Melbourne’s pop-punk outfit Front Counter are poised to become Australia’s next big thing. Haven’t heard of them? Trust me, you will. With their debut EP A Toast to You and Me slated for release next month and a trip to Ramsey Street set to coincide, this Aussie five-piece are destined for greatness. Today I had a chat with the band’s bass guitarist Adin. Here’s what he had to say about their devoted teen fan base, gigging, and his love of fast food.
Critics are already comparing Front Counter to Simple Plan and Green Day. How would you describe your sound?
We’re just a fun-loving band. “Looking to party” music, but there’s a serious note to it as well. We want to write stuff that people can bob their heads and just energy kind of stuff. I wouldn’t compare us to Simple Plan or Green Day but obviously the influence is there with bands like that.
You formed the band with Josh and Anton back in 2004, but it’s taken to this year to complete the lineup with Rhys and Josh. What have they brought to the band that was missing before?
Rhys brings a really good pop element to the band. He just has a knack for picking up these melodies and he’s really good at harmonising Anton’s vocal parts as well so there’s different voices there. And Josh the new guitarist, he can really shred. He’s a really good guitarist so he brings that element of musicianship that we were kind of missing before.
I read that your name was inspired by a sign at Hungry Jacks. Are you all fast food junkies?
At the moment we are, just because we’re all stressed [laughs]. But honestly, we’re not the healthiest band going around. We’re not fast food junkies, but we do like our fast food.
You played the massive Taste of Chaos tour last year. How was that experience?
That was amazing. The Melbourne night was just amazing. There were so many people that didn’t know who we were, and it was really good that the kids come up to you after the show and say, “Hey, I didn’t quite catch your name, what’s your name, I’ve never heard of you” and they were asking about us, it created a bit of a buzz. It was really cool.
You’ve supported some really big acts like Behind Crimson Eyes and The Butterfly Effect. What did you learn from playing with those guys?
That professionalism is the key and that every night is a new night. When you’re playing so many shows you kind of realise that some people will be seeing you for the first time and you can’t really have an off night. First impressions last and you’ve got to always be on the ball. Those dudes are so professional and they do it week in week out, night after night, and they keep their bodies in tip top shape, it’s not all about going out and partying and getting drunk every night of the tour. They’re very professional.
Triple M has added your new single “What’s Your Name” to their playlists. What was it like to hear it on radio for the first time?
Very surreal. They added it a while back, I think back in January, way before everyone else did and it was very surreal. It doesn’t sink in until afterwards really, until people start calling and like “Hey dude, I heard your song on radio, that’s way cool” and you’re like “That’s awesome.” The first time I heard it I actually only caught the tail end of it and the presenter’s like “That was the new single from Front Counter, it’s called ‘What’s Your Name'” and that’s when it sunk in for me: when they were actually talking about the band name and stuff, not the actual song on radio because you hear it so much. There’s no difference hearing the song on radio and on a CD, kind of thing but when they say your name it’s really cool.
We’ll see you perform “What’s Your Name” on Neighbours next month. Are you fans of the show at all?
I wouldn’t say fans, but growing up obviously everyone gets into Neighbours. I love Toadfish, he’s a champion. But I haven’t really caught much of it lately because it’s in a timeslot where we’re usually really busy, like rehearsing or doing something. But I try to catch these one-minute clips on the internet site so I get a review of every show.
You’re heading out on a national tour in August. What can music fans expect from a Front Counter show?
Energy, lots of energy, fun, and just to enjoy themselves. Down here in Melbourne a Front Counter show is like a social gathering for the underage kids. There are 60 or 70 kids that come to every show and they’re all just mates. It’s very cool, it’s very social.
I notice you’re playing an all-ages gig on this tour. How do those shows compare to the ones with an older crowd?
There’s no real comparison. They’re two very different things, they’re two different beasts. The overage crowd, they’re a harder crowd to gain respect from, but at the same time it’s a lot of fun. With the underage kids, they just love it. They just go to shows and they’ll dance, mosh, they’ll do everything the underage crowd want to do. They’re usually fans for life. Once they get up here they’ll follow you around everywhere which is really, really cool. There’s no real comparison, they’ve both got different positives.
You’re visiting a lot of regional areas on this tour. Did you make a conscious effort to get out there to those places that don’t often see a lot of live music?
For sure. We love playing regional shows. We did a few at the end of last year before we had our EP and they’re just more fun. You get out there and you talk to everyone and they’re a heap of fun. They don’t get a lot of acts out in regional areas and it’s just cool to get out there and play for people that don’t really get a lot of live music.
You worked with Richard Stolz on your debut EP A Toast to You and Me. He’s worked with some massive artists like Behind Crimson Eyes and Bodyjar, so what was it like to have him involved?
Richard is amazing. To be honest with you, he took a massive risk with us because we had nothing before, we only had a few demos, and he took a massive risk and put his time and effort into it and it paid off. He was just amazing to work with. He was so positive and always cheery. You might do this crap take and he’d be like “Oh that’s OK, let’s try that again.” He wasn’t “Oh my god, that’s shit, that’s disgusting, you’ve got to do that again.” He was real positive, “Yeah let’s try it again, that was good.” He’s a really positive person, good vibe.
And finally, do you have a message for your fans?
Come out and see our shows. We’ve got a new set, new lineup, the new EP A Toast of You and Me comes out in stores August 9. Get out there and get it and come and see our live shows!
You heard him! If you want to catch Front Counter live these are the places you can do it!
1 August 2008 – Fist 2 Face, Melbourne (all ages)
7 August 2008 – Oxford Tavern, Wollongong (18+)
8 August 2008 – Chilli Lounge, Wyong (18+)
9 August 2008 – Sonar @ Luna Park, Sydney (18+)
10 August 2008 – Spectrum, Sydney (18+)
13 August 2008 – The Red Room @ University of Qld, Brisbane (18+)
15 August 2008 – Hard Rock Café, Gold Coast (18+)
16 August 2008 – “Thriller” @ Rosie’s, Brisbane (18+)
17 August 2008 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay (18+)
23 August 2008 – “Bang” @ Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne (18+)
29 August 2008 – The Pub, Bendigo (18+)
5 September 2008 – Barwon Club, Geelong (18+)
9 September 2008 – East Brunswick Club, Melbourne (18+)
Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment