This week is the first leg of Jonesez ‘Lazyboy‘ album launch tour. The album has been out a couple of weeks now through Gun Fever, and you can stream / purchase it [Here]. First up on the tour is The Basement in Canberra this Friday and the Lansdowne Hotel in Sydney on Saturday night. This week in The Hotseat, we catch up with Ben from the band to answer our questions. Expand this post for his answers as well as all the tour dates and details.
THE BASICS
Name : Ben Thomas-Gill
Band : Jonesez
Job In Band : Bass, Bass and Baz
Website Address : www.facebook.com/Jonesezmusic
HOME
Hometown : Melbourne
Hometown is best known for : Giant Ferris Wheels that nobody uses and the insurance claim that follows.
Best venue in your hometown : The John Curtin Hotel
Favourite show you’ve seen in your hometown : Steven Malkmusand Jicks at the corner hotel.
Favourite show you’ve played in your hometown : The time we almost supported the Presidents of the United States but Mark was in America. None of us really got over that.
THE BAND
How did the band first come to exist? Mark Stewart started a solo project after finishing up with Horsell Common and realized he couldn’t play all of the instruments at once. He proceeded to try findpeople who looked like him, failed and settled for three gentlemen who wore an equal amount of plaid shirts.
How long has the band been going? Three and half years.
Any particular story behind the name? Creed was taken.
What’s your most recent release? Tell us a little about it… Our new album ‘Lazyboy’ is a testament to the bands ethos. We are all lazy and boys. The dog on the cover represents the metaphorical dog on all of our couches. And the pizza he is suspiciously not eating.
Got a personal stand out achievement of your band to date? Mark got Andrew Gaze to reply to a tweet. We are hoping to do a collaboration with him soon.
OFF THE STAGE
What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it? Seeing Area 7 and thinking I need to make them stop playing.
Any particular band / album or song that you personally credit as a major influence? Mark writes the songs, Mark likes Nirvana.
Your first band name, and what style did you play? Mob Antics, and we played unpopular 90’s high school music. We were pretty popular amongst the 16 to 16 and a half demographic.
Most prized music related item you own? I have Beethoven’s lust for powered wigs
When you’re not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing? Breathing.
The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is… Playing shows
The thing you least look forward to before a tour is… Sitting in a car for nine hours.
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ON THE STAGE
When on offer, what’s your one must have item on the rider? Chips.
Favourite place you’ve toured… and why? The Junction Hotel in Maitland. New played with a band called The Australian Beef Week Show. They’re the best band we’ve ever played with. Can guarantee they would say the same of us.
Most memorable show you’ve played? and why? That time we launched our second record and got too pissed before we went on. Mark failed to mention that a few “special” people were coming down to see the show”. All of those things won’t happen again.
Got a favourite song to play live? Just keep walking by INXS
Any embarrassing on stage moments come to mind? Mark once sang with Anberlin. That’s pretty embarrassing.
Any pre-show rituals? The two man push up. Good for the heart.
What do you find is the hardest aspect of touring in a band today? Nothing is hard about being in band, if it’s hard it’s not fun and you shouldn’t do it. The only thing that sucks is not being able to do it full time and end up looking like Keith Richards.
RIGHT NOW
Last song you listened to? Tokyo Police Club – Toy guns
Last album you picked up? Ramshackle Army – Letters from the Road Less travelled
Which band or album is currently on high rotation? Danger Doom – The mouse and the mask. It came out in 2005. I’m a little late to the party.
Tell us an up and coming band or artist you think we should go and listen to right now? Horror my Friend from Adelaide. Cool band we are playing withwho I just found out about.
What’s on the cards for the next few months for the band? Quick tour, play some more shows around Melbourne, another tour and then the writing of fourth album.
IF ONLY…
You can pick any one album for your band to cover in full, what would it be and why? Weezer – Blue Album – Because it is in our opinion one of the best albums written.
You can pick any one band / artist to cover one of your albums in full, what would it be, and why? Paul Dempsey and or Something For Kate. I haven’t a bad cover from that gentlemen yet.
One band you wish you were able to see live but never had the chance? As Tall as Lions. I think they are very, very good.
One venue you have yet to play that you would love to? The Palace. When it was still a possibility.
The chance comes up to fill in for a member of a band for one tour,which band would it be, and why? Ben Kweller, his tunes seem like they would be nothing but fun to play.
A headline tour overseas comes up, tell us two bands you’d take along to support your band. Jebediah and Something for Kate.
PLUG TIME
Got any final words? ‘Lazyboy’ is out now!
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JONESEZ – ‘Lazyboy‘
Available now on Gun Fever Records.
Grab it on CD or Digitally [Here].
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JONESEZ
MAY
23rd – The Basement, Canberra [18+] w/ No Assumption
24th – Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney [18+] w/ Wasters, Propeller, Designer Mutts
31st – Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood [18+] w/ Super Best Friends, Darts, Have/Hold
JUNE
7th – The Metro, Adelaide [18+] w/ Horror My Friend, The Rocketeers, Charlie Monsoon
—> Tickets available at the door.
—> For more information, visit [Here].
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