Witch Hats

Witch Hats
Origin Melbourne, Australia
Genres Alternative Rock
Classy Rock
Post-Punk
Years active 2004–present
Labels In-Fidelity Recordings
New York Night Train
Z-Man Records
Longtime Listener
Website Witch Hats bandcamp
Members Kris Buscombe
Ash Buscombe
Robert Wrigley
Matt Cox
Past members Duncan Blachford
Tom Barry

Witch Hats are an alternative rock, classic rock and post punk band based in Melbourne, Australia.

History

Formation & Wound of a Little Horse (2005 - 2007)

The band was formed in late 2005 by guitarist and vocalist Kris Buscombe with drummer Duncan Blachford, who moved to Melbourne from Tasmania to start a band.[1] Shortly after a self-titled demo CD was released, Buscombe recruited his younger brother Ash to play bass. By the time the group was prepared to release their first EP, Wound of a Little Horse produced by Phill Calvert (The Birthday Party) on In-Fidelity Recordings in 2006, Tom Barry had also joined the line-up.[2] A 7-inch single, "Before I Weigh" was released in November 2007 as a teaser for their upcoming debut, Cellulite Soul.[3]

Cellulite Soul & US Tour (2008)

Again working with Phill Calvert, Cellulite Soul was released in March 2008. Shortly after, the band embarked on a US tour with The Drones.[4] While in the US, they released the single "Hellhole" on the New York indie label New York Night Train. They filmed the video clip for their song, "Check the Center" in a desert in Arizona and recorded new material for Solarium Down the Causeway in Oakland, California.[5] Their cover of The Breeders' song "The She" was released on the compilation album Gigantic: A Tribute To Kim Deal (American Laundromat Records).[6]

Solarium Down the Causeway Era (2009 - 2010)

Upon returning to Australia, the group released a second EP, Solarium Down the Causeway in 2009. They were invited to play at the Meredith Music Festival after the US indie rock group Crocodiles cancelled their Australian tour.[7] The band contributed their song "Hellhole" to the soundtrack of Sean Byrne's Australian horror film The Loved Ones. In 2009 Blachford left the group and was replaced by Matt Cox.

Pleasure Syndrome (2011 – present)

In August 2011 Witch Hats released a video clip for a new song, "Hear Martin" (view here).[8][9] They also announced an October release for their sophomore LP, entitled Pleasure Syndrome, produced by US-born producer/engineer Casey Rice (Dirty Three, Tortoise).[10][11] Guitarist Tom Barry left the group shortly after the recording sessions of Pleasure Syndrome and was quickly replaced by Robert Wrigley.[12]

On the 28th of January 2013, a benefit concert was held for the 2013 Tasmanian bushfires relief at The Tote Hotel. The lineup included Witch Hats, the Blackchords, Monique Brumby, Tom Lyngcoln (The Nation Blue), Mike Noga (The Drones), Andy Hazel (Paradise Motel) with former AFL stars Brendon and Michael Gale and Matthew Richardson assisting with BBQ cooking duties. Over $5,500 was raised for The Red Cross Appeal.[13][14][15]

Witch Hats toured Asia for the first time in November 2013, visiting China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.[16][17] A free collected works CD, A China Selection containing three new songs was given to patrons at shows.[18] In an interview with the online publication Shanghai 247, vocalist and primary songwriter Kris Buscombe discussed recording the band's third album, which he intends on sound engineering himself.[19]

Discography

Albums

Compilations

Demos

EPs

Singles

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Witch Hats.