The Seals

WA’s entry into the Australian new-grass scene comes to us in the form of Perth six piece The Seals. Prolific buskers in their home town and bluegrass evangelists everywhere else The Seals combine guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, bass and drums/percussion along with vocals from all five members (listen to their track “High” and tell us you don’t imagine the entire band crowded around a single mic Bill Monroe style).

The Seals have put together a lovely little mini-doco on themselves that you can watch below. Given how entrenched these guys are in the burgeoning new-grass scene don’t be surprised to start seeing them pop up everywhere – even if it’s just busking in your local mall. - Timber & Steel

WA’s entry into the Australian new-grass scene comes to us in the form of Perth six piece The Seals. Prolific buskers in their home town and bluegrass evangelists everywhere else The Seals combine guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, bass and drums/percussion along with vocals from all five members (listen to their track “High” and tell us you don’t imagine the entire band crowded around a single mic Bill Monroe style).

The Seals have put together a lovely little mini-doco on themselves that you can watch below. Given how entrenched these guys are in the burgeoning new-grass scene don’t be surprised to start seeing them pop up everywhere – even if it’s just busking in your local mall. - Timber & Steel

... Thank Christ for The Seals, then, who set things aright fairly quickly. The big surprise of the night, the fairly unknown band – they’ve only been around for a year or so – were a revelation, punching well above their weight with a big, ballsy rollicking set. Country as all hell, they played a mix of originals and covers, most notably a foot-stomping rendition of the now far-too-ironic Amy Winehouse standard, Rehab. There were a fair mix of influences on display, but it’s clear they draw most of their cues from the Old Crow Medicine Show, and that’s no bad thing. Make no mistake, The Seals were the standout of the evening.
...
- Xpress Magazine

If you need proof that the Perth music scene is at least attempting to grow out of perceived genre specialities, just take a look at The Seals. The unapologetic northern-suburbs bluegrass band have been carving out a hefty chunk of the fanbase as of late. Their debut EP almost guarantees that you will get up and start waving your legs around with/like a crazy person. 'High' opens up with a frenzied, orchestral hoedown with some pretty tongue-in-cheek lyrics (not for the kiddies). 'Watch Over You' is a simple ballad of distant love made really interesting by its fast pace and tight vocal harmonies. 'Country Man' carries a more traditional country tune, while 'Woman' finds a line between country pub-rock and ska, once again breaking out the rapid fire timing. Dukes Of Hazzard this ‘aint. - Drum Media - Perth

If you need proof that the Perth music scene is at least attempting to grow out of perceived genre specialities, just take a look at The Seals. The unapologetic northern-suburbs bluegrass band have been carving out a hefty chunk of the fanbase as of late. Their debut EP almost guarantees that you will get up and start waving your legs around with/like a crazy person. 'High' opens up with a frenzied, orchestral hoedown with some pretty tongue-in-cheek lyrics (not for the kiddies). 'Watch Over You' is a simple ballad of distant love made really interesting by its fast pace and tight vocal harmonies. 'Country Man' carries a more traditional country tune, while 'Woman' finds a line between country pub-rock and ska, once again breaking out the rapid fire timing. Dukes Of Hazzard this ‘aint. - Drum Media - Perth

In 2010, Benn Boston-Harvey, Phil Cilli, Derry Doyle, Tom Gourlay, Pippa Lester, and Robert Tomlin, all got together and began to be collectively known as The Seals.

The band of six started playing their brand of bluegrass/roots music all around Perth, causing mini-riots of plaid and country-style barbecues and whooping. It’s not hard to get all up in a tizzy about The Seals’ music. It’s a blend of blues, country, bluegrass and reggae, with a sort of punk rock vibe in that hyped up, hectic kind of way.

I guess the punk rock vibe comes from the lyrics. They’re irreverent, lewd, and funny as hell, as so perfectly illustrated by the song “High”:

How much a gram, honey?

I’ll sell my shoes to get high!

Well I got no shoes, and I got no pay

But I’m gonna get high anyway!


Influenced by acts like The Punch Brothers, Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, Mumford and Sons, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Woody Guthrie, Memphis Jug Band, and The Avett Brothers (to name a few), the band are currently vying for a spot in Triple J’s Unearthed competition.

Since the release of their debut EP, they’ve been busy playing shows, and are actually going to be supporting Kill Devil Hills at The Bakery on Saturday the 13th.

Drum Media said about the band, “If you need proof that the Perth music scene is at least attempting to grow out of perceived genre specialties, just take a look at The Seals. (…) Their debut EP almost guarantees that you will get up and start waiving your legs around with/like a crazy person. (…) Dukes of Hazzard this ain’t.”

Xpress Magazine apparently agrees with me on one of The Seals’ tracks. “They bring some punk rock vigour to High when they wonder how they are going to get their mitts on their next ‘hit’ when they have no shoes or pay,” Xpress Mag said. After saying that most bands for Perth are more likely to be singing about surfing or road trips than taking up hillbilly music, Xpress mag added, “Making The Seals passion for bluegrass even more odd, is that they formed after an evening of lawn bowls.”

The band employs a whole slew of instruments, making for confused, well-orchestrated chaos that picks you up by the scruff of your shirt and really lets you get your hoe-down on. Not to say that The Seals can’t be heartfelt and gooey. “Watch Over You” is a sweet, feel-good lovey-dovey song about a long distance type of relationship (I think. Maybe). Still, that song is gooey in the way that doesn’t make you want to throw your beer up all over stuffed animals.

Always tongue in cheek and at the same time rife with raw emotion, The Seals’ songs are great uppers for when you’re feeling down and want to hoe down (or something like that). It’s no doubt that The Seals are here for the hoe-down. And then some.



www.theseals.com.au

www.facebook.com/theseals

www.myspace.com/the_seals

- Sounds of the Stage