2006 was the year that End Of Fashion made their mark with their debut, self-titled album.
The album not only won them two ARIA Awards (for hit single 'O Yeah'), it reached thousands of listeners as well as being released in the US. The band is reuniting for a national tour, celebrating the now ten-year anniversary of that album.
Justin Burford, the group's lead singer, explains the reunion tour was an idea that had been kicked around, although it took very particular circumstances for it to come to fruition. “I've started to exercise the phrase never say never!
"Two years ago I got asked a lot if I would play End Of Fashion songs. I was very dismissive. I would say 'nope, no, not going to happen'. But after a series of circumstances and kicking around playing solo shows and festivals I got asked what it would take to play End Of Fashion songs.
"I said a band and budget to pay the band, and then almost by accident a very sudden, rare slot appeared at the Amplifier venue in Perth after a band fell through; we took it and went from there.”
With any reunion tour you would think a sense of pressure would be felt by the musicians involved. Yet, Justin explains the tour itself is not what he has nerves about. "I don’t feel pressure about the tour itself. I don't think external factors can match any internal pressures you have.
“To be really honest, I never saw the band or the album as very important in the sense that I didn't realise the album reached that many people. The positive response for [a] reunion is actually really surprising; I think in some ways I downplayed the success of the album and how many people it reached out to."
When asked what the most exciting part of this tour will be Justin replies enthusiastically. “The audience! It's always better performing live; I always looked at us as a live band. This is no disrespect to anyone we ever worked with on albums, but I don't feel like we have ever nailed who we are on a record.
“The transaction between the audience and the band is without a doubt incredible. The two overwhelming feelings I have are excitement and curiosity, I’m interested to see the crowd reaction."
Along with the excitement of the reunion tour, Justin knew he would have to face the comments he made via a Facebook post in 2014, where he seemingly blamed Triple J for the band's demise. "It got taken out of context really,” Justin explains.
“I don't blame Triple J for the ending of the band. It is really hard to be heard in this country and building a career is doubly hard when you're an up and coming band. When that one outlet decides to move on it becomes a tough situation.
"I'm still a fan of Triple J and a listener. In reflection about the post, I didn't have Triple J in my sights; Triple J had the demographic that was our target audience. The Facebook post was misaligned, I don't blame Triple J."
Nothing is set in stone for the future of End Of Fashion, although Justin is keeping an open mind. "Well, again, never say never to playing another gig or writing new material. Life moves on. I stopped making music for five years then I decided to set up a very basic, home recording studio. I started working on my first solo album 'Coco-Blue', so I have musical outlets. Who knows what will happen."
Written by Ellen Cook
End Of Fashion Tour Dates
Thu 8 Sep - Newtown Social Club (Sydney)Fri 9 Sep - Northcote Social Club (Melbourne)
Sat 10 Sep - The Zoo (Brisbane)
Sun 11 Sep - Rocket Bar (Adelaide)
Thu 15 Sep - Prince of Wales (Bunbury)
Sat 17 Sep - Amplifier (Perth)
