Guy Smilie Trio

Trio is on the scene

Warrnambool Standard 9th Dec. 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved

Naming a band after a notoriously cheesy Sesame Street character is risky business, but the Guy Smilie Trio’s original blend of funk gospel, jazz, pop and little bit of country  is a far cry from it’s insincere name-sake.  Launching themselves into the Warrnambool music scene after a few rare performances at Tafe gigs, the Guy Smilie Trio is hopping to build a strong fan base locally.  Principal songwriter Richard Tankard (piano, guitar, vocal), Ruben Shannon (electric guitar, double bass, vocals) and John Emry (drums) are seasoned performers and have appeared in many local bands, but all are members of the free-form musical experiment Endoscope.   Tankard said the band had recorded “half” a CD at Motherlode Studios, with the finished product due out next year.  He said trying to establish a band in the local scene was hard work, but added that it was better than breaking into the Melbourne scene.  “I think we’ve got a better chance of getting something going successfully locally,” he said.  “Melbourne’s a rat race- there are so many bands there you hear of them playing for nothing.”  Tankard said the Guy Smilie Trio had been rehearsing for about a month with five-hour sessions to prepare for their launch onto the Warrnambool scene.  He said band members had brought in their own original songs, but they planned to write more songs together.  “Because we’ve come together as individuals, as we rehearse more we’ll be able to write as a band,” he said.  The Guy Smilie Trio will perform both originals and covers including Foo Fighters, Vince Jones and Ben Harper at the Hotel Warrnambool on Sunday.

Band to record

Warrnambool Standard 20th Jan. 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2000 All rights reserved

Warrnambool’s Guy Smilie Trio will record a CD at ABC studios.
ALTHOUGH being reasonably to the music scene, the Smilie Trio have received boost to their career after scoring recording time at the studios in Melbourne and on air appearance. Being given a spot on Melbourne’s 3LO morning program earlier this week, GST recorded a mini CD of tracks to on file at the studios. Proving that it’s not what know, rather who you know, Richard Tankard (guitar, keyboards and vocals) said he organised the stint through morning program presenter Knight, who happens to be an old friend. "I went to school with him in Mildura and he supported BlueHeat (Tankard’s former band) and he said when the project’s up and running to give him a call, so I did,” Tankard said. The band would benefit from its recording session, he added. “We’ve only got a certain amount of time in the studio so we want to get the songs right first time,” he said. GST was formed just over eight months ago and Tankard said the chance to record a CD for the ABC was a major coup. “It’s a definite kick start to have that level of exposure for a band that’s still relatively new,” he said. Tankard said the band wasthrilled tha t the ABC would continue to hold a copy of the recordings and hoped that it may lead to something bigger. “It will be good in terms of exposure and in terms of using it as a CD to try to get into festivals,” he said. Listeners will get a chance to hear the tracks today between 8.30am and midday on local station 3WL or Melbourne’s 3L0. The Guy Smilie Trio will also perform at the Hotel Warrnambool at 3pm this Sunday.