NEW talent The Outliers exist in a unique musical space where rockabilly meets punk, surf, country, garage, blues and twisted rock’n’roll.
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The band, which formed in mid-2018, came about due to “a serendipitous confluence of a whole lot of different things,” said guitarist Craig Louey.
The Sydney ex-pat, who has lived in Newcastle for 15 years,“was going nuts” because he wasn’t playing regularly in a band.
He is a member of ‘90s Sydney outfit Tempest Moon, which still gigs about once a year.
Louey had admired the talents of bassist Anthony Frampton from afar, and also knew Ally Fitzgibbon was a talented drummer.
He invited them both to get together for a jam.
Needless to say, the jam went well and they quickly realised they needed a front person.
“I liked Pucko’s music. He is a bit like myself, he has his fingers in a lot of musical pies,” Louey said.
Richard “Pucko” Puxty completed the line-up, on vocals and guitar, which performed its first gig at The Lass O’Gowrie Hotel in August.
Since then, the band has quickly pulled together a couple of sets.
They blend obscure covers – such as the Meteor’s Attack of the Zorchmen , The Stingrays’ I want My Woman, The Gun Club’s Death Party and Mudhoney’s Touch Me I’m Sick – with originals.
“We have a fair bit of cross-genre stuff going on, but it’s all under the broad umbrella of rock’n’roll,” Puxty said.
Louey said the band enjoyed bringing a new sound to the songs they covered.
“As a general rule, if we are playing a rockabilly song, we will tend to dirty it up,” he said.
“But if it’s more punky, then I might play slide guitar to make it bluesy.”
Fitzgibbon, who “despises rockabilly”, was more than reluctant about heading down that musical direction.
“I need to be passionate about what I am playing, otherwise it’s a chore,” she said. “I said, ‘I will give it a go.
“I listened to the originals (versions), but when we got into the rehearsal studio it blew me away. It is a completely different take.
“It’s a dirtier, grungier sound. It meshes grunge and punk and its an interesting output.”
The band has also written many originals including Space, Wolf Boy and Liar.
Louey said the band has been well received at the gigs they had played so far.
“We played at Mayfield Bowlo and even though they didn’t know the songs, there were kids jumping up and dancing,” he said.
For upcoming gigs and news follow The Outliers on Facebook: facebook.com/The-Outliers