The White Russians:
Pinky Beecroft – vocals, piano, keyboards
Christian McBride – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Nick Stewart – guitars
Ben T - bass
Pinky Beecroft was the frontperson/singer of Machine Gun Fellatio, but quit that band in 2005. Rumour has it that the split was wildly acrimonious; so far nobody's gone on record to affirm or deny. Christian McBride had been working as a piano & drum technician for mgf and was drumming in several bands of his own including Field Day.... when the allegedly disgruntled Beecroft approached him to form something altogether new and different. Together they formed Matthew - a four-piece pop band based on the Central Coast of NSW and which fell to shit almost as soon as it started. "Babies and overseas travel," according to Beecroft were the reasons for the band's demise, although he has never explained who the babies were, or who was doing the travel.
Some time after this, Beecroft decided to form a new band - The White Russians. His search for a guitarist led to Nick Stewart, who had been co-founder and guitarist of the critically-acclaimed, platinum-selling george. At the time, Nick was working with Amiel, and also with Katie Noonan and Elixir, and was much in demand for his session work. According to Beecroft, "I never knew much about george, the band. I met Nick kind of by accident, and invited him to come to a bit of an informal mess-about session. I'd already tried out a number of guitarists, and I'd pretty much decided on somebody else. To be honest I thought Nick was a nutter, and besides that, he lived in Queensland, which I knew would make things ten times harder, trying to coordinate rehearsals/recording in Sydney. I was living in Melbourne at the time and just getting together for a jam was an exercise in logistics. Here's this interstate nutjob from this band that I didn't know much about, and I just thought.... it's all too hard. But then he started to play..... and his playing was unbelievable. Truly. He was at a whole new level. I just thought, well... I can't not have this person in the band." Beecroft adds: "And he turned out to be a very nice fellow. For a Queenslander."
Christian McBride was again behind the drum kit, and after the departure of original bassist Ken Folan, it was McBride's call to enlist Monstars bassist Ben T. "The guy's a motherfucker," according to McBride. Presumably this is a reference to Ben's bass-playing ability, although Ben T is also widely noted for his good looks and old-school charm. Beecroft apparently refers to him simply as "Mr T" - which has proved to be confusing, at times.
A 5-track EP titled Pinky Beecroft & The White Russians was recorded at Gigpiglet Studios in Redfern, Sydney, with Gareth Stuckey producing and engineering. The EP has been released on the Gigpiglet label, distributed through Inertia.
The band's first live show was in June 2006 at the Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne.
They followed this show with twelve to eighteen months of almost total inertia. Rumours abound that Beecroft spent this time trying - and failing - to develop a drug addiction. "I was looking for a press angle," he says. "No matter what I did, I couldn't seem to get cancer, and I heard drug-addiction was pretty much the only other way to get any press."
The band returned to the recording studio - once again at Gigpiglet in Redfern - and recorded their debut album.
The album, titled “Somethin’ Somewhere Better” was released through Gigpiglet Recordings/ Inertia, 23rd August 2008.
A new album is currently being mixes, scheduled to be released November 2009
Jack Carty:
22 year old Jack Carty has lead a charmed life. Growing up in the sleepy coastal town of Bellingen NSW he had the time, the space and the support to write as honestly and sing as loudly as he possibly could. This sheltered upbringing left an indelible mark on Jacks music that remains even today, 6 years after packing his life into a van and moving to Sydney at the ripe old age of 16.
When he arrived Jack submerged himself in the Sydney music scene and its culture, attending a performing arts high school, jamming and writing with anyone he could and playing venues large and small all over town.
In 2008 Jack teamed up with a group of like minded, Sydney based, mid north coast boys to form Jack Carty & The Party a roots/power-folk band that have, in their relatively short career wowed crowds and won fans up and down the east coast of Australia, playing festivals, selling out shows and picking up the odd award along the way.
2009 has already been the biggest year yet for this young troubadour with a brand new E.P in the bag, a solid schedule of tours booked and recent achievements including placing second in the nation wide “Launch Your Band” competition, the video for the track “Good Old Town” gaining airplay on Channel V and being voted the “Top Rated” song in their “Channel U” competition by the viewing public as well as having a song selected by APRA to be showcased at the very first “Song Summit Sydney” – Australia’s first international songwriters conference.
In typical country fashion, Jack is taking it all in his stride:
Athron:
Softly woven acoustic tunes combined with raw lyrics,
smooth melodies and layered with a thick vocal presence,
Athron brings us a rich blend of emotive sounds to guarantee satisfaction for the senses.
With a wide range of experience as a vocalist and songwriter for various original acts since age 15, Athron has emerged as a solo artist with a style that is both unique and captivating to the soul, producing a personal sound that leaves a lasting impression.
‘Taming Butterflies’ is Athron’s first full length solo album, and brings together the diversity of styles that has grown into his songwriting since it first began. Songs on the album span a mixed palette of stories and emotions, moving from personal experiences to political tongue in cheek, from dark tragedy to sweet lessons for the soul. Throughout ‘Taming Butterflies’ length, moods are set for the listener to follow. It is a raw
journey that leans into dark spaces, yet holds a feeling of self assurance and sweet confidence that keeps the
listener involved musically and emotionally.
The name of the album is a reference to Athron’s childhood diary inscriptions, where thoughts were
represented by butterflies. ‘Taming butterflies’ was a name chosen to signify the album as itself being a diary
of sorts, detailing times experienced and songs written over the good part of Athron’s adult life.
The album is also Australia's very first certified carbon neutral release. available on Gigpiglet/ Inertia.
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