The Exploders | Musician/band
The Exploders
Reviews
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24.01.2022 Hey. Im working on a track by track thingo for Easy And The Sun. While youre waiting - heres a video from the first few days or so we were in Dallas TX to record. It features us working on a song we recorded but never released called, Mr Rumble.... I also found some blog entries (I mustve chucked them up on MySpace back then, haha!) from around this time on an old hard drive. I might chuck them up over the next few days for a laugh. https://youtu.be/HJC_27Tq1SU
24.01.2022 Hey folks. The Exploders have just been announced to headline an invite-only event out in the bush near Ballarat on April 25th. If you reckon youre keen to attend then get in touch with us and well let you know how you can acquire an invite.
24.01.2022 Hey. If anyone wants Exploders albums from $1 each, go here: https://rubberrecords.com/collections/moving-sale
23.01.2022 Paul’s band Localles have a new single out. The film clip made during the covid iso lockdown is pretty funny. Check it out
22.01.2022 Hey. Im gonna chuck up the track by track thingos for Easy And The Sun starting tomorrow morning. Ill stagger them out like last time so its not too much to read in one go. Cheers
22.01.2022 CANCER SUCKS!!!! Ever since we played our first show together at The Duke of Windsor in 2004 or 2005, 67 Special and The Exploders were like peas and carrots (us being the carrots). We had many a show and a good time together, so it is painful to see someone like Ash who was always such a happy, energetic guy being struck down with something so awful. Please give if you can
21.01.2022 Red Eagle just released this song today. Were learning the words so we can sing along on Friday night at The Loft: https://www.facebook.com/redeagleband/posts/10155441001745582
20.01.2022 If youve ever had the pleasure of enjoying watching live music at one of Victorias many awesome music venues, then please consider signing this e-petition. Cheers
20.01.2022 Heres another interview I found on the old hard drive. Must be from some time in 2005 I reckon: How did the band come together? We all knew each other in high school and had at various times flirted with the idea of writing music and starting a band, but had never settled on a style and taken to it that seriously. Officially we came together over the summer of 2003/2004 Just prior to then TJ had scammed some money off his folks and decided to transform a dilapidated asbesto...Continue reading
19.01.2022 2 weeks til our pair of special gigs weve got happening. Tell your friends: https://www.facebook.com/events/1588659021410627/
19.01.2022 If anyone missed out or is keen to get one of these tees, send us an inbox. We still have some left. Theyre $20 (not including postage if needed). You probably wont look as good as Louis does in it, but thems the breaks.
18.01.2022 Hi. Did anyone know we had an imdb page? I didnt until recently. For those who are self isolating and looking for something to do, watch this movie and try and work out when you hear the song Pretty Girls off our second album, Easy and The Sun? https://youtu.be/tm5yM0v9I5U
18.01.2022 Getting pretty darned pumped for The Loft tomorrow night and HutJam on Saturday!!!! Ensure you come and swear along to this little ditty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NKreHLvJ5g
18.01.2022 EASY AND THE SUN Little Summer Dress TJ wrote this song in late 2006 or early 2007, not too long before we recorded it. His lyrics were inspired whilst in Brisbane on tour in November 2006. TJ recorded a demo version of it at the cottage where he was playing all the instruments. Im not sure if this demo version still exists or not. This album version was recorded with Dave Parkin at Sing Sing South in early 2007. It features TJ on guitar and lead vocals and Paul on bass an...Continue reading
17.01.2022 Hey all. Today marks 16 years since our very first gig on Thursday 13th of May 2004 at The Nash in Geelong. I dont remember all that much about it now it was that long ago. ... What I do remember is: - we headlined (Genevieve got people talking and built up such a hype about us in Geelong that there were actually a fair few people there) - the support band were some sort of emo band from Geelong called, Chasing Butterfly (I still remember their name as the lead singer asked me whether it was true that we just signed with EMI - Im not how we wouldve managed that without playing a gig yet....? Good hyping Gen!) - It was TJs first time singing in front of a crowd (and he was so nervous I was beginning to think he would freak out and pull out of the gig - he didnt and he was awesome) - We played 3 covers in the set (Mollys Chambers by Kings of Leon, Paranoid by Black Sabbath and I think maybe Sorry by The Easybeats...?) - It was lots of fun and I drank lots of beer. I dont have any photos from it, but if anyone on here has, please chuck a few in the comments section. Id love to see them. What I do have is an article from June 2004s Forte Magazine that good friend of the band Andrew Katzer found recently. Its an amusing trip down memory lane.
16.01.2022 Just over 3 weeks til we play at The Loft and at Hut Jam!!! Weve still got literally a few of these tees left if you wanna get geared up for the gigs. 1 x small, 1 x medium and 2 x large. $20 a pop (plus postage)
16.01.2022 Easy and the Sun This song was originally written some time in the latter half of 2005. It had been included in our live set since it was first written. We recorded the album version in Dallas, Texas with Stuart Sikes in August/September of 2006. It features TJ on guitar and lead vocals, Paul on bass, backing vocals and theremin, and Britto on drums. Im assuming I was the one hitting the annoying single notes on the piano as well. There were a few minor changes made from t...Continue reading
16.01.2022 Hitting shit, singing songs, one of the worst hangovers ever and possible the raddest dude on the planet: Wednesday the 6th Tuesday the 12th of September 2006. Wednesday the guitars were still being jack-asses. But as the saying goes, the show must go on, and it did. We pushed on and got it done eventually. TJ must have tuned up about 27,432 times by the end of that debacle. No shit!!! That day and the next few we also mixed it up a little and had a little fun, thank Chri...Continue reading
16.01.2022 Track 10 - Fuzz Bomb This track first appeared on our first demo aka The Cottage Demo under the title of Sonar Fuzz Bomb. It features TJ on everything (vocals, guitars, bass, kazoo, weird mouth noises, thigh percussion, other noises) except for the piano accordion which was played by Paul. The original version of the demo did not feature the piano accordion. FUN FACT: Paul was stuffing around with the piano accordion and decided to save it on top of the original demo versio...n about a year or so after the original demo had been recorded. This piano accordion version of the demo was accidentally passed on to be re-mixed/re-mastered instead of the original demo and we didnt realise until it was too late to change. Track 11 - Everybody Knows This track first appeared on the second demo Special Revolver Release. It was recorded during The Leigh and Macgregor Sessions. It features TJ on lead vocals/guitar, Paul on bass/backing vocals and Britto on drums. FUN FACT: Im pretty sure we only performed this song live once. It was at an OxFam benefit gig in what used to be the underground McDonalds on Moorabool Street, Geelong. I believe this gig was the one where Adrian Sterling came across us and asked us if we wanted to record a few songs (resulting in the Revolution sessions). Hidden Track (Track 12) - The Personal Correspondence of Major Algernon Mufflebottom This track was not listed on the album artwork and not credited, so it was somewhat treated as a hidden track on the CD version of the album, although it was Track 12. There is about 20 seconds of silence at the end of Everybody Knows. I think the plan was people might turn the CD off once the silence kicked in? And then if they didnt they got the absolute pleasure of hearing this song. On the online and streaming versions of the album its full title of The Personal Correspondence of Major Algernon Mufflebottom is provided. Theres still 20 seconds of silence at the end of Everybody Knows though. This track first appeared at the end of our first demo aka The Cottage Demo. It was recorded at TJs cottage at some time in late 2003. It features TJ on bass, chorus vocals, random yells and lead mumble. Paul features on drums, left/right/lefts, chorus vocals and lead vocals at the end. I think TJs bass line was recorded first. Then Paul was just fidgeting on the drums and singing along stupidly one day and TJ decided we should record it. Then TJ got the idea to mumble over the top. And then we just kept recording ridiculous voices until we got sick of it. FUN FACT: at about the 1:35 mark you can hear TJ say, You dont wear pants on your head do you Paul? So there you go. If anyone is still reading and still interested at this point in time, I may go through and do a track by track for Easy And The Sun too.
15.01.2022 Howdy. Hows it going? I found these photos on a CD when I was looking for something else. They are from our very first gig ever on Thursday May 13th, 2004 at the Nash in Geelong. Enjoy.... Photo credit: David Nicholson (I assume)
14.01.2022 Track 1 - BBC Intro This track first appeared on the second demo Special Revolver Release, under the title, BBC Intro (the end of social history). It was actually recorded by TJ at his cottage at some point after The Leigh and Macgregor Sessions, so late-ish 2004. I believe TJ was inspired by some old BBC documentary that he saw on TV one day. TJ plays all the instruments on this track (bass, organ, weird guitar noises, other weird noises). TJ got local Lake Bolac gentle...man Tony Keys (RIP) to narrate. Tony passed away last year, but is forever immortalised on this recording. Track 2 - My Country Brain This track first appeared on the second demo Special Revolver Release, under the title, Country Brain. It was recorded during The Leigh and Macgregor Sessions in mid to late 2004. It features TJ on lead vocals/guitar, Paul on bass/backing vocals and Britto on drums. FUN FACT #1: If you listen carefully, theres a few mistakes on this recording that were meant to be edited out, but never were (drum roll stuff up at about 16 second mark, a good on lead vox at 3:22 mark and backing vocal ooo at 3:34 mark that are not meant to there). FUN FACT #2: this demo recording featured on a Jay Jays TV ad at some point before we were signed to Rubber Records. I cant remember exactly how they came across the demo (I think it might have been something to do with Geelong gig pig Crazy) and how we were approached, but I reckon we got paid about $300 for it. Track 3 - Stepping Out This track first appeared on the third demo and was recorded during Revolution sessions in early 2005. It features TJ on lead vocals/guitar, Paul on bass/backing vocals and Britto on drums. FUN FACT #1: I had brought a mate Duncan Stephen down to TJs cottage one day to come check it out when TJ had started writing this song. I jumped on the bass and joined in while he was working on the guitar part and vocals. Duncan happened to be a drummer, so he jumped on and drummed along while we were initially working on this song. FUN FACT #2: This song originally had a second verse. After playing it live and realising the song went for a bit too long, we decided to get rid of this second verse. The reason the lyrics of the second verse of the recorded version start with, I went back once more, just to see if you were sure is because it is actually the third verse. I cant remember how the second verse went now. FUN FACT #3: In early 2007 when working with Dave Parkin on a couple of extra songs for our second album, Easy and the Sun, we recorded a new version of Stepping Out. It featured some keys from Louis Macklin and some other slight changes and additions, which we intended to use on a US release which never eventuated. It actually sounded pretty cool. Im not sure if I have a copy of it anymore :( .
12.01.2022 Track 4 Cowboy Jim This track first appeared on our first demo aka The Cottage Demo. We also decided to include it on the Special Revolver Demo that we did later. It was recorded at TJs cottage and features TJ on everything (vocals, guitars, bass, teaspoon, whistle, other noises). The only fun fact I have about this one is that TJ says, Welcome to the Grand Ole Opry, not Welcome Randall as a lot of people assume he says! Track 5 - Big Hair Revolution... This track first appeared on the third demo and was recorded during the Revolution sessions. It features TJ on lead vocals/guitar, Paul on bass/backing vocals and Britto on drums. FUN FACT: we never met any of the people that featured in the narrative part of the film clip that got released for this song. Track 6 - Cant Sleep This track first appeared on the second demo Special Revolver Release, under the title, I Just Can Not Sleep. It was recorded during The Leigh and Macgregor Sessions. It features TJ on lead vocals/guitar, Paul on bass/backing vocals and Britto on drums. FUN FACT: The big brown dog that is referenced in the lyrics is TJs big chocolate Labrador, Floyd who appeared on the cover of the album.
12.01.2022 Howdy. How's it going? I found these photos on a CD when I was looking for something else. They are from our very first gig ever on Thursday May 13th, 2004 at the Nash in Geelong. Enjoy.... Photo credit: David Nicholson (I assume)
11.01.2022 I Cant Dance This song was originally written in late 2003 or early 2004. It was one of the first songs TJ wrote. The first version of it was recorded at TJs cottage (with TJ playing bass and drums on it) and was included on our first demo from before wed every played a gig. Another version was re-recorded during the Leigh and Macgregor sessions (August 2004) and was included on the Special Revolver EP demo. We also recorded a version with Stuart Sikes in Dallas in Augus...Continue reading
09.01.2022 In the Stu-stu-studio: Wednesday 30th of Aug - Tuesday 5th of September 2006 After finishing tying those loose ends on Wednesday, we had Thursday off... Some of us pretty much just spent it drinking beer and swimming in the pool at the apartment complex. That was fun. The next couple of days were pretty productive and then it was Sunday, so we had another day off. We decided on that day that wed see the place where JFK got shot. Before we got there though, we had lunch at t...his dodgy place called Gators. I had this thing called a chicken-fried steak. Now, a couple of days earlier Stuart insisted we go out to eat this Texan favourite called chicken-fried chicken. Thinking it was a dumb name, I asked Stuart to explain it to me. From my understanding, fried chicken is strictly chicken on the bone, crumbed and deep-fried. So to avoid the confusion, when you take a piece of boneless chicken, crumb it and deep-fry it, it is referred to as being chicken-fried. Make sense? To me, sort of... but not really. I would have just called it boneless fried chicken. What is even sillier is that the term chicken-fried then translates to food that has nothing to do with chicken. So, using this logic, if you take a piece of semi-mushed up steak, cover it in crumbs and deep fry it like you would a boneless piece of chicken it is then referred to as a chicken-fried steak. Sound tantilising? Its an even more favoured Texan food... but not of me. Right... now I got that off my chest, we then went to Elm Street and saw the book depository and the grassy knoll and all that stuff that wed seen on the JFK movie we hired as a little brushing up of Dallas history. We went to the official JFK museum, which was on the 6th floor of the depository the place where Lee Harvery Oswald was meant to be positioned. The actual sniper position was blocked off though coincidently. It was really cool to see the actual spot where it all happened (in a macabre way) and to stand on the infamous grassy knoll. Just quietly, the whole JFK assassination story involving Oswald as the lone shooter is so farfetched after seeing the actual spot it all unfolded is almost impossible to believe that anyone could have ever believe that one person could pull of such an operation and all the little coincidences that just happened to occur. It is sad really, realising that something like that may have gone done 40-odd years ago and comparing it to the sorts of things that happen in todays world. After all this fun and recreation we were pumped to get through some more overdubs and finish some whole songs. The guitars didnt agree though yesterday and today none of the buggers will stay in tune not one of about twelve. Hopefully itll sort itself out soon. https://youtu.be/f3MflzbkS0M https://youtu.be/EhfD_HV-4Bc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COEMFCfbp0s
07.01.2022 Hey. Paul here. Even before the COVID lockdown Id been feeling nostalgic, but now that a lot of us have a bit of spare time at home I thought others might be too. It just so happens that 2020 marks 15 years (scary!) since our debut self-titled album, The Exploders was initially released through Rubber Records (November 2005). The initial release was the one with the white front cover (it got re-released and distributed through EMI in March of 2006. That re-release was the ...Continue reading
07.01.2022 Track 7 - Hughs Lullaby This track first appeared on our first demo aka The Cottage Demo. We also decided to include it on the Special Revolver Demo that we did later. It features TJ on everything (guitars, bass, percussion, kazoo, weird noises). FUN FACT #1: This is one of the few released songs that we have never performed live. FUN FACT #2: Due to some sort of stuff up, it appears on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, etc as, Highs Lullaby instead of Hughs Lullaby.... FUN FACT #3: TJ composed this song for an old family friends baby boy, Hugh. So I guess Hugh would be about 16 years old now. Hugh if youre reading this, I hope you are not getting high while listening to your lullaby. Track 8 - Please Please This track first appeared on the second demo Special Revolver Release. It was recorded during The Leigh and Macgregor Sessions. It features TJ on lead vocals/guitar, Paul on bass/backing vocals and Britto on drums. FUN FACT #1: The film clip was made from footage shot when we performed at the Falls Festival in Lorne in December 2005. It was made by Tom Harris who is a founder of White Sky, a business management and accounting business that specializes in the music and entertainment industry. He was working in a small office below Rubber Records and somehow it was arranged for him to make a film clip for us. FUN FACT #2: If you listen carefully, theres a couple of mistakes on this recording that were meant to be edited out, but never were (TJs doubled vocals sing different lyrics at the 2:05 mark, it was also not meant to have singing at the start of the guitar solo at the 2:17 mark). FUN FACT #3: TJ is singing, Ive carried some weight, not Carrots away as some smart arses used to sing and mention frequently at our live shows! Track 9 - Gods Above This track first appeared on the third demo the Revolution sessions. It features TJ on lead vocals/guitar, Paul on bass/backing vocals and Britto on drums. FUN FACT: When playing this song live TJ would often sing, Its okay that you need a man that will love you more when hes holding your handbag instead of, hand, boy.
06.01.2022 Ta ta Texas, see ya Stuart! The cherry on top and onto the big apple: Wednesday 13th Tuesday 19th, 2006. Wednesday and Thursday we spent putting on the finishing touches to the remaining songs, i.e. Vocals and shit. One of Stuarts mates called Jason came in and put some additional piano and keys on a few songs. Beforehand Stuart informed us that Jason was a guitarist, who can sort of pretend that he knows how to play the piano and organ, and may or may not be able to come ...Continue reading
06.01.2022 If you’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying watching live music at one of Victoria’s many awesome music venues, then please consider signing this e-petition. Cheers
06.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/theloftwarrnambool/posts/802742256473569
06.01.2022 Heres an awkward flashback to brighten up your isolation: https://youtu.be/dI7FgmQVYH4
05.01.2022 Blueberry Lane This song was recorded in Dallas, Texas with Stuart Sikes in August/September of 2006. It features TJ on guitars and lead vocals, Paul on bass, backing vocals and glockenspiel and Britto on drums. Im not sure who did the percussion, but it may have been Toby Pipes from Deep Blue Something (you remember that song, Breakfast At Tiffany?). He and his brother Todd owned the studio we recorded in and often popped in. The music for Blueberry Lane was written in ...Continue reading
04.01.2022 Thanks to everyone who came along to The Loft and HutJam on the weekend. I hope yall had as good a time as we did.
03.01.2022 Thanks for last night Warrnambool. The Loft was pumping as usual, Crossfire Hurricane and Red Eagle killed it and many a beer and a good time was had. Dont be scared off by a drop of rain, get to HutJam today!!!! http://youtu.be/3uYhqt5S_HQ
03.01.2022 Hey. I found an old hard drive and am scouring it for lost artifacts. Seeing as everyone is bored right now, I thought it might be a good time to post some random old stuff on here. Heres a questionnaire I completed in late 2005 just after our debut album came out. Im not sure which publication it was published in. Enjoy: -Who are you? I am Paul, bass player for The Exploders. And who might you be?...Continue reading
03.01.2022 Pauls band Localles have a new single out. The film clip made during the covid iso lockdown is pretty funny. Check it out
02.01.2022 Only 4 days til our gig at The Loft and 5 days til Hut Jam. Getting pretty pumped. Catch ya Friday night: https://www.facebook.com/events/1588659021410627/
