Two of Sydney's favourites of punk, DIY music as well as the radio airwaves, Jay and The Doctor are heading to the Sunshine Coast for a show unlike anything you've ever seen before.
Made famous – or perhaps infamous – by their energetic, passionate and sometimes controversial songs and lyrics, Frenzal Rhomb members Jay Whalley and Lindsay McDougall will return to their so-called ‘spiritual home’, for a mellowed-out version of the band's well known punk-rock anthems.
As the name suggests, 'The Jay & Lindsay Variety Hour' will undoubtedly be a mixed bag, according to lead guitarist, backing vocalist and bass guitarist Lindsay.
The show will include some Frenzal favourites spanning their 25-year reign, a few location-appropriate beach-pop covers, and the unpredictable, yet totally expected banter that the duo are well known for. "[The Frenzal songs] are going to be slower and acoustic but probably not as good," Lindsay laughs.
"They won't be as well played, because without the distortion you seem to hear all the mistakes better, and also Jason [Whalley] can never remember how to play the songs. After he writes them and teaches them to us, he completely forgets how to play them.
“There was one solo show that Jay played in Queensland, and there was a guy in crowd that offered him whatever was in his wallet to play ‘Bucket Bong’, a song off our ‘Sans Souci’ album [2003]. I think it was like $300 – because you're all rich in Queensland – and physically Jay could not do it… so if that guy’s in the crowd again we’ll play it, guaranteed.”
It will all be a bit of fun and games in Noosa, before the former Triple J hosts put their serious faces on at the official election campaign launch of Greens candidate Kirsten Lovejoy. "We have to be a bit more serious, because we're talking about protecting the reef for our children and our children's children and so… if you want to come get serious with us, come down to The Triffid the next day and get involved."
Though campaign launch shows and acoustic galavants aside, it’s been has been five years since Frenzal Rhomb released an album, and naturally the Sydney dudes are busting to get back into the studio. "We had plans to record and release an album last September, but then our drummer [Gordy Forman] decided to break his arm!" Lindsay admits.
“That got put on the back burner for a little while, but we have done some shows with Gordy back. He's got his bionic arm working quite well, so we're going to record, we just have to work out exactly when." Frenzal fanatics will be pleased to hear that. So long as there's no more breakages, Lindsay predicts an album release early next year.
Jay & Lindsay perform 'The Jay & Lindsay Variety Hour' show at Villa Noosa (Sunshine Coast) 4 June. They then headline the music line-up at Unbleach The Reef at The Triffid 5 June.
