The Convicts are a five-piece melodic punk / rock band from the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The music created can best be described as a blend of Californian 90’s punk rock mixed in with Classic 1980’s Australian rock, with a consistent and melodic feel evident throughout the music. The Convicts intend to represent the thoughts and feelings of a disillusioned generation struggling to come to terms in an increasingly desensitized world. Chris Williamson and Grant Lockwood answer our questions.
1. What was the first band you saw live?
My first gig would of have to have been back in the old days of Silverchair and Grinspoon at the Derwent Entertainment Center in Hobart. Hitting the seats up in the all ages area with one of my best mates banging our heads and our chairs, drinking cans of coke to Post Enebriated Anxiety and undecided. - Grant
2. What’d you learn from them?
I learnt that loud bands, cold beer, rowdy slam pits, head banging, checking out cute girls walking by, and freedom of speech was exactly the way I want to spend my days. - Grant
3. Got any pre-gig rituals?
I walk around in the lane / street outside a venue and sing City and Colour songs to myself. If anyone is around to hear me they probably think I’m crazy. Having a sound check dinner with good friends is another, Grant is normally warming up screaming at the world out the back somewhere and doing pushups, Ewan is normally cutting up shirts and sweating and wetting himself with water in the bathroom, Eggy is still on his way, and Toby is normally hanging in the back corner chilling out on a few lagers with friends and the Tattoo crew. - Chris
4. What do you think the most important issue effecting artists in NSW is today?
The biggest issue affecting artists today is the lack of live music venues. Due to the continual increase of poker machines in NSW clubs and pubs the kick of a drum or the strum of a guitar will soon be replaced by the ring of a poker machines free feature. Not only are poker machines destroying Sydney's live music scene, they are also destroying peoples lives and as Tim Freedman said ‘their taking the food off the table so they can say that the trains run on time’. – Chris
5. If you weren’t a musician what do you reckon you’d be doing?
Traveling the world eating the strangest foods I could find! Yeah that sounds about right – Chris
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1. What was the first band you saw live?
The Vines
2. What'd you learn from them?
That Live music is Brilliant!
3. Got any pre-gig rituals?
Not really, we always rehearse though...
4. What do you think the most important issue affecting artist in NSW is today?
Downloading and the cost of Live Touring
5. If you weren't a musician what do you reckon you'd be doing?
Maybe Film...or Art...or something I believed in, like Music
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Photo: Cybele Malinowski
1. What was the first band you saw live?
The first band I saw live was Grinspoon at Manly Youth Cenre.
2. What'd you learn from them?
That playing music looks incredibly fun!
3. Got any pre-gig rituals?
Before a performance I mainly do a bunch of vocal warm ups, drink some hot water and relax with the rest of the band. Right before the show we all get together and hype ourselves up!
4. What do you think the most important issue effecting aritsts in NSW is today?
Probably finding their voice and trying to stand out I think. The situation has improved a lot for NSW artists with more live venues, better licencing laws and the rising popularity of live music. There's a lot on offer now for audiences, more choice means it's harder to get noticed as an artist.
5. If you weren't a musician what do you reckon you'd be doing?
If I wasn't a musician I would be working in film or television production. It's something I've done in the past, working as a production assistant for feature films. I still want to write and produce TV and feature film someday.
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