Something With Numbers

Wed 7th Sep, 2011 in Features

There are several reasons why Something With Number’s return to the stage at Coaster festival this coming September is not just any old comeback show. Not only is it going to be their first time on stage together after two years, September will also mark ten years since the band formed. What better way to celebrate their ten-year anniversary than to play to a home-crowd in what is practically their own backyard in the Central Coast of New South Wales?

Having released their last album, Engineering the Soul in September 2008, the band’s comeback is a long time coming. The festival will be something of a welcome home party, with One Dollar Short also coming out of their indefinite hiatus since 2005.

First of all, why the hiatus?
We were just pretty worn out, we’ve been touring for so many years and I was under a lot of stress in the last record. I also wanted to do some travelling around, so I ended up starting a band with a friend of mine in American [Maniac, with Shawn Harris of The Matches] and we were just travelling around American for the last year and a bit. I think everyone just needed a little break, if we were to make a record back then it would’ve been forced and I think it would’ve just ended our career. But now we’ve gotten back together and we feel like, “Let’s make a record! Whoop dee doo!” So I hope that enthusiasm will come across.

So, you’ll be performing at the Coaster fest soon, how does it feel to be back to where it all started?
It’s really exciting, we always love playing in front of a home crowd. After our last big tour we didn’t feel like playing music and we all decided to take a break. And when Coaster comes up in September, it’ll be ten years for the band.

You’ve been to Coaster before so you’ll probably know what to expect, what are you most looking forward to in your performance?
I’m looking forward to this exactly: at every show we do, and we’ve done hundreds of shows, there’s always at least one person who’s shouting, “Play Barnacles and Stripes !” We’ve never, ever played it and it’s a song I’ve refused to play for ten years.

Are you guys going to play it this time? For the special occasion?
Yeah, we’re going to rehearse it and if someone says, “Play Barnacles and Stripes !” I’m gonna go, “You know what, mate? Okay! We’re gonna play that fucking song for you!” Even though I completely hate the song, we’re going to do it just because I think it’ll be fun.

Any bands in particular you’re looking forward to see?
Obviously I want to see Little Red because I love them. But I also want to see One Dollar Short, because they haven’t played in like, eight years, and it’ll be interesting to see if they can still play. They’re one of those bands we all grew up with when we were younger. They’re pretty much Central Coast heroes.

Well I’m sure a lot of your long-time fans are looking forward to some new releases… When can we expect new material from the band?
We’re working towards a new album at the start of next year and I think we’ll have a new song out before the end of the year. I would really like to tell you what it’s going to sound like, but at this point we haven’t started yet. I’m guessing it’s going to be heavy and catchy.