Q&A Scene: Riflebirds

Tell us about your new single?
Plastic Rock ‘n Roller is the single and I’m loving it, just quietly… It’s a stomper with a stronger groove than we usually do, verse three the snare comes in, what’s not to like!
We’ve done an album a year for the last two years and these two new songs came together quickly. They feel really different to our earlier albums so we wanted to get them out there, and what better excuse for a launch party.

What’s your favourite work at this point in time?
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are getting some high rotation at my house at the moment and I also pulled out De LA Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising recently, great album.

Tell us a quick, on the road or studio, anecdote…
We were on a tour up the east coast and staying a few nights at an Air B’nB place in Byron that was run by a clairvoyant. We drove to a late gig in Brisbane and on the way back we hit a bird – like a water bird of some descrrption.
We were pretty close to home, so we took the bird back to the house thinking to call a vet or something. Well, the clairvoyant insisted on helping the bird with some weird hummingrakichakra type manoeuvres.
Let’s just say it wasn’t a happy ending. The guy does clairvoyant sessions over the phone too, I can probably get his details if you are interested…

What, or who, inspires you?
Friends getting creative things done. One friend just released her second novel and that’s pretty inspiring/intimidating! Jane Rawson’s From the Wreck… go buy it.

Which song do you wish you wrote?
Who’s Let the Dogs Out – for the money
Thick as a Brick – for the artistry
Dancing Queen – for the hell of it

How would you describe your sound in food form and why?
It’s like the biggest toasted sandwich of your life, hot and gooey with 17 types of cheese and chilli.

What’s next for you?
Launching the single and working on the next album.

What’s your scene?
Netflix

About the Riflebirds

Melbourne based five piece Riflebirds launch their brand new single Plastic Rock’n’Roller at The Retreat Hotel on Sat May 20, with very special guest Davey Lane.

The new single follows two LPs released in the past two years: World Feels Wide and Detours & Collisions, along with regular gigs around Melbourne, tours up the east coast plus some recent festival appearances over summer, it’s been a busy time for the lads in Riflebirds.

Hometown gigs at Melbourne’s finest rock’n’roll establishments such as The Labour In Vain and The Retreat, sup- port shows for the likes of Ron Peno and The Superstitions, plus radio shows and new recordings have ensured some busy times. Festival appearances over of our recent sum- mer included Spring Fling Street Festival and Ballarat Beer Festival and with 2017 well underway they are itching to get out to tread the boards again with their new single in tow.

Critics say the latest album “cracks the whip from the get-go” (Beat Magazine) and they’ve certainly taken flight over that timeframe since sharing various stages with the likes of Ron Peno & The Superstitions, Dallas Crane, and Ben Salter.

Support for the night will be from much loved fellow Mel- bourne musician Davey Lane, guitarist for You Am I and wide- ly regarded as one of the land’s finest songwriters in his own right. His solo releases have received rave reviews and there’s a new album I’m Gonna Burn Out Bright on the way soon.

Riflebirds comprises of Rowan Roebig (vocals/guitar), John Kenyon (guitar/vocals), Rod Collins (bass/vocals), Bon Krunic (drums) and Damien Toussaint (keyboards). From Brunswick to Byron Bay to Ballarat, Riflebirds have been doing what they love best – touring the land playing songs from their two albums – 2016’s release World Feels Wide released and 2015’s Detours & Collisions.

Plastic Rock’n’Roller plus bonus track Two Birds will be available on all streaming services and digital stores from May 1. Join the band as they launch the single on Sat 20th May at The Retreat Hotel with Davey Lane supporting for what is guaranteed to be a rollicking good time.