Band readies for battle

By Jade Lawton
PAKENHAM band Head From Hottie is eagerly anticipating this Friday’s Battle of the Bands.
While the band’s members expect some tough competition, they hope punters will be impressed by their set, which they say is “unique”.
They describe their sound as indie meets hard rock.
“It’s like Kings Of Leon shook hands with Slash,” lead guitarist Gavin Robson, 17, said.
The other band members are Daniel Bryant, 17, on rhythm guitar, Nick Grey,18, on drums, Aleks Savanovic, 19, on bass, and Shannon Jarman, 18, as lead singer.
Gavin and Daniel started the band two years ago and spent six months writing songs before recruiting more members.
They then “discovered” Shannon, after hearing him sing Chris Isaak’s Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing on a bus.
Nick, who has been playing drums for just over six years, and Aleks, who has been playing bass guitar for just six months, were added soon after. Their set at Battle of the Bands will be four original songs that the band thinks should appeal to the audience.
“We write about things that happen to teenagers,” Gavin said.
The set will begin with Back in the Game, followed by Needle in a Haystack, then Nothing, Don’t Worry, and finish with Bleached Blonde.
Most of the band cite Needle in a Haystack as their favourite song, described as a dancy tune based on an event in Gavin’s life.
The boys used to practise at Shannon’s house, and Shannon thinks the band has left a lasting impression on his mother.
“My mum hates us,” he said.
Aleks, the newest member of the band, still has the full support of his mother.
“My mum’s proud,” he said.
The band hopes to record an EP soon, and then play more gigs, with the eventual goal being to play to bigger crowds in the city.
The winners of this year’s battle will go on to play at the regional finals, with the winners there going on to FReeZA’s Push Over Festival next year.
The Push Battle of the Bands event is a drug, alcohol and smoke-free event. It will be held at the Pakenham Hall this Friday, starting at 6.30pm. Price is $5 with a pass, $8 without.