The Newsagency you need to Visit
WE SAT DOWN WITH LOCAL, FOUR PIECE BAND, THE NEWSAGENCY TO TALK NEW MUSIC, GIGS AND WOLLONGONG’S THRIVING MUSIC SCENE.
Could you tell us a bit about yourselves? My names Tom McGlinn I’m the lead singer and rhythm guitarist. I’m Jack Eagleton from Woonona, I’m the bass player – bringing the rock and roll. I’m Shaq DeBono from Farmborough and I play drums. I’m Adam Bingham from Woonona and I’m lead guitar.
How was the band first established? Tom: Jack and I were the first to start it and initially we had another friend, Max, helping us out for a bit, and Shaq was playing lead guitar at the time and then Max had to leave, and Shaq moved on to drums. Adam’s been a family friend since I’ve been born, I guess, and so pretty much straight after that we got Adam onto Lead Guitar.
You all seem like you’ve evolved in the type instruments you use? Have you guys always played what you do now? Tom: I don’t think so, everybody’s kind of played since a young age. I don’t think Jack played the bass beforehand. Jack: Bass is a simpler version of the guitar so… Shaq: I’ve been playing drums since I was about five and its funny cause me and Adam we jammed in a band at the start of the year. Adam: Once or twice. Shaq: and then when Tom told me that we got this guy named Adam and he can play guitar.
How long you guys been together? Shaq: since the start of February
Have you got anything upcoming any new songs or EP’s?Tom: We’re releasing a new song this Friday, that will be the first song we will release, and it’s called ‘Ecstatic’. Jack: We got many more coming. Shaq: That’s the thing too, we try and focus more on our own original songs and not do covers, cause it’s so much better to focus on your own music and not get stuck in doing covers constantly. We’d rather get tighter as a band and develop our own sound.
What would you say your biggest inspirations are? Adam: I don’t know, I think Jack would say Oasis. Jack: Liam Gallagher, John Lennon. Shack: Probably Nirvana. Adam: Any musician that plays an instrument or remotely rock n’ roll we like.
Do you guys think music is the way you express your creativity or imagination? Would you say this is the primary way you express yourself and your mind? Jack: That the thing about music, it’s about the way you dress when you go to play that music, it’s the way you act, it’s the way you talk – we all express it, and we love doing it. That’s the unique part about music and creativity they go hand in hand.
Tom: Yeah, I think music is a platform for many people to vent their feelings and ideas about things and it’s just the easiest way to do it. It’s the least direct way as well, you don’t have to have a conversation about it, you can sing it or play it and move on.
Adam: We just want to have fun really, we’ll go to the skate park on a Saturday night at 11pm, go up to Cronulla and party and back it up the next day and jam, have a gig or come up with something creative.
Jack: When we play together, I look at Adam and he gives me a smile, it’s all love, although you punched me on stage the other day, still love you though. Shaq: You’ve got to have fun when you’re playing music. That’s what makes it so much better, you’ve got to have passion for what you play. If people don’t like it then that’s their own opinion, but it makes us happy and it’s what we want to do. Jack: our music is us.
Would you say the performance is a big part of it as well? Adam: When we do record most of our songs, it doesn’t give the song justice. Everything is always so much better live.
More broadly in Wollongong, there are a few bands popping up here and there, would you say you are mostly inspired by them or is there a bit of friendly rivalry there? Tom: I think there is obviously a lot of talent in Wollongong, that’s why Wollongong has such an intense emerging music scene. Even without Rad Bar it still will retain its musical talent. But I always think that with such a scene as music there will always be a bit of rivalry between bands. Everyone does want to one up each other and in saying that though, I think the majority really want to see everyone succeed. I think without sounding cheesy there is a certain sound that comes out of Wollongong’s music, whether it be punk or indie.
Adam: Probably because of the surf I reckon.
Jack: I think the biggest influences Wollongong has had on the band is probably going to gigs as a younger man. I think it was Sam Allen and I watched him, and I was like – that’s it, lets start a band. So that was more of an influence for me rather than the musical side.
Where have you guys playing? Have you made it up to Sydney yet? Tom: Yeah, we’ve played in Newtown, we will be playing in Mosh Pit Bar in Newtown. I think our first gig was at Wombarra Bowlo. Our second gig was at The Foundry and the third was at Rad and we’ve had a few gigs since at Ryan’s, the Servo and Woonona Bowls.
Expensive getting all those instruments aye? Tom: Yeah, it’s not cheap. How much did your drum kit cost you Jack? Jack: $40 off my brothers’ best friend – we used to have the worst stuff but as well all save we’re getting a bit better of a collection of gear. Tom: We kind of just share everything around – drum kits, guitars what not.
What genre do you guys gravitate to the most? Shaq: We have a bit of everything, there are some songs that are just straight out rock and roll then there are other songs which are a bit softer and a bit more indie – I think it’s good that we play a bit of everything cause its fun for all of us. That’s the thing too, we’re all into different stuff so we try put our own little twist on everything and make a song out of it.
So, what’s your plans now for the future? Shaq: Keep playing gigs. Tom: Release a few songs. Shaq: Once we start releasing music – singles and EP’s I think we’ll really be able to thrive and hopefully be open to more opportunities. Jack: I want to get known for doing weird shit as well – just being different and giving people a show that’s entertaining and can be enjoyed. Shaq: Yeah, as long as we keep releasing music, I think we will have an opportunity to get the name out there. In order for us to be successful we need to have that individual sound and portfolio as well. We’ve only been together for six months now, so we’re still fairly new but we’re still trying our best to push out songs. Adam: We’re just too busy having fun. Shaq: These two [Jack, Tom] are at school this year, Adam’s working, and I’m at Uni so we’re all pretty busy.
Any upcoming stuff? Tom: We’re releasing our new song ‘Ecstatic’ on 23rd August. Adam: We’ve got a gig in Bargo too. Tom: But we’re planning a single launch sometime soon as well. So, keen for that.
You can find The Newsagency @the.newsagency on Facebook and Instagram or listen to their new release ‘Estatic’ on all music streaming platforms.