Sitting amongst old woollen mills and run down factories in an industrial part of West Geelong, Pan Studios is a practise and recording space that also hosts the occasional BYO show. For local underage punk kids, house parties and Pan are the only places to see gigs.
Wet Blankets, fronted by 15-year-old Zane Gardener, played their first show at Pan in August last year. Since then the band have released a seven-inch on Italian label Goodbye Boozy, played shows in Melbourne and have an upcoming LP on the way.
Videos by VICE
Gardner comes from a solid punk rock background, his father Grant played with legendary Geelong band Bored! while brother and bandmate Billy plays in Ausmuteants and Living Eyes. But Wet Blankets is Zane’s band, a band who have loads of ability when it comes to writting buzzy punks songs but not so much when it comes to holding down guitarists.
Their forthcoming LP Rise of Wet Blankets was tracked by the band as three-piece line up before guitarists Zak Olsen (Hierophants) and Jake Roberston (Ausmuteants) took turns shredding over the top.
The record pops with a rebellious punky swagger as Zane sings about shitty teachers and stealing carrots from supermarkets. “Fridge Too Far” which we are premierng below is a minute-and-a-half of puffed out chests and middle finger salutes.
Noisey: You come from a strong musical family. What are some of your earliest music memories?
Zane Gardener: Probably watching a Bored! video on Rage ages ago.
With songs titles like “Too Much at Steak”, “Hex in the City” and a “Fridge Too Far” You are obviously a fan of the pun song title.
Nah not really, Billy made up the name “Too Much at Steak”, “Hex in the City” is a Twilight Zone episode and “ Fridge Too Far” is a Simpsons quote. I can never be bothered putting any effort into a song title.
What are the best and worst things about being in a band from Geelong?
The worst thing is definitely the hour drive/ train ride before every show in Melbourne. I don’t even know what the best thing is.
You have a Spinal Tap like situation with guitarists.
It used to switch between Zak and Jake from Hierophants but they both sort of had too many bands on the go. So we got big bad Leland to take over on the axe.
You started the band when you were 15 and much is said of your young age. Another guy, Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr. started a pretty cool garage punk band at a young age too. Does the age thing bother you at all?
Not really, never seem to really have a problem with it. The only time its annoying is when I cant get into a venue, but that’s only happened a couple of times.
How many times do you reckon you’ve see Ausmuteants play? Do you have a favourite song?
I’ve seen them a fair few times. It still never gets boring though. My favorite song is probably “We’re Cops”.
“Rise Of Wet Blankets” is available on 12” vinyl through Anti Fade records in Australia and Agitated records in the UK from March 16.
