STARS & BAAS

Rip It Up, Issue 182, 1 September 1992, Page 7

STARS & BAAS

What is “Freak The Sheep”? The administering of psychoactive substances to our ruminant woolly income earners? Maybe. In Auckland it's a two hour fix of indiginous music, Monday nights on BFM (though soon this will change to the original Wednesday from 8-10 pm). For the past six years it's been hosted by Lisa Van der Aarde and she's given the show her mark of integrity and experimentation. Sometime last year it was suggested to Lisa that Freak The Sheep might have enough material for a compilation cassette of the bands and artists who submit their demos and unreleased material to the show. Bands that performed live regularly, but had neither the backing nor clout to release their material through established channels. Lisa thought this was a good idea and mentioned it to Mr Flying Nun, Roger Shepherd. Roger thought "Why just a cassette? Why not a record [remember them?] and compact disc." Freak The Sheep I was born. That was August 1991.

A little late — damned record companies, damned economy — comes Freak The Sheep 11. More stylistically comprehensive, it includes: from the deep south, Axel Grinders, Cyclops; Into The Void and Swim Everything. The North Island (with the greater population) contributes Blue Marbles, Book of Martyrs,'Gestalt, Head Like A Hole, Leaders of Style, Lushburger, Tinnitus and Queen Meanie Puss. • What about this second album, Lisa? ' “I wasn't aiming for anything commercial because J believe people need music that maybe you need to listen to more than once. In my mind I'd already, chosen the songs I wanted but some bands were

keen to record new ones. Some did. Cyclops, especially for the album, and Book of Martyrs too.

"Gestalt are maybe the newest band. I've heard Dave Graham over a couple of years and I think he's a talented, talented songwriter. This too is especially recorded for the compilation. It's got sheep in it. Isn't that nice? With Head Like A Hole, I saw them a few times last year and was really im- . pressed. But they've taken off. They're majorly popular. Them and Leaders of Style are maybe the most commercial tracks. That's why they're at the start. 1 wanted a broad range of stuff." - So much for the album. . What about your show? "It's based around new stuff. New bands, new demos, newreleases. I don't play lots of old stuff, much as I'd like to. I always play a new band at least once. I'm always talking to new bands, finding out what's going on but it's really flexible. If. people ring up and want to hear -something that's not a probJem. I like to know what the audience wants. The audience seems to be loyal. I get feedback from some people, I'd like more. "Lots of schoolkids listen. They're hearing their friends and the bands get such a thrill to hear themselves. I think the appeal is playing a broad range of music. I hope that I do. I've played everything but I guess ; the show slants towards the alternative. But I juggle it, mix it up as much as possible." So how do you feel about

the state of local music in general and what can bands do about it? - '■*:/ "Lots of bands get to a certain level but maybe 'cos what they're doing is a bit weird they can't go anywhere else and it's annoying. There are limitations.

\ It's often the same audience to see lots of bands. But publicity comes into it. In a situation where there's two or three gigs in one weekend people have to make a choice. Times are hard too and gigs have been suffering, and [as for] putting on a tour . . . But if you can cover costs you're okay, Taking music around the country is important." ; .- > > Could bands do more? "Probably. They could use the media more. It's available to them, in limited ways. Student and Iwi radio. Either 91 or 89FM want demos. Print media, get your gig on all the gig guides. Sometimes bands just don't. Maybe they don't know how. It's also how motivated a band is. They've got to have some get up and go. Motivated bands are very organised like the Nixons, Dirtbox, Figure 60. It depends too on how tar the band wanna go. Why don't they send the demos round the country? We are in a recession but we're apathetic. No one having any money does make it harder but I do think bands, should think about doing more for themselves." We'd better get back to the subject. Freak The Sheep II has spurred on the bands involved. Swim Everything can't make the gig but they'll be touring in October. Into The Void would have probably drunk themselves to death but have got it together for the gig — the formal launch of the album. That's on September 17th at Don't Tell Mama in Karangahape Road. Bands playing are Tinnitus, Leaders of Style, the Blue Marbles, Gestalt and Into The Void (yay!). So, will there be a Freuk The

Sheep III? Definitely. BARBIE