The Vesper Green boys, who are bringing their own slice of Seattle grunge to Brisbane, arrived on the scene with explosive single 'Innocent Illiterate' last December.
However, frontman Nick Ashby, who has also played in local glam-rock outfits, has been frustrated with the shallowness of the music scene. “It moves between [indie-pop and rock music] a lot faster these days.
"A scene used to last around seven to ten years, and now it’s flicking back between them every three to five. We’re trying to bring back riff-led guitar music and make a lasting impression.”
Despite the deep thinking, the band doesn’t take themselves too seriously. Their drummer originally auditioned to be the Vesper Green guitarist and could “barely play White Stripes beats back then,” according to Nick. “Now he’s f#$%ing tonnes better.”
The four-piece have been playing together since late 2016, but have quickly formed a strong bond and a rapport with local audiences. “[At first] people get a bit shocked because there’s not as much heavier stuff out there at the moment,” Nick says.
“Usually we’re billed with cleaner, indie-rock bands, and we’re just fully [sic] in your face, screaming, trying to get a bit more involved.”
The group’s penchant for grunge comes from a real appreciation of the genre’s lyrical depth and musicianship, and lack of regard for the merits of a three-minute single. “It’s all about being relatable in a non-superficial way, with songs that have meaning. It’s about honesty,” Nick says.
The video for 'Innocent Illiterate' took 15 hours for the band to film and chronicles the lead-up to its opening shot: Nick lying in a tuft of grass with a world-spinning hangover.
The band play in various settings including a rather idiosyncratic house party on a night that gets stranger and stranger, and includes some Easter eggs for music junkies who pay close attention. “The more you watch it, the more of a discovery you’ll have,” Nick says.
Part of the filming involved two hours spent perfecting the shot of Nick’s head in the grass. “There’s a lot more bugs living in grass than you think about, when you dig that stuff up,” he says.
“They all come out and suddenly realise it’s not their natural environment. 'What the hell’s going on? Why is someone’s face lying on this?'”
The video, like much of Vesper Green’s lyrics, has meaning beyond the obvious. “The song is about trying to find something of substance in the music industry. When we’re not in those rooms rocking out, everything’s a foreign land to us in a way,” Nick says.
The video is the band’s way of jabbing so-called “party bands” who lack meaning in their music. “They’ll talk about having a good time, smoke some weed, drink some more f#$%ing alcohol, party their troubles away,” Nick says.
“We’re more about facing it and confronting it.”
Vesper Green Tour Dates
Thu 28 Jun - The Foundry (Brisbane)Fri 6 Jul - Valve Bar (Sydney)
Thu 12 Jul - The Tote (Melbourne)
Sun 15 Jul - Last Chance Bar (Melbourne)
Fri 20 Jul - The Bearded Lady (Brisbane)
