sonya Burgess (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

SONYA: The opportunity later arose to play live again. There were covers gig going about, and Penny and I did a Cure set with Azaria on drums. I think the reunion stemmed from there. We only did two sets I think, one at Blink and one at The Annandale. By 2007, Ned was long gone and having amazing experiences with her drums, and rightly so, and being friends, Azaria offered to play drums for us. He's an amazing drummer. We rehearsed at his place. I reckon the love for The Cure brought us together. 

Sonya Burgess (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: The Follow, Dead Inside the Chrysalis, The Dark Shadows, The Mis-Made, The Western Distributors, Jessamine, Pat Burgess, The Medicated, Ghost Cat, Safer with the Wolves, Nightmaze, Ground Zero

Meaneither

ORIGINS: Sefton, NSW

GENRE: Punk, Alternative, Grunge

YEARS ACTIVE: 1993-2000

 

MEMBERS:

• Adam "A#" Sharp - Vocals (1993-1998)
  
• Daniel Arena - Guitar
  
• Craig New - Bass
• Dave Clark - Drums
• Grant Spencer - Vocals (1998-2000)
  

RELEASES: 

 

• Ribbit (1995)
• 1. Damn Pest
• 2. The Reason Why?
• 3. Cataract
• 4. Phonebox
• 5. Fractured
• 6. Harvest Day
• 7. Frog in a Sock

•  Naistolberko (1996?)
• Tracklisting unknown
  

• We're Not Punk Enough (1997) - Download Here.
  
• 1. We're Not Punk Enough
• 2. Phonebox
• 3. Frog in a Sock
   

• Sleepy Disco (1998)
• 1. All Funked Up
• 2. Columbus
• 3. 30 000 Bpm
• 4. We're Not Punk Enough
• 5. Stereotype
• 6. M W R 

• Life in the Bus Lane (2000)
  
• 1. Crash Tackle Morning
• 2. Guess Who
• 3. Something Solid
• 4. Elmo
• 5. Scantily Clad
• 6. Safer
• 7. Phallic Symbol
• 8. Damn Pest
• 9. Bruising Toes
• 10. Bali Song
  

• Compilation-only Tracks.
• Let's Groove (1996) - on Bust-A-Move '96 compilation
  

SUMMARY: Beginning as a high school band, Meaneither developed into a gigging powerhouse who played regularly in the late '90s Sydney scene. The band parted ways with their first singer after the release of their Sleepy Disco EP but continued on with a new singer for a few more years until members decided to move on.

 

SHOWS: 

• Waterloo Tavern, Sydney - 2nd March, 1996 
• Youth Arts Festival, Kingsford-Smith Park, Katoomba - 21st December, 1996
• Unknown - 7th February, 1997
  
• Trashed '97, Concert Bowl, Huntingwood - 23rd February, 1997
• Feedback, Newtown - 26th April, 1997
• Feedback, Newtown - 8th May, 1997
• Feedback, Newtown - 30th October, 1997
• Feedback, Newtown - 9th August, 1998
• Feedback, Newtown - 27th September, 1998
• Civic Centre, Campbelltown - 4th June, 1999
• Britania Hotel, Darlington - 22nd October, 1999
• Hopetoun Hotel, Surry Hills - 18th February, 2000
• Hard Rock Cafe, Sydney - 30th June, 2000
• Grounded Festival, Parramatta Park Paceway, Parramatta - 10th July, 2000
  
• Britania Hotel, Darlington - 10th July, 2000
• Iron Duke, Alexandria - 16th July, 2000
• Harbour Cruise, Sydney - 18th September, 2000

ORAL HISTORY:

CRAIG: It's extremely cliched but I fell in love with music after a friend introduced me to Nirvana in 1992. I was in Year 10 and really wasn't that interested in music at all until this point. Something about the urgency of the band struck a loud chord with me and, like most things I love, sparked a borderline obsession. I joined a metal band (Sanctus), started listening to everything in the heavier genres I could get my hands on - grunge, punk, metal, rock - and it quite literally changed the course of my life at the time.

Craig New (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024 

 

DANIEL: It was high school stuff, a bunch of kids hanging out in the music room at the same time. We were listening to Nirvana, Violent Femmes, Dead Kennedys, and Australian bands like Spiderbait, Regurgitator, Front End Loader, Gilgamesh, Frenzal Rhomb, Nitocris, and Downtime.  

Daniel Arena (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

CRAIG: I'd been in a metal band called Sanctus but metal wasn't my true love. I really wanted to be doing something more melodic and fun. Meaneither was started by three guys in the year below me in high school. From memory I think they wee in Year 10 and I was in Year 11 - maybe it was right near the end of 1993. I heard they were looking for a bass player and asked them if I could try out. Our first gig was a set of covers in the school hall at lunchtime and most of the school turned up to watch. After that we played at Youth Rock, a state-wide school band competition where we were beaten by Silverchair (then called 'Innocent Criminals'). The following year we won, although history was not nearly so kind to us as to them!

Craig New (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DANIEL: We won the Youth Rock High School band competition, which got us a photo shoot, some studio time, and a good demo. Our bassist, Craig New, was extremely motivated to get shows so we played a lot. After the high school shows we did the usual rounds of youth centres. Our first proper shows were at Feedback and the Iron Duke, I think. We played at Feedback a lot. 

Daniel Arena (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

CRAIG:I loved playing in Sydney in the '90s so much. I feel like it was a really supportive environment for young bands - there were so many people, often kids, putting on their own all ages shows and lots of venues to play - even if you were building an audience. There were house parties everywhere with bands playing in the lounge room. We benefited from support gigs with lots of other young bands, and tried to pay that forward wherever we could too. There also seemed to be a huge appetite for different styles of music, and it wasn't unusual to see a lineup with three completely different bands playing together.

Craig New (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DANIEL: We did a show with The Porkers and Frenzal Rhomb and the crowd went so nuts for Frenzal that they pulled the ceiling interior down above the pit. It was actually super stressful at the time but memorable at least.

Daniel Arena (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

CRAIG: We used to record with a guy who had a studio in his backyard, who was really lovely and gave us loads of time. We recorded a self-titled EP with A#, and then an album with Grant (Life in the Bus Lane). I was by far the least talented musician in our band so I personally found recording difficult in terms of getting my bass lines down accurately. My skill on stage was being able to play to a passable standard while throwing myself around the stage, but that didn't cut it in the studio. I'm sure I particularly drove Dan and Dave mad with frustration at times. I dod remember being really proud of what we got down though - I can listen to it now without cringing, which I can't say about the demo my first metal band recorded.

Craig New (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DANIEL: The first version of the band had one EP and a bunch of compilation tracks. The second version had an album that we put out at the final show, which was recorded and mixed in one extremely stressful twenty hour session.  

Daniel Arena (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

CRAIG: "A#" (as he liked to be called) was our vocalist. He left the band amicably after a few years and Grant Spencer came on board with a very different vocal style.

Craig New (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

GRANT: I met the boys through a friend who went to uni with me. I replaced their singer just before they released their EP. Music-wise for me, Faith No More and Front End Loader were getting flogged... My first show was the goddamn EP launch. Packed out Sandringham Hotel. Crazy introduction. I managed to disappoint a lot of old fans! The original dude was very punk and didn't really sing - more kinda rapped and barked. I was a classically trained singer. Hilarious. I got to change things up a little but I tried to stick to the style where I could. Gig was still great though.

Grant Spencer (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

DANIEL: Around 1998 we had the usual set of disagreements and everything blew up. We kicked on for another couple of years with another singer, Grant. Stylistically, the band got less punk, more rock. 

Daniel Arena (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

GRANT: Life in the Bus Lane was my first proper experience of recording an album so it was super interesting for me. I didn't realise how much of a grind it could be. I also screwed - I hate the vocals on it because all my recordings were lost somehow and I had to bash through them all at the end of the weekend and my voice was toast. I was not up for what recording can be.  

Grant Spencer (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

DANIEL: In 2000 I had a meltdown keeping up with my university workload and had to leave. There were some attempts to keep the band going but it kinda crashed out there. We did a big farewell show. Possibly on a boat. 

Daniel Arena (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

REVIEW: When the news breaks of the pending demise of a band, you know you have to be there at the last-ever pub gig. From home-recorded demos and gigs at the local roller-rink to compilation contributions and self-released CDs, Meaneither have been there and done that in their relatively short five years, and so feel that it is time for the last hoorah; to move on and let someone else get sucked into this Sydney live-performance scene. Hard-core Meaneither fans were up front in their dozens, equipped with both still and video cameras, feeding off the energy that Craig, Grant, Dave and Daniel were giving out, and giving back their own in return... Meaneither are four seriously excellent musicians just out for a little gun with Craig and Grant doing their fair share of jumping up and down... Meaneither did not disappoint either those of us here for the first time or the die-hard supporters, with stand-out tunes that included 'Phone Box' and 'Frog in a Sock' from their first Ribbit demo, and the encore 'Let's Groove Tonight' (yes, a cover in their own inimitable fashion!). There is another gig after this, a harbour cruise in the next week or too.

Review of Hopetoun show (18th Feb 2000) by PC (Jacky) Gleeson, Music Reviews Website

GRANT: Dan let me know when were out at dinner. He'd just thought it had run its course.

Grant Spencer (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

CRAIG: I think we just weren't really progressing, and everyone had other things that were starting to take up more time. We had some great opportunities for a small band, like headlining the Annandale Hotel and a few festival slots, and getting to tour to other states a couple of times, but it never translated to wide radio play or big support slots or better headlining gigs. There were a lot of other bands of our size who were happy to stay at that level (a couple are still playing now) but I think we all just moved on to other things.

Craig New (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

GRANT: The main thing I like to remember when I think of Meaneither is playing random shows in weird places with three other very different people. We played at a Skate Park in Sefton - random All Ages gig that was entirely chaotic. Kids running around, lighting randomly about the place... typical thing for Craig New to organise. We were an odd combination of people but it was just a lot of fun.

Grant Spencer (Vocals), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: The Brain, The Accidents, Go/No-Go, Spectral Gates, Sanctus, Bluescreen, Paper Champion, Wifey

Haze

ORIGINS: Lower Blue Mountains, NSW

GENRE: Alternative

YEARS ACTIVE: 1991-1995

 

MEMBERS:

• Jon Hunter - Vocals, Guitar
  
• Ivan Lisyak - Drums
  

SUMMARY: Haze was a two-piece outfit and the first band of both Hunter and Lisyak. They mainly played band comps with a mix of covers and originals and remained a duo rather than a full band. Both members moved on to other projects in the mid-90s but continued to revisit their musical chemistry in different bands over the subsequent years.

 

SHOWS: 

• Lizard Lounge, Panthers Leagues Club, Penrith - unknown date, 1994
  

ORAL HISTORY:

JON: When I was four my Nana gave me a radio that looked like a car. I think Daddy Cool's 'Come Back Again' was my first favourite song from listening to it on that radio. My mum played piano and taught me to play 'Puff the Magic Dragon' and 'Waltzing Matilda'. We moved from Blackheath to Warrimoo when I was 8 and my parents sold their records to pay for the removal van. I then met Ivan Lisyak at school and while at first we didn't really gel, we eventually bonded over music. Dad loved blues music and started collecting CDs once he had regular work. He loved Eric Clapton but I was more drawn to his Bo Diddly and Howling Wolf CDs, which I still have. 

Jon Hunter (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

 

IVAN: Jono and I went to primary school, high school, and uni together. We played at Penrith Panthers band night at the Lizard Lounge when we were 13 as a duo, but it was nothing serious. We used to record drum and bass tracks on a multi-track cassette recorder in the high school music rooms.  

Ivan Lisyak (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 204

 

JON: I wanted to play drums but Ivan was already a really amazing drummer so I learnt guitar and we started playing in his garage - mostly Nirvana, Green Day, and Rage Against the Machine songs. Eventually I started coming up with my own songs. We started doing Battle of the Bands at Panthers when we were about 12 or 13 - just drums and guitar with me sometimes singing.

Jon Hunter (Vocals, Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

IVAN: I roped Jono into playing with me in a weird jazz hardcore thing at the end of high school but that never went anywhere. Then we later played together in The Architects. 

Ivan Lisyak (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 204

RELATED BANDS: Kayzus, Milton, The Architects, Titanic Dance Orchestra, Special Sauce, The Hassle Brigade, Belles Will Ring, The Paper Scissors, Philadelphia Grand Jury, Machine Death, Deep Sea Arcade, Tanned Christ, IIII, Hviske, Narrow Lands

Stinkbug

ORIGINS: Campbelltown, NSW

GENRE: Punk, Grunge, Metal

YEARS ACTIVE: 1993-1998

 

MEMBERS:

• Brendan Penzer - Vocals, Bass
• Darren Stapleton - Guitar
• Nathaniel D'ugo - Drums (1993-1997)
• Wayne Langfield - Drums (1997-1998)
  

RELEASES: 

• Smells Like Fish, Tastes Like Chicken (1995) - Download Here.
  
• 1. Stinkbug
• 2. Gonk
• 3. Gurgy
• 4. Argh!
• 5. Koko Plops
• 6. Remo / F.O.P.

• Caveat Emptor (1996) - Download Here.
  
• 1. Woody
• 2. Jellytree
• 3. Insatiable Appetite
• 4. Frying Pan
• 5. Come On! Continue!
• 6. Fish Hooker 
  

 

• Self-Titled (1997)
• 1. Change the Channel
• 2. Funzanoon
• 3. Windchimes
• 4. Sunshine
• 5. 5BII
• 6. Don't Try It!

• Social Cognition (1998)
  

 

SUMMARY: Stapleton and Penzer began Stinkbug after their previous band Sister in a Coma finished, recruiting a younger friend to play the drums and then playing a lot of shows around Sydney's Southwest and beyond. After recording three demo tapes across three years, original drummer D'ugo left following a falling out with the singer. The band played for another year or so with a new drummer and recorded a CD before breaking up. 

 

SHOWS:

• Junior Records, Revesby -unknown date
• Feedback, Newtown - 5th May, 1996
• UWS (Macarthur) Bar, Campbelltown - 23rd August, 1996 
• Sandringham Hotel, Newtown - 4th July, 1998 

ORAL HISTORY:

DARREN: I started Stinkbug when I left high school, along with Brendan from Sister in a Coma. Brendan worked with a young guy, Nathaniel, who was still at school and we recruited him for drums. Brendan played bass and sang, and I played guitar and wrote all the music. The name 'Stinkbug' didn't really come from anywhere, I just thought it sounded good as a band name. I don't anymore, haha.

Darren Stapleton (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

NATHANIEL: I worked with Brendan at the local Shell and we got chatting about music. I mentioned that I played drums and he said he was a bassist and knew a guitarist from school. Not long after that we started jamming. I was only 15 or 16 at the time so I was stoked to be jamming with blokes in their 20s. The music was a mix of early Helmet, Fudge Tunnel, Quicksand, Radio Birdman, and Regurgitator.

Nathaniel D'ugo (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

NATHANIEL: Our first show was at a club in Liverpool with a band called Frown. It was across the road from a guitar store. I can remember our very worst and very best shows. The worst was at Forrest Inn in Bexley. It was a week night with hardly anyone there. The in-house guy was this weird old due and between songs we heard a voice over the PA telling jokes and for a second we couldn't work out where it was coming from but it was the sound guy who had decided he was going to spice up the night with his very own brand of dad jokes. The best show was supporting Frenzal Rhomb at Bigge Park in Liverpool. It was a youth festival of some kind that put on this free show. It was packed with I don't know how many hundreds of kids but it was such a great show to play.

Nathaniel D'ugo (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

DARREN: We played a lot of shows, many All Ages shows at Youth Centres around the Campbelltown area but also in the city, Liverpool, South Coast, etc. We played with so many different bands because our style kind of fit with so many others. We played with punk bands, metal bands, indie bands, rock bands, and so on. 

Darren Stapleton (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

NATHANIEL: Recording was a lot of fun. We did most of the stuff at the old Zen Studios. We'd usually knock it out over a few days - the songs were complete before we got there so it was just a matter of playing through them. We used to put samples from The Simpsons on the recording so we would add those in later and then dub all the tapes. 

Nathaniel D'ugo (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

NATHANIEL: I left after Brendan and I had a disagreement about something turned into a little scuffle. No idea what it was about but as I was a typical late teens idiot and Brendan was a few years older than me I was probably being a dick while he was trying to discuss something serious and it got silly. 

Nathaniel D'ugo (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: Sister in a Coma, Tuskin Raiders, Veto, Strawdogs, Shinobi, Omerata, Restraint, Slowly Building Weapons, We Lost the Sea, Stronger Than Hate, Cobra Kai and the Leg Sweeps