Well it's about that time - yep it's Round 3 of the Artist Spotlight, your sneaky behind-the-scenes look at some of the amazing local bands around the country. After spending some time with Sydney Indie-kings the Callum Chynoweth Band, this time round we're heading North to get to know Brisbane fuzz-rockers The Dollar Bill Murrays.
THE DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS
For those playing along at home, a little over a month ago Brisbane quartet The Dollar Bill Murrays unleashed a killer new single ('I Want Everything') - and since then they've brought more of their grungy flair to the world with follow up track 'The More You Know' ahead of the release of their second EP 'Always On' (due out in May). If you like your rock with a hint of Queens of the Stone Age or perhaps a side of Arctic Monkeys, you will love The Dollar Bill Murrays. But what's most exciting about these boisterous Brissie boys is their increasingly confident sound evolving into something beyond their influences - this is a band who are primed and ready to take your ears by storm, armed with heaving beats and crunching guitars. So just before their sophomore EP is released next month, crack a whiskey (and one for me please), hit play on the video below and let's get to know a bit more about this rockin' bunch.
NAME: The Dollar Bill Murrays
LOCATION: Brisbane
MEMBERS: Felix Lindgren: Vocals & Guitar Paul Ballam-Cross: Bass & Backing vocalist Antii Kovacs: Guitar Rachit Moti: Drums
HOW DID YOU GUYS GET STARTED? Rachit posted online looking for people to jam with, Antii and Paul responded and got straight to work writing. After multiple lineup changes (including at one point, two bass players), Felix settled into the band and our first EP followed soon after.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING? The band as we are today really came together in 2015.
INFLUENCES? Queens of the Stone Age, Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys, Nirvana, Pixies
DESCRIBE YOUR BAND IN THREE WORDS: Boost the mids
WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE GIG? We launched ‘Medicine’ last year at Black Bear Lodge and it was a blast! We had a great turn out on the night before the Ekka public holiday and the energy was insane. To have a crowd moving around and singing along with you in a cool Brissy venue was the best feeling!
FAVOURITE DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS SONG? A favourite song of ours to play is ‘Medicine’, that song goes off live! It gets the people dancing and screaming along and is always fun.
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS CURRENTLY WORKING ON? ANYTHING NEW ON THE HORIZON? We do have things in the pipeline. We can at least say that our latest single 'I Want Everything' is just a taste of things to come.
IF YOU WEREN'T PLAYING MUSIC, WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU BE DOING? Felix would be painting, Paul would pursue his passions of baking bread, Antii would pursue his passion in alt-horticulture, whilst Rachit would run a pyramid scheme.
IF THE DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS HAD TO BE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND WITH ONE OTHER ARTIST, WHO WOULD IT BE? The B-52’s, they could fly us home.
PINEAPPLE ON A PIZZA, YES OR NO? Antii and Rachit say YES, and that’s all that matters.
CATS OR DOGS? Three of us like dogs more, because obviously, but Paul...nah.
WOULD THE DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS SURVIVE A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE? Our jam space is essentially a oxygen-free bunker, so I think we’ll be just fine.
AND FINALLY, WHAT'S THE GREATEST SONG OF ALL TIME? Rock Lobster. We really wanna get off that island. (Otherwise Stairway to Heaven)
'Always On' is due out in May, but in the meantime they're about to hit the road - and you can check them out online for some more fuzzy good vibes.
WEBSITE: www.thedollarbillmurrays.com
INSTAGRAM: @thedollarbillmurrays
MERCH ACCOUNT: https://thedollarbillmurrays.bandcamp.com
BY TIANA SPETER