PUH-LEASE! - Operator Please

Operator Please have fast become one of my favourite bands. Their boppy goodness has been making my world a better place since I saw them at the Gold Coast Big Day Out earlier this year. In fact, after having endured a whole days worth of sun and liquor and having seen some of my favourite bands ever; I was somehow humming Operator Please tunes on the bus home. That is how permeating and parasitic (in a fabulous way) Operator Please songs are.

Indeed, lately they have been tripping about the countryside; I had the pleasure of asking Amandah Wilkinson, guitar and vocal extraordinaire if they were concerned about burning out. “I think you only really get worried about burning out if you don't feel as if you are in control of what you are doing. We've been touring for a while but we take care of ourselves and each other when we are on tour, we do get time off in between to go home and relax, rehearse, see our families etc. Unfortunately in the music industry you aren't promised anything so you really have to enjoy everything while you can, and that's what we have been doing. As cliché as it may sound, but it's true.”

So then, what has been the best experience they’ve had so far? “Everything that we have done so far has been awesome. But if I had to put it down to one thing it would be the overseas trips, being able to see new places, with your friends whilst doing something you all enjoy, is pretty precious. That and playing Gold Coast BDO this year!”

Evidently, Operator Please have been away in London this year. How did that turn out? “The trip to London was amazing. We all enjoyed it a lot. We were mainly over there to play shows and do promo as well as the whole meet and greet with our label bands. We played about 7 club shows and we also got to play at The Camden Crawl which was really cool. We did a couple of radio slots too, the walls of BBC6 were all signed and Architecture in Helsinki were on it! We managed to see the tourist sites as well so we were stoked that we fit everything in. I think we were most excited about going overseas AND getting to play.”

I feel I’ve done well so far, in not taking the age tact on Operator Please, but I’m going to insert it in…right here. “How’s school” I asked.
Amandah replied, “Well three of us have already finished school. I finished in 2005 and Ashley and Sarah finished last year. Tim and Taylor are doing school by correspondence. I think they are doing really well with it. They pretty much just bring their school work with them and send it in by email.” It was at that point that I felt stupid for asking the age questions. Operator Please, may (OR MAY NOT) be the same age as me…

As such, I asked “Is your age really an issue?” I received this reply “Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. With venues and things it usually is an issue, you know we will the rules and a talk about the law and the consequences they are undertaking to have you play and they generally freak out a little bit about it. But it's more a case of you sound check you leave the premises; you play then leave the premises again. We aren't allowed to hang around pretty much. Sometimes you miss out on certain shows because of it. In general, people tend to make a bit of a deal out of it, whether it be bad or good. But everyone has their opinion, that's something nobody can ever escape. It's not so much an issue to us, but it gets a little annoying at times.”

All in all, I found Amandah’s responses to be intelligent, patient and insightful; wise beyond her (and my) years. People disrespect the youth, and I’m quite raggy about that! As a sign of youthful rebellion, go out and discover Operator Please. You’ll thank me later.

Operator Please play the Pauhaus Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, June 9th

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