Knaw launch Born The Hustle Roses Down The Alleys Of The Dead at the Gabba Hotel on Friday.
Knaw are finally going to release their long awaited follow up to Three Kinds Of Friendship... I caught up with vocalist Ben to ask him why did it take so darn long?
“Knaw seems to self-destruct at least once every six months and these periods of entropy have been even more frequent since the year 2000 (insert twilight zone music). We coasted for ages after winning the Zed Project because that seemed to set us up with a record deal and free recording time. Unfortunately, the process of extricating our spoils from the organisers and labels involved has been like getting blood from a very bloodless person... needless to say the whole thing was a bit of a sham and if the CD's turn up in time for our CD launch then I will be pleasantly surprised.”
Why the name Born To Hustle Roses Down The Alleys Of The Dead, for this EP? What happened to the name Behold My Collection?
“The old title required a photo of a very comprehensive Butterfly collection and a Victorian gent with an impressive moustache. Unfortunately I was unable to find such a picture. The new title is lifted from a book of Charles Bukowski poetry. Bukowski is the shiz-nit.”
You guys won the Zed Project in late 2000. Did that helped you guys do this recording in someway? Please clarify?
“The CD will come out on White Paste records but has been paid for by the ‘lovely’ people at Phantom Records and will be distributed by MGM. The whole experience has firmed my resolve to never have anything to do with anything resembling a large record label... To the band, the process of getting a new CD ready is like waiting for a new puppy. For the label, facilitating the pressing of 500 CD's for a small-time punk band is like palming off an ugly hooker onto a bunch of frat boys.”
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The sound of the CD seems to be a little bit of a departure from previous Knaw stuff, it maybe even sounds a little more mature or something. What's inspired you musically or otherwise this time round?
“I like things that sound like giant theatrical numbers. Big show tunes and sing-along choruses have always been a latent character trait of the band... I think getting older has just made our love of dramatic pseudo goth tunes and Queen a little bit more obvious to other people. I'm just trying to convince Bach and Ben Jones to start wearing make-up and cloaks.”
Seeing the sound is a little different from your other stuff how do you think fans will receive you this time round?
“We had a fan once. Tall fellow. Can't remember his name. Think he came from round Banyo way. Now, old Joe from the shoe store tells me he had a nasty accident with the Hay Bailer last picking season. Sure will miss that big dumb shmo. You know he was the quarterback this year?”
What direction do you guys see Knaw heading in after this is released?
“If I had my way we would be playing oom-pah music backed by Symphony Orchestra's like Jaques Brehl but we will probably justly keep plugging away with our brand of sexually frustrated twenty-something hard/pirate/shanty-core.”
Why should everyone endeavour to buy this CD?
“So we can buy our drummer Cameron some new leotards for the musical/ballet we are currently penning. He says he spilt something on them.”
