STACK #237 July 2024

FEATURE MUSIC

50 NOT OUT T he Angels’ co-founder John Brewster is beaming when he chats Legendary Aussie bandThe Angels celebrate their 50th anniversary with a rocking new record.

FUN FACT The Angels’ first big gig was support

with STACK about the band’s new album, Ninety Nine . “I’m proud of everything this band has done, but we have what I call ‘benchmark albums’, particularly Face to Face, No Exit, and Dark Room . “This, to me, is a benchmark album.” NINETY NINE REASONS So, who or what was the inspiration for the album title? Is it a nod to Agent 99, Max’s offsider in Get Smart ,

ing Cheech & Chong at Adelaide’s Thebarton Theatre in June 1974.

Tom Brewster, Rick Brewster, Nick Norton, John Brewster, and Sam Brewster

John Brewster admits. “But I find it intriguing.” We turned to Angels

shows a bunch of old red phone boxes in the night sky? Well, back in the early ’80s, Angels guitarist Rick

The audience threw Minties at them.

singer Nick Norton to solve the mystery. “I wrote the lyrics [for

Ninety Nine

by The Angels is out now via Bloodlines

Brewster was one of the world’s biggest collectors of phone boxes. He had nine in the backyard of his Sydney home. “I’ve had that shot since 1982, and I got some T-shirts made featuring that photo,” Rick reveals. “I went to breakfast one day and John and Sam both said, ‘That’s it, that’s the album cover!’” Jeff Jenkins

the opening track, Ninety Nine (Go for Broke) ] and it refers to the fact that 99% of us have to accept our lot, while the one per cent take the lion’s share. The super-rich are richer than they’ve ever been.” COVER ME And what about the album cover, which

whose real name was never revealed? Or is it a reference to the controversial immigration Direction 99, which has been in the news this year? “I don’t have a clue what the title means,”

B reaking up is hard to do. “This record feels brutal,” Greg Gonzalez says of Cigarettes After Sex’s third album X’s , which documents the dissolution of his four-year relationship. “I could sit and talk about this loss to someone, but that wouldn’t scratch the surface.” Making the album was cathartic. “I have to really write about it, sing about it... and then I can start to analyse and learn from it, or just relive it – in a good way.” Gonzalez has been called the most relaxed man in rock. “And I think that comes across in the music,” he smiles. “It’s pretty chilled.” Indeed, the singer laughs, “most people think I’m a woman when they first hear my voice.” Once asked why all of his songs were about romance, Gonzalez replied, “It’s just natural, you write what you know.” THE BOYS LIGHT UP X’s mark the spot for the third album for American dream pop trio Cigarettes After Sex.

THE NAME GAME Cigarettes After Sex formed in El Paso, Texas in 2008. Singer Greg Gonzalez explains that he had a “friendship with certain benefits” with a woman who would light up after their liaisons... and the band name popped into his head.

Greg Gonzalez, Jacob Tomsky and Randall Miller

Cigarettes After Sex are touring Australia in March next year. Gonzalez enjoys how his songs are transformed in the live environment. “Our music is very mellow and soothing. It’s music that people use to go to sleep; it was designed that way. “But it becomes this other thing at a show, with people screaming the songs because they mean so much to them. It becomes something you don’t expect, and it’s amazing to feel that.” Jeff Jenkins

X’s by Cigarettes After Sex is out July 12 via Partisan Records

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