Q&A: Australia’s Violent Soho are ready to conquer North America (again)

Australia’s Violent Soho must be experiencing some serious deja vu. Back in 2010, the grunge-revivalists were riding a wave of local acclaim that culminated in signing with Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore’s label Ecstatic Peace!, before decamping to New York and using their Brooklyn apartment as a springboard to tour the US continuously. While being heralded as the next “big thing,” the band found themselves at odds with the publicity machine that believed placing them on tour with 30 Seconds to Mars was the key to breaking North America, and the band eventually headed back to Australia, burnt out from their year overseas.

Six years later, Violent Soho finally seemed poised for their North American breakthrough, following a hugely successful few years back home that saw them earn their first gold record (for 2013’s Hungry Ghost), while playing some of Australia’s biggest stages. We caught up with drummer Michael Richards to discuss their current headlining tour, the inspiration behind 2016’s stellar Waco LP, and the current worldwide obsession with Australia’s Flat White coffee.

Bad Feeling Mag: How has the North American tour been so far? What’s it like playing clubs after the massive shows you guys have been playing back home?

Michael Richards: It’s been fucking stellar! We are just stoked to be able to fill a room of punters anywhere in the world. It’s the best feeling ever to be in a crowded space, playing in a rock band and having a chorus of people splashing all over the stage and singing every word of your songs.

BFM: Do you have a guilty pleasure on the road?

MR: Cheese is a real addiction.

BFM: How did the idea of the stand off at Waco influence the record? Was that incident something that resonated with you guys early on?

MR: It’s not as though the entire album itself is like this dedication to the events of the Waco siege that took place in the 90s; rather Waco centers around themes of human convictions and the apparent need individuals have for greater arbitrary lines in order to feel a proper sense of self. This often leads to our own pointless destruction. The events of the Waco siege are a great example of this, however, the album in its themes goes way beyond that. The title for the album Waco is much to do with finding an abstract word in order to draw apparent meaning rather than something that is largely defined. In this way it resonates with the lyrical themes of the album.

BFM: Before this new record you guys were based in New York for a while – what was that experience like for the band?

MR: We were based in Brooklyn for 12 months; however, much of our time was spent travelling all over North America playing shows. It was definitely an eye opening experience at the time. In Australia, where we’re from, it’s not possible to tour every day of your life and just live on the road, but that’s what we found ourselves doing at the time over here. There’s so much opportunity for bands to cut their chops playing gigs over in North America. We felt like there was always somewhere different to play, be it a festival that’s happening someplace or a DIY punk show happening someplace else, we were just constantly jumping from tour to tour, always waking up in a new town. It’s like you can just literally tour to infinity. For our band, the experience was incredible and just such a great way to learn about touring. Our VISAs eventually expired and we just burnt ourselves the fuck out eventually and it was time to go home to Australia.

BFM: Did that time in the States bleed into the writing of Waco?

MR: It did in some way, but this was back in 2009/10 so really the whole experience is pretty far removed from when WACO was written. It probably bore more influence on the writing of our last album, Hungry Ghost.

BFM: Was there external / internal pressure to follow up Hungry Ghost? Was there always an intention for Waco to be a darker record?

MR: Not at all. We only really push ourselves to write the best music we can. There’s no pressure though. We do this because we love it. That’s the only drive we need.

BFM: Nearly every review of the band mentions “grunge” – was that sound and era a big influence on the band when you were coming up? Or is that a term you’re trying to shake?

MR: We are hugely influence by the 90s. I started first grade in ‘91, and so obviously I’m a child of the period. Grunge is a word used to describe music of a pretty broad style. Obviously it has more to do historically with the fashion designs of Marc Jacobs than actual music. I mean Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Melvins, etc., they don’t sound alike. It was fashion designers who decided to highlight the culture of flannel shirts and torn jeans, not the bands from Seattle. These days it gets thrown around the punk rock scenes a bit. It’s obviously just another way to pigeonhole music. It used to bother us a bit but now we’re too old to give a shit to be honest.

BFM: There seems to be so many great bands coming out of Australia right now – are there any new local bands we should look out for?

MR: Oh man, we could go on forever. I would probably just begin by suggesting our best bros out of Brisbane, Dune Rats and DZ Deathrays. They are both on Dine Alone over here and are going to be touring together across North America in a couple of months so come check it out. It’s going to fucking rule!

BFM: Finally, what’s your stance on the Flat White? It’s officially taking over here.

MR: Fucking awesome! I have two 8 oz double shot flatties every day. Get amongst it mate!

Violent Soho play Petit Campus (57 Prince-Arthur E) Thursday, September 8th with Meat Wave and Lost Love. Tickets are $17 / $20, available here.