Foxy Morons Prove That From Little Bands, Slightly Bigger Bands Grow

The off-kilter and downbeat pop of Foxy Morons sounds inspired by The Velvet Underground led by Mo Tucker. That is, if Tucker was born and raised in Hobart, the Tasmanian city where creativity is fostered and the sense of community is tight. It's a place that has been important in the development of Foxy Morons' sound and identity.

Like many current Hobart bands they were born from the twice annual "Little Bands" events that are inspired by a scene that flourished in Melbourne in the late 70s and early 80s that encouraged acts to form for one off gigs. At the time the band comprised bar staff, DJs and gig goers. Foxy Morons was to be their first band.

The five-piece have just released their first self-titled EP cassette on Hobart's Wrong Place Records, a label that's released material from other great Tasmanian bands including Naked, All The Weathers, The Native Cats.

We have a chat to both vocalists and guitarists Amber Perez-Wright and Edith Parsons-Lucas about Tasmanian experimentation, love of Chris Isaak and the EP.

Noisey: The band was born out of the "Little Bands" event that happens annually. Can you explain the event and the impact it has on the Hobart music scene?

Amber: 'Little Bands' started in Melbourne in the early 80s. The purpose was to change things up, allow more room for experimentation and most importantly encourage people who aren't necessarily trained musicians to play. The idea is that you form a small band and make a few original songs for the event, and everyone gets together to see what new unlikely combinations have come around. It's generally a bit silly and very fun but it's also a fantastic way to make up new bands and get people like us to perform who probably never would otherwise. A lot of Hobart bands such as All the Weathers, Mum and Dad, and Bu$ Money started from the event.

With Tasmania's isolation and the pull of, what you call, 'the North Island' it seems like it can be difficult to keep band members together. How has that impacted your approach to playing music?

Amber: It is pretty hard and it does break a lot of bands up but it's also important that things change and diversify. And more and more people do move here from the mainland too, so it keeps it interesting. As a young person there's always the feeling that you have to leave the place you're from and find somewhere bigger. Everyone should leave Tassie for a while so they can come back and appreciate what's great here. Our bass player just moved to Melbourne so we're still feeling the phantom limb thing. But she'll be back.

"Home" has a real Dick Diver feeling to it, while "Under the Sea" has elements of the Velvet Underground. What artists are on heavy rotation for you?

Amber: As a band we have pretty eclectic and different tastes and that probably comes across in our songs. We all love Roy Orbison and Chris Isaak. I've been listening to a lot of early Cat Power, Sarah Mary Chadwick, Nick Cave, Magnetic Fields and Dick Diver. And then also Simpsons-wave mixes on YouTube for studying.

Edith: Music is very important to each member of the band which is another reason we all managed to make an E.P. without ever really playing music. The Velvet Underground, Modern Lovers, Patti Smith, Nick Cave and Gram Parsons have been favourites since I can remember. I just can't stop listening to The Stooges and The Gun Club lately though.

What's your favourite thing about living in Hobart?

Amber: The sense of community is really important, I think people down here in general really look after one another. Also the mountain (Kunanyi), and how close nature feels even when you're in the city.

Edith: The ability you have to create. Whether you are more private or like to collaborate with others, the cost of living really accommodates a lifestyle of creativity. I think that's why so many bands, artists and designers here are so different. We're not stressed out and tired, trying to create something we love. We have time and shared facilities which in turn, allow us to put the time we want into our projects. But don't move here, it'll just get more expensive!

Foxy Morons' cassette is available now through Wrong Place Records.