Ballina band not so Brittle

FOR a band that played 'raw punk rock' as 12-year-olds, Brittle has come a long way.

Brittle, a band from Ballina, will tour America next year, but first they’ve got some local shows lined up this week.

FOR a band that played ‘raw punk rock’ as 12-year-olds, Brittle has come a long way.

Fast forward 10 or so years and the former Ballina boys – Ben ‘Tokyo’ Whiting, Billy Donaldson, Benny O’Dwyer and Geoff Slingsby – have found out they will be touring America next year.

The 22 and 23-year-olds are understandably excited, but also nervous, about it.

“We’ve just found out we’re doing a US tour in March,” Ben said.

“We might even work with some producers over there, but the main thing is just getting there and playing some gigs.

“I know we’ve got a lot to learn.

“Going to America is going to make us stronger.”

All the boys went to high school in Lismore and Ballina, and this week they’re back on home ground with shows at Kyogle and Byron Bay.

“It’s definitely good to get home and do some gigs around here,” Ben said.

“We started the band in early high school and we did gigs straight away.

“We were probably only 12 or so when we did our first gig.

“It was raw punk rock back then.

“But even then we were always writing our own stuff, and we did covers as well.

“The main thing is we’ve found our sound now, we’ve found what we want to do.

“When you’re young, you’reinfluenced by what you’re listening to. Our sound has matured now. We call it alternative rock.”

The sound, Ben says, has to be heard to be understood.

Brittle’s new EP, The Owls, has been hailed a major success, and they’re busily promoting it with shows all over Australia.

In the past they’ve played with a few well-known musicians, including Faker, Kisschasy, Snow Patrol and Katy Perry.

But their biggest thrill – so far – was playing Splendour in the Grass in 2006.

“It was such a buzz,” Ben said.

“To play a big show like that is just amazing.”

Brittle will play an all-ages gig at the Kyogle Memorial Hall on Thursday and another show at the Great Northern Hotel at Byron Bay on Saturday night.

Find out more about the band at www.brittlerock.com.

Originally published as Ballina band not so Brittle