theredsunband

Driveway to Driveway the various accomodations of theredsunband

At 6am one morning in 2002, the NSW Fire Brigade were called to the smoking remains of a house on Annette St. Oatley. Just half an hour earlier, a TV spontaneously began smouldering due to an electrical fault. It was only the cracking of the screen that awoke the slumbering flatmates. Escaping with a pair of black 10-hole Doc Martens in her left hand and a blue Jagstang guitar in her right, Sarah Kelly stood on the driveway of the house as the fire-fighters ferried out the other survivors. Several snakes, a frill-necked lizard, a bearded dragon and a steaming tank of turtles all emerged, blackened but unharmed. Sadly, her entire CD collection perished.

Here, roughly, begins the story of theredsunband. Many stories are easily divided into chapters or episodes. The story of theredsunband falls quite naturally into segments that relate to the various accomodations they have resided in at different stages of their journey thus far.

Oatley 2223 The house was a typical band house. Its bottom floor was split into two sections: one side an apartment, the other an unbuilt section with a dirt floor, used by the occupants as a drum room. Initially occupied by The Vines, the house was virtually abandoned as the rising stars followed a stream of international engagements. theredsunband moved in and began work on demos. Luckily, some had been handed around before the inferno struck.

Prahran 3181 On their first tour of Melbourne, theredsunband were fortunate enough to meet studio owner, Craig Harnath and Magic Dirt bass player, Dean Turner. Craig had offered to record them in his studio for free and Dean had offered to produce them. To take advantage of these co- incidental offers, the band stayed in Melbourne for five days, squatting in an abandoned house. Its only contents were a tiny heater and a collection of sponge. However, it provided them with a place to sleep and allowed them to form a production team that still endures.

Station Street, Tempe 2044 After releasing their debut album, “Peapod”, theredsunband toured incessantly, playing shows with almost everyone on the local touring scene as well as many international luminaries. Eventually, they decided that it was time to begin work on a new album. They moved into in a three-bedroom house, employing the master bedroom as the bandroom. There they slaved over demo after demo, pausing only when other touring bands passed by. Their favourite travelling band was
The Gin Club, but they were also the largest group. When they stayed, there were guests on every couch and bean bag, one on the kitchen floor and one on the mattress in the back yard.

1976 Bedford Van [no fixed address] After two years of touring, the band decided to take on one final 32 date national tour with a gang of their contemporaries. They knew it would be arduous, but that if they got through it, they would earn enough money to record a new album. When the other bands shot over the horizon in their rented Taragos, they putted along in their vintage van. When the others stopped at Roadhouse diners, they stopped at public parks and made billy tea. When the others pulled into hotel carparks, they pulled over and slept in the back. They scrimped and saved.

Gladstone Avenue, Coniston 2500 When the band collectively decided to study at Wollongong Uni, a friend provided them with yet more peculiar lodgings. A house in nearby Coniston had once been the home of his grandfather, but had since fallen into disrepair. Upon inspection, the band discovered a house in ruin: damp carpets, a once-lived-in garage and a back door that was nowhere to be found. Over that summer, the band sanded floorboards, glued broken rooftiles and painted walls. In return, the owners allowed them to live rent free. Here they wrote more songs, including “Like An Arrow”.

High Street, St. Kilda 3182 When all the demoing was done, theredsunband packed their bags and reacquainted themselves with their Melbourne accomplices. This time they would have their hotel. Over three weeks they would sleep in a room with three beds and in between piece together a brand new album called “The Shiralee”.

Band Members:

Sarah Kelly - Singing & guitar. Lizzie Kelly - Singing, keys & tambo. Jasper Fenton - Singing & drums.

Formed in 2002 by Sarah Kelly & John Matthews. Joined later that year by Lizzie Kelly. Jasper joined the band in 2008 following the departure of John Matthews in 2007.