Reggae, funk, hip hop, groove band, Drop Legs will return to the stage next month as part of Byron Music Festival.
With current single 'Ghost' alongside a number of 2020 hits like 'Jonny Griggs', 'Shout' and 'Vices', the Byron Bay locals will be a bundle of energy onstage as they join a line-up that also features Wolfmother, Hayley Mary, Kyle Lionhart, The Sidemen, Tijuana Cartel and Bobby Alu.Ahead of the show, the band's frontman Hamilton Blacket sat down for a quick chat about the history of Drop Legs, making a fool of himself onstage, the time the band got stuck inside a lift post-gig, his go-to pasta recipe (his mum's) and the best place for a 2am feed in Byron.
Who is Drop Legs... We are five friendly fellas residing between Ocean Shores and Lennox Head. We have a big family we made through playing music together over the last five years. We hang out heaps away from music commitments and I think that's important to keep things lovely.
Apart from fronting the Dropppiez, I'm heavily involved in production for a couple of other projects and I paint houses on the side to support this.
We sound like... Mmm hard to nail, but a mix between Gorillaz and Sublime?
Our first gig was... With our current line-up probably five to six years ago at the Yamba hotel, TAB screens blaring with some dude screaming at us to play Limp Biscuit or "Kaisan", classic stuff.
When did you settle on the group's name, and was it a unanimous decision... Myself and the drummer Jase split from another band called Desa Mani and played gigs under the name La Mezcla ('the mix' in Spanish) and RIG (Rhymes In Groove) but then we had this little Jamaican slang dictionary with all these cool terms like Bruckout and Dat Shot, however Drop Legs (meaning to bust out and dance) was the one that stuck.
In the studio we usually... Stretch heaps, bring healthy fresh food from home and micro-dose the local mushrooms (gold tops baby).
If I could tour with anyone... I'd love to tour with this Brazilian band called Boogarins. My brother in law toured with them in Argentina and said they changed his perspective on music. They are really experimental live and in the studio, and went and recorded in the Amazon and made this cool magazine about it.
Social media is... A useful tool and a curse on society.
My favourite app at the moment is... Spotify Artists app – you can see in which distant lands people are diggin' your tunes. It is also another app that indicates if your killing it or not with listener numbers and graphs etc. so I try not to check it all that often.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... I made a little tower of milk crates at Island Vibe festival and jumped up to get the crowd going, but as soon as I got up I tripped and crashed down into my keyboard, busting my wrist on the stage (and breaking it). Everyone was like 'ooooo!'; felt like such an idiot.
Life on the road can be... Arduous; physically and mentally, but also time where you can feel free from your usual day-to-day life at home.
If you'll have us on your bill, all we ask is that our rider contains... Smokey Japanese Whiskey. Good for vocals, less hangover, great to share around.
The most scary scenario we've found ourselves in, was... After playing The Landsdowne (in Sydney) we crammed about 20 people into this sh.tty hotel lift and were kinda partying in there and it got stuck.
It even slipped down, freaking the hell out of everyone; we called the lift assistance and waited in this steamy, stinking lift for around an hour. They had to get into the lift shaft and it was this massive ordeal.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band... Courtney Barnett. I love her take on the world, how she subtly takes the piss – she's hilarious.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose? New Orleans, for the music and culture.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Lou Reed, Mac DeMarco and Patti Smith. I think the conversations would be out there, and they would be keen to kick on.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Egg plant, capers, cherry tomatoes, parsley and kalamata olive pasta in olive oil; my mum's recipe. Oh and plenty of Shiraz.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? Love my cat Cleopatra, no dogs at the moment.
No matter the expense, send me a case of... Asahi Black.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... A year ago.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Mowing the lawn.
Do you have any phobias... Can't stand loud chewing, not sure why it just does my head in. Apparently it's an actual thing called 'misophonia' or something.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? No, they make people look soooo bad – have you heard about 'Byron Baes'? Why would you do that to yourself!
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? Jase our drummer because he gets everyone. Maybe rip his tyres off and put his van on besa bricks out the back of the venue.
Best local takeaway joint for a 2am feed that will leave you with a food coma?
Only real option in Byron is pizza or kebabs, and I would go Bay Kebabs. We all wish there was a 2am pho options though!
Last show you binge-watched? 'The Serpent' on Netflix.
Drop Legs 2021 Tour Dates
Sun 30 May - Craft Beer & Cider Festival (Sunshine Coast)Fri 18 Jun - Felons Barrel Hall (Brisbane)
Sat 19 Jun - Byron Music Festival (Byron Bay)
2021 Byron Music Festival takes place 18-20 June.
Byron Music Festival 2021 Line-up
WolfmotherHayley Mary
Kyle Lionhart
The Sidemen
Tijuana Cartel
Bobby Alu
Drop Legs
Wharves
The Oogars
Mylee Grace
The Buckleys
Family Jordan
Narli
Kimmy
Nidala
Sophie Ozard
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