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CASANOVAS |
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 On this page:
*The Casanovas Interview with Patrick (Drums)
*The Casanovas Discography (available from Whammo)
*The Casanovas Tour dates
THE CASANOVAS - THE WHAMMO INTERVIEW - DECEMBER 9, 2003
The Casanovas are comfortably taking the hype surrounding ‘new-rock’ in their stride. It seems like they’re in no hurry to prematurely announce themselves as rock-gods but the trio have been just as active as fellow Aussies, Jet, continually touring and collecting new fans with each trip overseas, while a strategic release schedule has revealed a more developed style with every new single. It’s been a very intelligent approach to their art: an unadulterated, petrol-powered, denim-clad brand of 70s-styled rock that pays tribute to inspirations like AC/DC and Kiss, but also reeks of Aussie grit. This is V-8 sized riff-mastery with a tongue-in-cheek mentality that allows the lads to proudly display their over-the-top love for dirty riffs and driving beats. With a Shane O’Mara- produced debut ‘in the can’ I get the feeling The Casanovas are about to unleash some magic rock on their army of fans and it’s the perfect time to have a quick chat to Patrick (drums):
Whammo: A few years ago I had a few mates who love electronic music, telling me that rock was dead. The genre was definitely in a slump, there's no doubt. How did you feel at that time?
Patrick: Things go through cycles and I knew that rock n roll would come back. I know that good music will always last. I listen to Led Zeppelin and AC/DC now and it's still fresh. It could be released now. It's such good music. So, good music - whatever style it is - will last. It will stand the test of time.
Whammo: I don't know a lot about the origins of the band. From my perspective, you seemed to sprout out of nowhere at the best possible time. How long were you together before you started to make some inroads last year?
Patrick: We'd been around for a bout four years, since 1999. When we started out the rock n roll thing was still underground and not a lot of rock bands weren't getting much recognition. Bands like The Datsuns started to do really well overseas and there was hype about 'new rock' and bands like Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club started getting hyped overseas as well. We've always loved this sort of music and we're lucky to be playing it when rock n roll is coming back into vogue.
Whammo: You were released in the UK and Europe pretty quickly. What was the story behind that?
Patrick: We released a single over in the UK earlier this year, so we went over to the UK and did a tour over there. We did a tour of Europe and America with The Datsuns. We didn't sign any major deals but we were quite successful. We managed to sell out our shows in London. We were stoked to be there.
Whammo: And I guess it helps to be on Rubber Records over here.
Patrick: Yeah, Rubber's great. They're really down to earth. We can relate to them really easily and they listen to what we say, which is great.
Whammo: Where are you at with the album?
Patrick: We've recorded all the songs and we've mixed them all. We just feel that we're not 100% happy with some of the mixes, so we're thinking of going back and remixing those, then getting it out as soon as possible.
Whammo: You’ve done the smart thing with your releases. You've released a few singles that have kept the interest up and you continue to tour constantly. I think, in regards to releasing an album that you're probably better prepared than a band like Jet.
Patrick: That's probably true. Those guys have been plucked from obscurity and now they're massive. It's hard, when you're built up like that, for the album to do well, but the album is doing great for them and it sounds great as well. They've managed to pull it off.
Whammo: Not that I compare your bands musically. You're quite different. The only thing you have in common is a celebration of the rock and, in a way; it's a different era of rock that you're celebrating.
Patrick: I guess it is. They're influenced by The Stones and The Beatles.
Whammo: And you are?
Patrick: More a 70-s style of rock, I guess.
Whammo: A celebration of the black t-shirt!
Patrick: (laughs) That's right.
Whammo: I think it was Let It Ride, where you're all striking the pose on the cover, thumbs hooked into the belts, aviator glassed, black t-shirts. I thought to myself: 'they are there- that is so rock'.
Patrick: That's the style we dig; Kiss and AC/DC. Those are our main influences.
Whammo: I think Kiss were my favourite band through most of my teen years.
Patrick: They were one of my favourite bands even though I was listening to them ten years too late. I just thought they were fantastic. Great songs and a good sense of humour.
Whammo: Some people don't understand the sense of humour.
Patrick: Exactly. A lot of rock n roll bands don't have any tongue in cheek lyrics. I find some of it a bit too serious.
Whammo: Your EP was a killer, the first one. What's that last song?
Patrick: Ten Outta Ten?
Whammo: With the falsetto screaming. Awesome. Your sound is getting better with each single. What have you done to improve it?
Patrick: I think we're just gelling better as a band. With the most recent stuff, we've recorded the bass and drums in Sing Sing at Richmond (Melbourne) and it's a really nice recording studio. The sounds they get are really good. The guitars and vocals we did at Shane O'Mara's, which is the same place we recorded the EP.
Whammo: Is Shane producing?
Patrick: Yeah, he's been producing all the latest stuff.
Whammo: He's my fave producer at the moment.
Patrick: We get along like a house on fire. I certainly like his recordings the best out of all the Australian recordings that have come out recently.
Whammo: How was New Zealand?
Patrick: It was awesome. It was the first time we'd been there but it went down really well. We were supporting The Datsuns for four shows. Their audience really dug us because I guess it's a similar sort of style. We complement each other really well.
Whammo: You seem to bump into a lot of the bands that have been instrumental in the comeback of rock. How do you all get along? You're on a similar wavelength?
Patrick: Very much so. Out of those new school rock bands, The Datsuns are the band we get along with best. I guess it's because we're from a similar part of the world. We like the same music as opposed to someone like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I respect them but our influences are probably a fair bit different.
Whammo: It's probably that era thing again.
Patrick: Our sound is very much a 70s sound but we all still like the 60s: Rolling Stones and the Beatles. I think the latest single, No Time For Love, is a bit more cruisy. We were going for more of a Rolling Stones sort of vibe. Hopefully that comes across.
Whammo: Let It Ride was the best driving song released this year. I almost suggested that customers buy a V8 first, then get the single, just for the extra impact. Are you a Ford or Holden man?
Patrick: I actually like Holdens. I love the old retro Holdens.
Whammo: 68 Monaro.
Patrick: Beautiful car.
Whammo: My dream car. As a writer, I've never even been able to afford such a modest dream car.
Patrick: Tell me about it.
Whammo: Well, you've got an album coming out, you've worked hard. I reckon you should be able to afford a leer jet soon.
Patrick: Let's cross our fingers (laughs).
Whammo: A black Casanovas leer jet?
Patrick: That'd be hilarious.
Whammo: What's going on with touring?
Patrick: Well after this tour, we do the Sydney Big Day Out and I think after that the album comes out and we'll do a national tour. It's all tentative but after that we might be going to Japan and then England. That's what's coming up for the next few months.
Whammo: 5 or 6 years ago, if any band had have brought out anything that was heavily influenced by 70s rock bands, they'd be seen as derivative. Now it's seen as a celebration.
Patrick: I know what you're saying. For me, in rock n roll there's only really about 4 or 5 chords, so all my favourite rock bands just stick to those basic principles. AC/DC's latest album sounded like it could have been released in the 70s. They just stay true to what they know. It may sound like a retro thing but good rock n roll is always going to sound fresh to me.
Whammo: If there are so few chords, a lot of it must come down to personality.
Patrick: Exactly. A lot of it has to do with getting your own sound and attitude. You know when you're in the rehearsal studio if it's worth working on. It just works when you're playing it. |
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 THE CASANOVAS
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cd single
The Casanovas are one of the Aussie artists leading the garage rock revival and it only takes 4 bars to realise it's a Casanovas track. That's a good sign and it signals the development of a definitive style. This classic-sounding 3-piece have been dragged along in the wake of bands like The Datsuns, Jet and The Vines while writing fesh material, signing a UK deal and filling the world's rock pits with sweaty punters. While on the cusp of the A-list, The Casanovas have become the quiet achievers with a string of successful singles. Let It Ride is one for mullets, rev-heads, the black t-shirt brigade and old rockers; guaranteed to make your Charger/Monaro travel a few KM faster.
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 THE CASANOVAS
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cd single
There's no need to look beyond the cover of The Casanovas' Shake It to see their intentions. The shameless worship of black t-shirts is back as Aussie and Kiwi riff-masters vy for right to be crowned king of the new-age garage rock revival. The Casanovas impressed with their previous EPs but Shake It is the first single release since they were named as one of the rock short-list and invited to rock the UK and US. The three-piece don't mind letting their listeners know where they come from with a gritty version of AC/DC's Riff Raff included on the tracklisting. Many bands are trying to relive the past but few do it with the swagger of The Casanovas.
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 THE CASANOVAS
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cd extended player
This release has appeared at the right time. The world seems to be in love with basic straight-edged rock'n'roll and these boys deliver plenty of it on Keep it Hot. At first I thought I was listening to some rare early material from Kiss circa '74 but no, it's The Casanovas bringing back the era when small jackets and snarling guitarists were in vogue. Great riffs litter the five tracks on this disc and instantly place The Casanovas in the front-running for success O.S. Whammo customers have been asking me to recommend some classic Aus-rock and here it is. The fist two tracks Keep it Hot and Nasty are corkers and would satisfy any lover of 'in your face' ACDC style riffing. Keep it Hot also has two previously released tracks that were only available on vinyl including 10 Outta 10 which is one of the best rock numbers released by an Australian band in the last few years. These boys are set to tour Europe with The Datsuns; a guaranteed jaw-grinding rock tour.
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CASANOVAS TOUR DATES:
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January
23....Sydney, Sydney Showground |
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