SKINWALKERS

Artist Information

Biography

Press Release Biography
by Mark Mordue

“It has only just begun!” – Dawn

Can a great three-piece band still change the world?

Each generation seems to throw up an act that strips away the bullshit; that arrives from out of nowhere with only bass, guitar, drums, and a powerful voice out front – and a revolutionary belief in making rock ‘n’ roll matter again.

Skinwalkers are that band. Fall Or Resist is their new EP.

Barely out of their teenage years, the three-piece unit play with a ferocious, almost military precision in a mix of punk, metal, hardcore and emotionally-charged rock ‘n’ roll.

The group features Matt Turner on drums, Lenny Delandre on bass and vocals and Lach Jenno on guitar and lead vocals.

Matt freely admits, “The first time I heard The Clash it changed my life.” Lenny and Lach agree whole-heartedly, citing Metallica and Rancid as other beacons of their musical youth.

Does their interest in political music then make them radical? The band is not that naïve and they’re skeptical about “anyone who plays political music for the sake of it,” says Matt.

Lenny adds that, “It’s always important for us to play music and sing about things we feel.”

Lach even wonders, “If what we’re doing – which may or may not get labeled as ‘punk’ – is really that different from Buddy Holly and the Crickets? Playing dances, roller skating rinks, trying to make exciting music for anyone who will listen. That’s all we want to do, reach people.”

All three share the songwriting duties, but in a time of war, natural disasters, and economic crises, they felt it was important for the band to come out fighting in 2011. As the track Dawn puts it, “This is not the end of the world! It has only just begun!”

Their producer/mixer Kalju Tonuma has worked with some of Australia’s top bands, including The Living End, Hunters and Collectors and Bodyjar. But for him Skinwalkers are something else again, “easily one of the most exciting acts I have ever seen.” He immediately likens their rock ‘n’ roll attack to “the insurgency of The Clash”.

You can hear that on a classic working-class anthem like ‘Fall or Resist’: the sheer raw weight of the music; then its extraordinary, angry rush. The song was inspired by the working class, a topic close to home, about “working in the sun that they’re basking in”. It’s not just a bunch of slogans to them; it’s a sentiment that runs in the blood.

Amazing that this same angry-sounding band can then deliver a stunning song of loss like ‘Breakheart’, which memorializes a female friend killed in a car accident: “I only know love from the pain it brings me.” Take a good listen to the way lion-voiced singer Lach Jenno cries that lone word ‘love’ like someone being gutted. The James Hetfield meets Joe Strummer comparisons are deserved. The guy has a voice and there’s not a line here he doesn’t feel.

‘Rage’ meanwhile has enough punch in it to knock an entire pogo-ing mosh-pit on its back. Ironically it’s about bassist Lenny’s thoughts on anger. “That’s a very deep song and rage is a very powerful emotion,” says Lenny. “You can beat it, that’s what the song is about and that’s the message for anyone else who hears it too.”

*

As teenagers Skinwalkers wrote and recorded their first EP, We are the Streets. The lead track was inspired by the youth homelessness issue in Australia. As part of the process for developing the EP the band travelled to Sydney to perform a music workshop at the Salvation Army’s Oasis Centre.

Captain Paul Moulds, the Director of the Oasis Youth Support Network in Sydney would acclaim the 2010 release of the ‘We Are The Streets’ EP as “a great example of how people are contributing in their own way to raise awareness and bring about change.”

The band’s own roots are in the semi-rural housing backblocks spaced out behind the tourist developments of the Gold Coast, linked by a highway that leads all the way to the sun-soured suburban emptiness of Brisbane’s Logan City.

Skinwalkers don’t think this geography means that much to what they do – though a song like ‘Cold Ghost Sun’ does express what they call “a desire to get out of here”.

Regardless of where they come from, the truth is they’re good lower middle-class kids with solid, proud, hard working parents and supporters who are right behind them all the way.

Their rehearsal room is located underneath a house, a narrow brick bunker with one wall buried in the graffiti of their song ideas (a tribute to their daily writing and rehearsing regimen); outside the coffee table has three white stones on it with Chinese ideograms for ‘Peace’, ‘Harmony’ and ‘Faith’.

Lenny and Matt first met through high school connections and a local underage punk scene brought them to Lach, meeting up some five years ago. Performing together in different bands over the years until the late December days of 2008, they had the opportunity to start something of their own. Thus, Skinwalkers was born.

“We already had written 3 songs before we could decide on a name, it took a while,” says Matt. “We were just writing name possibilities up on the whiteboard when Streetwalkers came up, one of us said ‘what about…Skinwalkers? And that was it, we had a name.”

Soon after they found out the name had its origins in Native American lore and tales of ‘shape-shifters’, beings who could change form at will. The band like this a lot.

“It meant there weren’t any boundaries to what we wanted to be like,” says Lach.

They’ve since been told all kinds of things about their sound, from it being too punk to not punk enough! “It’s honest music. Look at The Clash,” says Matt. “You couldn’t call them just a punk band. They’re also rock, they’re reggae, they’re all kinds of things.”

Lach agrees: “All that punk is to us is an attitude; it’s simply using your mind.”

Apart from doing the odd day’s work to make some money, the band emphasize they are 100% committed to what they are doing. “None of us really have a dedicated job besides music,” says Lach. “If we’re not making music we’re not living. It’s not a bluff in any way for us.”

“There’s a reason why we’re putting everything into this as musicians,” Matt says firmly. “It’s because it is everything we’ve got. It’s who we are.”

Instrumentation

Lachlan Jenno - Vocals/Guitar
Matt Turner - Drums
Lachlan Delandre - Vocals/Bass

Discography

'We Are The Streets' Single [2009] - Independent Release

Release Date: 15th October 2009

Track Listing: 1.We Are The Streets (3:27)



'We Are The Streets' EP [2010] - MGM Distribution

Release Date: 13th May 2011 (MGM Release)
4th June 2010 (Independent)

Track Listing: 1. We Are The Streets (3:01)
2. Out Of The Cage (2:48)
3. Destroyer (2:26)
4. Blood Money (2:17)
5. Darkest Hour (4:12)



'Fall Or Resist' EP [2011] - MGM Distribution
Release Date: 8th July 2011
Track Listing: 1. Dawn (4:30)
2. Fall or Resist (2:29)
3. Battle Cry (3:27)
4. Breakheart (4:01)
5. Rage (3:31)


(SKINWALKERS have received airplay on Sea FM, Triple J, PBS, 4ZZZ & international radio stations abroad. Music Video for 'We Are The Streets' on rotation on Channel [V].)

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Tumblr
• Monster Energy Website - Profile

Audio

• Dawn
  Listen  
• Fall Or Resist
  Listen  
• Battle Cry
  Listen  
• Breakheart
  Listen  
• Rage
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Dawn
• Fall Or Resist
• Battle Cry
• Breakheart
• Rage

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Local Spotlight - Skinwalkers (October, 2010) [+ Show ]
  

  Ripping out of the Gold Coast local Punk Scene Skinwalkers stand alone with a new sound, mixing Punk...Ripping out of the Gold Coast local Punk Scene Skinwalkers stand alone with a new sound, mixing Punk, Rock, Metal, Hardcore and Alternative genres. They continue to forge a presence and support within Australian and International markets and have no intention of backing down.
  
  Currently being mentored by Graham Ashton of Dew Process Records and Footstomp Music, Asho has given them great direction. Realising their potential and the sound they were looking for, Asho hooked them up with Kalju Tonuma one of Australia’s most regarded music producer/mixers, working with The Living End, Body Jar, Hunters and Collectors among other legendary Aussie bands. Kal relates Skinwalkers to having the “Insurgency of The Clash”, understanding their sound Kal will produce their first album “Everyone Has A Story” in 2011. Their Debut EP is being mastered at Studios 301 with Steve Smart
  
  Describe Skinwalkers sound?
  It’s been called Sex Pistols meets Metallica, all we can say is we’ve definitely developed our own unique ‘Skinwalkers’ sound and it just keeps evolving. It’s ballsy, tough without being angry; we’re not at all angry guys we’re fuelled by our passion for music. We focus on what is going on socially in the world and would rather see united fists in the air than in someone’s face. Guess you could say it has that anthem type of feel, like a call to arms put through an oversized megaphone...or something like that.
  
  Best moment as a band so far?
  There are too many to tell, we have had so many awesome moments together as a band and as mates. We’re sticking together til the end, brothers all the way. Though, would have to say filming the music video for ‘We Are The Streets’ in Sydney has to be up there with some of the best times, it was a mad trip and having the opportunity to meet Paul Moulds from Oasis Youth Network/Salvation Army who helps so many young people in the face of homelessness, he’s an incredible man. Working with our producer Kal Tonuma and clicking with him is a great one. Kal is just one of those radical dudes like us and he just totally understands what we’re about. Spending time hanging with him in Melbourne was awesome while we recorded some demo tracks for our album recently, we will have a snippet of our new music in one of our Webisodes coming out soon. Having Monster Energy, Billabong and TUK Shoes take us on as one of their sponsored bands and having the faith in us to move forward is pretty crazy. Watching the clip being played on Channel V was a big one, we have overcome a few hurdles as Skinwalkers and every time we do it pushes us harder.
  
  Resolving to never compromise their honesty and integrity has fuelled them to bring awareness to issues they feel compelled to expose. This most recently resulted in their support with Australian Homeless Teens through Paul Moulds, Captain of The Oasis Youth Support Network in Sydney.
  
  Best live venue in Queensland?
  That’s a hard one, but some of us played our first shows at the Jubilee in Brissy as 14 year olds so as an old favourite it’s up there along with Fisho’s on the Gold Coast back in the day. But the Shark Bar has been good for us along with Neverland Bar that was cool and The Sunny Coast has some great venues. We think we would need to do a lot more touring before we could say we could really pick the best live venue in Queensland and that’s definitely on the cards for 2011.
  
  Tell us about your best show?
  Our EP Launches were awesome got a great review from Rave Mag shout out to Rave, but we had a lot of support and great support bands on our EP Release. We have had the best times playing all of our shows, we do a few private shows and they have been wicked fun, but keen to get back out there after the writing of our album.
  
  We Are The Streets’ was written after watching the Documentary ‘The Oasis’, a confronting reality of Youth Homelessness in Australia providing the facts that 32,000 teens go without a home every night. Their Debut EP ‘We Are The Streets’ will be released in May 2010 along with their Documentary of their experience in Sydney and work with the Oasis Crew and music team, featuring some special guests.
  Jake Donlen from Runamuk Visuals spotted the guys on MySpace back in 2008 for some upcoming surf videos and it wasn’t long before Surf giants Billabong quickly realised the potential of these young lads and featured ‘We Are The Streets’ in their latest surf movie ‘Still Filthy’ released worldwide in Sep 09 as the sequel to 80’s cult surf movie ‘Filthy Habits’. Billabong officially sponsored Skinwalkers in December 09 bringing a punk sound back to the surf culture, exposing them to a worldwide audience. Their first offer of support came with Alternative USA Shoe company T.U.K shoes, renowned for supporting the international music scene and supergroups. S7en from Hit N’ Run Drums Covers / Billy Hyde Music has supported the boys from the very beginning.
  
  What is the hardest thing for a band to break into the mainstream market?
  We have been lucky that we have had so much great support from the start, Channel V have been playing us regularly on their Hardcore show that’s been awesome. Every time our clip is played we get positive responses from people all over Australia saying, “bring that music back and much respect to V for playing it”. We haven’t yet cracked the mainstream market but getting people to see you as a “Punk Band”, that can be credible enough to cross genres and markets can be real tough. Spending time recently at Big Sound was an eye opener to realise a lot of the guys in the Music Industry who are signing bands from the mainstream market all cut their teeth on bands like The Clash, The Violent Femmes and The Saints. To know that the guys who emerging musicians can find so hard to reach were and are fuelled by the roots of punk music, made such a statement and totally changed our approach. Music from that time changed their lives so hopefully we can get people to hear what we have to say, we want to bring this style back into play across the mainstream market and think what we have to say is very relevant with the world today. It’s been missing from the ‘main-stream’ for far too long, we believe in what we are doing we will always keep moving ahead.
  
  What is your plan as a band? Where do you see yourselves in 5 years time?
  Well we are just finishing writing our first album, so we’re keen to get back into recording with Kal. We love working with Kal because he gets what we’re trying to achieve and he’s very supportive of what we are doing. You could say he’s a bit of a father figure to us; he is straight up and advises us when we need it. We have been so lucky to have our team behind us and in five years we would just want to see that stronger and add a few more spokes to the wheels. We love playing together, Skinwalkers is our life and breaking our sound through to a wider audience is definitely what we are working to do. In five years we would say expect more albums, more shows and more festivals, while working on breaking here in Australia and across to the rest of the world. When John Watson from Eleven Music tells you he feels you are the “Real Deal”, to have recognition from such an iconic figure in the music industry let us know it IS possible to be heard and that drives us that much further.
  
  Is there any band you would love to play with?
  Don’t think this interview is long enough to list all the bands we would love to play with but definitely Suicidal Tendencies, The Living End, Carpathian, Gallows...but there are many more bands and a lot of local bands we are keen to play with. There have been so many bands that we have already played with that are so awesome at what they do and working hard to get it out there.
  

• Skinwalkers EP Launch Review (June, 2010) [+ Show ]
  

  Miami Tavern Shark Bar - Fri Jun 4 This night of thrashed guitars and rasping throats at The Shar...Miami Tavern Shark Bar - Fri Jun 4
  
  This night of thrashed guitars and rasping throats at The Shark Bar begins with local punk rock four-piece The Lost Arcade. One of three Gold Coast acts on the bill, they make way for the boys from The Final Fall who between f-bombs and spruiking their new demo, launch into a few songs from it, including Life In Crisis, a rapid-fire piece of power metal punctuated with machine gun drum fills, shredded guitars and equally shredded vocal chords.
  
  Sydney hardcore five-piece Flatline Drama aren’t having a great run; with his regular instrument recently stolen and the replacement crapping out, bassist Michael Hutchinson is lucky The Final Fall boys lend him a spare. Unfortunately, the big mid-set delay kills the momentum their violent guitar work and ragged howling has built up. Apologetic but undeterred, they launch into Dead.Suns.Rise and Technology Uprise, from their recent Creation. Corruption. EP; guttural screams filling the space between torn-up power chords and plutonium-heavy bass in these, jagged metal soundscapes.
  
  Launching their debut EP, We Are The Streets, punk hardcore trio Skinwalkers make it clear why they are receiving so much attention right now. And it’s not just drummer Matt Turner’s foot-high Mohawk. He launches barrage after barrage of cymbal crashes and explosive rolls while crushing bass riffs and guitarist Lach Jenno’s guttural howls cause a mosh pit to coalesce in front of the stage. Tracks from the EP, including the ascending guitar hooks, drum stings and screams of Destroyer are mixed with their older material. The set finishes with brand new song Lost & Found, its opening blitz and rapid bass bridge giving way to a slower – but no less fierce – conclusion to the evening; a triumphant drum solo and final shout from Lach as the room is engulfed in a mess of reverb and bass.
  
  NILS HAY

• Crawl Before Walking (June, 2010) [+ Show ]
  

  Punk is all about D.I.Y and not caring about pedestrian stuff like business plans and sponsorship, r...Punk is all about D.I.Y and not caring about pedestrian stuff like business plans and sponsorship, right? SOPHIE BENJAMIN found otherwise when she caught up with drummer MATT TURNER from young Gold Coast punk band SKINWALKERS.
  
  Teenage punk bands are like hangovers – a common and expected product of good times, but annoying nonetheless. Skinwalkers formed about two years ago, somewhere in the suburban sprawl between the Springwood IKEA and Surfers Paradise. According to Matt they’ve been “banging heads together and putting music out,” ever since, inspired by new bands like Gallows and old favourites Metallica and The Clash.
  
  They’ve also been under the watchful eye of music industry veteran and Big Sound programmer Graham Ashton, who has presumably steered them through the wanky mire that is the music industry. They travelled to Melbourne to record their debut EP with producer Kalju Tonuma, who has worked with the holy trinity of Aussie rock royalty (Barnesy, Farnsey and Crowded House) as well as nu-metal moshlords Superheist.
  
  Skinwalkers are passionate, organised and enthusiastic and their music isn’t too bad either. Gang vocals, screams and sick riffz are all present and accounted for in lead single We Are The Streets. However, their MySpace is choked with endorsements and logos from big brands such as Billabong and Monster Energy Drink. Matt informed me that there would be an excellent chance of pro-surfer Mark “Occy” Occhilupo making an appearance at their Gold Coast show, and Monster Energy Drink reps at their Brisbane one. The irony of being a small-time punk band with big-time brand sponsorship isn’t lost on Matt, but he’s not defensive about their business decisions.
  
  “It seems the opposite to what some people see as the ideals of punk rock, but in the end music is music and needs have to be met somehow.”
  
  “We don’t think that having sponsors takes anything away from us. They not only help to support the band, but help support the issues we support. That’s not something we can get anywhere else.”
  
  One of the issues the band are passionate about is youth homelessness. An ABC documentary on Sydney youth homelessness shelter The Oasis piqued their interest on the subject, and resulted in the boys travelling to the shelter and volunteering. They’re donating half of the proceeds from the film clip for We Are The Streets to The Oasis and hope to return later on in the year to film their own doco on the place and their experiences there.
  
  A few days after the interview, I received a friendly follow-up email from Matt confirming the details of their EP launch shows and extrapolating on the conflict between punk ideals, the romance of fame and the unavoidable need for money. It read as follows:
  “Funny how we were talking about how the punk scene can disapprove of sponsorship last night. After our interview, we were asked by a punk group in Brisbane if Monster could help their festival so maybe things have relaxed a little with some of the punk ideals. “I guess everyone has to realise it is not the ‘70s, ‘80s or ‘90s any more.”
  
  SKINWALKERS launch their debut EP WE ARE THE STREETS at Miami Shark Bar on Friday Jun 4 (with Flatline Drama [Syd], The Final Fall and The Lost Arcade) and The Globe on Saturday Jun 5 (with Flatline Drama, Driven Fear and Army of Champions). All presale tickets receive a free copy of the EP. www.myspace.com/skinwalkersband
  

• Right Coast Punks (June, 2010) [+ Show ]
  

  Gold Coast purveyors of Mohawks, attitude and lookin’ tough, Skinwalkers, are playing some local sho...Gold Coast purveyors of Mohawks, attitude and lookin’ tough, Skinwalkers, are playing some local shows before they set off on tour to commemorate the release of their debut EP, We Are The Streets. Of course, there is as yet no word as to what Mike “The Streets” Skinner has to say on that matter. Some might say he is The Streets. But defiance is hardwired into all who run in counter-cultural circles such as the punk movement, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that regardless of what anybody else says, Skinwalkers are sticking to their guns. You can hear their distorted, fast-paced argument with Army of Champions, Flatline Drama and Driven Fear on Saturday Jun 5 at The Globe. Doors open at 7pm; Tickets are $15 + bf, plus if you pre-order, you get yourself a free EP, and everybody likes free stuff.

• Punk Band Set To Launch EP (June, 2010) [+ Show ]
  

  GOLD Coast punk band the Skinwalkers will launch their EP at the Miami Shark Bar tomorrow night. Th...GOLD Coast punk band the Skinwalkers will launch their EP at the Miami Shark Bar tomorrow night. The We Are the Streets debut launch is going to be a big night for the band, and one they organised themselves.
  
  Skinwalkers drummer Matt Turner said the songs were based on issues that mattered. “Our songs deal with youth issues such as youth homelessness, depression, identity, and moving on,” Mr Turner said. Former world surfing champion Mark “Occy” Occhilupo will be at the Shark Bar to give the boys his support.
  
  Pre-sale tickets cost $15, which will include a free copy of the band’s EP, or tickets will be $20 on the door. The over-18’s event will include special guests Flatline Drama, The Final Fall and The Lost Arcade. If you purchase tickets directly through the band, you could even have them hand-delivered by the band members themselves. “We like to get personal with the fans, “Mr Turner said.
  
  The EP launch is just the start of the journey for the band. “Tomorrow night is all about getting our EP out there, and moving forward from there,” Mr Turner said. “It’s important to have these launches in our home town as we do have a large fan base here.”
  
  Tickets are available through Oztix or direct through Skinwalkers contact via email on myspace www.myspace.com/skinwalkersband, facebook or skinwalkersband@hotmail.com.
  
  For more information visit: www.myspace.com/skinwalkersband.
  

• Skinwalkers Six Pack (May, 2010) [+ Show ]
  

  GOLD COAST OUTFIT SKINWALKERS HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE PISTOLS MEETS METALLICA, BLENDING HARDCORE ...GOLD COAST OUTFIT SKINWALKERS HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE PISTOLS MEETS METALLICA, BLENDING HARDCORE METAL AND PUNK ON THEIR DEBUT EP, WE ARE THE STREETS. BUT WHEN TONY MCMAHON HOOKS UP WITH DRUMMER MATT TURNER, POSSESSOR OF ARGUABLY THE WORLD’S MOST OUTRAGEOUS MOHAWK, ALL HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IS HAIR.
  
  “Ah, the mohawk question,” says Turner. “‘Is it real?’ ‘Can I touch it?’ ‘How do you do that?’ And sometimes, ‘What the hell is that?’ I guess I saw that coming when I cut it in through high school. It’s a bit of fun and all the girls seem to want to touch it so I’m not complaining.”
  
  Skinwalkers’ unique blending of styles really is a stand out on this wonderful record, and Turner says it was never going to be any other way.
  “I think the idea of blending the styles together was not so much an aim or goal, more of an inevitable occurrence. Our music is always going to just be what we write, it was never really about deciding the style or genre category first.”
  And unlike a lot of music these days, Skinwalkers are not afraid to wear their oversized hearts on their sleeves when it comes to tackling big issues. Putting aside for a moment the sheer quality of the record, Time Off would heartily recommend We Are the Streets on this socio-political basis alone.
  “The lyrics we write are honest, minus any candy crap, just what we’re feeling – it’s pretty raw but controlled and always real,” Turner confides. “The issues themselves are ones we feel strongly about, the EP takes our journey from the beginning of the band and those first 12 months, and in that time the issues of homelessness in Australia, war, identity, depression and moving on in life were things that stuck out to us like a sore thumb, so we wrote about them.”
  
  WHO: Skinwalkers
  WHAT: We Are The Streets (Independent)
  WHERE & WHEN: Miami Tavern Friday June 4, The Globe Theatre Saturday June 5

• Crafty Way To Tell A Worthy Message (April,2010) [+ Show ]
  

  SYDNEY’S Luna Park formed the backdrop for Palm Beach band Skinwalkers’ new music video at the weeke...SYDNEY’S Luna Park formed the backdrop for Palm Beach band Skinwalkers’ new music video at the weekend.
  
  The video was also filmed on the streets of Sydney and a homeless shelter run by the Salvation Army.
  
  The three-piece punk outfit are on a mission to make a difference.
  
  We Are The Streets is a song inspired by youth homelessness, and the video clip tells the story of two brothers who get kicked out of home.
  
  Skinwalkers drummer Matt Turner said the band also went down to shoot footage for their documentary on the same issue.
  
  “It was definitely a lot of fun,” Mr Turner said.
  
  “The night we played live for the film clip was awesome.
  
  “Setting up my drum kit and just going hard in the middle of iconic Australia was amazing.”
  
  The boys developed an interest in Sydney’s Oasis Youth Support Network after watching a documentary on the homeless shelter last year.
  
  “After we saw it we all felt moved to do something, and thought as young people that it was fitting to use the video to shed some light on the issue,” lead singer Lachlan Jenno said.
  
  Half of the proceeds made from the film clip will be donated to Oasis.
  
  “We wanted to use shock value in the video,” Mr Turner said.
  
  “It’s the only way to bring about awareness that this issue is not going away and that there is a need to address the situation.”
  

• Global Market Beckoning (February, 2010) [+ Show ]
  

  SIX Gold Coast bands will be offered the change to go “global”, after the launch of a initiative to ...SIX Gold Coast bands will be offered the change to go “global”, after the launch of a initiative to have local musicians seen and heard. The Business GC’s new Music to Market project will provide six established musicians or bands with a substantial marketing package.
  
  This includes image management advice, a professional photo shoot and consultation to ascertain export potential for taking music to the overseas market. Director of economic development and major projects Darren Scott said they were pleased to offer some home-grown Gold Coast musicians the chance to grow through the Music to Market project.
  
  “While there is a great deal of talent throughout the city, often a more professional approach is required to make the transition from the local music scene to the national and international markets,” Mr Scott said. “This project assists with this transition and we’re looking forward to seeing results.”
  
  Gold Coast Music Industry Association (GCMIA) president Josie Cooper said this was the opportunity of a lifetime for the Gold Coast’s “next best sound”. “This is the break many aspiring musicians dream about,” Ms Cooper said. “It’s such a great boost for the Gold Coast music industry as well. We support them fully in this initiative.”
  
  Palm Beach local punk band Skinwalkers has already put their application in. “At this point in our career, something like this would fit us perfectly,” drummer Matt Turner said. “To be able to get funding and help with photography, videos and promotion is a huge benefit. “It’s really great to see the council supporting local bands in the area.”
  
  Gold Coast musicians can apply by submitting their latest EP and current marketing tools to Business GC creative @gold-coast.qld.gov.au.
  

• Bits'N'Pieces (September, 2009) [+ Show ]
  

  Gold Coast punks Skinwalkers have had a song from their upcoming debut EP used in new Billabong DVD/...Gold Coast punks Skinwalkers have had a song from their upcoming debut EP used in new Billabong DVD/Movie Still Filthy – the sequel to “80’s cult surf movie Raw Filth. The song – We Are The Streets – comes from their October-slated EP Everyone Has A Story, and was inspired by ABC Documentary The Oasis: Australia’s Homeless Youth. As a result the band will be heading to Sydney next week to shoot a filmclip with The Oasis Crew, headed by Salvation Army Captain Paul Moulds. Good work lads.

• Skin Up (August, 2009) [+ Show ]
  

  Coast Punks Skinwalkers have a couple of shows planned for the weekend as they hit the road in suppo...Coast Punks Skinwalkers have a couple of shows planned for the weekend as they hit the road in support of legendary Aussie punk rockers Toe To Toe and fellow supports Rite of Passage, Dementia 13 and Ringpull. This is just the beginning of what are apparently some very exciting but very secretive plans for the future of Skinwalkers so keep your eyes and ears out, we know we will. They play The Step Inn on Friday night and the Currimundi Hotel on Saturday night. Tickets for both shows can be purchased from OzTix now for $22.75.

• Bender In the Grass (March, 2011) [+ Show ]
  

  Like your music loud, dirty and independent? Bender In The Grass may be an event for you! Featuring ...Like your music loud, dirty and independent? Bender In The Grass may be an event for you! Featuring Skinwalkers (pictured), Sled, D.Rouser, Crooked Face, Toby Market, Deputy Dipshit, Vile, 180 Down and Lounge Chair Racket, the event, now in its fourth year, will be held at 772 Beenleigh-Redland Bay Rd, Carbrook, with the first band on at 2pm. Mark Saturday Mar 19 in your diary, remember their ‘no shithead’ policy and check out festival updates on Facebook (you’ll have to search, we found Google most useful). There’s also free camping if you want to stick around for the night.

• Some Young Punks (April, 2011) [+ Show ]
  

  Lach Jenno, Lenny Delandre and Matt Turner started out as three young blokes with a taste for old-sc...Lach Jenno, Lenny Delandre and Matt Turner started out as three young blokes with a taste for old-school punk and something to say. Thus Skinwalkers was born; the trio began playing politically-charged punk rock which sounds mature beyond their years. Skinwalkers are carrying on a lengthy tenure at The Wallaby Hotel in Mudgeeraba playing on Wednesday Apr 20, Wednesday Apr 27 and Wednesday May 4 from 8pm, for the low, low price of just $8. But if Wednesday night punk rock isn’t quite your thing, you can also catch the guys with Averice, Dementia 13, The Final Fall, Burning Brooklyn, Nectar, The Break of Dawn, Mayfair, Trust & Fall and Reset Life for the exciting Tattered & Torn Punk and Hardcore show at Billy’s Beach House, Surfers Paradise on Saturday Apr 30 from 6pm; you can grab tickets for that one from OzTix right now for $10 + bf.

• Freshly Inked (April, 2011) [+ Show ]
  

  Canberra/Sydney based hardcore melting pot I Exist has signed with Resist Records for their second a...Canberra/Sydney based hardcore melting pot I Exist has signed with Resist Records for their second album and follow up to I: A Turn For The Worst. The seven-piece is heading into the studio this week to start work on the record, reutnring again to Melbourne’s Goatsound Studios with Billy Anderson in the producer’s chair. The Gold Coast’s Nine Sons Of Dan have signed a management deal with AAA Entertainment. Fronted by California-born Jay Bainbridge, the band’s debut EP is Landslide. Also from the Gold Coast, punk trio Skinwalkers has signed with Greg Sawers Management, while their second EP Fall Or Resist is to be released through MGM. Independent label Blue Pie has been busy in the week that’s passed. They announced that hardcore label Left As In Sinister have joined their roster, as has 23-year-old Sydney R&B electro artist Chris Melotti. They also announced, along with tours, that Tasmanian-born composer Michael Horsphol has been nominated for the 2011 Hollywood Music In Media Awards.

• Don't Label Us, Just Listen (May, 2011)
  

  Refer to Link

• Skinwalkers make music for a cause (26th March 2010)
  

  See Nova Website

• Skinwalkers "We Are The Streets" Video Clip (26th May 2010)
  

  See Nova Website

• SKINWALKERS MUSIC VIDEO PROJECT TO FIGHT AGAINST YOUTH HOMELESSNESS (25th March 2010)
  

  See Billabong Website link

• Skinwalkers EP Launch "We are the Streets" (21st May 2010)
  

  See Billabong Website Link

• Heavyweights (May, 2011) [+ Show ]
  

  BACK in the region for a thank you of sorts, Byron Bay heavy metal band IN-CYDE is playing alongside...BACK in the region for a thank you of sorts, Byron Bay heavy metal band IN-CYDE is playing alongside Sydney’s SKINWALKERS. In-Cyde has recently returned from a showcase at Los Angeles’ infamous Whiskey A Go Go where it managed to sign a deal. Skinwalkers is also on the rise with producer Kalju Tonuma likening the three piece to The Clash in terms of fast and heavy, politically motivated rock. Catch both bands at the Tatts Hotel, Lismore, tomorrow night from 9pm; $5 at the door.

• SKINWALKERS - Interview on Landed Music 90.9 Sea FM 2 (6/4/11)
  

  Check the youtube site

• SKINWALKERS - Interview on Landed Music 90.9 Sea FM 2 (6/4/11)
  

  Check the youtube site

• SKINWALKERS - Landed Music Interview July 2010
  

  Check the youtube site

• ABC Afternoon Show Radio Interview (Jan, 2010)
  

  See link for full interview.

• 4ZzZ Youth Show Radio Interview (May, 2010)
  

  See link for full interview.

• Skinwalkers 26th May 2011
  

  Check Web Link

• Skinwalkers 28th June 2011 [+ Show ]
  

  Gold Coast punks Skinwalkers (pictured) had recently taken a break from playing their steady stream ...Gold Coast punks Skinwalkers (pictured) had recently taken a break from playing their steady stream of local dates – and now we hear the spoils of absence with the release of their second EP, Fall Or Resist. They’re launching the new collection of songs at Kings Beach Tavern on Friday Jul 15 (with Fire Driver, The Mercy Beat and Spuhtnik) and The Runaway Bay Tavern on Saturday Jul 16 (with The Mercy Beat and The Meaniacs).

• Interview with Riff Randall Rock n Roll Patrol Show 4ZZZ 25/06/11
  

  Interview with Riff Randall on new EP "Fall or Resist"

• Skinwalkers / The Vampers / Meaniacs / Clifton Hill 13/08/2011
  

  Review by Thomas Whillet at The Basement "Fall or Resist" EP Launch

• Agent Orange 29/8/2011
  

  Skinwalkers support Agent Orange Aust Tour

• Support Squad 13/09/2011
  

  Skinwalkers to Support Agent Organe

• Downlow - Insurgent Forces 15/7/2011 [+ Show ]
  

  Insurgent Forces Gold Coast punk rockers Skinwalkers have a busy year ahead. The guys are releasing...Insurgent Forces
  Gold Coast punk rockers Skinwalkers have a busy year ahead. The guys are releasing their second and much anticipated EP Fall Or Resist this month before kicking off on their first ever national tour. Famed for singing about issues that are important to their audience, their music harks back to a time when punk rock had a message. Skinwalkers take over Kings Beach Tavern on the Sunshine Coast, with Fire Driver, The Mercy Beat and Spuhtnik, on Friday Jul 15; then the Runaway Bay Tavern on the Gold Coast, with The Mercy Beat and The Meaniacs, on Saturday Jul 16; before hitting Brisbane’s Basement 243 on Saturday Aug 13 with The Vampers, The Meaniacs and Clifton Hill. Tickets are available on the door for each show and the first 20 people in will snag a free copy of the new EP!

• Kindly Punks 15/7/2011 [+ Show ]
  

  Gold Coast punk-rockers SKINWALKERS are about to tour into the release of their second EP, Fall Or...
  Gold Coast punk-rockers SKINWALKERS are about to tour into the release of their second EP, Fall Or Resist. Talking with SAM HOBSON, drummer MATT TURNER explains what it is to be a modern punk.
  
  In a flurry of what sounds like the kind of business it’s great to be busied by, Skinwalkers’ drummer Matt Turner is having a packed day. He’s ‘staying frequent’ on the band’s myriad online destinations, advertising the tour, and then off for a jam with vocalist Lach Jenno, honing the tour setlist – and it’s all in a hard day’s work.
  Their music itself, too the product of a lot of hard yards, seems to be becoming something of a divisive entry into the Aus-punk canon. Listening to it, you hear shards of Motorhead, splinters of The Clash. But there’s something else; some inscrutable entity at the heart of their sound that writhes and thrashes with a difference; with a new propulsion, and a sound, while inescapably retrofitted, that’s still very much its own.
  “I don’t think we’re particularly trying to fit any [genre],” Turner drawls, with a heavy shrug. “I think a lot of people have come into a lot of ideas about how we sound; a lot of people have [called us] a lot of things, and a lot of people have had a lot of trouble trying to define [us.] There’s definitely a lot of aspects of that time,” he says, referring to some ‘golden age’, “but I think for us, when we started, we’d already had backgrounds in all sorts of different music. When we did get into the band, it was something different for us, because we never set up any limitations to what we could do, and where we would go.
  “Because we’d done that,” he continues, his cadence wonderfully rough, “I think the music’s turned out the way it has. We ask everybody we come past [what they think.][Our producer] said our sound had a sort of Clash feel about it. I don’t know. It’s old-school, and stuff like that. That wall of sound [and] thickness. I don’t know – I think The Clash reference might have a lot more to do with what we’re… about.”
  It’s a cryptic answer, that, if you know of the band, you’d understand belies their very keen humanitarian slant. For all Turner’s willing to let on, though – they’re just ‘classic punk.’
  “Broadly speaking, yeah,” he concedes. ”I would definitely say we’re in the punk mindset, though don’t take that literally.” His voice here is oddly scolding, perhaps confusing the core ‘punk’ aesthetic to which the allusion was intended, with the niche neo-Nazism ties the scene once had. But it’s perhaps in this haste to be considered an outfit of demystified, modern punks (make no mistake; the guys’ music is pretty hardcore) that a larger, purer adherence to the tenets of classic punk lies.
  “[Punk] is definitely more just something that comes from us as people, from the way we’ve been brought up, to the way we view the world now, than trying to fit a genre; trying to be ‘something.’
  “I don’t know if [we’re] civically minded, I’m not sure that’s the proper term. I might go to approach a song, [and] there’s always going to be a hundred different things whirling around – things that are happening, [be they] in the world, or your personal life…I think the punk-est part about it is to be honest about those sort of things. I think [the punk aesthetic] is a lot broader, and simpler than mohawks, and studded jackets.” He laughs: “Not to say we haven’t worn them over time, but these days, I think there’s a lot more to us than that.”
  Sticking with blunt honesty, he says, rather devastatingly, “I don’t know, I just don’t like seeing people suffer. We just keep pushing forward, [and] helping; everyone does.”
  WHO: Skinwalkers
  WHAT: Fall Or Resist (MGM)
  WHERE & WHEN: Kings Beach Tavern, Sunshine Coast Friday Jul 15, Runaway Bay Tavern, Gold Coast Saturday Jul 16, Basement 243 Saturday Aug 13
  
  
  

• Introducing Skinwalkers by Ben Coby Aug Edition issue# 05 2011 [+ Show ]
  

  Skinwalkers Interview with Ben Coby page 44 Review of "Fall or Resist" by Georgia ifyouwannarocknro...Skinwalkers Interview with Ben Coby page 44
  Review of "Fall or Resist" by Georgia ifyouwannarocknroll page 80

• Ken Blocks Gymkana World Tour Melbourne 11/09/2011 featuring the music of Skinwalkers "Dawn" from "Fall or Resist" EP [+ Show ]
  

  Ken Block's drifted into Calder Park raceway for the Australian leg of the Gymkhana World Tour on Se...Ken Block's drifted into Calder Park raceway for the Australian leg of the Gymkhana World Tour on September 3, 2011. Joined by Monster Energy athletes Jamie Whincup, Matt Mingay, Nathan Pretty, Rob Whyte, Shane Tucker & Brad Gallard.
  
  Music: Skinwalkers 'Dawn' Taken from the EP 'Fall Or Resist' (MGM)

• Monster Energy does the Deniliquin Ute Muster with Jamie Whincup and Greg Murphy featuring the Music of Skinwalkers "Darkest Hour" 05/11/2010 [+ Show ]
  

  Monster Energy does the Deniliquin Ute Muster with Jamie Whincup and Greg Murphy See what happens...Monster Energy does the Deniliquin Ute Muster with Jamie Whincup and Greg Murphy
  
  See what happens when Monster Energy flys in Jamie Whincup and Greg Murphy into the Deni Ute muster and hands them the keys to fellow Monster Team Driver Matt Mingay's super hotted up ute! Featuring the music of Skinwalkers
  
  

• For Those Who Cant Resist Some Heavy Rock 4/08/2011
  

  For Those Who Cant Resist Some Heavy Rock Featuring Skinwalkers

• SKINWALKERS "FALL OR RESIST" 12/07/2011 [+ Show ]
  

  I havent seen a good Punk show on the Sunny Coast since Throwdown on the Mooloolaba harbour. The vic...I havent seen a good Punk show on the Sunny Coast since Throwdown on the Mooloolaba harbour. The vicious cycle of Punk has spun back round and fuck oath! Skinwalkers will rip your lips off through the soles of your shoes.

• Creative Destruction Chapter 4 Dust til Dawn featuring Skinwalkers music "Blood Money" 2010 [+ Show ]
  

  SURFING’s guide to the latest episode from Wade Goodall and Runamuk Visuals: 0:00-3:00: Wade sur...SURFING’s guide to the latest episode from Wade Goodall and Runamuk Visuals:
  
  0:00-3:00: Wade surfs California’s worst wave and makes it look like ramp-tastic. False. Fake. Lies. We know it’s a god-forsaken closeout because we surf it at lunch every day. But then, Wade’s pretty good at surfing.
  
  3:00-9:00: Wade and crew go to Burning Man in the desert and things get weird for a bit.
  
  9:00-end: Wade, Ryan Callinan and Anthony Walsh get inside some 3-foot spinners and stay there for 5-10 seconds at a time.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  SURFING’s guide to the latest episode from Wade Goodall and Runamuk Visuals:
  
  0:00-3:00: Wade surfs California’s worst wave and makes it look like ramp-tastic. False. Fake. Lies. We know it’s a god-forsaken closeout because we surf it at lunch every day. But then, Wade’s pretty good at surfing.
  
  3:00-9:00: Wade and crew go to Burning Man in the desert and things get weird for a bit.
  
  9:00-end: Wade, Ryan Callinan and Anthony Walsh get inside some 3-foot spinners and stay there for 5-10 seconds at a time.
  
  
  
  SURFING’s guide to the latest episode from Wade Goodall and Runamuk Visuals:
  
  0:00-3:00: Wade surfs California’s worst wave and makes it look like ramp-tastic. False. Fake. Lies. We know it’s a god-forsaken closeout because we surf it at lunch every day. But then, Wade’s pretty good at surfing.
  
  3:00-9:00: Wade and crew go to Burning Man in the desert and things get weird for a bit.
  
  9:00-end: Wade, Ryan Callinan and Anthony Walsh get inside some 3-foot spinners and stay there for 5-10 seconds at a time.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Hot Australian Artists Part one May 2011 [+ Show ]
  

  Skinwalkers A bunch of punks out of Brisbane with a social conscience, these guys are killing it...Skinwalkers
  
  A bunch of punks out of Brisbane with a social conscience, these guys are killing it in the all ages and punk scene and there are a lot of people in the wider music community sitting up and taking interest. Taking the punk thrashing of Suicidal Tendencies and mixing it up with the rock sound of Rose Tattoo, it’s hard to listen to them without wanting to mosh even if you’re by yourself at home.
  

• Skinwalkers Tour July 14th 2011 [+ Show ]
  

  Filed Tour News Related Skinwalkers Related Photos Skinwalkers 28th August...
  Filed Tour News
  Related Skinwalkers
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Related Photos
  
  Skinwalkers
  28th August 2011 @ Phoenix
  
  See full gallery here »
  
  
  Hotly tipped Gold Coast punks Skinwalkers have announced a national tour which will see them hauling their skinny arses around the country as they show us what led them to being named as one of Tone Deaf’s Hot Aussie Artists of 2011.
  

• Agent Orange Tour - Supports Skinwalkers 24th August 2011 [+ Show ]
  

  Filed Tour News Related Agent Orange Legendary Southern California punk/surf...
  Filed Tour News
  Related Agent Orange
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Legendary Southern California punk/surf power trio, Agent Orange are set to head down under and for a tour this October, still flying under the radar and proud of never selling out to the man!
  
  Taking their name from the chemical defoliant used by the USA in the Vietnam War that caused mass deformities in many Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian civlians and American soldiers exposed to it, Agent Orange were formed in the highly active “So-Cal” hardcore scene of Fullerton, Orange County. Comprised of Mike Palm (vocals, guitar), Steve “Soto” Rodgers (bass) and Scott Miller (drums), Rogers was replaced early on by James Levesque who has since been replaced by Brent Liles (ex-Social Distortion). Keeping a low profile during the early part of the 90s except for a well regarded live album, Palm returned in 1996 with two new members and a studio album, Virtually Indestructible.
  
  Joining them on their Australian tour will be the best of the local punk scene – In Melbourne, The Meanies and The Duvtons, in Brisbane Blowhard and Skinwalkers, in Sydney The Celibate Rifles, The Turps and Los Capitanes. Perth will see them hit the stage withThe Decline and Emperors.
  
  Punters can expect themselves to be exposed to Agent Orange’s full blown-supercharged-punk-surf-grind as they prepare to leave a scorched earth behind them this October. Tickets on sale Wednesday 31 August, 9am.
  
  THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER – CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE
  With The Meanies and The Duvtons. Tickets from www.cornerhotel.com or (03) 94279198
  
  FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER – THE STEP INN, BRISBANE
  With Blowhard and Skinwalkers. Tickets from www.oztix.com.au
  
  SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER – MANNING BAR, SYDNEY
  With The Celibate Rifles, The Turps and Los Capitanes. Tickets from www.manningbar.com, ph. 1300 762 545
  
  SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER – AMPLIFIER, PERTH
  With The Decline and Emperors. Tickets from www.moshtix.com.au
  

• Skinwalkers at The Phoenix Youth Centre 28th August 2011
  

  Photos taken by Carbie Warbie at the Phoenix Youth Centre for Tone Deaf

• Skinwalkers live at the Phoenix Youth Centre 28th August 2011
  

  Skinwalkers Live at The Phoenix Youth Centre on the "Fall or Resist" Tour

• Skinwalkers 12/07/11 [+ Show ]
  

  Gold Coast band SKINWALKERS announce the release of their 2nd EP “FALL OR RESIST” on the 8th July 20...Gold Coast band SKINWALKERS announce the release of their 2nd EP “FALL OR RESIST” on the 8th July 2011 and the launch of their first Australian national tour kicking off on the 15th July on Sunshine Coast, touring through Gold Coast, Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane & Melbourne.

• Skinwalkers strut their stuff Friday 26th August 2011
  

  Skinwalkers strut their stuff check the URL for link

• Skinwalkers on Tone Deaf TV 23rd Sep 2011
  

  Skinwalkers on Tone Deaf TV interview with Jim Murray

Setlist

FALL OR RESIST
DARKEST HOUR
DESTROYER BLOOD MONEY
EVERYONE HAS A STORY
THE BRAVES
BATTLE CRY
LOST & FOUND
I DON’T BELEIVE IT
COLD GHOST SUN
FLATLINE
WE ARE THE STREETS
RAGE
BREAKHEART
DAWN

NOTE: Can perform up to 1 hour original set list + additional covers

Covers:
Come Together - The Beatles
Time Bomb - Rancid
Cyco Vision - Suicidal Tendancies

Basic Requirements

Calendar