Byron Bay party band Drop Legs have attracted a solid following in with their energetic live performances and fusion of heavy reggae and coastal hip-hop.
The band’s accelerating career has landed them on their seventh and biggest tour yet (14 shows), stretching all the way from Tasmania to the Sunshine Coast, including a gig at Island Vibe. Ham spoke with The Echo about the long legs ahead.
What is the essence of a Drop Legs show?
The essence of a Drop Legs show is dank, stanky grooves and infectious boogie music. We want people to forget who they are or what they were doing and bust out like no-one’s watching (drop-a-leg)! Drop Legs literally means ‘dance like crazy’ in Jamaican slang.
How did you guys come to be playing together?
We mostly met each other through each other’s overcrowded share houses. We all had a common bond of loving beat- and bass-heavy music.
What is it about Byron that keeps you here?
Every time we come home from Sydney/Melbourne or Brisbane we have a moment of depression because of returning to work but then we see the Shire from the air and remember how epic this place is – the beaches, the bush, the babes, the live music. Bundjalung land is quite possibly the greatest place on Earth.
What’s your ideal jam session?
Salty spring afternoon in Ant’s garage, icy-cold beers flowing, followed by a barbecue with the whole crew!
How do you work up a song?
Sometimes we jam and then go, ‘Wait! What was that? That’s a dope groove – let’s rework that.’ Other times we’ll be listening to classic Wu Tang or Sublime and try to channel their vibe into our own tune.
Has anything ever gone absolutely wrong onstage?
In Sydney playing with our mates Borneo, our singer was bending backwards screaming upwards with the mic dangling above his face; the mic popped out of the cable and cracked his front tooth in half. He half swallowed it though managed to cough it back up. He managed to stash it in his synth case for the rest of the tour and it sits next to his bed in a little box.
What should we expect for your local show at the Northern?
We have a new and very talented Brisbane band The Bonnie Doons opening and psychedelic, eclectic funk explosion Thunder Fox from Sydney supporting, both epic bands. As for us: expect new songs, crazy light show and a well-oiled party set.
Drop Legs at the Hotel Great Northern on Saturday and featured at Island Vibe at Stradbroke Island 26–29 October. Tix on islandvibe.com.au.
