Adelaide progressive-pop four-piece, The Cameramen will be showcasing a new side to the band when they 'take over' microbrewery The Left Barrel Taproom at Adelaide Fringe.
After an enforced hiatus “reinventing the band” the past eight months, Richard Sallis (lead vocals, guitar), Daniel Altmann (drums, vocals, ukelele), Tom de Prinse (piano, synth, sax) and Lenni Hemsely (bass) can't wait to perform their new, original material.The band will be ‘taking over’ microbrewery The Left Barrel Taproom in the Adelaide Hills; what can punters expect from the show?
Richard: Forget everything you thought you knew about us before, we're going to be introducing to the world a whole-new Cameramen. We took the last eight months off totally reinventing ourselves, and The Left Barrel show will be the first time punters get to experience it.
The band has more members in it now, more instruments and voices. So if nothing else, it will be a bigger sounding show than anything we've ever done before. The bulk of the set will be brand-new material, which sounds totally different from anything we've done previously. Of course, we'll be playing a couple of old favourites too, but with a twist. Come along and you'll see what I mean.
We’re told there will also be food trucks and pizza at the show; what is the band’s favourite type of food truck?
Tom: I live and die for a good hot dog. You never feel guilty eating unhealthy food from a food truck; well, at least I don’t. So the more meat, cheese and bread, the better.
For those unacquainted with the style, sound of the band, what is the elevator pitch to get them on the dance floor?
Richard: We're weird, but the good kind of weird. Let's all be weird together.
Tom: I think our most danceable moments are generally in bad dancing time signatures like 7/8, so sometimes our dance floor can be a little confusing, but that’s the best bit about it honestly. We like to play with people’s expectations
Richard: I reckon we can make people dance to it. I welcome the challenge.
The night also features support acts Something To Rescue and The Halfway Charlies; what can you tell us about those bands?
Tom: We’ve played with The Halfway Charlies a few times before, and they’re super fun and energetic.
We played with them on a Thursday night in the city a while back and it was the most hyped I've ever seen a Thursday night get. Something To Rescue are an Adelaide Hills band who have been established in the music scene for a long time, and always sound fantastic.
The band released the EP ‘It’s Nice To Meet You’ last year; are there plans to record another release of original music?
Richard: Yes. Our second album is written, demoed and ready to go. We just need to finish some of the recording and start setting some release dates. It's a brand-new sound for us, a stylistic reinvention. I'm very excited for people to hear it.
Tom: We all like the idea of full-length albums as their own stand-alone work of art. An EP might be easier to release, but the next album has come together so well as a demo that we don’t want to break it up, despite the work that will be involved.
As locals, what does Adelaide Fringe mean to you?
Tom: Fringe is always a big deal. The way the city changes to accommodate it is so exciting; having something so consuming that you can’t avoid it is wonderful, because no one can make excuses not to go to at least one performance during the month.
Get off the fence; are you cheering for the Crows or Power?
Tom: Crows, but only because the fence isn’t an option.
Richard: I’ve gotta say Power because my dad might be reading.
Any plans for interstate shows in 2020?
Tom: I hope so. It’s a stage every Adelaide band does get to, the whole road trip to Melbourne in a packed-out van. We’ve never made the trip across the border so the first time is pretty daunting, but with new music out, it would be fantastic to tour it.
Rest of 2020 for the band?
Richard: Other than finishing and releasing the new album, another priority is getting the new member's experience points up. Given we have a new show, a way of performing and some new songs to promote, we're looking forward to going out there and sharing it with as many people as possible.
Tom: And also experimenting live further. Having new members really opens up so many possibilities for us.
