Things to make and do

Hello people,
The Owls here, posting after a long-winded hiatus over the festive season. That's not to say that we haven't been busy though. The boys have been toiling over the last few weeks over a number of performances and projects. Firstly thanks to everyone who came along to Morriset's New Beginnings festival. It was bloody hot and those who made the trek to the two day camper caught the likes of The Protectors, The Holidays, The Seabellies and of course us! That said, it was a pretty odd festival we felt - not really taking into consideration the liberties the average punter expects from an Aussie camper. Anyhow we all had fun.
Secondly, anyone who has the marvel of satellite TV may have seen our mugs during the rock-doco of WA's JD Set. Pretty funny stuff really. If you're interested get onto the information super-highway and check out the hijinks's at www.thejdset.com.au.
Now as for the couple of weeks, the Owls are pleased to announce the near completion of some new material! Super excited for this boys and girls. We've spent the last two weeks travelling between Sydney's BJB Studios and the marvellous 301 Studios, completing four new songs to be released as singles over the coming months. For anyone who got involved with the debut EP, I must say, without any ego, that these tracks are really showing the raw live feel of our shows and are really showing what we've learnt over the last year of playing and writing.We're proud of our baby.
It also involved a lot of sleepless nights, cigarettes, and Wez sleep walking almost every second evening in the ultra humidity. What a roller coaster!
In related news, we'd also like to thank Blake Rainey of Puzzleface Films for the camera work he's been doing with us over the last month. Punters will be happy to know that we're releasing a web-doc to coincide with the first single, giving fans a peek behind the scenes at performances, interviews with the members and in-studio footage of the band doing what they do best. Stay tuned for that one.
The last week has been particularly kind to us. We got a sneak peek of some of Sydney band The Preachers new material. Very classy stuff, It reminded me a little of early Fleetwood Mac, but with better guitar. They'll be playing shows with us during the single launch tour - to be announced over the next month.
We were also lucky to be recording next door to a band that we played with at the Beach Road Hotel in Bondi not too long back by the name of The Jezabels. It would seem as though we may be expecting some new material from them in the near future. They got a well deserved nod from voters during the Hottest 100 too. Good stuff team!
Finally, we're heading to Sydney for a gig at MUM at World Bar on Feb 4th, with Forrests and the Frowning Clowns. Starts at 8PM so if your in the neighbourhood get involved.
Until next time kids,

Love The Owls

Rotto and the Doctor

Well a lot to tell over the past week so I'll just begin where I remember. After a very little amount of sleep in Enmore, Sydney we awoke bright and early to begin our voyage to Fremantle,WA.
After a shockingly sleep-deprived drive to Sydney airport, and a rickety flight we finally landed in boiling surrounds to meet our driver Brett. He was an absolute legend and was actually friends with another Newcastle band, Here Come the Birds (RIP), who met the guy on their voyage here not too long back.
It was around this time that Wez was berated for forgetting the actual video for the video camera (and its charger) and we were then told that it didn't work very well either - which is problematic considering we're in the process of getting a series of web-doc's off the ground.
So after a nice little meal at some place I can't remember, we made our way toward the ferry dock for our trip to Rottnest island. Our trip to the island had begun.
So interestingly you can drink on the ferry over there - it actually has a bar! This is something we didn't utilise on our trip over, but it became an integral part of the evening later. Finally we arrived - and what a sight - crystal clear water, yachts lining the coast with revelers already well and truly into party mode and an outdoor stage primed and ready to go.
We were pumped.
As we got to the green room (admittedly a rarity for us poor musos) we were given a bottle of JD, a bottle of Vodka and were told all the food and bar was free. We began preparing for our sound-check, having a cheeky bevvy as we went along.
It was hot, and I mean HOT! Like dry and unyielding heat that made you dread ever packing a pair of skinny jeans. Josh had been quite ill over the past days, and the dehydration wasn't helping his position. Lewis was keen to party and Wez was his usual bubbly self.
Finally sound -check began, but not before getting interviewed by former Channel [V] host, Jabba, who attempted to probe us for nerves but just got four pretty shy operators. I can't remember what was said, but Wez maybe said something suss from recollection.
Some time later we finally hit the stage, and like magic the Fremantle doctor kicked in and cooled the whole event down. We played rad I thought (subject to opinion of course!) and got a good response from a crowd that until that afternoon hadn't ever heard of us. All and all a fab start to the evening, with a host of new tunes in the mix too.
But the party didn't stop there.
Next on the bill was WA locals, Gyroscope, who absolutely killed it. Massively tight set, and at one point front-man Dan scaled the fence of the venue with a wireless guitar and began ripping in the water to the delight of all those without tickets.
I was giving out our EP's and talking to the sound techs about the merits of the Xbox 360. 
The crowd was pumped by the time the Gyro boys finished up, and next off the bat was The Living End, who brought their rock and roll sensibilities into full force with a set packed with classics and a couple of new tunes from their forth-coming album.
Meanwhile, the partying had significantly escalated. Josh was severely unwell, Wez was chain-smoking with Lewis (also quite sick from a horrid flu) and I had drunk enough beer to be forced to convert to (gasp) vodka red bulls. I have typed the drinks name in lower case because of what they did to me the next day. Not cool.
So the next thing I remember, I'm at a table with about 20 people, talking to Jabba about the merits of 20th century Australian rock, and scabbing cigarettes off the Gyro boys.
Next scene, we're carrying gear onto the ferry while I'm talking to Chris Cheyenne (of Living End fame). We're all lead past the ferry lines to the front of the queue, and upon entering the boat me and Lewis begin free-pouring JD and cokes in front of a security guard - who doesn't seem to mind.
We arrive on the docks finally, farewell Gyroscope and the Living End and our driver begins the trip back to the hotel. The next thing I know, I'm totally out of it and Lewis is in hysterics as Wez attempts to climb the side of the hotel with the bottle of JD and a 2-litre bottle of coke. He did it too.
I awoke some hours later, near death and fearful. Lewis wasn't much better. Everything I ate and drunk pained me. Brett drove us to the airport and we said our final goodbyes, making promises that we'd be back soon.
Incidentally we return to WA in March, with a run of shows starting on the 19th.The Rotto gig was ultimate, and we're really hoping to see some of the people who enjoyed out set at on of the shows in the new year.
Our next gig is NYE at the Lass 'O Gowrie, which will be (as always) awesome.
I'll keep you posted on any other shenanigans we've got on.

Love, The Owls

P.s - Recording new tracks in January. Sweet!

Welcome to the Island

OK peeps what's up with you?

So we've just come off the back of a lot of  NSW gigs; so thanks to everyone who has been coming along to support us. Things got messy during the Octagon Fund-Raiser, and for all who came along to support we all appreciated it.

Got a pretty sweet (almost) full page spread in the Newcastle Herald regarding our lovely band. Anyone who read it should give us a yell and tell us what you thought. Also I've been seeing a lot of people taking photos recently at gigs. Get those bad boys online! Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or right here is fine by us. 

So Rottenest fast approaches (this weekend) and I must say we're all very excited. Playing with the likes of The Living End and Gyroscope is going to be pretty darn nuts. The boys told me that the show is on in like the afternoon too. Dangerous. Trapped on the island. With a rider. That JD will probably organise. Heavy.

We are going to be putting on one hell of a show,  so to everyone that's coming along to the gig we look forward to seeing you there. AND to those who really really enjoy the show and are WA locals, we're currently in the process of setting up some other dates there in March - so stay tuned and we'll get you some sweet dates and stuff.

We've been pushing some new songs, and I can now announce that we're heading back into the studio in January to begin the recording of three of them!

Everyone is very excited for it, let me tell you, and they'll be a lot more dancy-come-energetic songs this time around - good energy -  so if your looking for a slow burner these songs won't be it.

First single (and possibly a clip to go with it) will be out probably February. When I know more so will you.

Other than that it's just another day in the office for the boys. Wez is suffering from a cold, but smoked a pack of ciggies on Saturday so I believe he's on the mend. Lewis is probably working on his VW beatle about now (new hubcaps) and Bailey managed to loose his wallet like twice in 24 hours. He's dangerous with things that are a pain in the arse to loose.

And I am listening to Queens of the Stone Age, talking to you lovely people.

We'll tell you how the weekend goes,

Love, The Owls

We Won!

First things first. We'd just like to say thanks so much for all the love and support we've received over the last month or so regarding the JD set. Your votes got us through the competition and we WON! They're shipping us out to WA for a show on Rottnest Island with rock and roll heavy-hitters The Living End and Alt-punk-rock aficionados Gyroscope.

It's going to be a super-sized event for us and we're just lucky that do many of you lovely people got behind the competition. It all just seems a little dreamy at the moment,especially after lucking out with Fat as Butter this year too.

OK so I guess you're wondering what's been happening. Well we've been writing quite a lot of new stuff and if you get a chance to catch us soon I think you'd be into it. Fast-paced and quite swampy too. We're going to have you kids dancing mark my words.

We have a gig this Saturday if you're in Newcastle too. I'd love to see you there if your local, its a charity gig at the Lass O Gowrie hotel -and over a dozen bands are playing too. It's going to be a big one and where better to enjoy this warm weather than the Lass (anyone who's familiar with the place's beer garden would agree with me).

And what else has been happening? Well we just came back from a show up North at The Gallery in Green Point, Forster. Intimate atmosphere, lovely people and all-in-all a great night. A big shout out to Norm and the gang - lovely people.

There has also been talk of The Owls playing a little festival in the near future. But that, my friends, will have to wait until our next post.

Love, The Owls

Time is on our side

Hello again my feathered friends,
Today marks the second week of the JD Set competition. As many of you would know, by logging on to www.thejdset.com.au you can vote for our lovely band, and if all goes well we'll be getting a gig with The Living End at Rottnest Island in WA!
Time is running out (contrary to the name of this particular post) so keep voting! Every day is a new vote too and we really need your help to bring this puppy home and get our little Novacastrian outfit onto the National platform.
As for weekly events, we've been toiling on some new tunes which are looking pretty spiffy. Nice driving intensity breaking through these ones so we're really looking forward to getting them out there. Speaking of which, if any of you lovely people are out in Newcastle on Saturday, we'll be playing at the Great Northern Hotel with out-of-towners BUNT.
We'd love to see you there in support. Next week we'll be hitting the road again. But I'll get you some moredetails on that as the week progresses.
Get voting!
Love, The Owls

So. Darn. Busy.

Hello again my friendly little feathered friends,

What an incredible week of Owls news. First things first; we have been toiling away in preparations for the upcoming Fat As Butter festival in Newcastle. The vibe is looking to be pretty fabulous at this point, and we'd still really like to see as many friendly faces as possible at the gig, which will start about midday.
Again if you have cameras (or even better a video camera) get some footage and send some copies through to us. Who knows, you might be the winner of the t-shirt/EP combo!
Secondly, we have been nominated in the JD set. This competition exists to support upcoming artists and bands with the grand prize of a gig on Rottenest Island in WA with old-school rock and rollers The Living End. The comp goes for two weeks starting today, so we're encouraging as many people as possible to get on board and support our attempts at kicking some butt in a competitive sense.
The voting is easy as pie. Just head to the JD set website ( www.thejdset.com.au ), register and cast your virtual ballot! Simple!
We'd really like your support on this people, so anyone who's been enjoying the tunes get behind us. There's even a lucky ticket combo offered by JD to come and see the gig.
In local news, we've got a gig this Wednesday at the Cambridge Hotel for the Shake-Up. If you are heading out, or are a Uni student revelling in the cheap drinks that are an atypical mid-week event, then come along and hum a few bars.
There has also been talk about a possible single release soon, you'll know more when we do.
Until next week,

Love The Owls

Well here we go my feathered friends

Hello and welcome to the Nest!

Today marks the first of our weekly correspondence with you wonderful girls and boys who would like to keep up to speed with all things Owls orientated.
 It's been a rather wonderful time for our little four-piece band; relentlessly touring the east coast of Oz, pushing our debut EP and, most recently, getting some rad kudos from Triple J - being offered a spot on Newcastle's Fat as Butter line-up and getting another artist spotlight on the Unearthed website.
The boys and myself have just wrapped up a most excellent weekend of performances too. We played with an excellent array of acts on Friday at the Cambridge Hotel, most notably a sick band called The Novocains. Some really high-energy stuff.
To all the peeps who made it to the gig we'd like to say thanks. It's always good to see local support for any travelling bands, and it only benefits you wonderful people, cause at the end of the day we'd like to see Newy prosper in a musical sense, and that's only going to happen if we all get behind the scene.
Saturday marked a pretty fun night in Sydney too. We had a mini-bus moving the kiddies down to Sydney for Sosueme at the Gaelic Theatre for a big list of names, including grunge-country-rockabilly animals Doc Holiday takes the shotgun and DJ Alison Wonderland. Great venue and good vibes were found by all. Those kids are rowdy!
We hope to keep up transport for anyone who is keen to come along to our gigs, so if you are interested give us a yell via this website, Facebook or MySpace and we'll do our best to make sure you're on the road trip.
Fat as Butter was a complete surprise, and we are really excited for the prospect of playing with the likes of Wolfmother, Tame Impala, Children Collide and Ice Cube. Yeahhh Yeahh. We hope too get as many people along to the show as humanly possible, and if you've already got a ticket come on down early to catch us - we aim to please and you'll get some rad entertainment for your troubles.
Additionally, we'd love anyone who is around and has a camera at the festival to get snapping! Send us your fav shots and the best couple are going to get used on our website and multimedia pages - and will get a free t-shirt and EP. Score!. We look forward to seeing some celluloid festival ambiance.The film kind.
We've been writing a fair bit of new material too, and the next couple of show will see us showcasing it so if you like what you've been hearing we look forward to getting your thoughts. For those who can't get tix to FAB we'll be playing the Great Northern Hotel in Newcastle on the 30th of October if you'd like to catch a free gig.
Stay tuned for gig shenanigans, dates and news on the band. Now that we've got all the formalities out of the way we hope to keep you lovely people in the know so keep tuning in to the blog. And our apologies for how long it's taken to get this bad boy rolling.

See you next week,
Love, The Owls.