BEST FRIEND EVER with Johnny batchelor, guitar and vocals, and Rob Laurie, drums and vocals.
Influences
Perennial influences would have to include Lou Reed, David Bowie, Velvet Underground, early Cure, The Pretenders, Iggy Pop, Neil Young (& Buffalo Springfield), Stevie Winwood, so many blues and soul artists it would take all night to name, likewise mersybeat and punk... And isn't everyone influenced by The Beatles? and yeah, The Rolling Stones, Marc Bolan and well... Prince. A lot of individual local musicians have influenced me, like Phil Hall, Chris Toms, Mike Caen, Ian Rilen and Sandii Chick to name but a few.
Sounds Like
BEST FRIEND EVER has a very stripped back sound perhaps reminicent of early Dropbears.
One sunny day in a remote Sydney backwater:
Rob: (been known to front experimental art ensemble such as A SLOW RIP)
Johnny: (layabout)
Rob: what you doin’ on Sunday?
Johnny: Nothin’
Rob: Can you play guitar?
Johnny: A bit
Rob: I’ll bring my drums ‘round then
Johnny: Sure
Rob: Got any songs?
Johnny: A few
Rob: We’ll have a shot at some of those then.
Johnny: OK
Rob: You don’t say much do you?
Johnny: pfft
Rob: Do these songs have lyrics?
Johnny: Yeah
Rob: What are they about then?
Johnny: Uh… the forlorn hope of existential bliss coupled with the banal regurgitation of desire, loss, fear, triumph, love, indignation, lust, devotion, rejection, compassion and distaste in an ever twisting spiral of wonder, radiance and grief.
Rob: … Really?
Johnny: Nuh
Rob: Oh… I’ll bring a few beers then.
Such was the genesis of BEST FRIEND EVER.
Hanging out with Best Friend Ever – like giggling at a sleepover after too much red cordial…
Next morning, the hangover, and you realize: All your best friends are saints... right? And there is nothing sharp in matters of the heart... right? … Well… that's Best Friend Ever: pop music for grownups who never did. Definitely M 15+ though quite happy with lots of bright colours and swirls and things, even a few love hearts… gone wrong.
BEST FRIEND EVER's first EP 'Songs for Saints' will be out by the end of August 2009. 'Your Blade, My Heart' on the player above is just a taster...
A bit of Johnny Batchelor history:
Dropbears' In Your Eyes
1987 Solo single 'Work and Save'.
Dropbears first 'no budget' single and clip 'Fun Loving' 1982. If you look on YouTube you can find more Dropbears' videos.
!!Welcome my friend!!beautiful music thank u soo much for share with me your magicol art,all my respect**I send u my passion and all my good energy Love,Peace and Moon Light for u spirit**besos,warm hug india Vikki,,ny..
Hi Johny, so pleased to meet you - gosh you have really experienced the highs and lows of the rock n roll life style sounds intense but wonderful so pleased you haven't hung up or smashed up the guitar for good and are still out there making music - it's not easy but I reakon it's the best thing you can do in life. I like your song - it's my dream to be able to play guitar the way you play it. Cheers Zelda
Hi There I've been checking out your space I like your sound...Nice to be friends Have you read the in memory blogg yet on Jimspace? It's really what the JHS site is all about! Gladly it now features a link to some unusual early recordings which include Jim on guitar and song writer, in pre-Pretender days... Read James Williams writing's in memory of, to find it! Do keep in touch Friendly greetings In memory of JHS
