Straight-up bush punk battlers Shearin’ have been at it for a few years now, tearing out their politically-inclined ballads with a startling, working class efficiency. Between odes to what Sydney used to be or the prettier ends of Australian nationalism they’ve shown a wit which betrays their craggy exterior, and it’s earned them fans aplenty.
After they were announced as a finalist in the VB Hard Yards competition alongside RACKETT and Mini Skirt, we caught up with band man Jeremy Hyland for the latest.
Australian icons, VB vending machines and upstaging Cosmic Psychos: we have a yarn with fair dinkum bush rockers Shearin’.
HAPPY: Hey, how are ya? What are you up to at the moment?
SHEARIN: Been well, just chippin away. Finished recording five tunes with Guy Fenech (Australia) and we are really happy with how they sound… they are getting mastered and we are about to track another four so we really have been hard at it and pumped to get them out.
HAPPY: Joe Hockey is getting down to fisticuffs with Bob Hawke. Give us the play by play.
SHEARIN: Hawkey skulls a beer and then points out how fiscally irresponsible and plain selfish Joe Hockey’s economic policies were. Hockey sulks off into the night with the thought that no one ever liked him, let alone respected him, and in another 10 years barely anyone will remember him, while Hawkey stays in the pub getting shouted beers for the rest of the night by his legions of fans.
HAPPY: Did you have any other EP names which almost made the cut? Beerin’? Jeerin’?
SHEARIN: Haha nah. We needed that name in a hurry so it just came out. Thanks Snozza you legend.
HAPPY: On said EP you tackle mescaline, Masterchef, Telstra… what else been on Shearin’s mind lately?
SHEARIN: In some of the new material we are referencing Rusty Crowe, but from a good perspective. Back when he rose the Rabbitohs up and took the premiership in 2014. What he’s done for the game shouldn’t be outweighed by his acting career plus we explore a raft of other topics such as Christmas being a heartache and a looney avenue to name a few.
HAPPY: Budget Cuts is a jam but I gotta ask: “Don’t treat me like a crocodile”?
SHEARIN: Yea well Mum says “you look like a crocodile” so I’m sorta saying don’t do it. It’s offensive.
HAPPY: Congrats on the VB Hard Yards effort. What’s better, being recognised by some punk legends or VB itself?
SHEARIN: Thanks very much… difficult question, believe it or not we have a VB vending machine where we rehearse so it’s was always part of the staple. And the psychos. Fark where do I start, the blokes are the epitome of the words ‘hard yards’ and we are big fans. So it was to great to meet ’em.
HAPPY: How do you intend to upstage Cosmic Psychos?
SHEARIN: I don’t think that’s possible. We are definitely gonna get upstaged by the Cosmic Psychos.
HAPPY: What do you think of the competition on the night?
SHEARIN: Well yea we are really looking forward to seeing Mini Skirt, their tunes are dope and Rackett will be a hard task to to beat considering they just won the Rockin’ The Puburbs prize. Will see how it plays out. But best of luck to both of them.
HAPPY: Looking forward to the night! Last question, will we hear some of those new tunes on the night?
SHEARIN: Yeah us as well! We will be performing pretty much all new and unreleased material so come enjoy a cold VB on the house and some cracking tunes.
Shearin’ will be playing alongside Cosmic Psychos, RACKETT and Mini Skirt at the VB Hard Yards finals on November 22nd at The Landsdowne.
We’re giving away a few cheeky double passes this Friday, jump over here to enter.
