Ohhh, we’ve looking forward to this one for a while. DUNE RATS, the three boys from Brisbane who have taken Australia by storm with their unapologetic brand of rock, absolutely nuts live show and two kick-arse records. These guys are, in a sentence, batshit crazy and unbelievably epic.
But as nuts as they portray themselves to be, they’ve certainly got bite to back up their bark. Producing classic tune after classic tune, these lads are the epitome of how far you can go as an indie artist. Ahead of the debut of their brand new record Hurry Up and Wait, we thought we’d turn you onto five other awesome acts that are climbing up the ladder the same way the Rats did, and who we think are worth your time.
WAWAWOW
A four-piece from Sydney, the first reaction you have listening to this band is something akin to their name. A psychedelic rock band, these guys produce fast-paced, riff heavy music that is filled with a kooky, tongue-in-cheek energy. Fans of bands like Talking Heads and Queens of the Stone Age will find a lot to like here. With upcoming shows in Sydney and Wollongong throughout the remainder of January and February, this is a band you’re going to have to see in the flesh to appreciate.
Good Starting Tracks: ‘The Big Cookoff’, ‘Space Invaders’, ‘Sabre the Toothtiger’
Click here for their Spotify playlist.
Commodore Charlie
A bit harder on the Dune Rats scale, these guys cut right to the meat and potatoes with direct, hard rock. A five-piece from the South Coast of NSW, they pull from a sound similar to Metallica, except with a much quirkier edge to it. These guys are just a hell of fun, even claiming to sometimes do a cover of the ‘Round the Twist’ theme on stage. Get these guys rotating in your playlists, because they’re sure to go places.
Good Starting Tracks: ‘D.I.Y’, ’Kombi’
Click here for their Spotify playlist.
Auntie Leo and the Backstabbers
Probably the most left-field selection on our list, this outfit from Melbourne are, put simply, music chameleons. A cross between the glorious old-school sounds of The Animals and the quirkier efforts of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, these blend surf rock with Spaghetti Western soundtracks to create something genuinely unique, but comfortable to listen to. Listening to them is like going on a super chill trip from the Sixties to now, in all the right ways. These are a group to watch.
Good Starting Tracks: ‘Space Garden,’ ‘Telephone Man’, ‘Pretty Honey’
Click here for their Spotify playlist.
Mitch, Please
This punk nerd band blends punk, pop, metal, rock and anything else they can get their hands on. This Queensland four-piece go onto this list because while they have only dropped two tracks, both are genuinely so much fun it becomes addictive to listen to them. Their blending of ideas is something to behold, and the fact they go after such topics as getting jealous at a neighbourhood cat for not giving them attention is the nerd cherry on top. These guys are a riot to listen to, and come highly recommended, especially if you love the quirkier side of punk rock.
Good Starting Tracks: ‘Neighbourhood Cat,’ ‘Rubbish’
Click here for their Spotify playlist.
Dirty Mindset
Lastly, these four-piece alternative rock band from Western Sydney may seem like many other bands in a similar vein on the surface, but don’t let that fool you! Pulling heavily from the earlier sounds of Arctic Monkeys, the musical chemistry and great songwriting of this outfit gives these songs a crackling energy that are a joy to listen to. This is a band you’re going to want to pay attention to, and with an upcoming tour in 2020 that will see them visit Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, be sure to get along to one of their gigs.
Good Starting Tracks: ‘Sweet Unsettling,’ ‘Misguided Dynamite’, ‘I’m Insane’
