Bottlecock

How long have you been together? Josh: A bit over three years.

How did you all meet? Josh: I met Ash after I saw her playing a solo set at a mate’s show. I just thought she seemed pretty cool so drunkenly rambled at her until she agreed to play a show with my old band… Don’t tell Ash I said she was cool, though. Ash: Yeah, he stalked me for a little while. Vanessa and I were working together when we decided to start playing together. Van had just started learning to drum, we needed a drummer, the rest is non-fiction.

You’re on tour in the van – which band or artist is going to keep the most
people happy if we throw them on the stereo? Josh: Probably Magic Dirt is the safest middle ground, maybe Sonic Youth if we steer clear of anything too wanky. I’m probably most likely to be banned from stereo control anyway.

Which Brisbane bands before you have been an inspiration (musically or
otherwise)? Josh: Gravel Samwidge were a fairly early inspiration for making noisy music when I heard them on JJJ back in the day, and remain that way now for sure. There’s a million other Brissie bands that I love so I won’t even try and list them all. Ash: All of them. Except HITS. HITS are shit.

What part do you think Brisbane plays in the music you make? Josh: There’s a very level-headed/ego-free edge to most people we deal with in Brissie, I think it helps keep you grounded so you don’t become too self indulgent.

What’s in the pipeline for the band in the short term? Ash: We’re launching our album Record at the Beetle Bar on December 20th! There are going to be special ‘Bottlecocktails’ and Ironside, The Steady As She Goes and Gunk are all playing as well, so you should definitely come along!