Bands battle Pushover gig

Compiled by ANTHONY BUNN and KATIE HYDER
Warrnambool Standard 19/11/1998 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1998. All rights reserved

THIS year’s Pushover Festival will have a distinctly Warrnambool flavor with local bands Tukan Sam and the Piffon [sic] Yonnies.Piffon Yonnies The Piffon [sic] Yonnies will compete in the grand final of the Pushover ’98 Battle of the Bands, the same competition that Tukan Sam competed and came third in last year.While the Yonnies are under no illusions about the calibre of artists they will be competing against, they’re determined not to let it phase them. For band members Matt Hewson (saxophone) Matt Willis (drums) and Henry Bird (bass) it’s all about having fun. “We really enjoy it — we sort of take it all with a grain of salt,” Henry said.Between performing at the Melbourne Fringe Festival, appearing in Tism’s latest film clip TheThunderbirds are coming out and recording their debut CD — due for release next month — the Yonnies haven’t had time to stress out about Pushover.

 

Piffen Yonnies

Likewise, Tukan Sam has had little time to prepare with three of the band’s four members sittingTukan Sam VCE exams during the past two weeks. But this Saturday will be an opportunity to broaden their exposure. Singer and recorder player with the promising four-piece, Kate Gane, said competing in the Pushover Battle of the Bands last year had already helped them reach a broader Victorian audience. Since then the band has had a string of successes: coming equal first with bands Gramps and Thirteen when Triple J unearthed Warrnambool, launching their debut CD and having one of their tracks selected for the Pushover compilation album Push Play Record. “It was great — we were all rapt,” Kate said. Her enthusiasm is not surprising when you consider the high standard of bands which have been on the CD in past years, including The Dirty Three, Spiderbait and Weddings Parties Anything. Saturday’s line-up will include The Living End, Frenzal Rhomb, Jebediah, The Mavis’, Bodyjar, Magic Dirt, Nancy Vandal, Snout,Area 7 and The Avalanches. This year’s Pushover also includes dance act Kulin Nation in recognition of local Melbourne Aboriginal communities. Pushover will run from 11.30am to 11pm at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

 

Tukan Sam