Hailer is an up and coming local Sydney band of three that met while looking for a similar path. Whilst on said path, they developed their style and way of life as musicians and song-writers. With five years of escapades under the Hailer belt including three EPs, singles and tours – Phil, Angus and Scott resolved to lay it all down for their first long player Good Canyon, which is out now through Laughing Outlaw Records/Inertia.
What was the first band you saw live?
Well the first gig I ever attended was an under 18’s number down in the southern suburbs of Sydney – triple bill Area 7, Grinspoon and The Living End. I remember my excitement at finally moshing with other people around me and flirting with all the ska goth skater girls. Musical highlights were Grinspoon ripping out ‘Champion’ and the Living Ends cover of ‘Tainted Love’. Skater shoes, baggy shorts and a rage against the machine shirt. My dad picked me up.
What’d you learn from them?
I learnt that if you get enough kids in a room and play loud, tight and with plenty of intensity…they will lose themselves and go nuts and maybe put money towards what looks like a load of fun. I am sure that’s a hindsight thing…at the time the lessons I took away were probably more like “should have gone for sock-ets instead of no socks”…or something blister related.
Got any pre-gig rituals?
Well yeah we just make sure we don’t do anything illegal, don’t break the rules, really just toe all possible nanny state lines and ride into a government sanctioned night out. The post gig rituals are far more vigorous but we’ll save that for the sequel.
What do you think the most important issue facing artists in NSW is?
I would say the most important issue facing NSW artists would be finding places to play original music. It all depends on where you are in the cycle…but when we started out there were a plethora of options for getting a show and now a lot of those venues have closed. To be honest a lot of them probably needed to close or at least change as they were stale, jaded and operated out of default. We need venues as bands should play live…its how you get better…but I don’t think it has to be the same old drill – pay a cover and disappear into a dark room. This one should really be passed onto the pubs, clubs, bars and “spaces” of NSW as it is they are holding the folding – tell us your issues and the artists of NSW shall align in a mighty chorus and provide answers on how to simultaneously contribute to the development of NSW and Australian music whilst keeping the money rolling in. Now…if only we could have a word with the landlords…
If you weren’t a musician, what do you reckon you’d be doing?
Quite possibly what I am doing now, which is working in research at a University. God bless collective bargaining and flexible work conditions….and the pursuit of knowledge of course.