Interview- Luke 'Scabs' Scibberas,Motionless Me

Geelong's Alt/hard rock trio Motionless Me Swiftly turned many heads upon their debut last year.Having laid low whilst the band completed year 12,Motionless Me are back in action.I spoke to guitarist Luke Sciberras,otherwise known as Scabs to get the low down.

(Photo: Jeremy Palmer)

What instrument did you start on, and what do you play now?

I started my musical journey playing guitar, starting in early 2008. I’ve stuck loyally to guitar and it is still my number one weapon of choice.

When was your first gig and how'd it go?
My first gig was in mid-2010 as part of a VET music course I did at a different school to what I was attending. I felt that the gig went very well and was definitely good for all of us as we came out of our shells onstage. Plus, won the honour of being the loudest band of the night. (I may have been involved with this and the producing said volume)

What drives you to play? What motivates you to go that extra mile to play music?
I guess what drives me to play music is just sheer love for it, my personal philosophy is that ‘I’d gladly die tomorrow knowing that people will remember me for something I’ve created’. I guess that philosophy also states my drive to go far in music, I want to create something that people can share and happily listen to and enjoy. As well as that, music is the only thing I am apparently good at, and that is a real positive for me because I’ve never really been fantastic at anything before. There’s also that endless quest of trying to reach a new level of playing, that’s another thing that I am willing to go that extra yard for.

Best gig you’ve played? Worst?
I guess the best gig I’ve played was in august of 2012, at my band’s comeback show from our 5 month absence. I guess just all the stress and worry over the incident we had with our ‘was to be’ E.P (that’s another story for later) kind of left me broken a bit and I had lost close to all my confidence. To come back with the response we had and the crowd we had at that show. . Wow man, something I wasn't expecting in the slightest. 100 fans at a small venue going mental crowd surfing, onstage with you and violently head banging just leaves you in a state of euphoria, can’t help but be happy knowing something you have done has made so many happy and enjoying themselves. Now, the worst show.. Come to think of it, we haven’t really had any nightmare shows. We did however have this one issue at a venue in Ballarat called Karova Lounge. This show was our 3rd show so we still had our vocalist John at this point, during our set, there was this majorly strange interference between the guitar and the sound system. According to the sound guy the only ‘plausible’ solution was to take ALL guitars out of the mix entirely so onstage and in the audience, the band’s mix was just drums bass and vocals.

Influences: What are your top 5 albums?
I don’t as such have ‘top’ bands or albums as I love all my music equally so I guess to answer this I will just list 5 albums in no particular order that I really like.
1. ‘Make Yourself’ – Incubus
2. ‘Train Of Thought’ – Dream Theatre
3. ‘The New Normal’ – Cog
4. ‘Hybrid Theory’ – Linkin Park
5. ‘Themata’ – Karnivool

What's the best gig you've ever seen?
I haven’t really seen many gigs to be honest, I’ve only gone to a handful of local shows and like two arena shows which were AC/DC (2008) were and Bullet for my Valentine (2010). I will say one of the best live performances I have seen though was actually at our comeback show, ‘Branch Arterial’ totally destroyed the place and their set was ridiculously tight and intricate which is just how I like a set! You give energy to the crowd and they appreciate it!
What have you been listening to lately?
I’ve been stuck with this strong case of writers block so to combat I’ve been listening to a wide variety of stuff, varying from 30-40’s swing groups like; Benny Goodman, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Les Paul and Mary Ford to more contemporary, technical bands like Gru’s ‘Cosmogenesis’ album. I’ve really been indulging in Radiohead, Dead Letter Circus and Pink Floyd too recently. I just try keeping an open mind about listening to new things all the time, throws a new twist in your writing!
What's a band you dig that no one would expect you would like?
I am a total sucker for soul/funk bands, so I am hugely into Rick James! I love all that kind of funk stuff. Believe me if there was one style I wish I could write, it would be funk/soul. I also really love Earth Wind and Fire; I’ve got their whole discography!

Motionless Me: For those who don't know who Motionless Me are, bring us up to speed on the band. Who are you? And what do you do?
Okay well, Motionless Me is an instrumental rock band from Geelong. We are one of those bands that people have a hard time categorising as we tend to bring in some elements that make us more left of center for people to decipher. I guess it’s true, we throw in elements of Progressive music, to alternative and rock music, so I guess ‘Instrumental alternative hard rock’ is the best bet. We are just a bunch of mates together making music and doing what we love, trying to get our music out to wider audiences and having fun along the way.
I know you had a lot of trouble trying to get a band together, and once you did, you lost a vocalist. What do you feel the other members bring to the band, and how do you all approach the challenge of being completely instrumental?
It was a pretty big shift in dynamics to lose what most people consider the crux of a band so all of had to really kick it up a notch to compensate. As a result, we had to become A LOT more polished and tight as a band whilst remaining technicality so that audiences wouldn't get bored of us. I think each member brings something different to the band in the way that we approach things, Dean is a more go with the flow kind of guy in the sense that he’s keen for whatever pops up and does his best to rise to the occasion. Jake brings a more dynamic role in the band in the fact that he, as a drummer has a lot of pressure to maintain consistency in the songs so he practices regularly and that helps us be a lot more refined, plus being a really technical music i.e. Dream Theater and Periphery, he is able to find the fine line between technicality and consistency which some people tend to cross, that helps us sound a lot more like a unit and ‘progressive’ in a way. I am a control freak and can admit to that, I’m always organizing and booking and everything and keeping tabs over what the guys are doing (occasionally telling them that they should be practicing) but in my other time I practice frantically, both rhythm and lead which helps make the music a lot more interesting as I can interchange between a solid and fat rhythm to a lead break or solo while the guys have dynamically met me at the point of change.
How does the song writing process work for the band? and what unique twist do believe you bring to your genre?
Our writing process is very simple and very close minded, I essentially write up a complete tab of a song that I have been working on/finished which is complete with bass, drums, keys and whatever else I may choose to throw in for studio dubs and whatnot down the track. I’ll send it to the guys and say ‘this is what’s going on in my head, don’t feel obliged to follow it in any way it’s just what I hear in this’ and then they will go off and learn it, adding their own little twists….sometimes. I think classifying something as unique these days is hard because we live in a second hand world were everything is borrowed from somewhere in some way, like influences. When we have asked fans what they like about us and they bring up the word unique, it’s more or so the idea that the riffs or chord progression I’ll write with are labelled as ‘motionless me’ as I tend to use extravagant and big chords, at times mixed with licks and other fancy stuff in-between. I just don’t get much satisfaction out of your standard power chord as everybody uses them, I find something like a suspended chord so much more interesting!
Like myself,you are all in the final year of high school.What's the plan post year 12? I believe an E.P is in the works? (this question was asked a while ago now)Well, an E.P is always in the works I guess but as recording at the places we want too can be expensive, we are looking at more gigging for a while and just earning enough cash and fans over the time to fully justify an E.P. We also plan to focus a lot more on Melbourne next year as Geelong’s music scene isn’t really good for us, despite being our home town and where our allegiance lies, Geelong’s music scene as many would know is very one sided in that metal has and probably always will rule the town. We are also potentially scheming an interstate show or two..

The musical thing- For this I ask that you send me a photo of something cool and music related.It can be anything,so long as muso's can relate to it.E.G: a stereo,a favourite guitar,a well loved record.The more creative the better.
So for this I chose the first record I ever received. I got this off a brother’s co-worker back in 2008 when I was still very new to guitar and rock music as a whole. I remember listening to it on my record player that I stole out of my brother’s room and being completely enticed in the music. This record hooked me on guitar and I knew then that it was the instrument I wanted to play forever, despite my doubts after I struggled to grip the basics initially. So yeah, very sentimental to me. Plus the album cover is pretty cool and my record’s sleeve has a, let’s say ‘distinctive’ smell to it from it’s previous owner, a somewhat narcotic smell…

Motionless Me
28th December @ The Barwon Club w/
Our Lady Of Pain
The Greeting Method
Insygnial

Review- Cherryfest 2012

After the riotous success of cherry rock earlier this year,and the threat of a high density residential apartment building looming over the cherry bar,it was no surprise that once again,AC/DC lane was transformed into a massive outdoor stage.
After dashing from the train station, my accomplice insistent that we see Dern Rutlidge,we arrived half way through their set.Having disbanded in 2003, Dern Rutlidge were doing a one off string string of shows. For some bands,even 9 years off can't wipe the vibe away,but unfortunately this was not the case. As the band tried to blow out the cobwebs, the rusty gears creaked through a set never quite swung into gear.All in good humour,but a bit less than spectacular.Perhaps the next show will be back to full strength.
For those who haven't been to a festival at the cherry before,a stage is setup and the end of the alleyway outside the venue,to complement the stage inside,meaning there is never a minute of silence.Cherryfest was definitely down on numbers,the advantage being that squeezing through the 3 small doorways in between was far easier.
Local favourites King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard hit the outdoor stage next.Despite their large size,King Gizzard are a band that need to be seen in the smallest room possible,i.e my bed room, to achieve maximum fezziness. 4 shows in a row had taken a toll on Stu's vocal chords,the poor man barely able to speak let alone holler and howl.The Cherry is undoubtedly a heavy rock venue,so a band like King Gizzard were little out of place,but talking to some punters, their filthy garage surf was a refreshing twist.
Inside,King Parrot hit the other end of the scale,putting on a full blown metal show.Proper metal too.With a front man in and out of the crowd,chugging metal riffs,head banging and dropping left,right and center,King Parrot are metal all over.If you're into that kind of metal,they've got a good live show.
Now it was time to dart back out to AC/DC lane for Tumbleweed.Australia's stoner rock legends re-united in 2009,and have since been touring and writing for a new album.Despite the fact that these are clearly not the youthful muso's they once were,there is no denying that Tumbleweed have still got it.The fuzzed out riffs were blasted along AC/DC lane to the enjoyment of everyone watching,young an old.It didn't matter if you were a new fan,or a one of the 'I haven't seen Tumbleweed in 15 years' group,the band delivered delivered a killer set.Playing a good mix of old material,and new songs set to be released on the up-coming album.Closing track Ocean was phenomenal,the band definitely did not miss a beat.I for one am really looking forward to the new album.
Next up were locals My Left Boot.Scoring a prime spot,My Left Boot played through some psychedelic fuzz rock,with shades of Zeppelin and QOTSA.Guitarist Daniel Frith can coax some really cool sounds out of his tele,without ever going over the top, matched by Chappy's powerful,prominent vocals.With a solid rhythm section to round out the band,My Left Boot took a good opportunity and played a great set.Go see My Left Boot,you will not regret it.
Out in the alley again,and the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group were warming up.I'll be straight up,I didn't like this band.At all.Omar Rodriguez is best known as a member of the Mars Volta and At The Drive In.Whilst variety is the spice of life,I think this band was a bad choice for the cherry.Too many synthesizers,at a guitar band dominated festival.I did enjoy the bat shit crazy front woman,whose antics included jumping on P.A's,bouncers and crowd members,before throwing an un-suspecting punter onto the stage.There's entertainment in that,but the music to match just wasn't there.Synth players are boring to watch.At the end of the set, a man in a skin tight purple one piece,with a space helmet,complete with balloons and a phone,guitar in hand ran past me.That's right,it was time for the legendary Bob Log III.
The guy looks like a ghost buster crossed with mortein,playing crazy lo fi swamp blues.I thought the front woman from Omar Rodriguez was wild,but Bob Log III is mental.Words cannot describe how this one guy can single handedly own the room.With his legs flailing on percussion mounted at his feet,space helmet swaying and an endless riff raff coming out of his guitar,Bob Log III puts on a show like no other.Surely the woman invited to 'come sit on my purple sparkly knee' would have been torn between embaressment and hilarity,but it takes alot of,uh...talent...to get member of the audience to dip their boob in a cup of beer,and then drink it.A wild,crazy show,possibly even the highlight of the day.He was still riding around someones shoulder up the back of the room,when Eyehategod started outside.And everyone was still inside watching Bob Log III.
Eyehategod were wickedly heavy,and spouting all kinds of evil.Drinking like camels and smoking like chimney's whilst delivering some sludgy heavy riffs,Eyehategod are not for the faint-hearted.Surprisingly,a big concrete alleyway actually sounds pretty damn good acoustically once its packed with punters.Big,fat bass waves pulsated through the audience whilst beer flew over the top.Props to the punter who threw an empty plastic bottle in the air,not realizing it bounced straight into a bin 10 meters behind them.Eyehategod played a strong set,definitely for fans of Electric wizard.Slow,sludgy riffs abound.
The setup for festivals at the Cherry Bar works brilliantly,with non stop music all day,and good sound/good viewing for all.Cherry fest didn't quite fill the big shoes of the earlier Cherry rock (my god Fu Manchu were amazing),but the formula is there.Whilst line up did try to appeal to a broad range of tastes,people were perhaps not willing to shell out the coin to see 2 or 3 bands they like,when most of them play locally fairly often.If the rumors of a certain Scandavian stoner rock band are true,Cherry rock next year will be a fantastic way to give a nice big middle finger to the high rise apartment building set to be behind it.

Short and sharp with King Of The North

Low Sound Desert-A tribute to stoner rock,looms this friday the 23rd at the Cherry Bar.I caught up with Higgsy from King Of The North,who will be headlining the event.

Tell us,who are King Of The North,and what do you do?
KOTN is a hard rock guitar/ drums duo that sounds like a 4-5 piece band. We play Riff based Rock n Roll
What are some the influences that have shaped King Of The North?
We are fans of Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Punk and Stoner but we never set out to sound like anybody. We do what we do within the limited framework we have to work with. The thing is, your limitations are really your strength.
What's been the highlight of playing so far?
Supporting Cold Chisel at Festival Hall in April would have to be up there. That was just massive! Playing Cherry Rock 2 weeks later seeing/ being on the same bill as Fu Manchu was quiet an honour too. For the band though it would be playing packed out E.P launches in Adl, Bendigo, The Evelyn and The Espy in July- Sept this year.
Being a two piece,what do you do to fill out that extra space,and keep things interesting?
Well sonically speaking KOTN is no different to a band with drums, 2 guitars and a bass. All the sonic landscape that those instruments take up is in the KOTN sound. It's peoples eyes that deceive them, when they see us live they see two dudes and hear a phat sound but don't realise what's really going on. Without giving it all away, it's all in the amp configurations and pedal set up there are no prerecorded loops or triggers everything is played live.

What have you got in store for Low sound Melbourne?

Well being a big fan of Stoner Rock, I'm swapping my usual JMP rock sound for my Big Muff and we'll be playing some classic fuzzed out Stoner Rock! We have a two other awesome acts in My Left Boot and Battle Axe Howlers who will be stonering up a storm! Plus with DJ Big Muff (this might be me) spinning killer Stoner Rock in between the bands... we're pretty happy with the night we've put together! It will be all time!

Cherry Bar,this Friday,23rd
$15 entry
kick off at 8
Come generate some mondo

Album Review- The Sword,Apocryphon

Having weathered the drummer storm,The Sword are back with a brand new album,and a ridiculous title to go with it.For the record,'Apocryphon' refers to secret biblical texts,banned from being publicly taught, reserved for only trusted disciples.

That might sound like some deep tripper business,but of course that's what the Sword are all about.Witches,Wizards and all things Lovecraft,paired with thunderous doom riffs that sound like Sleep's Holy Mountain juiced up on speed.Well, at least that's what they played when I came across their debut, Age Of Winters. 7 years on, and 4 albums down the track, The Sword have progressed to sound a bit less evil,and Apocryphon certainly follows many more musical conventions than previous works.

The guitars are still big, with a smattering of lead breaks thrown about the place, but the ominous feel has definitely been left behind. New drummer, Santiago 'Jimmy' Vela III has certainly slipped into the band easily, not only filling the very large shoes of Trivett Wingo, but bringing his own touch. Whilst accented high hats and cow bells would have been un-thinkable in the past, these elements have taken their place very well.
Frontman J.Cronise has elaborated that some of the lyrical themes are more in touch with this world than that of Warp Riders, and has taken to using his song writing as a tool for expression, writing about a variety of real world issues. Where as vocal lines have previously been short and direct, applied in liberal drops that don't stand in the way of guitar riffs, lines here are long, and full, encompassing more melodic interest.
The big change is in the song structures, Where previously the band would gallop from one chug-fest to another, the songs off Apocryphon reveal themselves as being more conventionally structured,with clear cut verses, and catchy choruses. 'Cloak Of Feathers' even sees each instrumentalist take a turn at soloing for a bar or two,before passing it on to another member. Whilst Warp Riders hinted this direction,Aporcyphon takes it to the next level.
Many of the band's contemporaries list bands 70's heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath,Thin Lizzy and Deep Purple as their influences, there's a taste of Texas on 'Arcane Montane', which has Z.Z Top written all over it.
Although synthesizers are not new to the band, they have been used in new ways on this record,demonstrated clearly in the title track,which was our first taste of the new material. Putting out a track with a distinct, Electronic intro was a very risky move for the band, as the first couple seconds have surely turned off a heap of metal heads. And lets not even mention that stupid thing about arranging the symbols on their website to unlock a stream of the album. That really didn't make much sense to me.
Overall, Apocryphon is another step down the musical path for the band, which has led them from a niche market of the stoner/doom crowd to a much wider metal audience. It's not a departure from the band we know and love, but it's a step in a direction that might distance many of the bands' original fans. It will take a while for it to grow on you, so give it a few chances before you decide if you would rather this stayed a secret that wasn't shared.