Showing posts with label Skate Punk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Skate Punk. Show all posts

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Silencer Seven

ORIGINS: Northern Beaches, NSW
GENRE: Punk, Skate Punk
YEARS ACTIVE: 1997-2002
 
MEMBERS:
RELEASES:
  • Demo (1997)
  • The Bottom Line (1999) - Download Here.
    • 1. Holding On Forever
    • 2. The One
    • 3. She Walked Away
    • 4. What's The Point
    • 5. Mirvac
    • 6. 2 Far
    • 7. Never Had a Moment
  • A New Day (2000) - Download Here.
    • 1. Not 4 Me
    • 2. New Day
    • 3. 16 Years
    • 4. Kiddypunk
    • 5. Traitors
    • 6. Let It Go
    • 7. Strive
    • 8. Son of the Father
  • The World Won't Change (2002) - Download Here.
    • 1. The World Won't Change
    • 2. Wasted Days
    • 3. State of Mind
    • 4. The Hunt
    • 5. Take Tomorrow Back
    • 6. Mastermind

TIMELINE:
  • 1997: Band starts - Todd Clarkson joins up with three members of Northern Beaches band Disfigured (Dave Andrews, Mark Olsen, Rodney White). 
  • 1998: Rodney leaves and is replaced by Rick on bass. Dave and Mark leave to focus on their own band. Todd enlists Mitchell on drums.
  • 1998-1999: A couple of guitarists - Chris Chandler and Dan - join and leave. Rick Thomas joins on bass.
  • 1999: The Bottom Line EP recorded. Todd doing vocals as well as guitar. Richard joins band on second guitar shortly after this.
  • 2000: Luke joins band as singer. A New Day EP recorded.
  • 2002: The band records The World Won't Change. Richard replaced by Tom Fisher. Band breaks up a few months later.

SHOWS: 
  • C.I.T., Canberra (ACT) - 12th April, 1998
  • Fitz Cafe, St Ives - Unknown date, June, 1998
  • YoYos, Forestville - 2nd June, 1999
  • Iron Duke, Alexandria - 11th March, 2000
  • Downstairs, Maroubra - 16th June, 2000
  • Iron Duke, Alexandria - 6th July, 2000
  • Iron Duke, Alexandria - 23rd September, 2000
  • Vic on the Park, Marrickville - 26th January, 2001
  • Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle - 27th January, 2001
  • Forest Inn, Bexley - 2nd February, 2001
  • Forest Inn, Bexley - 23rd February, 2001
  • Bar Broadway, Sydney - 9th March, 2001
  • Manly Youth Centre, Manly - 10th March, 2001
  • Iron Duke, Alexandria - 12th March, 2001
  • Downstairs, Maroubra - 17th March, 2001
  • Harbour Cruise, Sydney - 18th March, 2001 [Day show]
  • Manly Fishos, Manly - 18th March, 2001 [Night show]
  • Youthfest, Dee Why Beach - 8th April, 2001
  • Green Square, Zetland - 26th April, 2001
  • Fitz Cafe, St Ives - 1st June, 2001
  • Bat and Ball Hotel, Surry Hills - 29th June, 2001
  • Green Square, Zetland - 13th July, 2001
  • Caringbah Bizzos, Caringbah - 14th July, 2001
  • Junee Community Hall, Junee - 25th August, 2001
  • Bar Broadway, Sydney - 30th August, 2001
  • Bat and Ball Hotel, Surry Hills - 1st December, 2001
  • Kardomah Cafe, Kings Cross - 17th October, 2002
  • Panthers Leagues Club, Penrith - 12th December, 2002
  • Unknown Venue, Northern Beaches - December, 2002 [Last show - did not play]
Logo from Silencer Seven website, 2001

ORAL HISTORY:
TODD: I was in a band called Double Standard, which ad a more metal vibe with some definite punk undertones. I was keen to be in a more dedicated punk band so I started jamming with a few guys from another Northern Beaches band, Disfigured. The band named, 'Silencer Seven', came from a friend of mine on the beaches who was a creative type - it's actually from the Star Wars books; it's an Imperial ship that was a world destroyer. 
Todd Clarkson (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

MARK: Todd started it and he got us (Mark, Dave, Rodney) to play with him. We were having a few jam sessions at his house and then he wanted to start a new band. I was a huge fan of NOFX, Lagwagon, Strung Out, Unwritten Law, and Bad Religion, and that was part of what inspired us. 
Mark Olsen (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

TODD: Silencer Seven began with myself, Mark, Dave, and Rodney, but it was just a side hustle for the others. Over a short period these guys opted out and that's when Rick and Mitch came on board and the band started to take shape.
Todd Clarkson (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

Fitz Cafe, 1998, with Todd on vocals (pic: Ryan McCluskey)

TODD: We did some demo work in my house on an 8-track but we never reproduced it. Those songs actually never transferred to the later version of the band.
Todd Clarkson (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

RICK: Todd was in the band with three other guys he knew through bodyboarding. They had a recording with 3 or 4 songs. Anyway, the bassplayer missed a few gigs so I got the call... I'd previously played in a band called Double Standard with Todd. When the other two original members of Silencer Seven left we started jamming with Mitch on drums - we knew him because Richie's younger sister went to school with him. We jammed with him at his place in Frenchs Forest. He had his PJs on.
Rick Thomas (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

MITCH: I miss those old flannel PJs.
Mitchell Johnson (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

RICK: Mitch was like 15 or something when we first jammed but he was so fucking good already.
Rick Thomas (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025


MITCH: I was 15 when I met the other guys in Silencer Seven. It was the start of my life, really. They were all about 20. Todd had started the band with two other guys - Mark Olsen and Dave Andrews, from another band on the Northern Beaches. They recorded a four track demo with Todd on vocals and played one gig - they didn't last long as that set up. I saw an ad in Drum Media, which said "looking for a drummer and guitarist". I answered the call and Todd gave me the demo to listen to and learn. I was a very naive kid at the time... just kinda getting into punk rock music through some friends at high school, so very innocent, haha. We started rehearsing and then came another guitarist, Dan, who played for a little while and then left. 
Mitchell Johnson (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025


RICK: Todd started singing in addition to doing guitar and we recorded The Bottom Line with Dan doing the lead guitar. Dan left after The Bottom Line EP and Richie then hit us up to have a jam. 
Rick Thomas (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

TODD: We recorded The Bottom Line at Troy Horse in Newtown in 1999. I did all the art for all our releases with use of the photography that people had done for us over the years. 
Todd Clarkson (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025


REVIEW: Get out your snowboard... for there is no denying that these guys have a heavy Pennywise influence. From guitar sounds to Strung Out harmonies, this is snow punk at its best... this three piece play hard. 
Review of The Bottom Line EP, Kickass Zine, February 2000

MITCH: My drumming style was developing around this time. I had a crush on Wade, the drummer from Unwritten Law, and adopted some of his stuff when drumming. I also loved Bad Religion so I introduced a bit of that too.
Mitchell Johnson (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025


RICK: I was definitely influenced by the kings of thrash metal - Cliff Burton and Tom Moraya - but the first time I heard Strung Out I was hooked; they are the greatest. My favourite bands are Slayer, Faith No More, No Fun At All, Strung Out, Cradle of Filth, and Assorted Jelly Beans.
Rick Thomas (Bass), Silencer Seven website, 2001

TODD: We were gigging around Sydney a bit, played a few local parties and maybe a band comp at the Bat and Ball. We didn't play on the Northern Beaches that much. There were so few places to play... we played at Manly Youth Centre a few times, which ewas always hectic. They were always the best gigs on the beaches. They would always sell out. There were a lot of surfers and skaters on the beaches - a lot of punk fans - but so few opportunities to see good bands locally. One of our best gigs there was opening for Bodyjar and The Living End. 'Prisoner of Society' had just been released so The Living End were blowing up. Bodyjar are... just the fucking best, so the place was full before we took the stage. A thousand kids going mental. Great vibes. We had some merch there - shirts and hats, which were like $10. No chance of selling at that price these days with inflation! I worked for a company that made stickers and prints, so we had a heap of that stuff to give away.
Todd Clarkson (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025


MITCH: Another guitarist named Chris Chandler came and left, and so on and so on for a couple of years. It was slow at the start, especially with me being only fifteen. Once I was 18 we played fairly regularly - at least once every 3 or 4 weeks. 
Mitchell Johnson (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

TODD: We had a few temporary second guitarists and while looking for someone it came up that Richie, who was the drummer in our previous band, Double Standard, well, he was a great guitarist, and so he joined. 
Todd Clarkson (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

RICHIE: I was in a band (Double Standard) previously with Todd and Rick and I knew Mitch from school - he was in my younger sister's grade. Silencer Seven needed a guitarist and asked me to join after the first EP was recorded.
Richard Martin (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025


MITCH: We played some great shows early on. Youth Fest at Dee Why Beach, and a show at Manly Youth Centre in 1998 with The Vandals (they were touring their Hitler Bad, Vandals Good album). We also played at Manly Fishos with Bodyjar and supported Diesel Boy at the Bat and Ball Hotel with One Dollar Short. I was star struck! All my heroes straight from my bedroom stereo and in a pub that I wasn't old enough to play in. I couldn't believ it. I just wanted to brag to all my school friends so badly. My friends didn't believe me at first but then I actually played all the gigs and some of them came along to watch.
Mitchell Johnson (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

TODD: We realised pretty quick that singing was not for me and that's when we met Luke and he joined... it was hard to find good guys based on the Northern Beaches so we were lucky to get such a good group together. We'd write songs together all types of ways - someone could bring a riff and we would build that to a full song. Sometimes someone would have the whole music part done and we just refined it and added lyrics. Or there were times Luke had virtually a whole song ready to go. Everyone contributed in some way to almost every song.
Todd Clarkson (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

Newspaper Article, Jan 1999

RICK: We started playing gigs around Sydney with Ballpark. Luke left them and joined Silencer Seven, singing on the third release. After that we started writing together and gigging heaps, eventually releasing an album. I remember bands were pissed because we 'stole' Luke from Ballpark.
Rick Thomas (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

MITCH: Eventually we settled with the lineup of Todd and Richie on guitars, Rick on bass, Luke on vocals, and me on the kit. 
Mitchell Johnson (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

Newspaper article - pics of Silence 7 at Youthfest, 2000


BIO: Silencer Seven are a punk rock band from Sydney, Australia. They play fast melodic punk in the vein of Bad Religion or Pennywise... with fat guitars, catchy melodies, and raw emotion, Silencer Seven are a must for punk fans.
Band Bio, Silencer Seven Website, 2001

TODD: We recorded A New Day in 2000 just after Luke and Richie joined. This was recorded at Smokin' and Jokin' Studios. Our style didn't change much with this main lineup, we just got a lot more polished with the second guitar and Luke was a great vocalist. So we started to sound more like we had always envisioned. Also, having five people in the band made the influences a little broader and the song-writing more diverse. We had a heap of fun doing A New Day as it was our first time recording as a five-piece. We did a hidden song, a cover of 'Uncle Fucker' from South Park, which was absolutely hilarious to record. We also left an outtake from a vocal part on one of the songs, which is cool.
Todd Clarkson (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025


RICHIE: We recorded A New Day over night sessions - we would work our jobs all day and then go the studio in Artarmon. It took three nights, maybe four. We did a release show after, probably at the Northpoint Tavern. 
Richard Martin (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

MITCH: A New Day was recorded at Smokin' and Jokin' Studios in Artarmon. We played mainly Sydney shows, not much state to state stuff really happened. We just played the gig that came our way and wrote to record when we could.
Mitchell Johnson (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

TODD: That weren't that many serious punk bands that were gigging on the beaches at that time. We got on well with some of the other bands we met and played with, but they were mostly from other areas. We played mainly at venues outside the beaches. We'd organise shows however we could! Everyone kind of pitched in - we had people we knew locally that would hook us up, mates in other bands that we would play with. 
Todd Clarkson (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025


Film clip for 'Kiddypunk' from A New Day EP (2000)

From the band's website, mid-2001

RICHIE: Shows were always a lot of fun, there was lots of community spirit between all the bands. I remember gigs at the Iron Duke being particularly fun. Crowd numbers were never huge, we played mostly Wednesday and Thursday nights, but we started to see regular faces in the crowd, which was pretty cool. My favourite gig was probably Youth Fest with 28 Days. It was the biggest show I played with the band - big stage, huge sound, and we played really well. 
Richard Martin (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

RICHIE: We played a gig at Junee community hall. It was the middle of nowhere and they treated us like rockstars - there was a decked-out green room, lots of beers and snacks. I don't think they got many bands visiting their town. A local band called Bladder Control played the show with us. Shows out of town were always fun - sleeping on random people's floors and stuff. 
Richard Martin (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025


LUKE: Our worst show was supporting Segression and playing to a room of cross-legged metalheads sitting on the floor - giving us the world's worst vibe.
Luke Sunners, Silence Seven Website, 2001

TODD: In the last few years we got help booking shows from Olivia and Ryan - they had a booking agency and they ran Club Burnout in Penrith.
Todd Clarkson (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025


RICHIE: I was with Silencer Seven pretty much until the end. I recorded The World Won't Change and toured that CD with the band. After that I got booted and then things didn't last much longer. It was good times before all that. There were probably a few missed opportunities and things we should have capitalised but I'm proud of what we all created and I think it still stands up well today.
Richard Martin (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

TOM: I joined just after their last EP was recorded. It was in the period when Bagster's first drummer Derek left. He took a job out of town and kept telling us he would be back soon but then kept extending his stay. So I was looking for another band so I could keep playing shows. Silencer Seven had just had a guitarist leave. I was real young still - needed my mum to drive me to the first rehearsal. I went in to fill the spot and played with them for a few months. 
Tom Fisher (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025


MITCH: We were all moving on to our own little things and the momentum and excitement that we used to have was dissipating. 
Mitchell Johnson (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 202

TODD: The band sort of just tapered out... I was engaged and getting married soon and decided that it was time for me. I told the guys - I think it was after a gig with Seraphs Coal at Penrith. From there I think everyone just sort of decided to let it go. Ironically we had our final gig lined up as a home show on the Northern Beaches and the venue was packed. The band before us was also local, with a good following... The Lyrical Madmen. They had a lot of people crowd surfing and the venue said they needed to stop and when they didn't, that was it, the venue pulled the pin. We never actually got to play our final gig. Bittersweet.
Todd Clarkson (Guitar), Noise Levels correspondence, 2025

RELATED BANDS: Double Standard, Phunt, Ballpark, Disfigured, Bagster, Last Dig Academy, Gwylo, War Rages Within, We Without, Mana Lion, Fake No More, James Keith, Ape BC, The Kirbys, Unpaid Debt, The Optionals, The Versionaries, This Version, Extramentalist, Sub-Tribe, Modus Fire, Dividers, Psyclops Eyepatch, Vesty Vials, Ess-Em


Film clip for 'Wasted Days' from The World Won't Change EP (2002)






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Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Time to Launch - Compilation

TRACKLIST: - Download Here.

  1. Crank - Hidden Weakness
  2. Next 2 Nothing - Hopeless
  3. Silencer Seven - 16 Years
  4. Offset - No Such Thing
  5. Throwdown - Keep Standing Tall
  6. Hindsight - Bandaid For a Broken Leg
  7. Dig Dug - Ms Greenman's Couch
  8. Blue Channel - Chris and Carrie
  9. The Last Hemeroids - Ordinary Man
  10. Leek and the Bouncing Uptones - Roll the Dice
  11. Potshot - Freedom
  12. Gob Squad - Tear Stained
  13. Crank - Canberra
  14. Powderkeg - What's Wrong
  15. Last Caress - Who You Are
  16. Dig Dug - Broken Words
  17. Stinking Dogs - All About You
  18. Leek and the Bouncing Uptones - This Town
  19. Toybomb - That Stupid Line
  20. The Alcoskalics - Little Miss Confused
  21. Compact 56 - Wasteland
  22. Mute - Milo
  23. Dime A Dozen - Never Want To Be a Businessman

SUMMARY: Compilation put out by Brett Stokes in 2001 under the label Nosedive Records, a Forster-based record label that focused on skate punk from this era. The artwork was designed by Todd Clarkson (Silencer Seven).

The bands featured were from the following places (non-NSW bands in italics):

  • Crank - Sydney
  • Next 2 Nothing - New York, USA
  • Silencer Seven - Northern Beaches
  • Offset - Lower Blue Mountains
  • Throwdown - Sutherland
  • Hindsight - Northern Beaches
  • The Last Hemeroids - Inner West
  • Dig Dug - Texas, USA
  • Blue Channel - USA
  • Leek and the Bouncing Uptones - South Africa
  • Potshot - California, USA
  • Gob Squad - Denmark
  • Powderkeg - Sydney
  • Last Caress - Sweden
  • Stinking Dogs - Quebec, Canada
  • Toybomb - Denmark
  • The Alcoskalics - California, USA
  • Compact 56 - Oregon, USA
  • Mute - Northern Beaches
  • Dime A Dozen - Sydney

Images below courtesy of Brett 'Bones' Kneebone. 



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Sunday, December 1, 2024

Savage Cabbage

Pic by Anna Cridland, 1994

ORIGINS: Pennant Hills, NSW
GENRE: Hardcore, Skate punk
YEARS ACTIVE: 1992-1995
 
MEMBERS:
  • Andrew Epthorpe - Vocals
  • Paul Meaney - Bass
  • Matthew Oates - Guitar
  • Nathan Summers - Drums (1993-1996)
  • Unknown - Drums (1992)
  • Spacey - Guest Vocals (1994-1995)
RELEASES:

  • Demo (1994) - Download Here.
    • 1. Intro
    • 2. Locked
    • 3. Square
    • 4. Suck Ya
    • 5. Tetris
    • 6. Bored
    • 7. Tug O War
    • 8. Mr Men
    • 9. Angry For Fun
    • 10. Dog Log
    • 11. Grindorama

  • Compilation-only Tracks - Download Here.
    • Tension (1993) - on Circle Storm (No Deal compilation)
  • Unreleased Recordings
    • Toss On (Ska version) - Recorded live at the Lansdowne Hotel (December, 1993)
    • You're a Dick - Recorded live at the Lansdowne Hotel (December, 1993)
    • Toss On (Grind version) - Recorded at Zen in 1994
    • Wise Up (cover - originally recorded by Bald) - Recorded at Zen in 1994
SUMMARY: Savage Cabbage was a hardcore band out of the Hills area who were active in the early to mid-90s. They were loosely involved with the Cosmic Snail collective who put shows on at the Hornsby PCYC, and also played a lot of shows with fellow Dural/Pennant Hills band Melancholy. Savage Cabbage toured interstate to Melbourne with Subversion in 1994, played supports lots for DOA, No Means No, Propagandhi, and All You Can Eat, and eventually broke up in 1995. 

They were known to cover the following songs in their live sets: 'Snap' (DRI), Crucified (Agnostic Front), Toxic Shock (Agnostic Front), Last Warning (Agnostic Front), Salad Days (Minor Threat), New Start (Gorilla Biscuits), Wise Up (Bald), The Deal (Sick of It All), Johnny Got His Gun (Nausea)
 
SHOWS: 
Pic by Anna Cridland, 1994

ORAL HISTORY:
NATHAN: The music was very influenced by New York hardcore bands, and also thrash bands such as DRI, and powerviolence bands such as No Comment. It was generally pretty fast skater type music with light-hearted lyrics. We also did covers from Agnostic Front, DRI, Sick of It All, Minor Threat, Gorilla Biscuits, and Bold.
Nathan Summers (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

MATTHEW: It was a rainy day and we met at Paul's place... about 18 months ago. We had another drummer and we just stuffed around. Then we got Nathan drumming with us and it all became a bit more serious. And because Nathan had something to do with Jellyheads we played there a few times.
Matthew Oates (Guitar), Loaded to the Gills Issue 1, October 1993


NATHAN: Our first show was at the Jellyhedz warehouse, an anarchist collective warehouse venue in Chippendale that ran for a couple of years. This show was in 1993 with Melancholy and a heavy metal band called Mayhem. We gigged quite a bit between 1993 and 1995, playing a lot with bands like Subversion, Blitz Babies, Toe to Toe, Stalin's Organ, Drawback, Injured Head, TUBbH, Spilt Milk, Lentil Soup, Melancholy, Minute Minder, Downtime, and many others. One of our more memorable gigs at Hornsby PCYC was supporting DOA and No Means No, which I had interviewed on 2RRR as well. I do remember also a big gig there one evening with Nancy Vandal, which had a jumping castle as part of the action. 
Nathan Summers (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024
 
BIO: The music was influenced by a lot of East Coast American Hardcore (New York, Boston, often from the straight edge genre). As a band, the music was mainly for skating, surfing and having a good time, and was usually particularly fast! Most of the lyrics are generally lighthearted and often quite silly. 
Unknown Author, retrospective biography, c. 1996
 
PAUL: Sean from Toe to Toe, he's really into promoting bands, and giving young bands a start. He's doing a couple of shows under the name of No Deal Productions that we're playing. Sean's also organising a recording on Punchdrunk Records. He's putting a lot of work into that. 
Paul Meaney (Bass), Loaded to the Gills Issue 1, October 1993
 
Cosmic Snail Productions bio for Savage Cabbage
 
MATTHEW: After we broke out of Jellyheads, we did a band comp at the Vic on the Park and we somehow made the grand final. Then Alan (Vic on the Park), he was booking bands, he asked us back there again and then a couple more times. And then we just met bands that were doing a bit better, and they saw us play and then they invited us along to play with them and stuff. 
Matthew Oates (Guitar), Loaded to the Gills Issue 1, October 1993

NATHAN: There seems to be a need for all ages shows because all the under ages gigs we've had so far, there's been a really good turnout. Firstly, the audiences are enthusiastic, probably more enthusiastic than a pub gig, and the bands seem to get paid more than a pub gig too... I guess a lot of gigs tend to get organised around the inner city because that's where a lot of alternative bands get to. In this part of Sydney the Hornsby Police Boys has so far filled the niche that needed to be filled.
Nathan Summers (Drums), Loaded to the Gills Issue 1, October 1993

RELATED BANDS: Dieback, 12 Day Fixx, Cooking with Gas, Stalin's Organ, SMUT, Groovinator, Anarchists Anonymous, Magnet, Mad Cowboy Disease, Burn 'Em Down, Red Planet Repairs, Metal Ace
 
Pic by Anna Cridland, 1994


With Spacey (Tutti Parze, Tofu Terror) on guest vocals.





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Saturday, June 15, 2024

Fifth Place

 
ORIGINS: Penrith, NSW
GENRE: Pop-punk
YEARS ACTIVE: 1998-2001
 
MEMBERS:
  • Luke Webb - Vocals, Guitar
  • Matt Pearson - Vocals, Bass (1998-2001), Guitar (2001)
  • Tim Gannon - Drums
  • Isaac Harvey - Bass (2001)
RELEASES: 
  • What's Your Excuse? (1999) [as Guest Speaker]
    • 1. Not Funny
    • 2. Reason for Intention
    • 3. Fake Reality
    • 4. Stay
    • 5. Forever
    • 6. Countdown
    • 7. Game Over 

  •  Curiosity (1999) - Some tracks available to download here.
    • 1. Routine
    • 2. Interfere
    • 3. Curiosity
    • 4. Fake Reality
    • 5. Change My Mind
    • 6. Not Funny
    • 7. Reason for Intention
    • 8. Call Waiting / These Days
    • 9. Remember
    • 10. For All of Time (Our Song)
 
  •  Opinions (2000)
    • 1. Opinions
    • 2. Remember
    • 3. Interfere 

SUMMARY: Starting as the band 'Guest Speaker' while in high school, the band later renamed themselves 'Fifth Place' in 1999 to reflect their shift into away from grunge to a faster, pop-punk sound. Their EP 'Curiosity' (1999) had a run of 100 CDs and sold out within a few months, leading the band to record a second EP relatively quickly. In the final few months, the band experimented with having two guitars, with bassist Matt Pearson jumping onto guitar while a new bassist joined.

SHOWS: 


ORAL HISTORY:
LUKE: Basically me and the bass player have been jamming for two years. We thought we'd get a band together. We went through a few drummers but none of them fit the style so we lined up Tim from Warrimoo and we started jamming together and it worked out heaps well. 
Luke Webb, Obzine Issue 4, October 1999
 
MATT: We formed when we were all in high school. Luke and I both played guitar but we needed a bass player so I decided to take one for the team and moved across to bass. Plus, I thought, four strings has to be easier than six! We all had different musical interests but a shared love of grunge and punk, as was the fashion of the era. We started off playing music together in the music rooms at lunchtime; occasionally drawing a crowd of moshing students in the music room. When this occurred we would be politely instructed to bring our practice session to an end. Still, we were pretty lucky to have free reign of the music facilities - having Luke's dad being the Head of the Music Department had its perks. So we produced our own EP on cassette over lunchtimes and after school on a borrowed Yamaha MT4X 4-track recorder. Luke figured out how to do this thing called 'ping pong' where you could somehow move tracks across so you could then layer more tracks on top of the 4 real time tracks the device allowed for, so we were able to add some additional guitar layers and vocal harmonies. 
Matt Pearson (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

TIM: Luke and Matt were really the drivers behind putting the band together. They were in school together and I had jammed with Luke once, and from there he proposed getting together with Matt. They both wrote songs and had a few tracks ready to put together so my gig was to just work out some drum parts to fit.
Tim Gannon (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024
 
MATT: We discovered and were captivated by the likes of early Blink 182, Frenzal Rhomb, etc., and were keen to become a fast pop-punk band. So Guest Speaker morphed into Fifth Place after a year of playing. 
Matt Pearson (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

First show, 1998 (as Guest Speaker)

TIM: Our first show was the school walkathon and the 'stage' was a balcony on a demountable classroom. Being my first gig playing in front of people, I was still super nervous, but I also remember a pretty positive response. We played mainly originals and a few covers, from memory a super easy Green Day track and possibly a politically-correct version of Rage's 'Killing in the Name'. Shows were always a lot of fun after this - we were 15/16, so each gig felt like a big event and something to be practicing for and working towards. 
Tim Gannon (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

Promotional Band Bio, c. 1999/2000

REVIEW: Next up was pop-punk band Fifth Place, who pumped out songs from their Curiosity EP. With catchy songs and funny hats, Fifth Place played a forty-five minute set of pure pop-punk tunes including 'Curiosity', 'Remember', and 'Fake Reality'. Fifth Place have played a few shows around the Penrith area with Offset, Hassle Brigade, and Spudgun, so they have become a bit well known around the area.
Review of 1999 show at Emu Plains Community Centre, Obzine Issue 5, November 1999

Obzine Issue 4, October 1999

TIM: The first Fifth Place EP we recorded by ourselves with a 4-track rape recorder in a school hall - I remember being surprised by how decent (some of) the sound quality was. It was super basic in terms of production, and the songs were really straightforward - I was very much playing along with the already established ideas and Luke was pretty handy at feeding me drum ideas, which helped a bunch with cohesion.
Tim Gannon (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024
 
REVIEW: The third time I listened to Curiosity I was getting the songs stuck in my head... it's extremely catchy and very pop, similar to Smudge and Lemonheads. 
Review of Curiosity EP, Obzine Issue 5, November 1999

Penrith City Star, November 23, 1999

MATT: The scene was really pumping in Penrith for a few years there! There was a gig on somewhere once or twice a week. We played Prankfest at Katoomba, which was heaps of fun, there was quite a big crowd there and heaps of bands on the bill. Grounded 2000 was also awesome too; a big music festival right in the heart of Penrith, some big name acts on the bill, and a great stage with a big PA. It was an amazing feeling as a 17-year-old!
Matt Pearson (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

REVIEW: Fifth Place kicked off with real style. They had a real Millencolin/Fat Wreck Chords sound and were definitely the tightest sounding band of the day. They didn't play a single cover (which is always a plus point as far as I'm concerned) and still managed to pull a very decent crowd and mosh. Fifth Place displayed amazing energy and a healthy enthusiasm that really impressed me. 
Luke Bartolo, review of Judgement Day Skatefest, Obzine Issue 10, May 2000

Judgement Day, Judge's Carpark, April 2000

REVIEW: By now you would have heard all about this three piece punk machine. They played a set of new songs and old, explaining that their new CD will be coming out eventually. I'll admit here that I'm not the biggest punk fan but these guys did impress me. As with the Skatefest where I saw them last, they were tight, fast, reminiscent of NOFX and very, very good. One of the boys delayed his holiday so they could do this show and the crowd were very glad they did.
Mark Alston, review of Zound (April 2000), Obzine Issue 10, May 2000

TIM: Gigs with bands like The Hassle Brigade stand out as Ivan was such an immense drummer and the band was such a force that playing a gig with them felt like it lent cred to us as 'real' band. The Warrimoo Community Hall gig in 2000 stands out for this reason. The Grounded Festival was another one - a bunch of great local and bigger bands that we could check out (after playing under a tarp as the gates opened at about 10am!)
Tim Gannon (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

REVIEW: Fifth Place were professional and tight like usual, but this time they seemed to have more energy than usual! They moved a lot more and even interacted with the crowd. They had their new CD for sale, which many people snapped up, and tried some new songs on us which sounded as punk and melodic as ever. Good show.
Lisa Jenner, review of Puddstock, Obzine Issue 13, August 2000

CD Review, Obzine Issue 13, August 2000

MATT: We're very happy with the new CD. Even though we've been around for a while, it's only been over the past few months that we've really found our own sound. Doing No Hard Feelings professionally (recording, mastering, etc.) was really great, and well worth the time and money that was spent on it. We did one track, 'Opinions', in a separate session from the rest, and that took around four or five hours. Our old album, Curiosity, was a learning experience. We learnt about the sounds we like and the sounds we don't like. The biggest lesson we learnt was that if you want to put out a CD, it's worth spending the extra cash and getting a decent recording.
Matt Pearson (Bass), Obzine Issue 14, September 2000
 
TIM: By the time we recorded this second CD, we had decided to be a 'punk band', which basically meant I was sweating through playing flat-out punk beats a bunch of the time and had grabbed a double kick pedal to basically ease the load on the hands for a few fills here and there. We recorded with a guy called Chris Grey at Grey Label Studios and the main highlight was his response to a question from Matt about whether if he thought we should bother paying to get it mastered at 301. His reply was along the lies of "You can't polish a turd". He was right, but I think we may have paid 301 to try anyways!
Tim Gannon (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024
 
REVIEW: Fifth Place rocked up to the stage all pumped and ready to launch their new and second CD No Hard Feelings. They looked like they were having fun up there on stage as their fans danced along to a bunch of songs from the CD as well as a few oldies. I liked 'Romance Boy' and 'Losing You'.
Review of Zound show (9/9/00), Obzine Issue 15, October 2000

REVIEW: Fifth Place is Fifth Place, always tight and the same solid style of punk. Always entertaining.
Luke Bartolo, review of Top Deck Skatefest, Obzine Issue 20, June 2001

Article about Ballyhoo, Q Theatre Show in October, 2000

REVIEW: A tight set as usual with a lot of action from the crowd and a few jokes about Luke's accent from Matt. The boys play some requests and then finish up with their quality songs like 'Gifthorse', 'Romance Boy', and 'Losing You'. Fifth Place are doing everything right and tonight was no disappointment. All they need is to take their punk rock and hit the city. I'm sure they'll build on what they already have.
Mark Alston, review of Big Little Gig (7/4/01), Obzine Issue 20, June 2001
 
MATT: Fifth Place stopped as we started to grow in different directions. We were finishing up school and also changing musically. Tim and I went on to form Universal. 
Matt Pearson (Bass), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

TIM: The whole experience was a great entry into performance and building experience and the confidence to gig. I learnt from Matt and Luke about how they put songs together and how to communicate ideas to build a track. We finished up because I think we started playing with other people a bit more and tried a few things with including other people and instruments for a few rehearsals and jams, which lined up with finishing school. From there, we kicked off into some slightly different musical directions and formed some other bands. 
Tim Gannon (Drums), Noise Levels correspondence, 2024

RELATED BANDS: Universal, Rockboxx, Code Atlantic, Lucky Luke and His Shooting Stars, Sonica, New Horizon
 









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