Hot Pick: The Checks - New
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The
Checks are a New Zealand rock band known for their distinct brand of
blues driven high-energy rock (and compadres of bands like The Hives
and The Datsuns), The Checks are setting the new standard for the
ever-popular indie rock genre.
Their debut record, "Hunting Whales", was
released October 1st 2007, with their single What You Heard
debuting
at #16 on the UK Indie Charts.
The boys from The Checks have been
fortunate support slot wise, they’ve opened for The Hives, Oasis, Muse
and after a personal request from Michael Stipe, REM. Sven Petterson,
Checks’ guitarist, says of playing with such big names, “It was
daunting to start with, we’d be so nervous, but now we’re just used to
doing our own thing.”
In a world where indie rock is almost as
popular as air, you have to bring a little something extra to the table
to be able to make headway in the genre, and even when you’ve etched
your path for a few years there will always be constant comparisons to
a long list of other emerging Australian and New Zealand rock acts.
“The only way for us to exist is to do our own thing…The only way for
us to get the purest end product is to just do what comes naturally to
us as opposed to trying to get one up on Wolfmother.”
The LP,
"Hunting Whales", is a mix of shout-along enchanting lyrics, a
surprisingly mature writing style and some amazing guitar melodies. “I
listened to a lot of Led Zeppelin while we were doing this, and my all
time favourite guitarist, Peter Green (founding member of Fleetwood
Mac), is a big influence. "Hunting Whales" is an exceptional debut
record
and I can’t find a bad word written about it anywhere.
Life on
the road was something that kicked in pretty quickly for the band, even
before the release in October, but it seems to suit them just fine,
although when trying to pry into the details I am assured, “What goes
on on the road stays on the road. It’s best not to try and maintains
your sanity and enjoy a different side of life when touring, there’s no
point fighting it.”
Fresh from playing Homebake and with the New
Years’ Eve Rhythm and Vine Festival just around the corner, Sven muses,
“There’s something special about a festival atmosphere, people really
enjoy themselves and just lose it.” The Checks are no stranger to the
festival scene having played their first Big Day Out in Auckland back
in 2005, with another BDO appearance lined up in ’08 in Sydney and
Auckland, “I’m so excited to be playing alongside Rage Against the
Machine,” Sven says like an excited teenage fan.
With the next
album already in the making and plenty of material and inspiration to
choose from, Sven tells, “We never stop writing,” And by the sounds of
it the next record will hold a few surprises, “I’ve been listening to a
lot of hip hop lately, the production on it blows me away, especially
Timbaland, what he’s doing is very interesting. And I’ve been listening
to the new Radiohead
record pretty much religiously, the way in which
they’re writing their melodies is like f***ing genius.”
Sven
goes on to list many other influences while munching on avocado on
toast, it’s plain to see he’s just a humble guy, but with such an
obvious passion and need for music, and that may well be what sets The
Checks apart from other emerging Australian and New Zealand rock acts,
a genuine passion for good music and the drive to make something
amazing.
The Checks and their pub rock - this weeks Web Wombat
Music Hit
Pick!
Enjoy.
Brought
to you by The Dwarf
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