8 MORE Coast Bands To Have A Listen To

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Welcome to part two (in what we expect will become a lengthy series!) of Central Coast-born Rock acts to get behind.

The more we pry, the more we’ve realised there really is something for fans of all kinds of guitar music coming out our local garages and rehearsal spaces, while it’s also satisfying to hear the Classic Rock influences in the original material some of these acts are producing. 

Check out who we’ve found this time around…

 

SOY 

The Forresters Beach quartet’s sound is a heavy, hazy cocktail of Hard Rock, Punk, Grunge and Psychedelia, along with more modern indie-pop influences.

Led by Jacob Shanley’s attitude-heavy vocals and Tasman Marechal’s driving riffs, SOY have supported established acts Skeggs and Hockey Dad, played back-to-back Mountain Sounds Festivals, and just released their debut EP “Complications”.

NOTE: In the last list, we mentioned how important our local live music venues are in supporting this kind of local talent. It’s also worth mentioning the contribution made by Mangrove Mountain’s The Grove Studios, where these tracks - and plenty of others by emerging Coasties - have been recorded.

 

Maple Moths 

“Collection of Horrors” is the title of the Wamberal Heavy Rock trio’s most recent EP, released in October, but it alse serves as a fitting description of their sound.

Between Sean Dwyer’s nasty distorted guitar tone, chord progressions relying heavily on the tritone, and the rhythm section’s ominous use of dynamics and space, the Maple Moths are plain spooky.  If you’re a fan of Black Sabbath, Cream and/or Tame Impala, this is a band for you.

 

Toby Wells

There’s very good chance you’ve seen this guy play if you’ve been to a beer garden or cafe somewhere on the Coast in the last few years. 

After graduating from Narara’s Rockgod Music School, Wells made a promising start to his career, winning several awards including the Australian Songwriters Conference Buskathon Grand Prize in 2016. 

The Holgate local’s since busied himself with getting gig and songwriting experience under his belt, supporting the likes of Thirsty Merc, 19Twenty, Alison Penney and PJ O'Brien alongside his solo gigs.

At just 18, Wells has proven his versatility with both his voice and guitar, mixing solid acoustic chops with 80’s Rock-tinged solos. 

 

Reliqa

Get your local fix of Alternative Metal with this quartet from Gosford, who’ve just come off co-headlining with DAMSIQA at the Rhythm Hut last night AND releasing their debut EP “Afterlight” last month.

Shannon Griesberg sets the pace with storming drums, Miles Knox and Brandon Lloyd bring the chunky Avenged Sevenfold-esque riffs and vocalist Monique Pym ties it all together. 

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The Waxfinz

The Surf Rock trio haven’t wasted any time since forming in Bateau Bay just under two years ago.  They’ve released singles 'Sky Blue’, 'Summer' and “Home Brew”, supported DZ Deathrays at The Beery last May and played shows up and down the East Coast. 

Driven by Drummer Zahn Haslam’s upbeat rhythms and frontman Kobi Love’s equally bright vocals and clean electric guitar, the Waxfinz’s music is the soundtrack to your perfect weekend afternoon.

 

Grizzlee Train 

It’s the kind of moment every artist looking for their big break dreams about. 

In late 2015, Kasey Chambers was sitting in the Beer Garden of The Entrance Leagues Club, when a duo playing howling, rootsy Blues-Rock knocked her socks off. 

She was so impressed, she gave them spots in her backing band. 

Fast-forward to 2018, and Guitarist/Vocalist Brandon Dodd and Drummer/Harmonicist Josh Dufficy have become stars in their own right, gracing festival stages across Europe, the US and Australia and releasing new EP ‘All About You’ six months ago. 

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The Able Archers 

This Alternative trio from Terrigal has been a mainstay on the local gig circuit for several years, reliably providing great rock shows as the main event or as support for out-of-towners. 

Bassist Pete Mitchell’s coarse vocals are matched by Michael Greville’s overdriven, reverb-effected guitar riffs, while Craig Doolan rounds out the attack on drums.

 

Damsel in Dismay

After two years honing their act - including at the ''West Tigers Homeground Heroes'' band competition where they won first prize - the local Alternative quartet released their debut single ‘Lose Control’ last January.

It’s a professional-sounding cut: Lucy May’s powerful vocals are joined by Drummer Harley Brock and bassist Jack, who establish the angst, while guitarist Chloe Brock’s riff provides the vulnerability.

They’re also fresh of supporting DAMSIQA in Gosford last night, and have also played some of Sydney’s best-known live venues, so we’re confident we’ll be hearing more about Damsel in Dismay’s escapades in the near future… 

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26 February 2018




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