Mere days following the release of their long-awaited, highly-acclaimed new album HOO HA!, Aussie rockers Bad Dreems found themselves in our Newtown Tasting Bar. While a couple of celebratory Stayers were certainly on the agenda, the boys were in town to perform their sixth gig on an intimate acoustic tour of the East Coast - playing a stripped back set to a packed room of YH locals and fans alike.

Since joining us for an early episode of our Cool Bands series back in 2017, we’ve keenly followed the Bad Dreems journey. Watching their evolution from pub rock powerhouse to cultural commentators, we were eager to throw a few questions across the bar at the lads about the new album, while also hearing their favourite tour bus tracks in this latest instalment of our Roadies Playlist series. Read the yarn below.

All photos by Tom Wilkinson

YH: It’s been a while mates! We’re bloody stoked you’re back! What lit the fire under HOO HA?

BD: The flame is eternal and while it may flicker in the breeze of malcontent it will never go out.

YH: What kind of themes does the album explore?

BD:
-The death of a regional Pizza Hut as a metaphor for the fading nostalgia of our nineties childhoods.
-The true history of Australia including our mistreatment of Aboriginal people.
-Pub counter philosophy regarding the best years of the Mitsubishi factory in Adelaide, the purchase of nuclear submarines and Rupert Murdoch as a lizard king
-The madman street preacher Rasputinesque visionary
-Isolation, desolation and desecration of decrepit sacred cows

YH: Noted. How would you say the band has evolved since the last LP?

BD: I think the virus/lockdown period has crystallised our vision for what we aim to do with the band. It’s become a more streamlined and leaner beast. (Leaner in the metaphorical sense)

YH: You’re making epic use of your platform to drive awareness about a range of social and cultural issues. Are there any other voices who you would encourage us to listen to/ read/ watch?

BD:

WATCH

Any Adam Curtis documentary 

The Australian Wars - Rachel Perkins

First Australians - Rachel Perkins

Samson and Delilah - Warwick Thornton 

The Murdoch Empire 

Put up arris and the Rainmakers

Charlie’s Country

LISTEN TO 

Frontier Wars Podcast

Wisdom of Crowds Podcast 

Ezra Klein Podcast

Mont icons 

Beetoota Advocate Podcast

How Longs a Yarn

READ

Kartiya are like Toyotas - Kim Mahood

The Cardinal: the rise and fall of George Pell - Louise Milligan 

Forgotten War - Henry Reynolds

Truth Telling - Henry Reynolds

What’s Wrong With ANZAC - Henry Reynolds

Why Warriors Lay Down and Die: Djambatj Mala- Richard Trudgen

Sand Talk - Tyson Yunkaporta

Making Australian History - Anna Clark

The passion of private white - Don Watson 

YH: You’re going on a big ol’ tour soon – what are you looking forward to most about hitting the road?

BD: Hanging out with the other bands: Children Collide, Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice, Cable Ties, Doe Street, Twine and Arthrington Stack. 

YH: Mmm it’s a tidy bunch! What are you least looking forward to?

BD: Checking in at the airport.

YH: We know our brewery is a pretty good place to park up with a beer and talk shop until the cows come home, but what made you want to add it to your run of record store gigs?

BD: Young Henrys started around the time we did. You’ve always supported great independent music events and given us great beer, and now gin! We love those tasty little G&T’s!

YH: Aw shucks fellas :) Righto, playlist time – can you give us 10 tracks you’ll DEFINITELY be listening to on the HOO HA! tour bus?

Arthrington Stack - Morris End

Body maintenance - Time Enough

Split System - On The Street

Doe St - This Town 

Exek - I’m after your best interests 

Martin Frawley - Slip Away 

Amen Dunes - Lonely Richard 

Cash Savage & the Last Drinks - Every Day Is The Same 

Phil and The Tiles - Trepanation

Twine - my god

YH: Thanks lords!

-

‘Roadies’ is a playlist series where we ask YH mates to give us10 tracks that play an important role in their world. Click here to see more, and follow us on Spotify to give ‘em a listen.