Some of our favourite alt-rockers BONJAH are on the eve of kicking off, eagerly anticipated string of tour dates to celebrate the release of their latest single, ‘Burn’. The tour will see them hitting up venues in Bendigo, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast, and even Canada.
Produced by Jan Skubiszewski, best known for working with veterans like Dan Sultan and the John Butler Trio, ‘Burn’ is the latest dispatch from this awesome New Zealand-bred, Melbourne-based outfit, who’ve been one of Australia’s hardest working bands since 2006.
For those still playing catch-up, the boys of BONJAH all purchased one-way tickets to Melbourne back in the mid-2000s, armed with nothing but guitars and backpacks. These high-school friends have gone on to sell tens of thousands of records independently and sell out shows around the world. To celebrate the upcoming tour, Dan, Dave, and Regan put together a list of records that changed their lives. Check them out below and be sure to catch the guys when they roll into your city.
The Police – Reggatta De Blanc
1979, A&M
“A drummer mate of mine recommended this album to me a decade or so ago. I’d heard some of The Police hits but didn’t know much about them. I instantly loved the vibe of rock fused with reggae and world music…who would have thought of that back in 1979?
These guys also knew the importance of space between notes. I’ve since listened to all The Police albums many times over, but this is still my favourite. Stewart Copeland is the man. I’ve got a big framed poster of him on my living room wall. This album captures him at his best. In an era where drummers were tuning drums low, he cranked his drums high and often kept time with just the hi hat and bass drum. He also used these weird, skinny long drums called ‘octobans’. In 2001, I managed to find a set after about a year of looking. They have been sitting in my garage for years but I’d still never sell them.” (Dan)
Blood Sugar Sex Magik– The Red Hot Chili Peppers
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1991, Warner Bros. Records
“Everyone was cranking this album back in the early 90s. It really kicks ass. Four guys, locked in a big house, rocking out to funky syncopated grooves. The energy and attitude is huge as
each song rolls so beautifully into the next.
It wasn’t until we moved to Aus that I saw the Chilis live for the first time. We lined up all day to insure we were right up the front. When the music started, two rather overweight Chilis fans (who were standing behind me) got excited and wanted to get as close to the band as possible. They lunged forward and rocked out, pinning me up against the rails for the first two songs. My screams were muffled by the music..thought I was going to pass out. Was worth it though.” (Dan)
Pearl Jam – Ten
1991, Epic Records
“It was released in 1991. I didn’t get my first taste of it until a few years later when I picked it up in a CD bargain bin for $10. I must have been around the age of 11 or 12 and was going through a bit of shit with my family situation.
I instantly latched onto this grunge style of music with Eddie Vedders raw and energetic lyrics hitting some sort of chord with me. I was hooked and obsessed with this album. I would play it and sing a long to every word. I’d never skip a song and this was really the first album that I obsessed over.” (Dave)
Beatles – Sgt Peppers lonely HeartsClub Band
1967, Capitol Records
“I got a hold of this album on cassette tape when I was 14. I knew of The Beatles and all that they were and I liked them. I would hear their hits on the radio but I hadn’t really listened to their music until I heard this album. It knocked my little pre pubescent socks off! This album changed the way I looked at music.
I’d always had the idea that music was an exchange of musical talent, which was enough to keep me well entertained.Sgt Peppers really opened my mind to the fact that music can encompass so much more than just the music; it’s an art, an expression of more than just musical notes and rhythms.
There are concepts, themes, artwork, opinions, politics,emotions, light, shade and colour all buried deep within the music. Sgt Peppers made me realize you can go so much deeper than just the musical notes coming out of the instruments. I think my stoner phase helped me realise this too.” (Dave)
Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
1985, Vertigo/ Warner Bros.
“One of my earliest memories is my Dad air-drumming to ‘Money for nothing’ on one of our many trips on the boat when I was little. I barely understood what music was then but distinctly remember this memory and how cool the music sounded.
There was so much swing and swagger and how Knopfler somehow so effortlessly made head bands look cool is still beyond me, no one else can pull this off! The album cover of the steel resonator guitar is one of the most recognizable of all time and Knopfler’s playing heavily influenced me growing up. He is the guitarist you always aspire to be but deep down know you will never get there as he is simply another level and will go down as one of the all time greats. The songs have such a nice simplicity to them but somehow create amazing depth.
Knopfler was all about bends and the space between the notes and the band were just a super group of amazing players. Listening to the title track ‘Brothers In Arms’ still gives me chills to this day, it evokes so much emotion in Knopfler’s solos. To this day the album still makesme smile. If I hear ‘So Far Away’ from me on the radio it always brings a smile to my face and memories flood back. Everything came full circle when I got to see Mark Knopfler play with Dad 10 years or so ago four rows from the front in NZ, he’s still got it….” (Regan)
Michael Jackson – Dangerous
1991, Epic
“Through primary school MJ ruled the world,the 80’s and early 90’s he was hands down the biggest star on the planet. To the point where everyone was trying to moonwalk and be like him. I couldn’t decide if his records Bad, Thriller or Dangerous changed my world more, I went with Dangerous only as this was a present I got for when I stopped sucking my thumb.
It was the first album I officially owned and boy did it get a good run. The stand out on this album for me is ‘Will You Be There’, to this day I think its one of the best songs ever written and it just keeps going up in gears and the end of the song is some of the most uplifting music ever made.
Slash played on ‘Give in to Me’ and the the production and musicianship on the album is just amazing. I’m a massive Off The Wall, Bad and Thriller fan but this album in particular definitely inspired me the most growing up. We will never see another Michael Jackson.” (Regan)
BONJAH National Tour Dates
Friday, 24th April 2015
Howler, Melbourne
Friday, 1st May 2015
Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane
Saturday, 2nd May 2015
Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast
Wednesday, 6th – Saturday, 9th May 2015
Canadian Music Week
Sunday, 10th May 2015
Surfers Paradise Festival, Gold Coast
Tickets and info at www.bonjahmusic.com
