Interview: Kit Convict & Thee Terrible Two

Melbourne garage punks Kit Convict & Thee Terrible Two are jumping the ditch to play two shows this weekend with Auckland's own Swampland. The trio's first ever jaunt to these shores coincides with the vinyl release of their pounding 17-track album Watch Your Skull through Convicted Records. With news of their impending visit UnderTheRadar decided to drill Kit and find out a bit more with Seven Quick Questions...

1. Hey Kit! First off can you tell us a little bit about the band and the music you make?

Well Kit Convict & Thee Terrible Two are essentially a no-frills garage punk psych band. Instruments stripped back to the bone to create a primitive and minimal take on old school 60s garage. From the caves of Melbourne. Think Billy Childish, The Cramps, The Gories.

2. How did you guys get together?

Emerging from a deep dark cave, I sought out the two worst criminals in the land - Terrible One and Terrible Two. Terrible One happened to be old bandmate Michael Cleverly (The Kits - Dirty Water Records, London), ruthless with a bass who now plays the drums with a dead man's bones. Terrible Two became Lee French, an old touring accomplice from Screwtop Detonators with a killer bass.

3. Earlier this year you released your album Watch Your Skull. Can you tell us a little bit about that… what was the writing and recording process like?

This album was essentially the result of a brain explosion. All 17 tracks were written during a serious spell of cave hibernation that lasted just two months. From there it was into the studio with Andrew 'Idge' Hehir (Kim Salmon, Witch Hats, etc) at his analogue studio, Sound Park in Melbourne. The album was recorded and mixed entirely to tape, then mastered by Mikey Young of Eddy Current and Total Control. Themes based around ritual sacrifice, bad luck charms and other unsavoury topics made for an intense environment.

4. If you had to name three albums that have influenced your music over the years, what would they be?

The Monks - Black Monk Time was a real breakthrough for me in getting to this wild-eyed state of musical taste. Their record really cuts loose, and to think there weren't many brave enough to create such a sound back then.

Thee Headcoats - Headcoats Down is another key record in my collection. Billy Childish's guitar sound is so cutting and raw, and Bruce Brand is one of the best drummers going around. All of Billy
Childish's albums are a great example of why all bands should record to tape.

 The Gories - Houserockin - this record puts garage into the old dancehalls. Fast thumping minimal drums with twisted blues riffs and howling vocals. A huge inspiration in the birth of our group.

5. What’s you favourite thing about the Melbourne garage scene, and what would make it better?

We're pretty lucky at the moment - bands like Midnight Woolf, The Reprobettes, The SMB - we're spoilt for choice. It's the combination of being small enough to call our own scene and feel like you belong, but large enough to have enough people to support it. I'm happy with it as is... it'd be nice to be closer to the other side of the world, but then the isolation breeds the desperate wild sounds we're getting.

6. I understand this is your first visit (as a band) to New Zealand, what brings you across the ditch?

Convicted Records are putting out our album Watch Your Skull on 12" vinyl so to celebrate we thought we'd share it with all those in reach by car, boat or plane. And we've been given a hand by Swampland, a great psych rockabilly band from your shores. We played Cherry Bar in Melbourne with them recently and we got on like a house on fire.

7. What is the one thing you would most like to do while here?

You'll either find me in a record store or a brewery. I'm a mad vinyl fan, and I picked up The Chants R & B last time I was here which is right up my alley.

Kit Convict & Thee Terrible Two are playing with Swampland at on Friday 22nd May at Thirsty Dog in Auckland and Saturday 23rd May at Leigh Sawmill in Leigh. Head over here for more information and to buy tickets.