FULL TILT : Jay from Frenzal Rhomb interview
One Beer Only
The interview opens with Jay from Frenzal Rhomb mentioning he's only had one beer, which leads to an interesting discussion about performing and drinking. He reflects on how in the past, he's had moments on stage wishing he could "reverse four of those beers" to have a better performance. He recalls one particularly memorable incident where he fell off stage due to drinking too much at a festival, not pacing himself throughout the day.
The conversation then moves to Frenzal Rhomb's extensive festival experience. They've played most Australian festivals, though notably not Woodford Folk Festival - Jay jokes that they probably "say fuck too much" for some of these festivals. He shares an amusing recent experience at the Byron Bay Guitar Festival, where their guitarist Lindsay essentially gave a "master class in the power chord" among all the shredding blues guitarists. Jay speaks highly of Lindsay's guitar skills, calling him "the secret guitarist" and mentioning how active Lindsay was on social media during COVID, keeping the band connected.
When asked about their weirdest festival experience, Jay tells the story on of festival the Central Coast. It was held at a toddler's theme park while it was still operating, featuring bands like H2O and possibly Strung Out. The festival had to put up warning signs about swearing in certain areas of the park, creating an awkward situation where they felt terrible about their explicit lyrics but had to perform anyway. Jay humorously notes that the theme park later closed down, jokingly suggesting it might have had something to do with their performance.
F-Bombs and Fatherhood
The interview takes an interesting turn when discussing how their explicit lyrics affect families. A listener named Christian had sent in a story about his daughter asking about the song title "Fuck You and Your Stupid Band" in front of her teacher. Jay relates to this parenting challenge, sharing his own experience with his son discovering Frenzal Rhomb's explicit lyrics. He talks about teaching context and appropriate times for certain language, noting the irony that his son might end up being "a Liberal voting stockbroker" despite having musician parents.
Old Dogs at Full Tilt
Regarding the current Full Tilt festival, Jay mentions how they're significantly older than the other bands but have been receiving great responses. He admits to having to Google many of the bands on the bill, though he expresses appreciation for newer punk bands like Coffin, describing them as "young, energetic, political." He runs a recording studio and works with young punk bands, keeping him connected to the current scene.
The Kingswood Chronicles
The interview includes a fascinating story about the "Frenzal Wagon" - a promotional campaign where they bought a Kingswood, painted it with the band's name, and drove it around the country before giving it away in a competition. The winner was from Rockhampton, and amusingly, her first action after receiving the car was to drive away immediately while press cameras were still rolling. The car has become a piece of history, now appearing in classic car shows as part of the "Rocky Nuts" cavalcade.
New Album on the Horizon
Regarding new music, Jay reveals they have a new record nearly finished in demo form. They're planning to record with Bill Stevenson in Colorado in October, though he playfully refuses to reveal any potential titles they're considering.
Dream Festival Lineup
The interview concludes with a discussion about a hypothetical "Frenzal Fest." Jay suggests including bands like Coffin and The Naughty Boys, though he notes that each member of Frenzal Rhomb would likely have different lineup choices if asked.
Legacy and Evolution
Throughout the interview, Jay comes across as someone who can look back on their wild punk rock past with humor while still maintaining an active interest in the current music scene. His responses show both the maturity that comes with years in the industry and the irreverent humor that Frenzal Rhomb is known for.