Bullet
Coburg, Victoria, Australia | MAJOR
Music
Press
Alt-Country outfit Bullet will launch their debut album 'One More Beer' at Cherry Bar. The Album came about while road tripping through Texas, Vocalist Al Backstrom met Redd Volkaert (Merle Haggard Band), over a couple of beers and the two planned a recording session that kick started the project to produce 'One More Beer'. Other feature contributors ro the recording include Scott Owen (The Living End), and bluegrass extrordinaire Peter Sommerville (Uncle Bill). Hear their songs of Australian life, love and the limbo of feelings and experiences inbetween at Cheery on Friday May 30 from 8:30pm - Beat Magazine
What do you think is your band's greatest strength? Al Backstrom, guitar/vocals: "Harmonies and haircuts. Pretty good songs too."
What was your worse gig ever and why? "A B&S ball in country Victoria where every hour there would be a punch-on. I was playing a trumpet solo when a bloke slammed the microphone stand into the front of my trumpet and almost pushed my front teeth down my throat. He busted my lip and I had to play guitar for the rest of that gig."
If you could time travel back to any gig in history which would it be and why? "That's a tough one..... I reckon seeing the Sun Studio acts on tour together in the 50's would be about the altimate gig experience. Imagine Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins all in their 20s and on the same stage together. That would be one high energy shoe."
What movis do you think your music would best accompany and why? "Ned Kelly for our version of 'Wild Colonial Boy'. I reckon the music used in the film that portrays colonial bushrangers should be hugely energetic. I reckon 'Wild Colonial Boy' would have been sung loud and proud in colonial times, in the pubs to the sound of lads thumping the bar with their fists. This is how we play it."
- Inpress
Discography
Al Backstrom Experience - EP 2006
Wild Colonial Boy - EP 2007
One More Beer - LP 2008
Radio plays
Date Song Show Station
08/05/08 One more beer Acid country PBS106.7
17/5/08 One more beer Twang RRR102.7
19/5/08 One more beer 5' high & rising PBS106.7
24/5/08 Wild colonial boy Twang RRR102.7
24/5/08 To love somebody Twang RRR102.7
24/5/08 Ain't so pretty Twang RRR102.7
24/5/08 One more beer Twang RRR102.7
29/5/08 One more beer Acid country PBS106.7
31/5/08 One more beer Twang RRR102.7
2/6/08 Wild colonial boy 5' high & rising PBS106.7
22/9/08 Ain't so pretty 5' high & rising PBS106.7
Photos
Bio
BULLET
Bullet are a six piece Alt-Country group that seamlessly combine catchy melodies, beautiful song arrangements and shimmering three part vocal harmonies. They have become well loved for capturing the
attention of Festival audiences wherever they perform. In the words of their bookings & tour manager;
“Bullet just plug in their vintage gear and play from the heart”.
Bullet front man, Al Backstrom, recounts chatting with a musician in Austin Texas and explaining his
earliest memories of his mother teaching the family to sing harmonies together, “Ah.. you come by it honest”
said the Texan, which stuck in Alan’s mind as a beautiful quote and a lovely compliment.
The group’s widely acclaimed debut “One More Beer” saw unique contributions from Redd Volkaert (Merle Haggard band), Scotty Owen (The Living End), Peter Somerville (Paul Kelly band) and
Dan Brodie (The Broken Arrows). The varying array of musical styles portrayed on the album
demonstrates Bullet’s depth of repertoire. Their songs move effortlessly between beautifully arranged
ballads and tasteful catchy country twang; to the energy of Sun Studio styled 50’s rockabilly fused with
traditional Australian bush poetry.
Bullet’s busy 2010 calendar includes:
• A hugely successful tour of New Zealand in May 2010 playing to packed houses in Christchurch & Dunedin.
• The bands fifth successive tour of the world famous ‘Tamworth Country Music Festival’. Bullet has become a hot ticket at all of the Festivals most important live venues.
• The Apollo Bay Music Festival alongside the likes of Eddi Reader (UK Blues Singer extraordinaire), The Flatlanders (Austin Texas), Rob Snarski (Black Eyed Susan’s), folk legend Chris Smither (USA), Kasey Chambers and “L’il Band O’ Gold” (USA roots/ folk legends).
• A third successful tour of the East Coast taking in Adelaide, Newcastle, Brisbane, Sydney & Byron Bay.
• Yarraville Arts Festival- main stage
• Williamstown Music Festival- main stage
Contacting Bullet for Bookings, Media and Festivals:
www.myspace.com/bulletaustralia
www.sonicbids.com/bullet5
bulletaustralia@gmail.com
Paddy Edwards- 0407 825 549
Al Backstrom- 0432 724 366
Al Backstrom (vocals & guitar) – His earliest musical inspiration was Jerry Lee Lewis records. His latest musical inspiration is old Australian colonial song lyrics.
His favorite pastime is playing Telecaster twang along to old vinyl classics. Al’s played with legendary country rockers P-Tex, early 90’s Melbourne Alt-Country outfit The Thirsty Brothers, The Rhythm Pigs, and one time guest trumpeter with the MSO (but that’s an entirely different story).
Emma Louise O’Brien (vocals) – Emma was born to sing and has been fronting bands since she was sweet 16. Her style is bold and straight from the heart.
Emma has a sense of adventure running through her veins and has sung her way around Australia and through Asia touring with a range of bands such as ‘Soul Stripper’, ‘Louise’
and fronted rock ’n’ blues band ‘Dusk ‘til Dawn’ in South East Asia. Her true passion is singing straight from the depths of her heart !.
Paddy Edwards (vocals & guitar) – Began playing in Perth in the mid 80’s. Bands incl. 'The Native Sons', 'The Rolling Numbers', 'Cinema' and 'Comanche'. Strongly influenced by pivotal singer/ song-writers in Australia and the US, he began writing in the style of artists such as Robert Forster, David McComb, Gram Parsons and Townes Van Zandt. His greatest passion is song writing. Paddy’s mentoring from Rob Snarski on the craft of song writing remains his fondest memory.
Trent McKenzie (Electric & Double Bass)- With a double bass his companion, he has toured this wide brown land from Perth to Penrith and from Broome to Ballarat. Trent has vivid childhood memories of his grandfather’s bush poetry writings and his Grandfather’s influence, has helped sculpt Trent’s musical approach towards his own playing style and acumen. The Bullet ‘engine room’ shines with the addition of his
deftly played double & electric bass.
Greg Whitehead (Lap Steel & guitar)- Grew up listening to Elvis & Chuck Berry records.
He hales from ‘Kelly Country’ where he plays Dobro on the front porch of his family’s farm. Slinging guitars over his shoulder, this strapping lad rides into Melbourne on week-ends to saddle up with Bullet. Greg has had national radio airplay with local Melbourne band ‘Ryder’. He strikes the chiming strings of his lap steel guitars creating edgy, driving riffs that add a fantastic edge to Bullet’s original country sound.
Teal Bain-Roben (Drums)- Teal started playing drums at an early age and effortlessly moves between musical genres with his unique playing style. He teaches his craft by day, and has toured extensively through Canada and parts of the USA with Chloe Hall. He also plays occasionally with local folk outfit Milk, and Alt-Country group Ryder.
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