There's something special about getting to see your favourite band up close and in person. It's another to get the opportunity to meet them and ask any burning questions you've had over the years.
As part of the promotional run for their upcoming record, 'Oh! The Ocean', due in February, The Wombats offered fans in Brisbane the chance to hang out and party with them at Ric's Backyard earlier this week (2 December).Starting off the late afternoon with a Q&A session, fans heard an inside scoop on 'Oh! The Ocean'. Singer Matthew Murphy shared the origin of the album's name, describing a moment when he became 'aware' of the sea one day when spending time in Los Angeles, where he now lives.
Image © Dylan Hewitson-Bevis
"It's like, all of a sudden, it was all I could really notice. Always just off of the horizon," he said. "I'm aware it sounds silly, but it's one of those things that exists in your periphery until you decide to let it take up all of your view. Oh, indeed."
The band made it clear to fans they intended to shed some of their more self-serious ideas that may have cropped up on previous albums, sharing that forthcoming song 'Kate Moss' is one of their ‘silliest’ songs to date. They hope that with 'Oh! The Ocean' they can recapture the youthful vibes found on their earlier records.
Image © Dylan Hewitson-Bevis
After closing out the Q&A, the meet and greet portion of the evening started. The line to meet the three band members stretched around Ric's Backyard as The Wombats took their time to field questions and chat with everyone who came to the event.
Nobody seemed to be in a hurry, and it felt like a hang-out session rather than a quick 'hello' and a photo. The boys were attentive and seemed genuinely pleased to spend time with everybody who lined up.
Alongside this meet and greet was a live DJ (a surprise appearance on the decks from Adelaide band TOWNS' drummer Daniel Steinert) mixing modern indietronica and classic Wombats songs. After the meet and greet line had reached its end, Wombats bassist Todd Knudsen and drummer Dan Haggis took over, playing songs well into the late evening.
It's not often you get to experience an event as unique as this, getting a sneak preview of an upcoming record and getting to meet the band that made it.
Hopefully, in 2025, we get to see The Wombats take the stage in Brisbane to perform 'Oh! The Ocean'. I know I can't wait to hear 'Kate Moss' live.
More photos from the event.
