A part of the new weekly vlogs we are doing we wanted to get our acts involved so we’ve asked them a few questions so you can get to know them better. Keep an eye out as we’ll be doing a few blogs on this over the coming months.
BONEY RIVERS
At what age did you start performing?
I played in a support band in Sydney when I was 16 and we supported bands such as Ted Mulry Gang, Flowers (later became Icehouse), Jimmy and the Boys, Kevin Borich Express, John Swan, Rose Tattoo and a few others.
They were the wild days!
What is your favourite thing about it?
It’s fun, you get paid for doing what you love and you get to meet a lot of nice people.
Best memory with performing?
The best memories are the more recent ones. Outdoor gig in front of a lot of people at the Toronto Hotel, Leo Sayer, New Years Eve and Ross Wilson. Great gigs and fun people.
Mezz Bar, Wallsend Diggers. Supporting Dragon and a few others.
Your favourite venue to play at?
Toronto Hotel, Mezz Bar Wallsend Diggers, Pippis at the Point and the Nags Head Hotel
A fun fact about yourself?
Love Riding my big Harley Davidson with darling on the back.
I love cooking and the BBQ (Especially with a couple of stubbies)
Boney Rivers was derived from a post on Social Media where you use the first initial from your first and last names. Sounded good at the time!! LOL
LAUREN ARMS
At what age did you start performing?
My first paid gig was at a small pizza place on Beaumont street when I was 16
What is your favourite thing about it?
Creating that nice vibe for people to unwind from the working week and enjoy food/drinks/catch ups. Nothing more enjoyable than having people dance along and sing to your music!
Best memory with performing?
Maybe a funny memory, having my Dad and Grandad get confused between the term ‘groupie’ and ‘roadie’ and telling everyone in the pub they were my ‘groupies’.....good lord! I made sure that never happened again. We still laugh about it.
Your favourite venue to play at?
I love playing at Customs House, Pippis at the Point and the Lucky Hotel.
A fun fact about yourself?
I work full time as a hospital pharmacist and lecturer at Newcastle University.
Robbie T
At what age did you start performing ?
Started singing /playing around 11 or 12 years of age , first paying gig when I was 16 in a school band ( Fascination Street ) playing the Coolabah Hotel ( Merrylands West ) . We had a residency there once a month for nearly a year .
What is your favourite thing about playing ?
I love the LIVE interaction with the crowd , the challenge of getting the punters into it and knowing at the end of the gig that I got the place jumping . Yes it is a job , but I love it first and foremost before anything else !
Best Memory performing ?
I played in a 50’s/60’s rock and roll band in the 90’s called “ Shakin ‘all Over “ . Brilliant musos who taught me so much , the bass player was Johnny Manners who was the original bass player in the 60’s group ‘’Ray Brown and the Whispers “ who had a huge hit with Twenty Miles which topped the charts !
Also Plying a gig a couple of years ago at Mavericks on the Bay , a couple put a $100 note on my desk with a note that said “ Thankyou for playing our song, you brought back great memories of our wedding night “, I played “ All I want is You “.
Your Favourite Venue to play at ?
Every gig is amazing whether it’s a little quiet or not because there is still someone you are playing to that will remember your performance fondly, I still have people coming up and saying how they loved a song I played for them at the Shorty Pub back in circa “03 .
I do love all the venues because they all have a different vibe which is great , keeps you on your toes !I love the Tea Gardens Hotel as I proposed to my wife while I was playing in front of a packed house and close friends while going LIVE on Facebook. Mavericks is always great , The Nags Head has a good feel and The Town Hall Hotel at Waratah.
A Fun Fact about Yourself ?
I always carry a Parramatta Eels towel with me ( always washed of course after every gig ) because I sweat so much when I play and I always soundcheck ( Ipod ) the same song and have done every gig for nearly 20 years ( Theme for Great cities by Simple Minds - also it is a superstition of mine that I must play it ), it has a great bass line which I can EQ the room and get a good balance !
With my last name taking up most letters in the alphabet ( Haha) and being called TOMMII in the early days of playing solo I thought going back to basics was cool so simple as
Robbie T .
Komiti
At what age did you start performing ?
We both have started music at a young age - but Josh is still young so he literally picked up the guitar the other day haha,
We started the KOMITI duo as of early 2019.
What is your favourite thing about playing ?
We both have a love and passion for music, performing at gigs & also weddings. To know you were part of someone’s special day it’s a huge honour.
Best Memory performing ?
When you see patrons climb on the furniture dancing, that’s when you know it’s gonna be one hell of a night lol
Also getting Muso mates come up on stage to sing with us. Always a fun jam
Your Favourite Venue to play at ?
Too many! Every venue is different in Newy. That’s what makes it so special. But if we had to pick a fun gig we would probably say Harrigans & Shoal Bay Country Club. Everyone’s from out of town so everybody gets loose! Haha
A Fun Fact about Yourself ?
Komiti is the lead singers name so we went with that instead of trying to create another Bandname.com
We only take horses requests - if written on a paper dollar bill haha
Josh had his pants zipper open at a packed Honeysuckle Hotel Gig only for a drunk patron to point it out ( yikes )
If Komiti starts doing scats mid song - means he forgot the words :/
