Locals top ARIA chart for first time in three decades

For the first time since 1992, an Australian act is on top of the ARIA chart with a live album: in May, blues-rock act The Teskey Brothers hit No 1 with Live at The Forum.

This week’s ARIA-topping The Teskey Brothers. Picture: Dara Munnis

For the first time since 1992, an Australian act is on top of the ARIA chart with a release that captures the sound and feel of a band standing and delivering from the stage. Back then it was AC/DC with its creatively named double album Live; this week, it’s Melbourne blues-rock act the Teskey Brothers with Live at The Forum.

For frontman Josh Teskey, to see his band charting ahead of global­ pop stars such as Harry Styles, Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish was a total shock.

“It’s something I never foresaw us getting to,” he said. “I feel really proud that this kind of music is finding a place in that spot, because­ it’s the stuff I personally love, and all the guys in the band do. Rhythm and blues has always chugged along and had a place, but for an album like that being right up there on the top of the charts? It still kind of baffles me,

The Smith Street Band playing in Port Adelaide. Picture: Simon Cross

actually.”

Until recently, Teskey and his bandmates — his brother Sam on guitar, bassist Brendon Love and drummer Liam Gough — were content to continue developing their unique sound by playing private­ gigs and Melbourne pubs on the weekends. Three years ago, Teskey gave up his plumbing trade to pursue music full-time, with the band releasing three albums since 2017, including the current No 1, which was recorded in November.

The Teskey Brothers are the fifth Australian act to debut atop the ARIA chart since concert ­venues closed due to coronavirus in mid-March, following fellow rock bands 5 Seconds of Summer, Violent Soho, the Smith Street Band and Birds of Tokyo.

Last month, during one of the lowest weeks of sales in ARIA history, Melbourne punk six-piece the Smith Street Band sold just 1752 copies of its fifth album to reach No 1, according to data seen by The Weekend Australian.

“We don’t comment on sales, but what you need in order to hit No 1 is not consistent,” said ARIA chief executive Dan Rosen. “It’s like a footy game: some weeks you can win by kicking 10 goals, and another week you might have to kick 20 goals. It depends on the game, and each week is a little bit different. But there’s no doubt that physical sales are challenged in a COVID environment.”

Acclaimed Australian rock legends AC/DC in 2001. Picture: Getty Images

Michael Gudinski, executive chairman of Mushroom Group, which released the Teskey Brothers album, agrees with Rosen’s ­assessment. “In recent times, sales are very low, and it’s very tough now for Australian artists, because we’re disadvantaged by the strength of Spotify,” he said.

But if the average music fan looks at the weekly ARIA album chart and sees nothing but a popularity contest, the Hilltop Hoods reckon that’s an oversimplification. With six chart-topping albums­, the Adelaide trio knows better than most what goes into that achievement. “Getting a No 1 isn’t just about the music,” said Dan Smith, aka rapper Pressure. “A lot of hard work goes into it: it’s about the strategy the management team has put in place, the people who worked on the record around you … and of course the songwriters themselves.”