Sea Scouts (band)

Sea Scouts
Origin Tasmania, Australia
Genres Noise rock
Years active 1994–2000
Labels Chapter Music
Unstable Ape Records
Zum
Associated acts Mouth
U.F.O (Unlimited Friendly Objective)
Bird Blobs
Love of Diagrams
Ruins
Go Genre Everything
Past members See members list

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

Members

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

References

  1. 1 2 "Interview with Tim Evans" (PDF). Clones and Clones. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  2. 1 2 Schaefer, René. "Go Genre Everything". Mess+Noise. Mess+Noise Pty Ltd. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Schaefer, René (23 February 2009). "Sea Scouts". Mess+Noise. Mess+Noise Pty Ltd. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 "Sea Scouts interview". Off Kilter. 8 March 1997. Archived from the original on 13 April 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  5. ↑ Attlee, Matt. "Tim Evans interview". Aus Music Scrapbook. Archived from the original on 23 June 2002. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  6. 1 2 "Sea Scouts interview". Off Kilter. 26 July 1997. Archived from the original on 15 February 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  7. ↑ Abbott, Alan (1999). "Sea Scouts - Beacon of Hope". Pillowfight. Archived from the original on 25 June 2002. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  8. ↑ "Chapter Music catalogue". Chapter Music. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  9. ↑ "Sea Scouts - Word as a Weapon". Oz Music Project. Archived from the original on 9 September 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  10. ↑ Jacks, Kelso (13 September 1999). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Report. College Media Inc. p. 34. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  11. ↑ Weeks, J (1999). "The Sea Scouts (interview)". Quick Draw Comics. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  12. ↑ "Sea Scouts". Zum Records. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  13. ↑ "Beck's Rumpus Room - Heavy Metal in Baghdad". 2009 Program. Melbourne International Arts Festival. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
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