Now in its fourth year, Drive Live is community radio station PBS 106.7FM’s annual celebration of live and local music, with three bands going live to air in front of a studio audience in each day’s drive time program, at PBS’ Collingwood studios. It’s completely free and open to the public.
The station’s program manager Owen McKern shares some highlights from the first three years of the event ahead of the 2015 edition of Drive Live, which is on from February 2 to 6. RSVP via the PBS website to secure your spot as place are limited!
Among the artists on this year’s line-up are disco dance upstarts GL, Melbourne-by-Iceland’s electronic producer Ben Frost, one of Australia’s best new punk bands Power, Melbourne’s own kosmische revivalists Black Cab, purveyors of shimmery guitar pop The Ocean Party, snotty punk stalwarts Ausmuteants, Love Of Diagrams, who are set to make a welcome return with a new LP in March, misanthropic synth-punk pioneers Primitive Calculators and many more.
NO ZU
Song: ‘Emotion’, Program: Against the Tide (2013)
This was an absolute standout for me from 2013. I remember being especially impressed by the percussion parts in this track and the maniacal energy in Studio 5. Looks like it was a hot one too! Looking forward to another record from these guys, who are an even more formidable live act now and have somehow managed to expand their lineup – 11 people by my count on stage at Sugar Mountain the other day.
Lost Animal
Song: ‘Say No To Thugs’, Program: Mixing Up the Medicine (2012)
Known to be a personal fave of PBS GM Adrian Basso, Lost Animal’s appearance in 2012 comes from Drive Live’s first year in it’s current format. Prior to that, for what was known as Live Music Week, we put a band to air in every show on the PBS program grid between 6am and midnight. The decision to focus the live-to-airs into our Drive programs was an excellent one – for both punters and the sanity of PBS’ very small staff. Judging by Shags Chamberlain’s removal of his pants later in Lost Animal’s set, I’d wager this year was roasting too.
Hiatus Kaiyote
Song: ‘Breathing Underwater’, Program: The Afterglow (2014)
There’s no doubt that Hiatus Kaiyote’s set on Drive Live last year was among the all-time highlights of the event to date. In the time between when the band had been booked to play and the event itself, they’d been endorsed by the likes of Prince and Q-Tip, blown up internationally and nominated for a Grammy. Not bad. We were a little concerned that after such a whirlwind trip like the one they went on that they’d never come back, but all was well; their triumphant return brought the (packed) house down.
The Meanies
Song: ‘Scum’, Program: Fang It! (2013)
The Meanies must have played at more PBS events than almost any other band, if all the old Cup Day Kaos and Anzac Day Anarchy posters around the station are to be believed. They’re such a quintessential Melbourne band, so I guess that’s no surprise and in no way a bad thing. Proving here on Fang It! that old punks really do grow old disgracefully, and are all the better for it. Maintain the rage.
King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard
Song: ‘I Gotta Rock n Roll’, Program: Stone Love (2013)
The Giz, doing a Reatards song. What else can I say? Well for one thing, here’s another example of a band appearing on Drive Live just as they’re really hitting their straps… it’s been up and up for these guys in the time since. It might only be two years ago, but from here KG&TLW went on to take out the $50,000 AIR award, record and release three more albums and tour the States and Europe extensively. We’re very proud of them.
Full PBS Drive Live 2015 Line Up
Monday, Feb 2 – Zen Arcade
Ben Frost – 6.20 – 6.50pm
Complete – 5.45 – 6.05pm
Vacuum – 5.00 – 5.30pm
Tuesday, Feb 3 – Mixing Up The Medicine
Love of Diagrams – 6.20 – 6.50pm
The Galaxy Folk – 5.45 – 6.05pm
The Ocean Party – 5.00 – 5.30pm
Wednesday, Feb 4 – The Afterglow
Black Cab – 6.20 – 6.50pm
GL – 5.45 – 6.05pm
Lowtide – 5.00 – 5.30pm
Thursday, Feb 5 – Fang It!
Ausmuteants – 6.20 – 6.50pm
Kim and Leanna – 5.45 – 6.05pm
Power – 5.00 – 5.30pm
Friday, Feb 6 – Stone Love
Primitive Calculators – 6.20 – 6.50pm
Time of Dreams – 5.45 – 6.05pm
Habits – 5.00 – 5.30pm
