While at The Aussie BBQ at The Delancey during CMJ in New York City, Larry Heath caught up with Adelaide duo The Amcats to chat about recording in Brooklyn, Guitar Wolf, the need for more cowbell and much more...

So, we’re sitting here at CMJ, it’s a beautiful day in New York City. What’s the feeling? You just did three short sets - how did they go?

Shane: It was fun. We’ve never done that before and it was just... I don’t know. It was like new beginnings!

You broke a few guitar strings?

Shane: I broke four over thirty minutes, I need to get my guitar serviced. Maybe I was too excited?
Renee: You were too excited.

Well there’s nothing wrong with that! This certainly isn’t your first time in New York. I understand your latest singles, the 7 inch, you recorded here?

Shane: Yeah, the last two singles were recorded here in Brooklyn with a guy called Phil...
Renee: Palazzolo.
Shane: I dunno how to pronounce that. We just went in the studio with him earlier this week as well. We recorded four new tracks and hopefully those will get out early next year.

So what bought you over to New York to record it?

Shane: We were going on a trip over here anyway and we decided to make the most of it and record over here. We just so happened to have Phil fall into our laps - literally. Everything just looked after itself from there on in. It’s actually considerably cheaper for us to do it over here as well. The studio, day-wise, as well as gear-wise... at our studio over here we don’t need to bring any equipment at all. They've just got vintage gear they can use and it’s amazing. It’s like playing in a museum.

And then you sent it over to London to get mastered?

Shane: Yeah, we kinda got that through meeting Kitty Daisy & Lewis, a London band, when they played in Adelaide. We found out that their old man, who plays acoustic guitar for them on tour, is actually a world-renowned producer who has done everything from Chemical Brothers to early U2 to Diana Ross. It’s ridiculous! He did a little deal for us which is nice.

Are you happy with how it turned out? Is it kind of pushing you guys along?

Shane: Yeah. I mean, I think that whole single got us here today so I definitely can’t complain. What do you reckon?
Renee: Yeah that single in combination with the video I think as well. Really got everything, I don’t know... a bit more exciting.
Shane: It got played on Rage a fair bit. It got a few people’s attention. Even the delegates coming over here sent us emails beforehand really [saying they] like my video out of nowhere. It’s good to see people have their feelers out for kids like us.

Let’s talk a bit about the creation of that video. It is quite the piece.

Shane: That was made by our friend Andrew.
Renee: Andrew Shanks.
Shane: Andrew Shanks. He’s got a little film studio in Adelaide and he makes lovely B-grade comedies. Just cheesy stuff. He loves it. We found all this stock footage on the internet for free, we didn’t know what we wanted to do with it but he just made that up and choreographed it perfectly.
Renee: Yeah. It’s matched up with the song perfectly! He worked wonders on it so we’re very thankful.
Shane: He reckons it only took him a couple of hours as well, which is amazing. So it was the most effortless video clip ever (laughs).

(Laughs) Well certainly can’t complain about that. As you said, it got you over here. The rest of the year you’ve got a couple of cool things coming up when you get back home - there’s a surf rock festival you’re playing and fucking Guitar Wolf!

Shane: Guitar Wolf.
Renee: Yeah!
Shane: I don’t know what to say about Guitar Wolf... I don’t think I’m going to be able to play.
Renee: You’re gonna be so excited.
Shane: Guitar Wolf are just like gods.
Renee: Yeah, it’s gonna be awesome. We’ve got a lot of fun things coming up.
Shane: We’ll be going from this paradise to Kangaroo Island, like the complete opposite..
Renee: It’s still paradise but in a different setting.
Shane: That’s gonna be in a week’s time as well I think.

It’s certainly not far off. You said you recorded four new tracks. Is that going to be released as an EP next year?

Shane: We don’t know yet. We want to release something. I don’t know wether it’s going to be an EP or a couple of seven inches again. I kind of like going off singles but it’s been three and a half years since we last did an EP, so I think that’s calling us.

Have you had a full-length?

Renee: No.
Shane: Never. Just singles and an EP. I think we’ve had four or five singles and an EP.

From that you could make an album! (Laughs)

Shane: Yeah, it’ll be The Amcats ‘best of’ (laughs).

The greatest hits!

Shane: Or what we have!
Renee: Yeah, everything.

I’m sure it wouldn’t be the first time something like that’s been done. Looking back at your career, you’ve gotten to tour with some pretty amazing artists. One that really jumped out at me were The Bellrays who I’ve had the pleasure of sitting down with and chatting to before. Lisa and the band were the loveliest people in the world. What were your experiences touring with The Bellrays? Was that in Australia?

Shane: That was in Australia, yeah. They were amazing. Before we met them, they were the nicest people and then when they got on stage they were just so vicious and they’ve just got it going on. They blew me away.

As an Australian artist in New York, what do you think it means to be an Australian artist in America? What’s the vibe that you get from that?

Shane: Everyone here kind of knows we’re different, we’re like the weird brother-in-law or something coming over. Who is cool, and everyone knows is cool, but is a little bit weird. I think people love that about us and everyone here is very accepting towards us. Things like this, it’s an amazing atmosphere. We couldn’t ask for anything more really.

A couple more days of it to go. I imagine you’ve played quite a few shows since you’ve been over here. Has it just been CMJ or have you done other shows as well?

Shane: Just CMJ. We just headed over this week. We played a college day at the uni in the morning and also our local 269, we played with some Dutch bands. That was pretty good.

Which Dutch bands did you play with?

Shane: Death Letters.

They’re young guys - they can’t drink! (Laughs). They’re really good kids though.

Shane: Yeah and we saw Hindi Zahra, a French-Moroccan lounge singer. She was amazing.

Fair enough! Renee, this question’s to you - I ask this to every drummer I meet. I’ve got this ongoing thing where basically every time I ask this question someone says a different instrument. But, what is your favourite percussion instrument?

Renee: I don’t use it often enough but I kinda like egg shakers.

Again, no one has said that. Amazing.

Renee: I love the way it adds something awesome to songs. I think we’ve only ever used it a couple of times and I feel like we should use it more.
Shane: Did your use of the egg shaker increase after that new Beastie Boys film clip with Will Ferrell? Oh, that’s not an egg shaker.

It’s a cowbell!

Renee: We’ve used cowbell before but there’s a band in Adelaide who I love because I can always hear it on their tracks and I really like it.

Do you incorporate much cowbell into your performance?

Renee: No. When we first began, on the first EP you can hear it a few times but we don’t use it anymore. We don’t use any extra percussion, it’s too hard to have any other percussion except a tambourine sometimes. Otherwise I can’t do more than one thing.
Shane: Unless you evolve into some kind of Ganesha.
Renee: Yeah yeah!

Which could happen!

Shane: There’s a lot of cosmetic surgery ads around so I’m sure.

Isn’t that amazing? In LA there were a lot of ads for HIV medication and stuff. It was a bit full-on actually.

Shane: There was this ad on in the cab of people getting cosmetic surgery on their ears.
Renee: Yeah ear cosmetic surgery. Anyway.
Shane: But it’s New York. You gotta love it.

Well, it is America and I’m sure you’ll be back. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today!

Shane: Thank you.
Renee: Thank you!