Biography
Between his commitments to the Giants of Science and his solo work, Ben Salter joined Ben Tuite to run a weekly open-mike night at Mick O'Malleys, an Irish pub in Brisbane. The pair encountered numerous skilled local players there and decided that pooling their efforts like a 1970s supergroup, a hip-hop posse, or a Japanese mecha series would serve them better than vying for stage time. The resulting ensemble comprised eight core members, each a singer-songwriter and most proficient on several instruments. Affiliate players occasionally expanded the lineup to fifteen, creating logistical challenges for the modest rooms where the group first appeared. Unable to settle on a single identity, they performed under assorted names until one venue listed them as the Gin Club on account of their onstage consumption of the spirit, after which the designation remained.
Vocals came from every core participant, who also handled instruments as follows: Ben Salter on guitar, bass, and drums; Ben Tuite on guitar; Bridget Lewis on cello and keyboard; Ola Karlson on guitar, keyboard, harmonica, and banjo; Conor MacDonald on guitar, harmonica, and percussion; Brad Pickersgill on guitar, bass, and percussion; Scotty Regan on drums, guitar, and percussion; and Adrian Stoyles on guitar, accordion, and keyboard. This configuration supplied the bulk of material for the band's first two albums, The Gin Club (2004) and Fear of the Sea (2005). The debut was captured by the musicians themselves in a single day at a cost of $AU300. For the follow-up the group signed with Plus One Records, allowing a budget of $AU500. Individual members composed each track while the others rotated among supporting parts, producing famously unruly concerts marked by continuous instrument changes, the absence of any predetermined set list, and steady intake of their signature beverage.
Following the completion of Fear of the Sea, Ben Tuite departed; Dan Mansfield, Angus G. Agars, and Matthew Schneider soon stepped in, the first covering guitar, bass, drums, organ, keyboard, piano, and mandolin, the second drums and percussion, and the third drums and accordion. Additional musicians who passed through included Jacob S. Harris, Dale Peachey, Jane Elliot, and Danica Davis on whichever instruments were available. The influx of songwriters triggered a sharp rise in new material, and the collective began composing together rather than assembling finished pieces brought in by one person. Their 2008 release, Junk, therefore appeared as a double album containing all twenty-six recorded tracks, with Tim Rogers of You Am I appearing as a guest contributor.
Vocals came from every core participant, who also handled instruments as follows: Ben Salter on guitar, bass, and drums; Ben Tuite on guitar; Bridget Lewis on cello and keyboard; Ola Karlson on guitar, keyboard, harmonica, and banjo; Conor MacDonald on guitar, harmonica, and percussion; Brad Pickersgill on guitar, bass, and percussion; Scotty Regan on drums, guitar, and percussion; and Adrian Stoyles on guitar, accordion, and keyboard. This configuration supplied the bulk of material for the band's first two albums, The Gin Club (2004) and Fear of the Sea (2005). The debut was captured by the musicians themselves in a single day at a cost of $AU300. For the follow-up the group signed with Plus One Records, allowing a budget of $AU500. Individual members composed each track while the others rotated among supporting parts, producing famously unruly concerts marked by continuous instrument changes, the absence of any predetermined set list, and steady intake of their signature beverage.
Following the completion of Fear of the Sea, Ben Tuite departed; Dan Mansfield, Angus G. Agars, and Matthew Schneider soon stepped in, the first covering guitar, bass, drums, organ, keyboard, piano, and mandolin, the second drums and percussion, and the third drums and accordion. Additional musicians who passed through included Jacob S. Harris, Dale Peachey, Jane Elliot, and Danica Davis on whichever instruments were available. The influx of songwriters triggered a sharp rise in new material, and the collective began composing together rather than assembling finished pieces brought in by one person. Their 2008 release, Junk, therefore appeared as a double album containing all twenty-six recorded tracks, with Tim Rogers of You Am I appearing as a guest contributor.
Albums
