The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse are nowhere to be seen.
Phoning in for a chat during the supposed Mayan apocalypse of December 21st, Strangers frontman Ben Britton is feeling a little short changed that the lack of fire and brimstone has meant another 6am wake up for work.
“I wish the apocalypse happened now, it’s really pissing me off” he cracks with mock fury.
Early mornings aside, the singer has plenty of good reasons to see the sun come up again. A wildly popular album in Persona Non Grata, a rapidly selling tour, and an invitation to play the universally revered South By Southwest Festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. The festival which last year sounded the arrival of DZ Deathrays (and saw them booted offstage for being too loud) could well by the international springboard Strangers are looking for.
Britton outlines their gruelling tour schedule: “We knew we were going for it, we were just waiting on confirmation so when we got locked in we were just like ‘aw shit, this is going to be awesome’.”
“We’re trying to do some other things around it (SXSW), I think we’re going to New York and doing a couple of showcases there and then Austin and L.A. Then we’re jumping over to Canada for Canadian Music Month,” he adds of their international visit.
Despite Strangers’ jam packed itinerary, Britton acknowledges that all work and no play make a dull band. “We’re very excited. I’ve never been to Austin or America for that matter,” gushes the Sydneysider.“…There is nothing worse than being stalked by a bad album, I got stalked by St Anger by Metallica for years.”
“I’ve been hearing so many stories and I don’t want to hear them because I get too excited and overstimulated. One of our friends Kane Hibberd (aka Soundwave photographer Kanye Lens) sent us an email going ‘Prediction: Strangers will enter with five guys and leave with four’- I’m a little bit worried!” he laughs.
Having had the good fortune in their relatively short career to support big names such as Good Charlotte and English glam rockers The Darkness; Britton recalls the lasting impression left on him as a performer. Well perhaps not from the KFC spruiking Madden twins.
“I didn’t really watch the Good Charlotte shows. I mean I watched them but I didn’t take a huge amount from them, honestly. They’re great and they have been doing it for a long, long time but when it comes to watching The Darkness play…” he trails off before recovering quickly, “Permission To Land was one of my favourite records, it was tongue in cheek, it was quirky, and it was fucking amazing.”
“Justin Hawkins is a fucking amazing frontman, he just controls the crowd, and he is such an entertainer. At the same time, the whole band plays so well according to each other. Touring with that sort of band, you take a lot on board and try and incorporate those little skills. We were just kids and playing with The Darkness was just a great feeling,” you can almost hear his smile down the phone.
A formidable frontman himself, Britton admits that developing his larger than life stage presence was a long process. “When we first started out we were all nervous and looking at the ground a lot and you don’t know what to say, I guess it’s like a learning experience like anything. You kind of get to a point where you have been playing for a little while and you go ‘fuck this, I just don’t care what anyone thinks’ and you let your hair down and just go for it.”
Turning the conversation over to the making of their album Persona Non Grata, the vocalist laughs when it is mentioned that the album is getting so much of a workout that it is practically stalking and converting all that cross its towering path.
After clarifying that it is “a good stalk” Britton quips, “there is nothing worse than being stalked by a bad album, I got stalked by St Anger by Metallica for years.”
Persona Non Grata saw the band join forces with Shihad drummer-turned-producer-turned-manager Tom Larkin, who quickly took the reins behind the studio desk. Brothers in hard rock arms, the partnership is one that has an awed Britton stumbling on his words. “Well, aw. I mean- Shihad!?” he exclaims simply enough but when prodded elaborates, “Tom came with his ancient wisdom, as we like to call it, and the thing is- he’s done it. Shihad are a great songwriting band and a great live band.”“Who has the worst taste in music? I get a lot of dirty looks when I blast Florence And The Machine!”
Larkin’s 20 or so years in the music industry proved invaluable for Strangers and saw them also join Larkin’s Homesurgery stable of artists. “We learned a lot from Tom and when the songs started coming together we were looking for a manager at the time,” explains Britton.
“We were really lucky in that sense – having someone as passionate about our music as we are. I think that is important for relationships in this sort of industry. You face a lot of highs and you also face a lot of lows at the same time. We’re really stoked with everyone who is on board,” the vocalist concludes happily.
With their upcoming national tour looming, Strangers have a more than a few long drives ahead of them, which begs the age old question: who has the worst taste in music? Britton takes a lengthy, measured brefore before diplomatically answering, “we’re all on the same page with that one.”
‘Oh really?’ The singer laughs and confesses “well, Benny K is really stuck in a time warp when it comes to 90s punk rock, he is a massive Descendents and Black Flag fan. He grew up on the old school kind of punk rock thing which is awesome but sometimes it is like ‘aw, another double time band coming on? Here comes Benny K’s choice for the week!’ I mean I get a lot of dirty looks when I blast Florence And The Machine.”
So what happens when the worst of the worst comes out? When St Anger rears its unloved head again? Apparently a quick flick out the window of a speeding car does the trick: “That is awesome!” Britton laughs, “We call it ‘sign that to Roadside Records!’”
Persona Non Grata is out now through Shock, read the Tone Deaf review here. Strangers are currently on tour around the country, dates and details below.
THURSDAY 7TH FEBRUARY @ ED CASTLE, ADELAIDE SA
With special guests The Dead Love & The Pretty Littles
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix outlets
FRIDAY 8 FEBRUARY @ WORKERS CLUB, MELBOURNE VIC
With special guests The Dead Love & The Pretty Littles
Tickets available from www.theworkersclub.com.au | 1300 724 867
THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY @ NEWPORT HOTEL, FREMANTLE WA
With special guests Further Earth & Coveleski
Tickets available from www.heatseeker.com.au | 08 6210 7270 & www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All corresponding outlets
FRIDAY 15 FEBRUARY @ PRINCE OF WALES, BUNBURY
With special guests Further Earth
Free Entry
SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY AMPLIFIER, PERTH WA
With special guests Further Earth & Coveleski
Tickets available from www.heatseeker.com.au | 08 6210 7270 & www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All corresponding outlets
SUNDAY 17 FEBRUARY @ INDI BAR, SCARBOROUGH WA
With special guests Further Earth
Tickets available from www.heatseeker.com.au | 08 6210 7270 & www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All corresponding outlets
