Blood makes noise

Reverend Genes' biography has no words of niches or trends, greatness or specialness. For better or for worse Reverend Genes' focus is a message of music. 

 

Guitars are at the core of the Reverend Genes sound. The electric guitars are single coil Strats, overdriven and crunchy. The bass is always a P bass. There is no specific keyboard played. Instead, a blank MIDI keyboard is loaded with B4, Rhodes or piano sounds. The drums, rhythms and effects are a mix of live triggers and samples. Steel string and nylon string acoustic guitars are used for songwriting and sometimes those parts stay in the final mix.

 

The main influences include Australian pub bands along with UK and USA new-wave and post-punk sounds. Bands that come to mind include Midnight Oil, The Church, You Am I, The Cure, Interpol, Pavement, and The Pixies.

 

Reverend Genes hails from Newcastle NSW Australia.

 

 

Reverend Genes has kicked around in various forms for a few years. Some of the earliest songs were jammed out in rehearsal spaces around Newcastle. The ideas and sounds were developed while studying music between Newcastle and Sydney. A few years were also spent playing in cover bands around Sydney. Reverend Genes is now back home in Newcastle, and the focus has switched from playing live to songwriting and recording.

 

As for the name Reverend Genes. It simply means to respect all genes. Reverend is used as an adjective as opposed to a noun. It literally means respect. So while it would be fun, there is no Reverend in the sense of a single person. From animals to plants, we are all Reverend Genes. The alternative is space. Good luck with that.

 

 

Newcastle is a town with two approaches when it comes to bands. Either a band plays covers in more commercial venues, or they play their own music in venues that are a bit less commercially driven. Reverend Genes have played and existed in both of these realities. From money-soaked pubs and clubs through to the Bar On The Hill at the local University. Along the way there have been countless awesome musicians, gigs, lots of hanging out and absolutely zero financial security.

 

 

The first concert that had a meaningful and real impact was definitely Fugazi in Newcastle. Friends from a local band called Big Men Fly were the support act. The venue was a small bowling club. There was no stage, just fold-back wedges and mic stands between the band and everyone else. Fugazi were in full flight. This was just one of those gigs that is impossible to forget. The bowling club is now a train station. 

 

Another gig that comes to mind was an all Aussie show with You Am I, Front End Loader and Tumbleweed at the Cambridge Hotel. The Cambridge Hotel is one of Newcastle’s few operating mid-sized rooms that has always supported original music. You Am I opened that night. There was only a handful of folk in the room for the first band. Aside from their energy and sound, with Front End Loader and Tumbleweed watching on from the side of the stage it was pretty clear that something special was going on. Three amazing independent Australian bands, all on one bill, doing their thing. Sadly this iconic venue, that has hosted countless national, international and local acts, has been sold and will soon be turned into apartments.

 

 

Songwriting in Reverend Genes falls to one central member. There is definitely a process. It usually goes something like this. Pick up a guitar and start practicing scales, riffs, or maybe a few favourite tunes to try to understand what makes them work. More often than not, just doing this will lead to hearing something that sounds a little original or new. Next, grab whatever is on hand to create a rough recording. The best ideas will stick without a recording, but keeping a bank of ideas is one way to prepare for later arranging and recording sessions.

 

Writing supporting parts and deciding on the overall instrumentation is pretty straightforward. The initial musical idea usually points in a specific direction. Often counter melodies in the bass and keyboards will flow in-between the gaps left by the guitar parts. The top line or vocal is often the last part added. If a song has made it this far then a hook should not be too far away.

 

 

First up Fugazi and the Pixies are two of the most original bands harmonically. The use of melodic noise and unconventional chord progressions influenced many musicians. Both bands also understood that alternating, loud and soft dynamics just works in a live setting. Midnight Oil are equally original and inspiring. The duelling guitars of Martin Rotsey and Jim Moginie and the complex harmonic progressions are unparalleled. Rob Hirst’s energy and drumming is simply impressive. Being able to roll up to the offices of an international polluting oil company to protest environmental neglect is just the icing on the cake.

 

Three more Australian bands worth mentioning are You Am I, Front End Loader and Tumbleweed. Initially, You Am I were Australia’s answer to the world’s pre-eminent 3 piece grunge band. You Am I had the guitar sounds, the charismatic frontman and the songs. Berlin Chair was a breath of fresh air at a time when much of Australia was still looking for the next polished image rock band or were still listening to the established roster. There are many excellent albums including Sound As Ever, Hi Fi Way and Hourly Daily.

 

Front End Loader are simply a force of nature. Huge guitars pumping out of Marshall stacks, and fiercely independent. The sense of melody and driving rhythm is always fresh and timeless. Check out the debut self-titled album and How Can We Fail When We Are So Sincere to hear some of the best original, independent, Aussie pub rock, period. Then throw some Tumbleweed into the mix to experience the finest stoner rock that Australia has to offer. Theatre of Gnomes and the self-titled debut album Tumbleweed are genre classics.

 

Another iconic Australian band is The Church. The early recordings while harmonically closer to the more standard songs of the day, pretty much define the early independent guitar sound in Australia. Inventive rhythmic and melodic guitar riffs develop across the bands releases and culminate in the classic song Under The Milky Way. The album Hey Day is a personal favourite closely followed by Starfish.

 

When it comes to melody and influence it is hard to go past Robert Smith. The Cure are most likely the most successful band to come from left of centre, dominate pop charts, and at the same time avoid becoming overtly commercial. The sense of sonic wonder, freshness and escapism within the bands music is second to none.

 

Last up two other bands that have been on loop play over the years are Pavement and Grandaddy. Pavement are the masters of slacker rock. Their blend of melody, quirky lyrics and sonic chaos is truly beautiful to listen to. Likewise, Grandaddy’s melodies have carved out a sweet patch of sound that turns off the real world every time you press play. Magnificent.

 

 

Playing live is a combination of wilful expression and uncertainty. It is a special blend that is best served up raw and well done all at the same time. It is definitely possible to play live and be true to the recorded sound. That is one way to go. However, if you have strong melodies and harmonies then performing live note-for-note and sound-for-sound is not essential at all. The main aim is to communicate, hopefully distract from the mundane, and with any luck hit a home run. If you also get to head home with a smile on your face, some hot take way food and a few good brews then it’s been a great night.

 

 

Well Reverend Genes has certainly toured the studio. That is one tour that is pretty much in the bag. There have been endless jams and recording sessions. Of course it would be great to go on a tour of other folks studios, especially studios with gear that is unattainable to mere mortals. If you know of any upcoming, all expenses paid studio tours let us know. Preferably each studio would have us stay for a few weeks. On offer would be some tidy tunes.

 

 

Reverend Genes spent COVID like everyone else in isolation. To stay sane, songs were written and recorded, and the end result was a fresh approach to the Reverend Genes sound. There were more vocal harmonies and better song arrangements that are hopefully going down well across independent and community radio. In the short-term Reverend Genes will continue to release these recordings. The next two singles are You And I (21 July) and wanted To Run (21 September), and the first EP Space in November 2023. After that are two more five track EPs called Time and Change that are planned for release throughout 2024. The lyrics and artwork for all 15 tracks that make up the Space Time Change EPs are on the www.reverendgenes.com.au website as placeholders prior to each track and video being released.

 

Meanwhile Reverend Genes are working away arranging new tracks that have been piling up over the last year or so. The shape of these new recordings is yet to be finalised. There have been discussions around recording a clearer electric guitar focused sound. Maybe get a few Les Paul’s in the mix, or run the Tube-screamer a little hotter. It is fairly safe to say that the Rhodes keyboard sound will still feature, and there are also ongoing experiments with filters and other elements found in electronic music that could find a way into the overall sound. All up, hopefully the production and songs will lift to a new level while staying fresh.

 

If the audience for Reverend Genes continues to grow then at some point it might be cool to get out of the studio to play a few gigs. Not sure yet. Time will tell.