The 80s-inspired Adelaide rockers go deep (I presume).
If “thinking outside the box” were a band, it’d be The Dandy Buzzkills.
Part 80s, part punk, but an all-round glory to witness live in the flesh; these guys are always one step ahead.
Their most recent single, ‘I Dream, Far Away,’ released to rapturous acclaim in the local Adelaide scene.
With the band even garnering an almost cult-ish following in Europe and the United States.
Now, the New Wave five-piece returns to bring you their latest EP, The Dandy Buzzkills (I Presume).
The Dandy Buzzkills have been working tirelessly for this project, even going as far as releasing a promotional film for ‘Just For A While (You’ll See Why)’.
We sat down with the crew to discuss the Adelaide scene, Hudson’s much-needed iPad time, and how keen they are to bring their infamous live act to unprepared patrons! (Trust me I’ve seen it, you’re not prepared).
HAPPY: What are you up to today?
THE DANDY BUZZKILLS: This morning our bassist is spending a few hours in an animal research facility working on computationally modelling traumatic brain injury in sheep. Our drummer is at bunnings.
HAPPY: Tell us a little bit about where you live, what do you love or not love about it?
THE DANDY BUZZKILLS: We live in disparate corners of the Adelaide metropolitan area.
Each of us have our own gripes and infatuations with our respective suburbs.
The Adelaide CBD is where we get together and ham it up.
Two of us are students at the University of Adelaide, so we often use and abuse the practice room there.
It’s a beautiful campus within walking distance from our most frequented haunts – and this is a blessing, as the public transport infrastructure within the CBD leaves plenty to be desired.
HAPPY: Tell us a little about Adelaide and the music scene around you. How has the city shaped the band?
THE DANDY BUZZKILLS: All of us have been a part of the incredibly active local music scene here since our early years of high school.
We’ve grown as musicians alongside the rest of the scene (and developed a healthy dose of jaded cynicism to boot).
The Dandy Buzzkills is no one’s first rodeo.
Most of us have misspent youths covering nirvana songs at the Crown and Anchor, but the experience we have all garnered over the years, along with the gift of hindsight, has let us build The Dandy Buzzkills into a project which eclipses everything that came before it.
HAPPY: Tell us about ‘I Dream, Far Away’ – what inspired it?
THE DANDY BUZZKILLS: We asked Maxwell this a few months ago.
His response: “F*** off”. The man contains multitudes.
HAPPY: Which artists or records helped shape its sound?
THE DANDY BUZZKILLS: We regularly draw influence from bands like XTC and Elvis Costello’s Attractions, and hopefully these still shine through on “I Dream…”.
But the sonically minimal approach as well as the general indie pop sensibility of the song does leave us with a certain debt owed to The Strokes early records.
HAPPY: The promotional film nods to The Beach Boys and Bob Dylan. How did you land on the concept, and how involved were you in bringing it to life?
THE DANDY BUZZKILLS: The Beach schtick was the brainchild of Jack’s girlfriend, and we worked with videographical genius and beloved friend Charlie Smith to bring it to life.
The chorus cutaways are shots from Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues, Help!, and Costello’s Oliver’s Army, recreated to the best of our ability.
They came about in part because we ran out of beach gimmick ideas, and part because we wanted to pay homage to some of our biggest influences.
The reader can decide where that line lies.
HAPPY: The Dandy Buzzkills (I Presume) follows I Can Feed the Fish Earthworms. What did you want to do differently with this EP?
THE DANDY BUZZKILLS: We went in with the express purpose of making a cohesive project.
We went to the best studio in South Australia, Forest Range, and had the most fulfilling musical experience of our lives.
The first EP was a much more scattered endeavour, but this is our first effort to make something really good.
HAPPY: Any gear you can’t live without – and what gear did you use that shaped the single/EP?
THE DANDY BUZZKILLS: Hudson needs his five hours of iPad time or it’s really hard to put him down for the night.
Max has a very carnal relationship with his Woogie amplifier.
James loves his Heartbeat Percussion cymbals and his Big Sound Percussion drumsticks.
Jack likes his jazz bass.
Angus likes his eggs sunny side up.
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HAPPY: You are heading out on your first national tour. What are you most excited about, and what can people expect from the shows?
THE DANDY BUZZKILLS: We’re super keen to bring our infamous live act to people that’ve never heard it before, and we’re also excited to get up to the usual antics of a touring rock band, like getting to bed on time and keeping a balanced diet.
Crowds can expect us to be as tight as we have ever been, and should bring hearing protection if they value the ability to hear things other than a high pitch ringing.
HAPPY: What else is coming up?
THE DANDY BUZZKILLS: More music.
More shows in around the country.
Total world domination.
Millions of dollars, and a couple of big sandwiches.
HAPPY: Lastly, what makes you happy?
THE DANDY BUZZKILLS: Dreaming that the sounds you make are distant to me.
