This post is a brief summary of works created for Melbourne 'punk' outfit
the Zingers, a band which is now no longer. Vocals by my younger brother Richard, drums Bryce, bass Jared, guitar Wes.
For the last couple of years I've had the pleasure of watching the Zingers come to be in various haunts of Melbourne. My first glimpse of the band being at Catfood Press in East Brunswick. With each gig the speed of play became stronger as did the complexity. The sound was raw, challenging (possibly harmoniously offensive), but tight. The room often quiet to the commotion on stage. This was not a 'joke band', nor were they content with creating an 'acceptable' commercial sound. They were an experiment with sound.
The Zingers are not a joke band. The point was to reverse every punk stereotype and counter the pissweak idea of writing “dumb music” and lack of progression that seemed to dominate punk at the time.
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| Zingers, Gasometer September 3 2011 |
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Zingers, Gasometer September 3 2011
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| Zingers, Gasometer September 3 2011 |
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The Zingers, Disco Beans, June 24 2012
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| The Zingers, Disco Beans, June 24 2012 |
As the music evolved artwork followed with posters created by band-members, many often created by Richard. Low-tech cut-and-paste poster artwork photocopied onto office-paper. Each poster left me impressed. The compositions were a perfect juxtaposition of objects that usually didn't quite belong. There was a quirk element about each flyer which also brought with it a sense of humanity.
Making flyers was a very important aspect of The Zingers. Not only did it keep us creative, it was a way to enforce our grandiose style. Even though there is definitely an underlying aesthetic that relies on late 70's and 80's flyers, none were made to look similar. Personally I was amazed by the way John Kricfalusi never re-used the same facial expressions in the Ren And Stimpy show, I always wanted that sort of unpredictable wackiness to transcend.
Though the band grew, and held a following, as with all experiments there comes a time when the testing runs dry. The Zingers broke up this year as their LP arrived pressed from the U.S.A. (Artwork also created by Richard). Limited pressings are available from
Polyester Records in Melbourne, limited releases in the U.S.A at
Easter Bilby Distro and
Video Disease Records. The LP can be found online via
www.discogs.com/seller/milliondollar
