The Push Beat All Ages Column

Wednesday 21 October 2009With Ashan Munesinghe

“Sienna is a reddish-brown colour… if you notice a haze over a city, it will be that colour. The way we see it and the way it (Sienna Skies) was created, (which Nick thought of), is us… trying to get out of that haze and repetitive normality of life and music… we keep trying to follow that in our music and in our lives.” Mickles, Sienna Skies

Mic Sankey, affectionately known as Mickles, guitarist of Sydney’s all ages giants Sienna Skies, chatted to me insightfully and candidly about his band’s plight and evolution from EP, Where Joy Exists Despair Beckons (2007), and a pop-punk past, to achieve a breakthrough future with upcoming debut album, Truest of Colours… but first, to other breaking news...

Greater Dandenong, Momentum and Muso Network are staging ambient post-hardcore heads House vs Hurricane’s epic last show at The Castle in Dandenong on Friday November 6, before they run off to Baltimore on November 10 to record their debut full length. Supporting at the gig is the ferocious City Escape, the badass Trophyknife and hot youngsters I Explode Like.

This weekend don’t forget the second of nine FReeZA Push Start, Battle Of The Bands Regional Finals, featuring some of the best upcoming and developing Victorian musical talent (details below). The Houses are the first Regional Final Winners, set to play Push Over Festival, Sunday 7 March 2010 (tix on sale 16 November).

Tell us the story of Sienna Skies and how you became a band?
We started off a pop-punk kind of Anberlin band. We did that till half-way through ‘07…that fell apart, (but) Nick (guitar) and I stuck with it and we knew a lot of guys from bands, so got Stevo (singer), Wadey (bass) and Matt… (who) was our merch dude…after the our EP was released we taught him how to play keys... Luke (drums) is the youngest.

What do you do in your spare time?
Most weekends we spend our time at shows whether it’s our shows or other band’s shows, we love our All You Can Eat feeds.

You’ve toured with The Red shore, Getaway and Amity, who has been your favourite to tour, gig and hang with?
Always lots of fun hanging out with the Amity boys and they’re helpful with anything - they definitely party, and Closure in Moscow - those boys are all really cool. We toured with them a bunch before they went to The States.

What’s the all ages hardcore and band scene like up in Sydney?
Up here, pretty much all we do is play to all ages crowds. Young kids…get into it more… they have more fun, (and)… you have more fun, cause you can vibe off them a bit more…the band have been going to shows since we were 14, it’s cool how the 14 year olds come to watch us like what we did.

If each member of the band transformed into an animal what would you reckon they’d be?
I’d probably be a grasshopper, cause I’m real lanky and skinny and always jumping around. Stevo would be the lion. Wadey would probably be some sort of bear. Nick would probably be a woodpecker or something – he’s just stupid (kidding). Matt would definitely be a sweet little puppy dog that sleeps a lot. Luke would be a gorilla.

All Ages Weekend Timetable Frenzy

Wednesday 21 October
Noisegate featuring Mammal, The Stricklands, Arcade Bass, Plan The Escape, Londonberry Reserve, Cnr Vine/Creek St, Bendigo, 6pm, $7

Thursday 22 October
Music Is Everything (largest simultaneous music event in Australia), Federation Square, 11.30am, free

Friday 23 October
Corefest 2009 featuring Children Collide, (18+), Shadow of Doubt, RJ’s Disco, Theatre Royal, Camperdown, 6pm, $20

Saturday 24 October
FReeZA Push Start Battle Of The Bands Regional Final featuring Flounder, Harvest Of Humanity, Little Lady, Masketta Fall, Rosetta Stone, Sweet Kicks, The Boo Hoo Hoo’s, The Euro Masonic Hall, Sunshine
The Amity Affliction, Corner Hotel, 12.30pm, $17, U18