The Kill Devil Hills School a Nation of Rockers
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The Kill Devil Hills sound bad-ass. Their music conjures up images of boozy nights, bar-room brawls and loose (to non-existent) morals. As I’m waiting for the phone to be connected to the leader of the band of ruffians, Brendon Humphries, my imagination races at the thought of his current antics.
The truth, however, proves to be less debaucherous, more scholastic.
“I’m a teacher so it’s my first day back. The honeymoon’s over baby. I lecture in TAFE, Media like film and TV, business stuff. I work at rock school, I never realise going back that you could go to rock school. That didn’t exist say when I was 18.”
Jack black aside, I too have often found the concept of rock school an interesting one. Humphries is a supporter of the institutions, but is quick to recognise the irony.
“When I was young rock and roll was sort of like a statement or a choice against a legitimate career and then along come these sort of educational packages training you to sort of legitimise a career in the music industry. It’s kind of ironic really, rock and roll has become straight. What do you do?’ ‘I’m a rock and roller.’ ‘Oh and how is your career going?’ You know it’s a career option, it’s funny.”
If someone were to present Humphries with the above query at least he could provide them with a positive answer, as The Kill Devil Hills have enjoyed significant success since the release of their latest album Man, You Should Explode.
“I definitely think this is our best work and it’s certainly gotten the most positive critical attention, which always helps. And we are trying to tour it pretty relentlessly and keep it out there. But, look we’ve all still got our day jobs.”
That relentless touring is continuing in 2010 when the band will undertake a huge national tour, before attempting to sell their wares for the first time in Europe. As the group's foremost rock and roll school brain it is unsurprising that the organisation of said tour has fallen to Brendon.
“It’s a pretty big task when you haven’t done it before. There are people in Melbourne and overseas in bands that I’ve been gleaning info from to tackle something that is logistically a nightmare. It’s a tricky one but it’s kind of excited and it something we’ve always wanted to do.”
Their first two albums have had worldwide distribution on label Bang, and Humphries is planning for the Euro-tour to coincide with the release of their third.
“From what I gather there is a small but fairly hardcore fan base for underground Aussie music in particularly Spain, France and Holland so it’ll be interesting to see what sort of reaction we get. From what I’ve heard from other bands you go some places and everyone sings along with your songs, other places where no one has heard of you but they have a good time, or throw shit at you.”
“I know bands in Perth who I’ve spoken to, people like The Stems who have really limited profile but they’ll be massive in Italy or something, or Denmark, or Portugal and the bands will actually chart there where it wouldn’t be dreamed of them charting in Australia.”
In a perfect world, which European country Brendon would like to be charting in?
“I don’t know, where’s a rich country?”
Monaco? I suggest.
“Maybe Bolivia.”
Perhaps not the richest country but this sudden shift in economic desire may be due to the areas of Europe where the band already has a significant following.
“I’m not suggesting that we’ll be cracking the Belgian top 10 or anything but it’ll be interesting to see where there are in fact pockets of people. I know for a fact there are a bunch of mad people in Serbia who are into our music so we’re going to go there.”
With the overwhelming task of organising such a tour I wonder whether it is ever tempting to have your students perform some practical work to help out the band.
“I’ve thought about it and then I’ve thought not. I do use stuff around that is good example of our stuff or people we know. I think it’s good to show them, ultimately it’s something we would prefer to do ourselves anyway.”
And doing it themselves is exatcly what The Kill Devil Hills are undertaking as they trek across the country, including many regional areas.
Be sure to catch a show before Serbia claims them as their own.
