Sneaky Weasel Gang

From the salt of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the sand of Australia’s western deserts, the Sneaky Weasel Gang have seen it all. These three 21yr old friends from the south west coastal town of Mandurah, have been powered by their own steam and passion for music, putting more kilometres on the road and thought into their craft than most musicians their age. Playing a raucous, roadhouse-ready brand of rock, funk & blues, they have gigged constantly to spread there funky music, at home and around the country there making an impression.
After forming three years ago just out high school, guitarist Dan Carroll, bassist Jason Bale and drummer Bryn Stanford recorded the Sneak Easy demo and hit the road. They booked over 40 dates across regional WA, from Margaret River to Broome, a number not even the most robust of national tours normally approach.
That tenacity paid off. Triple J picked up their Sneak Easy demo as an Unearthed feature in 2007 which led to further honours, such as a WAMi nomination for Best Newcomer in 2008 and sets at their hometown festival Rollercoaster, the West and East Coast Blues and Roots Festivals, the Wave Rock Weekender and the Fairbridge Folk Festival.
The sheer number of shows and hours spent together sped up their process of evolution and taken them into the current sonic territory they now occupy. It’s a keeper. Their upcoming single Visionary was picked for the 2009 WAMi Festival Kiss My WAMi compilation, anticipating the band’s eventual win for Best Funk Act at the 2009 WAMi Awards, firmly cementing their new identity.
“The current sound is basically a mixture of late 60s type garage blues and dirty funk,” Carroll says. “It’s heavily based around a good groove and guitar and is also instrumentally influenced by organ, guitar, bass and drum instrumental groups like Booker T and the MGs and also the Meters.”
The single foreshadows the release of the band’s debut EP, recorded in Sydney with producer Tony Buchen. Buchen is one of Australia’s best young producers whose credits include Kid Confucius, Gelbison and Macromantics and the recording was conducted using an array of vintage, pre-70s microphones and preamps to two-inch tape. With his input, as well as their experience, new sound and a polished debut release, the Weasels are prepared to make 2009 their year of their young lives.