SKUNKHOUR
- The Travelers
Oz music in the 1990's was suffering
an identity crisis of sorts. The golden days of pub rock were gone, the pokies
were on the rise and club/rave culture had begun to take its first very wobbly
steps. While the world seemed to be in the throws with all things grunge and it's
dour antiestablishment ethos, some were looking elsewhere to get their kicks.
Hip Hop was in a golden age of change and so too was the English revival of classic
Soul Jazz and Funk of the late 60's and 70's. The true believers could be found
down at the Harbourside Brasserie at around 1am on a Sunday to catch the late
set by the indisputable godfather of Australian soul funk - the late great Jackie
Orzascky and his Godmothers.
This is the scene in which the
soon to be members of Skunkhour found themselves in Sydney around 1991-92. From
the outset they set themselves a difficult task of fusing Soul, Funk, Hip Hop
and Jazz with not just Rock but an unashamed love of Oz Rock. This would prove
to be their greatest asset and their biggest handicap to an industry and market
not yet ready to cope with real funk and soul, let alone Oz rock hip hop.
While
there were other groups on the scene, Skunkhour were relentless and unapologetic
in a pursuit to define their own brand of Australian groove music. They did not
want to be seen as imitators, but as originators. Their legendary sounds spanned
over a decade, producing four albums, rocking out at countless gigs and festivals,
cementing a place in Triple J's Top 100 and leaving no rocks unturned during their
rockstar touring, before calling it quits to "grow up."
Time
Travellers
And so it would seem as though the boys had had
enough. But like an alcoholic to his drink, nothing could keep these boys from
The Funk. The boys will begin their December 09 tour with an all-original line
up (minus the great Paul Searles) and featuring the mighty Alan Goodman. Also
featuring Del and the band plus assorted guest Djs on the decks.
It
feels good to be back. You'll see us there.
"I was the
booking agent for Skunkhour for 12 years so I have seen 100's of their shows.
I have so many great memories of them performing live. If you were ever a Skunkhour
fan, you will know that seeing them play live was what it was all about…
especially the feeling and atmosphere they created with their music - you could
not help but dance to them!!! So it's going to be fantastic to see them recreate
that again"
Michael Harrison, Frontier Touring
"Before
White Men Could Jump, Del and Aya Larkin were proving that they could do everything
else but...one of my favourite Australian bands ever, Skunkhour, were before and
after their time, existing in the nexus of things known and unknown in a time
when grunge excused every shit guitarist and forced every cardigan clad under-graduate
into a sandshoe staring depression. Skunkhour were bright bold and fucking beautiful.
Back to Basics Indeed!"
Adam Zammit, Peer Group Media
SKUNKHOUR
TOUR DATES
Friday Dec 4: Villa Noosa; Noosa Heads
Saturday Dec 5: Coolies;
Coolangatta Hotel Gold Coast
Sunday Dec 6: Great Northern Hotel; Byron Bay
Tuesday
Dec 8: Tivoli; Brisbane
Thursday Dec 10: Metro Theatre; Sydney
Friday Dec
11: Governor Hindmarsh; Adelaide
Saturday Dec 12: Hi Fi Bar; Melbourne
www.twitter.com/skunkhour
