Blunt Magazine, December 2004, with Chris Cheney & Scott Owen

Author Unknown


AUSSIES INVADED...

With a bill that wouldn't break a sweat selling out any venue in Australia several times over, The Vines, Jet, The Living End and Neon waved our flag across North America.
"The best gig was in LA, this fuckin' corporate gig," laughs TLE stand up bassist Scott Owen sarcastically. "Sony Playstation bought the Aussie Invasion tour for a night to entertain their staff. Four bands, we did a gig at the palace in LA, big fuck off venue, there was only about 4 or 5 hundred of 'em and the place holds 2000 - sheer craziness. We're in the middle of this tour, having a rockin' good time every night, all of a sudden we get thrown in front of the Sony Playstation staff and there's not enough of them to fill even a quarter of the room"

Kicking off at the engine room in Houston, Texas on the 11th march and finishing up little over a month later at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, Canada, the Aussie Invasion tour took a big delicious sliver of Oz rock to 24 different North American cities, not to mention one special night at The Palace.
"All of the Sony staff were just standing around the bar," remembers Chris Cheney. "We're playing onstage and the only people down the front were Jet and The Vines. They hadn't been able to see us out the front so they took advantage of it. It's like ' hi Mark, hi Nic'"

Headlined by the Vines (pre Craig's Annandale spac-attack) It was actually Jet who enjoyed most of the attention from the press and fans throughout the tour, as huge gaps began to open up in the all important US market , after their iPod triumph. For one of our most highly rated live bands, TLE, it was often a struggle just to get noticed.
"We were playing second after Neon and playing to a mostly sober crowd, says Chris. "It was all about Jet and The Vines as far as the buzz goes and The Vines are massive and were headlining so they already had it covered. It was up to us to either get noticed or be forgotten, so we made sure it was a hard act to follow."

For The Living End, the Aussie Invasion tour was a chance to recapture some of the momentum they'd lost in North America. Not to mention a chance to show all the fans they'd impressed on previous US tour with Green Day and Warped just how far they'd come.
"We've done the same over there as we've done here." Chris explains, "built it up by touring, bigger tours and club shows, so I would hope that there was already an awareness there. People had heard about the accident, it was newsworthy over there, so maybe that's why some people wanted to check us out."

And, as everyone knows, once The Living End get an audience in front of them, even a bunch of Sony staffers only there for the free drinks, they will go all out to make them their own. And most of the time they succeed.
"It's a cliche but its true," concludes Scott, "it doesn't matter how many people are out there watching you play, whether its a small or massive crowd, your crowd or someone elses, they are there checking you out so you gotta give 'em all you got. That's the only way to win them."

2004 according to Chris Cheney of The Living End

In 10 words or less describe 2004 for you...
"Enlightening, frustrating, rewardin, depressing, satisfying...not necessarily in that order"

What was the highlight of 2004?
"Touring the USA with The Vines and Jet"

What was the lowlight of 2004?
"The passing of loved ones."

Album of the year?
"Eskimo Joe - A Song Is A City"

Gig of the year?
"Supergrass at The Forum"

Best new talent?
"End Of Fashion, Little Birdy, Scarlett Johannson"

Most overhyped?
"Idol"

Film of the year?
"Farenheit 911"

Game of the year?
"Venison"

What do you want for Christmas?
"Roast potatoes"

What will your new years resolution be?
"To start smoking."