After cutting their teeth in Melbourne city-fringe pubs and backyard party jams for nine years, The Teskey Brothers bring their old-school Motown sound to Bello Winter Music.
Sam and Josh Teskey discovered American soul music of the 1960s via their parents’ record collection and were immediately taken. Josh spoke with The Echo.
What is it about that old 60s soul sound that really captured you guys?
Old 60s soul music and all soul and blues music has always been what I love, especially as a singer. I think it’s the feeling that goes into this music whether it’s the soul singer or players. The best soul bands play and sing from the heart (from the soul I guess). The music doesn’t have to be showy or flashy; in fact it can be the simplest of songs, but what makes it great is the feeling put behind it. It has to be played with soul.
Tell us about the gig you played that remains your career highlight?
Think the real highlight gig for me would have to be our album launch for our latest record Half Mile Harvest at the Gasometer hotel in Melbourne. It’s the buzz of having a full house of people just come to see our band. Also the first time we got to play all our songs off the record with an 8-piece band. The power of having a band like that behind you was just crazy.
What was the best live gig you have seen, and why?
Golden Plains a few years back – Charles Bradley came out on tour and played a show at the festival. From the first moment that guy opened his mouth to sing I was mesmerised. I thought to myself this is real soul music. Every phrase every word Charles sings is sung with such strong emotion, such pain. You can’t see it in his face, A truly amazing gig. Boosted by one of the tightest funkiest bands from the Daptones I’ve ever seen.
What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened to you on tour?
Turned up to a gig supporting the Whitlams many years back. We ended up at a party the night before, where I had my guitar out for a jam. The day of the Whitlams gig I got the gear in the car, including my guitar case. We drove across the other side of town a couple of hours away; wasn’t till we got to the gig and I picked up my guitar case from the back of the van I realised it felt a little light. Looked inside to find no guitar; that’s when I realised I’d left it in the room we were jamming in at the party the night before. A real bummer, one of the silliest things I’ve ever done. Needless to say we had to play the gig without any rhythm guitar to a big crowd.
Tell us more about the story behind your latest album, Half Mile Harvest.
Half Mile Harvest was recorded completely to analog using no computers; it was a great fun processes. And something we loved doing. We tried to recall the sounds of our favourite soul albums from that earlier era. This album is the first thing we’ve done that really represents what the Teskey Brothers do live.
What should we expect for your upcoming shows?
You can expect to see some wailing blues guitar from Sam Teskey, and I’ll be doing my best to sing from the soul.
We will be playing songs from are new album Half Mile Harvest along with new some songs that we’re loving.
The Teskey Brothers play the Hotel Great Northern on Sunday 11 June, and they are at Bello Winter Music from Thursday 6 till Sunday 9 July – Bellowintermusic.com.
