Sea Scouts (band)

Sea Scouts were a noise rock band, based in Hobart, Tasmania.

Biography

First formation

Following the split of his former band Mouth^[1] in 1994, Tim Evans began jamming with U.F.O. (Unlimited Friendly Objective) frontman Zach von Bamburger.^[2] Fusing the elements of thick, rough analogue guitar noise and hidden melodies, also aided by a drum machine, the duo recorded the $100,000 Dollar Mamal (sic) EP.^[3][4] Vocal and instrumental duties were shared by the duo on the polycarbonate-only pressing, as they were in live shows. Live shows had a tendency to resemble hysteria; consequently only the occasional song would hold together as an elongated, threadbare jam. Shortly after the release of the EP, Monika Fikerle became the band's drummer. Idiosyncratic, but contumelious with the band's minimal yet full sound, Fikerle played her kit with a complete absence of snare drum.^[4] Following a short tour of the mainland, Fikerle left the band.^[3] After playing with numerous briefly included drummers, the band folded six months later.^[3]

Re-formation

A year after parting company with von Bamburger, Evans started the band again with new bassist Alex Pope and in rehearsal they jammed many old songs along with newer ones. They began performing (once again) with a drum machine. After several months of gigging, ex-U.F.O bassist Andy Hazel joined on drums, introducing snare and hi-hat to the previously more stripped-back sound. Several months later Sara May Libero replaced Hazel on drums,^[3] continuing the band's use of (Moe Tucker style) stand-up drummers, albeit minus snare.^[5] On the last day of Spring 1996, in a kitchen in West Hobart, the trio recorded the band's first full length (vinyl only version) LP, Pattern Recognition.^[3] It was released on Chapter Music in 1997,^[4] causing big stirrings amongst a small but growing number of fans.^[6] In early 1998, the band toured Melbourne and Sydney, supporting Pavement^[6] and Archers Of Loaf^[3] before Libero departed and was replaced by Fikerle, who re-joined the group to jam a newer set of songs.^[3]

Later years

In 1998, they recorded a more coarse, further darker and nihilistic Beacon of Hope,^[3] which was released on the Unstable Ape label in December that year.^[7] In the same sessions, the Scouts re-recorded an intentionally cleaner, "less scabby" version of the Pattern Recognition album for CD only.^[3][8] Interestingly, Fikerle had begun consistently reintroducing a sparing amount of snare. They added Adelaide as a new touring destination. In 1999 a re-recording of two early songs from the band's first incarnation were recorded, and the Word as a Weapon"/"Destroy Your Local McDonalds 7" was released on the small, Californian-based label Zum^[9] on 20 August 1999.^[10] Further recordings were also made of a combination of old and new songs, which to this date have never been released.

North American and European tours

In 1999 the Scouts embarked on a tour of North America.^[11] They then crossed the Atlantic into Europe,^[12] joining Ninetynine and, unlike many peers, played in numerous former Eastern Bloc countries.^[3]

Final shows

Returning home later in 1999, it was decided that the band would play its final shows ever in Hobart. The Scouts then played a "grand-final" show at the Corner Hotel in Richmond, Melbourne, on 18 February 2000.^[3]

Aftermath

• Evans, who made a number of cameos with Ninetynine, recorded with that band whilst on the 1999 tour. Shortly after Sea Scouts disbanded, he formed Bird Blobs in Melbourne. The Bird Blobs were active between 1999 and 2005, releasing an EP and two albums on Unstable Ape Records. After the Bird Blobs disbanded, Evans played in Bogan Dust, based in New York City, upon his return to Australia he formed Coconuts and filled in on vocals for Venom P. Stinger for a time.^[1]
• von Bamburger, who founded Mongoose, Monster Monster Monster and Ditchboss, now plays in Go Genre Everything.^[2]
• Fikerle now plays drums with Love of Diagrams and bass with Baseball, both bands being based in Melbourne.
• Pope plays in a black metal outfit in Hobart, Ruins.^[13]

Members

• Tim Evans — vocals, guitar (1994–2000)
• Monika Fikerle — drums (1995, 1997–2000)
• Andy Hazel — drums (1996)
• Sara May Libero — drums (1996–97)
• David Nuss — drums (1995)
• Alex Pope — bass, vocals (1996–2000)
• Zach von Bamburger — vocals, bass (1995–96)

Discography

Albums

• Pattern Recognition - Chapter Music (CH15) (1 August 1997)
• Beacon of Hope - Unstable Ape (PATSY003) (December 1998)

EPs

• $100,000 Dollar Mamal - Independent (1996)

Singles

• "Word as a Weapon" - Zum (ZUM005) (20 August 1999)

References

External links

• MySpace website
• Mess and Noise